Season two of the clan Steelclaw Chronicles,Story 11

‘Yesterday’s Heroes’

By Kahreen

Illustrations by: Kahreen

As far as summer storms went, this one had no equal. For the past few days the heat and humidity had been unbearable. Even the night offered no relief. The air was so saturated that it took everything out of a body to be able to breathe. Down in Newbridge it was worse, and whatever heat was produced during the day remained trapped; it was as if Mother Nature had decided to slowly bake the people and then drown them in the moisture-saturated air. It had to give, and as if on cue on what seemed to be the day before Newbridge was officially renamed ‘hell', dark heavy thunderclouds began to amass on the horizon. Mother Nature was about to go to war with herself, and for that the humans were glad.

Later that afternoon the storm struck with such force that the daylight was swallowed by greedy black clouds in an instant. The wind hurled itself at the city and was soon accompanied by rain and lightening. For all intents and purposes night had fallen on this small corner of North America, even though sunset was still hours away.

And in a small cave hidden in the mountains behind Newbridge, Shaiya watched the thunderstorm rage about her and couldn’t help but be awed by the sheer violent beauty of the lightening that forked overhead. However as the storm increased in power and a cold wind began to blow into the cave, Shaiya let the leather hide that covered the entrance fall back down. She then secured it in place with a set of heavy rocks. It wouldn’t do for the storm to get into their home and chill the egg. Now that the storm had been banished to where it belonged--outside--she turned back into the main part of the cave and set about building a small fire. The wood was dry and the tinder ready, and it wasn’t long before flames sprung up among the kindling, coaxed by Shaiya’s tender care. The light they emanated gave a warm glow to the two stone figures that shared the cave with her, taking away some of the sharp and strange shadows that the flashes of lightening had formed on their cold bodies.

And cold they would remain for a few hours yet before true night arrived and they would waken, fresh and revived. For the first time in a few days, Sabrina had finally relented and had agreed to sleep that day but only after she had gained several assurances from Shaiya that nothing would happen to the egg. She had become particularly nervy that past week, claiming that something ‘didn’t feel right’, but searches by both Madbrook and Shaiya turned up nothing untoward. Nothing, not even a human had approached their little cave, and so as dawn had approached that day she decided to give in to her gargoyle heritage and slumbered in stone.

Hours passed and soon the darkness increased until the cave was filled with the sounds of the two gargoyles awakening. Shaiya stepped forward, having stood beyond the range of any stray pieces of stone skin. "I trust you slept well?" she asked.

"Like a rock," Madbrook said as he worked out a kink that had developed in his back.  His comment raised a smile from his mate as she moved to the back of the cave.

"How is the egg?" Sabrina asked as she crouched by the makeshift rookery and ran her talons over the shell that encased her child.

"Well," said Shaiya. "Nothing has disturbed the little one all day."

"That's good," said Sabrina, obviously relieved.

"Woo, that's some storm out there," Madbrook said as he pulled the covering to one side and peered out into the rain soaked darkness outside. "I can even feel the electricity in the air." As if in response, a bolt of lightening illuminated the sky as it licked the underbelly of the clouds. The gargoyle let the cover fall back into place and retreated back into the cave. "Don't think anything will be out on a night like this," he commented as he moved closer to the fire and warmed himself. "How long has it been going on?"

"Since late this afternoon." Shaiya replied. "But I think it will end soon. The thunder is becoming less frequent."

"But everything is still going to be soaking wet." Madbrook sighed."Well there goes any chance of going hunting tonight."

Behind him the leather cover had come loose from its tether and began flapping about in the wind. The noise made Sabrina look up as a particularly strong gust of wind freed the cover from another tether and it  dropped to one side, bringing the night and the storm into view. Sabrina frowned. "MB would you..." she trailed off as a flash of lightening illuminated the cave and much more besides. Instantly Sabrina was on her feet and racing towards the mouth of the cave. "Something was at the cave entrance!" she shouted. "Something was standing there looking at us!"

In moments both Madbrook and Shaiya were at her side.

"...can't see anything!" shouted Madbrook over the roar of thunder that shot through the cave.

"There was something there! I know it!"

"There!" Shaiya pointed to a sudden blur of movement some distance from the cave. "It's moving downhill."

"Should we go after it?" Madbrooklyn had already left the cave and was now soaked to the skin. "It might just be something looking to get in out of the storm, but I want to be sure."

Shaiya considered this for a moment before nodding. The clan had learnt the hard way what letting things slide could cost them, and she wasn't about to lose another home. She turned to Sabrina. "Guard your egg," she said. "We will be back soon." With that she and Madbrook slipped into the storm.

***

If their prey had hoped to hide from them in the rain, it was out of luck. Minutes after the chase had begun, the dark clouds overhead began to break up. The rain slackened and eventually stopped. Between the blackness of the clouds, small clusters of stars   dared show their light. The wet ground made tracking easy as Shaiya and Madbrook followed a set of prints so fresh that water was still seeping into the depressions. And yet something was not right. In the post-storm silence that had settled over the mountains, the only noise that Madbrook and Shaiya heard was the sound of their own breathing. If their quarry was as close to them as the tracks suggested, they should have been able to hear the sound of feet striking the ground, of the undergrowth being disturbed, and yet they heard nothing. Something was not right.

Shaiya held up her hand and the two clanmates halted. For a few moments their ears strained to hear something--anything--but still the silence remained. Madbrook scanned the surrounding areas and growled in frustration when even his enhanced senses found nothing.

Suddenly a swift shadow blocked out the stars overhead for a brief second before disappearing. Instantly Shaiya and Madbrook adopted defensive positions, scanning the sky and surrounding bushes for any sign of the shadow.

"Damnit," Madbrook swore under his breath. "If I didn’t know any better, I would swear that we were facing a shadow beast." He instinctively checked the charge on his blaster, and once satisfied that it still had plenty of power, returned to scanning his surroundings.

"A shadow beast?" Shaiya had drawn her own weapon. "What manner of creature is that?"

"One created by dark magic. Sabrina and I faced one on our last trip though time," he grimaced at the all-too-recent memory. A sudden rustle in the bushes before him made him bring up his weapon and aim it at the source of the sound. "A bite or a simple scratch made by their talons will either kill or paralyze a person." The bush rustled again and a small rodent appeared briefly before disappearing into the darkness again. Madbrook swore and briefly imagined that same rodent roasting over the fire.

"Poison?" Despite the tense atmosphere of their surroundings, Shaiya could help but feel a little intrigued. After all, poisons and their antidotes were her specialty.

"I don’t know. All I do know is that if you do get bitten, you’re in a whole world of trouble."

"Strange," Shaiya muttered to herself. She straightened up and turned to the beaked gargoyle. "We should head back. Whatever that was may have been trying to lead use away from the cave."

"And leave Sabrina and the egg exposed," Madbrook finished and hissed. "Damn." He turned and began to make the ascent back to their home, and Shaiya was hard pressed to keep up with him. He only slowed as they approached the cave and saw a shimmer of green across the entrance. Sabrina had thrown up a shield. Madbrook breathed a sigh of relief. They were safe.

"…who was bitten?"

Madbrook turned, only hearing the end of Shaiya’s question. "What?"

"Did you know anyone who was bitten?"

"Only one," he replied, smiling as the shield disappeared and Sabrina emerged from the cave and went straight to his arms.

"What happened?" the dark skinned gargess asked her mate. "Did you find it?"

Madbrook shook his head. "It disappeared back into the woods."

Sabrina frowned. "We should leave. I don’t feel safe here anymore."

"We’re not leaving." Shaiya folded her arms. "Do you think that any other place is safer than where we are now?"

"Shaiya…" Sabrina began, only to be cut off by the silver-haired female.

"Enough. We are staying and that is the end of the matter. Besides," she added "we can defend this place."

"Shaiya's right my love," said Madbrook. "Besides, we both know we're more than a match for any shadow out there."

"Or shadowbeast?" Shaiya prodded.

Sabrina's eyes widened at the mention of that name, and she turned to her mate. "You told her about the shadowbeasts?"

"She wanted to know."

"You have never told me much about the places you visited in time," said Shaiya as she sat crosslegged on the floor and tended the small fire with a stick. "But this is a tale I think I need to hear." She looked up at the two gargoyles, the glow from the flames casting her features in a sharp play of shadow and light. "If what we chased out there was something like a shadowbeast then I need to know everything about it."

"Sure," said Madbrook as he sat on the ground, the fire between Shaiya and himself. Sabrina joined him. "But this isn't a tale you can just jump straight into the middle of; shadowbeasts are only a small part of it.  It was much bigger than that."

"Then perhaps you should begin at the beginning."

"What we landed in had begun long before we arrived," began Sabrina. "But things didn't umm..." She paused, trying to find the right word.

"Hit the fan," Madbrook supplied, getting a wry smile in response from his mate.

"Things didn't really begin to happen until the day after we arrived on the island of Atlantis."

"The island of legend?" Shaiya leaned forward, her interest peaked.

"Uh huh," Madbrook nodded. "We thought that we were headed back to Sabrina's clan. At least those were the people I was thinking of when we used my time-traveling powers for what we thought was the last time. We expected to open our eyes and see a mansion in the woods, not a vast expanse of water.

******

5900 BC

The ball of flames that appeared in the midnight sky licked the base of the low clouds above it before  vanishing. In it's place two gargoyles dropped like stones before their wings opened and they found a current of air on which to glide. One of the pair, an orange male gargoyle with a mane of black hair, took a long look at his surroundings before turning to his mate--a dark-skinned female whose horns held back her mass of ebony hair.

"Don't get me wrong, but weren't we supposed to be thinking of a mansion in the woods?" he called across to her. She made no response. Her arms were cradled around an egg and on her face a frown appeared.

"Sabrina?" He called again, a worried frown of his own crossing her face.

Sabrina blinked and returned from whatever thoughts were dancing in her head. "I was thinking of the mansion," she said,looking at him. "What were you thinking of ?"

"The mansion," he said. "You've described it to me so many times I feel like I've been there before."

"Oh." Sabrina looked back down at the vast stretch of water below her. It stretched from horizon to horizon with no end in sight. "Then what happened?"

Madbrook shrugged. "I don't know. Brooklyn said that the Phoenix Gate never took him to places where he wanted to go. Perhaps what I've inherited from it has decided to do that too."

"I don't know," Sabrina sighed. "This doesn't feel like an accident to me." Her gaze wandered from the water below to the egg she held in her arms. "I thought we'd go back to Thaylog and the others and I'd finally have a safe rookery for this little one." She looked back at him as a rueful smile crossed her face. "I guess the powers that be have decided to make us wait a little longer."

Madbrook drew closer to her so that their wing tips were almost touching. "Well if the powers that be find us something dry to land on before dawn, I might consider forgiving them. Otherwise-" he frowned "otherwise we may be in whole world of trouble."

*****

For once the gods of the sea were being kind, thought Xenos, as he adjusted the course of his ship--the Pheonix. The winds had been strong and constant ever since he had left Crete two nights ago. If all went well, he and his cargo of refugees would make landfall long before dawn. And not a moment too soon. For the past two days, as soon as the sun had risen above the horizon, the sea had followed suit and risen up the sides of the ship until it almost threatened to lap over the top. In hindsight, he knew he shouldn't have taken on board so many of the winged ones, but as always the look of fear on some of their faces--the constant glances they threw over their shoulders--had softened his heart and he had agreed to take them.

Putting aside the vessel's loading problems for a moment, Xenos let his gaze wander up to the stars. They as always remained his constant companions, guiding him on this oft traveled course. Tonight however, the stars were not alone in their place in the sky. Xenos frowned and pulled out his eyeglass. He hadn't been mistaken. There in the sky were two of the winged ones, and by the looks of things they were in trouble.

"Ho Dyocles!" he shouted to the deckhand who had fallen asleep below the ship's sails. "Light the lamps and go and rouse some of them downstairs."

Dyocles frowned and looked at his captain with puzzlement in his face. "Captain?"

"Up there!" Xenos pointed to what seemed to be only a slight smudge against the dark background to the stars. "We're going to be taking on extra passengers. Now move to it!" With that he pulled on the keel and changed the vessel's course. "Too soft m'lad," he muttered at himself. "Too soft."

Above the ship, the sight of torches came as a great relief to Madbrook and Sabrina. For hours now they had been gliding with no sign of land or a vessel. Exhaustion had begun to creep in, and there was a real danger that the pair would pass out and drown long before the rising of the sun sent them plummeting into the water below.

"Is it safe?" Sabrina asked peering at the ship below.

"Safe or not, it's our only option love," Madbrook said, reaching out and touching Sabrina on the shoulder before folding his wings and diving down towards the vessel. Moments later Sabrina followed suit.

As they drew closer they could see an old weather-worn human and a younger deckhand. Both humans were holding up lanterns and had their gaze trained on the two gargoyles. Much to Sabrina's surprise, neither of them showed much fear or surprise. Instead their faces showed something else. Could it be concern? She didn't get to ponder it further for the older human began to speak.

"Don't know what possessed ye t' attempt the crossing to the Haven on your own but yer welcome to finish it with us." He stepped back as the two gargoyles alighted on the deck.

The two gargoyles exchanged surprised looks  before turning to address the older human.

"Thank you," Madbrook said slowly. "There was a fire and we were stranded with no choice but to try to  make our own way."

Sabrina smiled at her mate's explanation. It was nothing but the truth, and it was obvious that the human took 'a fire' to mean that the vessel they were traveling in had caught fire and sunk. She didn't think that the true explanation was needed. Not now. "How far is the Haven?" she asked, not knowing what this haven was, but hoping that their unlikely rescuer would give them some clue.

"Couple of hours with a fair wind," was his reply. "And not before time. Some of the others are itching to stretch their wings."

"Wings?" Mabrook said, rubbing at the ache that had set in in his own. "What do you mean wings?"

His question was answered as the doors that led to below deck swung open and a mixture of gargoyles and--Sabrina frowned, halflings like herself?--came up on the deck to join them.

*****

"As each season passses we see more and more fleeing the mainland to come here." The female gargoyle shook her head. "It won't be long before this island is overcrowded. Even now tensions have been building, and after last night...." she turned and fixed her human companion with a stern glare. "Our people came to this island, Argo to escape all that."

The human  kept his gaze trained on the horizon. "That incident was regrettable, but you worry too much Ceridwen. The attempted theft of one of your eggs was a one off event. Never before have your people been given cause for concern. Besides," he glanced at Ceridwen. "We didn't interfere with your questioning of the man."

"For all that we could learn." Ceridwen turned slightly and glanced at the cliffs that rose behind her.  Here and there she could make out the airborne figures of gargoyles, her clan, gliding in the night sky. "Although we still have yet to learn how he escaped his bonds and why he preferred to take his own life."

"I doubt we shall ever know what went on in his mind."

"You humans are so complicated in your thoughts." Ceridwen shook her head. "I doubt I shall ever fully understand you." A shout from one of her clanmates above her directed the gargoyle's attention to the boat that now appeared on the horizon. "Where is Anemos?"

Argo smiled as he glanced over his shoulder and spotted a slight figure hurrying out between the pillars that led towards the inner port. "Late as usual. I think that sometimes she would be happier if she never left the vaults."

"Ah but she loves those scrolls." Ceridwen smiled as a slight wind picked up and Anemos arrived as if borne on it. The slight female was yet another example of the variety shown by her people. On the Greek mainland they had been called the Olympians by those who revered them, halflings by those who did not. In this day there were very few who called them Olympians.

"My apologies for being late," she said, moving a stray lock of hair out of her face. If it could be called hair.  While one might say that her hair flowed like water, the truth was that her hair was water. It cascaded down her back ending just above her waist in a chaotic mass of white spray. Around her forehead, the water was eternally trapped in small whirlpools that gave the impression of the tight curls that were so popular among the women of Greece. "Some of my scrolls seem to have been misplaced. I lost track of time until Gromer reminded me where I had to be."

"I think if it wasn't for that shapeshifter, we would never see hide nor hair of you," Argo chastised the smaller female, who hung her head and mumbled another apology. "That is the danger of spending your time keeping the lives of others on scrolls. You forget to live your own." He turned his back on the halfling, not noticing the frown that Ceridwen gave him.

"Now," he said, turning towards the sea and the vessel which had drawn ever closer. "Remember to get their names and where they came from. And Cerdiwen?" he said, turning to the tall female. "You will see to the welfare of your own kind?"

"That goes without question," she answered, striding towards the dock where the ship had now pulled in. "And what will you be doing, my friend?"

"Seeing to the needs of my kind. They risk so much to bring the refugees here."

"For which we are grateful. Still, sometimes I wonder if in keeping things apart as we do, we help keep the old feelings alive."

"It doesn't matter much if we keep them apart or not. Here in Atlantis,  we do what works. Nothing needs changing." And with that there was nothing more to say, as the travel-weary passengers disembarked from the Pheonix and the trio moved to greet them.

*****

The center of the island of Atlantis was dominated by a single tower that rose well above the domes and pillars of the building it was birthed from. From this vantage point a person could see all that went on in the island. This was exactly what one person was doing. Through an eye glass the robed figure watched the  mixture of gargoyles and Olympians disembark from the Pheonix. The figure emitted a growl and spat on the floor. "More beasts to the slaughter," he said.

Another figure, this one in white robes, joined him at the window. "Be at peace my friend. Such things will cease to matter soon." The figure peered through the eyeglass. "And look. Another gargoyle egg has arrived on the island. We shall have to choose a new method of obtaining one." White robes straightened and turned to his companion. "Maybe we should provide an adequate distraction this time?"

"My father's creations will be ready soon," he said. "I tested one a few nights ago, and save for one crazy beast, none were the wiser for their presence."

"Good." The one in white robes nodded, pleased with this news. "We shall try again tomorrow night and this time we will not fail." He looked up at the opening in the ceiling, beyond that the stars  held their own in the night sky. "It will soon be time for all of this to change, and we, my friend, will be the benefactors of the new world."

*******

"When the first gargoyles arrived on this island they made their home here on the cliffs," said Ceridwen, gesturing to the towering face of rock that rose above the small group. After a small welcome on the dockside, Ceridwen had led the group of gargoyles away from the main cluster of dwellings at the center of the island. "Since that time we have made it our own."

Sabrina, Madbrook and the five other gargoyles who had joined them looked up. At first what had seemed to be nothing more than openings in the cliff face were now revealed upon closer inspection to be a carefully constructed network of corridors and passages that had been cut into the rock. A number of pillars carved into the outer edge supported the roof of the tunnels, giving the impression of a balcony grown out of the rock. Ceridwen halted at the base of a set of steep steps that led up to the tunnels. There she was met by a slightly built male gargoyle whose feathered wings were caped about his shoulders.

"Ceridwen," he said, smiling and walking towards the small group. "I see you have been giving these travelers the story of our home."

"Not all," she replied, stepping forward and greeting him with a warriors handshake. "I think I shall leave all that to you, master story teller." She turned and introduced the newcomer to her group. "This is Calun, my second in command. If there is anything you need to know about the island you are better off asking him than I."

Calun smiled and bowed deeply. "I am but at the service of my clan. Speaking of which-" he straightened up, and turning, began to walk up the stairs, gesturing to the assembled group to follow him. "You must be weary from  your travels...." He paused as the gargoyles gave a mixture of nods and 'yes' in affirmation. "Therefore the clan has prepared a feast to welcome you all."

With that the group of nine gargoyles made their way up the stairs towards the gargoyles' cliffside settlement, Calun taking the lead while Ceridwen brought up the rear. Within a few minutes they had reached the top, and spread out below them were the lights of Atlantis.

"It looks so peaceful," said a beaked navy male as he took in the view. "Are the stories true? Are we safe here?" he turned and addressed the last question to Ceridwen. The others too turned to her with expectant looks on their faces.

Ceridwen was silent for a few moments, choosing her answer carefully before she spoke. "I have lived my entire life on this island and I have yet to experience the horrors that drove others to come here. This place is a haven for those who wish to escape the world outside, yet there have been 'incidents' brought on by those who refuse to leave their old prejudices behind them." She stopped and smiled, trying to reassure the worried and disappointed expressions that had appeared on the faces of some of those assembled. "But do not worry. Such things are rare here and justice is dispensed for all, gargoyle, Olympian or human. We all have that equal right on this island."

"Well!" Calun brought his hands together and smiled at the glum expressions before him. "Now is not the time for such serious thoughts. We have a celebration waiting in the main hall! All the horrors are behind you. The future is there to be embraced!" With that he pushed open the double of set of doors before him. Warm firelight flooded out to bathe the faces of the nine gargoyles, the inviting smell of roasting meats filled their nostrils and the happy, seemingly untroubled voices of a whole host of gargoyles welcomed them. It seemed as if Calun's words were true. The five gargoyles that had traveled in the boat with Sabrina and Madbrook smiled and followed Calun into the main hall. The two time traveling gargoyles, however, lingered at the doorway.

"Thank you for your hospitality Ceridwen," Sabrina said, smiling at the other female. "But I have one thing to attend to before we join the others."

"What is it?" Ceridwen had already moved away from the door and was heading towards another set of doors that marked the end of the open balcony. Standing guard at this door was a large male gargoyle, previously unnoticed by Sabrina and the others.

"I was wondering if there was somewhere warm where I could place my egg. This cool night air cannot be very good for it. Do you have a rookery?"

At the mention of those words a shadow passed over Ceridwen's face. However the raven-haired female quickly recovered and smiled  "Of course, my apologies. I should have seen to that before all else. Please, this way." She gestured towards the guarded doors.

As they reached them, Ceridwen hailed the guard. "How goes it Argus?"

"Well, my leader," he replied, nodding to Ceridwen and also acknowledging the presence of Sabrina and Madbrook. "Nothing untoward has dared approach our rookery since that night." He caught sight of the egg held protectively in Sabrina's arms and quickly amended, "And nothing ever will."

"With you standing guard I do not doubt that fact." Ceridwen smiled and pushed open the wooden door. Here Sabrina and Madbrook saw a flight of stone steps that led downwards and inwards. At intervals the way was lit by torches. Ceridwen frowned. "Is anyone down there?"

"Only your mother. She will not let the eggs out of her sight, claims that there are beasts prowling about the cliffs." He moved closer to Ceridwen and lowered his voice so that Madbrook and Sabrina couldn't hear him. "The thing is, she's starting to get some of our clan sisters on edge. They've been talking about looking for a new site for the rookery."

Ceridwen sighed and nodded. "Let me talk to her." She turned and smiled at Sabrina and Madbrook. "Please, this way," she said, gesturing towards the stairwell. Taking the lead the green gargess led the way down many stairs. Sabrina blinked as the light grew brighter. In her experience gargoyle rookeries had always been bathed in a low green glow. This bright torchlight was unexpected. She said nothing however as they reached the bottom of the stairs and the tunnel opened out into a low cavern. In the center was the 'nest' of the rookery itself, a raised well of rock lined with moss and lichens. In the nest lay twenty spotted gargoyle eggs, the future of the clan in the halls above.

As Argus had said, the eggs were not alone.  As the trio entered the rookery a female gargoyle looked up, startled into wakefulness by their arrival.

Ceridwen was the first to greet the female. "Sabrina, Madbrook, this is my mother, Nightshade."

The elderly pink-skinned, ram-horned gargess rose to meet them, her arms open wide as she embraced Ceridwen. "Ah daughter, newcomers. It does my heart good to see you safely here. The world outside is a deadly place, danger lurks in all places." She let her gaze wander over the brilliantly lit rookery before it fell once again on the trio. "Especially in the shadows."

******

Scroll-ladened alcove after scroll-ladened alcove faded into darkness as Anemos made her way down to her own corner of the labyrinth-like library of Atlantis. There were no torches down this way, the librarians had forbidden it in fear that one stray spark or carelessly discarded torch would start a blaze that would consume centuries' worth of literature. Therefore light was provided by magically enchanted light globes. However Anemos had no need of those. The light that surrounded her was of her own making, a pale blue glow that illuminated her and shed light on her surroundings. Tonight she would have need of it as there was much to do. She had to make a copy of the names of the newcomers which would be given to the council. The original would take it's place among the numerous other records of the islands inhabitants. A record that now was incomplete. One of the scrolls made by her predecessor had vanished. As she neared the alcove she had made her home, Anemos pulled up. A faint glow was emanating out into the corridor. Someone was in her alcove. Her heart quickened as a thought barged into the fore of her mind. Someone was stealing more scrolls! The Olympian's eyes narrowed. She would not have this! Around her a wind blew as if pulled in from the farthest reaches of the earth. Thus armed, Anemos strode forward, determined  to protect her scrolls at all costs. Turning the corner she pulled herself up to her full height and prepared to meet the intruder. What she did not expect to see was a rat happily curled around a light globe, obviously enjoying a quick nap.

As suddenly as it had picked up, the wind died down and Anemos placed her hands on her hips and scowled at the rat. "Gromer!"

The rat started and looked up at Anemos, a sheepish expression crossing it's furry features as it uncurled itself  and leapt down from the table. As it descended a change took place. The rat grew in size, it's snout vanished along with it's fur. In a mere matter of moments it had gone from rat to an embarrassed Olympian. The obsidian blackness of his eyes twinkled as he raised his hand. "Umm, greetings?" he said, a hopeful note in his voice.

"Greetings indeed," huffed Anemos, her expression and stance unchanged. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going to go to the gargoyles' caverns?"

"I was," he said rubbing at the back of his hairless head. "But I remembered you were worried that more scrolls would go missing, so I thought I'd hang around till you got back."

"I appreciate that," said Anemos, her expression softening. "But don't you think guarding is a task better accomplished while awake?"

"Well that orb gives off heat as well as light. I guess it made me sleepy." Gromer smiled. "Sorry about that." He swept a few errant rat hairs from the table as Anemos placed  the scroll she had been carrying down on his recently vacated spot. "So how many new arrivals?" he asked, unrolling the scroll and peering at his friend's writing.

"Twelve," she said, deftly snatching the scroll from his hands and smoothing a crease out. "Seven gargoyles and five Olympians." She sighed, a sadness coming into her blue eyes. "It's the same story. They have lost clan, family, all because the humans refuse to accept them. Soon there will be little left of either race on the mainland."

"And if they keep coming here then it won't be long before everyone starts squabbling over what little space is left," Gromer added. "I've heard a few of our kind mention that now may be the time to move on from Atlantis."

Anemos looked up from the scroll in surprise. "Move on? To where?"

Gromer leaned forward, a spark igniting in his eyes. "They say there's an island, a secret island. One the humans won't have a foothold on."

She looked back down at the names and histories on her scrolls. All because of the humans. "What about the humans here?"

"Umm, Anemos, the humans have the rest of the world to call their own. I think by right we should have our own place. Even if it is a small island."

"But isn't Atlantis our place?" Anemos rolled up the scroll and laid it on the table. "And besides, all my scrolls are here.  So much history, so many life stories." She straightened up, a determined look on her face. "I will be where they are, and besides, no one comes down here: gargoyle, Olympian or human."

Gromer held up his hands palm outwards and smiled. "Hey, hey. I'm not going to argue with you on that account. I just thought you'd like the know the gossip topside."

"I know, but I have no time for gossip," Anemos said, sweeping her arm over the scroll-ladened table. "I have a missing scroll to locate."

Gromer peered at the scrolls and then turned and let his gaze wander over shelf after shelf of scrolls and parchments. "You know which one?"

Anemos nodded. "One from ....  years ago. It was one of the bigger scrolls. So many people came that year that the librarian before me had to request extra parchment."

"Old huh." Gromer shrugged. "You've been looking for it for the better part of today and there's no sign of it right?"

Anemos nodded. "No sign."

"Then may I suggest that it will be just as lost in an hour's time?" Gromer held up his hand as Anemos began to object. "Let me finish. You need a break. The gargoyles are having a feast for the newcomers and Calun told me we're more than welcome to join them."

"Thank you but I must decline." She smiled as a memory floated to the surface of her mind. "Besides, I know what will happen if you and Calun start your wine drinking contests again. That is a sight I don't think I want to see again."

"But-"

"Each of my scrolls is important to me my friend," she said. "And I will not be able to relax or enjoy myself until I have found them."

"Ok," said Gromer, finally giving in. He knew that once Anemos had made a decision she would not be swayed from it. "But I'm going to bring you some food back when I return. You need all the strength you can get for scroll searching."

She smiled as she sat down at the table. "Thank you," she said, reaching for a quill and a fresh piece of parchment. "Now go," she added, "before your winged friends eat all the food."

"I can't have that!" exclaimed Gromer as he picked up the light globe and raced away.

In the pitch blackness Anemos sighed and quickly a blue glow surrounded her. She would have liked to have gone to the feast, but for now there was work to be done. There would be other feasts, other days. With that she dipped the quill in ink and began to copy the notes she had made at the docks.

*****

The plaza was deserted when Gromer emerged on the surface. The humans and Olympians of the island were by now all sleeping soundly. The gargoyles however were out in force. In the distance he could see winged figures gliding as they patrolled the island. Within the cliffs themselves he could see torchlight blazing out into the night. Gromer grinned and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. There was no way that he was going to let Calun best him tonight. He had the perfect strategy. He wasn't allowed to shapeshift into anything but another gargoyle during these drinking contests, but no one had mentioned anything about a little internal shapeshifting. A little tricky maybe, he told himself, but not against the rules per se.

Now came the question of how he was going to get there. If he walked, the night would be over before he reached the cliffs. It was better, he decided, to take the more direct route. Gromer closed his eyes and focused on an image in his mind. It wasn't the grandest of shapes, but tonight speed was favoured over any flashy entrance. A few moments later and it was done. A seabird now stood in the spot once occupied by the Olympian. Within moments he was airborne and soaring across the island.

It was times like these that Gromer felt grateful for his shapeshifting abilities. Without it there were places on the island he would have never had access to, the gargoyles' home included. He remembered the night when, as a youngling, he had assumed the form of a gargoyle and had snuck into their cliffside dwelling. It was from that experience that he learned that just looking like a creature was not enough. Even though the transformation had been perfect, his scent had betrayed him. It had taken a few minutes but the gargoyles knew that he was not one of their own and so had been forced to reveal himself. If it had not been for the compassion of their young female leader, Gromer suspected that he would have not gotten off as easily as he had.

In a few minutes he had reached the center of the island, and below him the main tower had caught his attention. Usually bathed in darkness at this time of night, the top of the tower was awash with light. Curious, Gromer wondered who else could be up at this time of night. Humans most likely. Still, Gromer pondered this for a moment. It wouldn't hurt to fly down and have a quick glance, a few seconds to satisfy his curiosity and then he would be on his way. As soon as it was decided, Gromer put his plan into action, alighting on the roof of the tower a few moment later. He'd always been told that the upper rooms of the tower were inhabited by human stargazers, the large opening in the roof that he now approached seemed to confirm this. But if they were star gazing here then what was the need for so much light? Surely that would ruin their night vision and prevent them from seeing all that the night sky had to offer.

Reaching the edge of the opening, he peered down and expected to see scrolls, chairs, eyeglasses, strange equipment...stargazing things. What he did see, however, seemed to have nothing to do with the stars. The floor was taken up by what seemed to be a large circular dais made out of a dark marble. At six points on the outer edge were symbols carved into the rock. He didn't know what the symbols represented but the mere sight of them was enough to send shivers down his avian spine. In the center of the dais was a small circular depression. Gromer had no idea what that was for. Before possible answers could form, voices caught the Olympian's attention. Straining to get a better look, he managed to make out a wooden table at the far end of the room. Like the table in Anemos' study, it was covered in scrolls, and Gromer felt some of the tenseness drain away from him. This was more like it, scholars pouring over scrolls. He looked more closely at the two 'scholars' at the table. It was hard to tell who they were, the robes they wore disguised most of their features. Now and again one of the figures would raise an arm and gesture at the dais. The other would either nod or shake it's head and the discussion would begin again.

Gromer turned his attention back to the dais and the symbols. Perhaps they were working out a new way to mark time or the seasons. Faint scents of cooking meat on the breeze caused his stomach to rumble. Ah but he was hungry! Gromer cast one last glance at the scene below and then took off. If they were scholars at work then he was better off not intruding. If they were anything like Anemos, any interruptions would not be met in his favour. Besides, there was roast meat and wine waiting for him at the cliffs.

******

The shadowbeast watched the seabird fly away and growled in frustration. It had been so close! A few moments more and it would have been able to drag the shapeshifter's carcass back to it's master. Knowing what it had to do, the beast crawled down the side of the building and through an open window.

There were people who had to know about this.

*****

As the night wore on, Madbrook and Sabrina found themselves relaxing and then, to their own surprise, actually enjoying the night. It was hard not to. Since bidding goodbye to Nightshade, Ceridwen had escorted the pair back to the main hall. There they had barely crossed the threshold before a number of taloned hands grasped their own in greeting, those same hands then steering them towards a table ladened with food and wine. Somewhere in the smoky haze of the main hall, a drum and pipes maintained the rhythm of the evening.

Here Sabrina was in her element.  Unable to resist, she found herself swaying to the music and soon joined some of the other females in an impromptu ground-based version of the sky dance. Several times she danced over to her mate and tried to get him to join, and each time Madbrook smiled and shook his head. For now he was content to just stand and watch the festivities around him. Never before had he witnessed such a large gathering of gargoyles. He looked up and smiled as a pair of gargoyles burst into laughter before consuming what seemed to be a large draught of wine. One he recognized as Ceridwen's second in command, the other was a gargoyle he hadn't seen before, which considering the size of the clan wasn't surprising. Ignoring the old adage that 'three was a crowd', he walked over to join them, side-stepping now and again to avoid a collision with some of the more vigorous dancers.

Calun spotted him moments before he reached the pair. "Madbrook! Right?"

The beaked gargoyle grinned as he raised his hand in greeting. "You remembered?"

"Course I did!" said Calun, cheerfully slapping him on the back. "Got a memory like the stars. Always been there and never going to go away."

"And like the stars, once the sun comes up it's nowhere to be found," his companion added, quickly dodging a playful punch from Calun.

"Don't mind Gromer," Calun said. "I think it's a well know fact that Olympians can't hold their wine. Gets to what little brains they have in no time at all."

"Oylmpian?" exclaimed Madbrook. "But you don't-"

"Look like an Olympian?" Gromer finished and grinned. "Guess my shape shifting abilities must be improving if a gargoyle can't tell the difference. Or maybe it just has something to do with your kind's ability to hold their wine." He finished shooting a sly glance at Calun. "Anyway," he continued, extending his hand out towards Madbrook. The beaked gargoyle extended his own and the two shook hands. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too," Mabrook returned. He looked up as the players changed the tune and many of the dancers, exhausted but in high spirits, migrated towards the food. Seconds later, Sabrina emerged from the crowd to join the trio. Once again introductions were made and the four made themselves comfortable as a new set of dancers took to the floor.

"So what do you think of Atlantis so far, my friends?" Calun asked as he passed two goblets filled with wine to Madbrook and Sabrina.

The halfling female took a sip of the wine before answering. "I've heard a lot about this island. From stories," she added, seeing the curious expression on Calun's face. "But I think those stories left the best of the island out. It's..." she paused, trying to find the right words to use. "It's as if this place is given the reputation of being legend, but I think I find this reality a lot more warming."

"And is that this place or the wine?" Calun asked with a small laugh. "But seriously not all nights are like this. We usually only have celebrations like this to welcome newcomers and on the solstices. The rest of the time we guard the island and keep watch over the comings and goings of ships and boats."

"And who keeps watch on nights like this?" Sabrina asked, remembering the guard at the rookery.

"Some, like Argus, volunteer. For the rest, we usually take turns to watch during each of the celebrations. No one really misses out in the end."

Madbrook nodded. "It sounds like a fair deal." He sat back with a contented smile. "I think I'm going to enjoy my visit here."

"Visit?" Gromer set his wine goblet on the ground and looked at the beaked gargoyle. "Surely you're not planning to go anywhere else?"

"Not planning, no," Madbrook said, exchanging glances with Sabrina. "But who knows what time and fate have planned."

"If we knew that sort of thing, we'd be in a position to help a lot of people," Calun mused. "We could let the farmers know if a dry summer was coming so that they could save much of their grain.  We would know if anyone was going to attack the island. We'd know what was coming for good or for ill and we'd be able to prepare." His expression grew more melancholy as an old memory came to the fore. "If my birth clan had known what was coming, we would have abandoned our caves long before the earth swallowed them up during the day."Well, we can't know, so what's the use moping about it?" Gromer asked, leaning over Calun and snatching his now empty wine goblet away from him. "We live in the present and take the future as it comes, right?" he said, looking at Sabrina and Madbrook.

The two timetravelers exchanged worried glances. What indeed would someone do if they knew, for example, that this very island would--according to legend--be swallowed up by the sea.

What indeed?