Princess Katherine was wandering the castle grounds, eagerly awaiting the sunset that would free her children from their stone bindings. The time was near, as the sun was slowly descending in the west. She made her way to the castle walls, where Tom was already standing guard, ever vigilant, ever wary for threats to the Gargoyles he had pledged to defend. She walked up to him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder; he turned to her and smiled warmly.
"Good evening, M'lady." Tom said, as he returned his gaze to the falling sun.
"How is Avalon?" She asked, thinking about how different things had been since Oberon had called his children home for "The Gathering". Avalon was no longer the quiet place it had once been, especially since Oberon returned the Banshee’s voice to her.
"It has been quiet since Oberon returned from his quest to Goliath’s city. All of his children have abided by his command." Tom removed his helmet. It felt good to have the heavy steel off of his head. His eyes returned to the sun. "It's time," he said as he turned to face the statues that stood in formidable poses, facing outwards, towards any potential threats to the castle they live to protect.
As soon as the sun had dipped below the horizon, the statues began to crack as the creatures below the stone form began to stir. The stone shards then exploded from the gargoyles as they stretched, giving somewhere between a yawn and a roar as they stretched, working out the kinks from their stone hibernation. Tom took a step back as one of the gargoyles turned towards him, stepping down from his perch on the battlements. "Thank you for watching over us, guardian." Tom smiled, not a day went by that the gargoyles did not express their gratitude to him.
"A pleasure as always, Gabriel." Tom replied to the gargoyle, tilting his head, inviting Gabriel to accompany him. Gabriel began to walk with Catherine and Tom, and they soon arrived at the castle's keep, wherein several gargoyles were preparing the evening’s meal. It was soon after the meal had been prepared that all of the gargoyles were in attendance, save the few that were guarding the walls, were in attendance and discussing what had been happening on the island recently. Gabriel had been observing his brothers and sisters since they had begun the feast and noticed one was missing, which was becoming a regular occurrence.
A part of Gabriel’s mind took note of each of his siblings as they entered the hall for supper. At last, everyone--almost everyone--was present. Gabriel’s mouth twisted in frustration. He smoothed the expression and returned to his conversation with Princess Katherine. Precisely twenty minutes after sunset, Garrow glided to a landing just outside the hall. Gabriel beckoned to his second-in-command as Garrow entered.
Garrow strode to the head table and bowed to the Princess and Tom, then addressed Gabriel. “What do you need, my leader?”
“Garrow, while performing your survey of the castle’s defenses, did you see Finlay?”
“Aye, he was up on the northern tower again, mooning about.”
Gabriel’s brows lowered and he gave a sigh. “Very well. Thank you, Garrow.” He sketched a bow toward the Princess. “Katherine, if you will forgive my rudeness in leaving so soon?”
Katherine nodded graciously to him. “Gabriel. . .”
He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Be kind to Finlay. The wanderlust preys upon him, and that is not easy to bear for man nor gargoyle.”
Gabriel bowed low to her. “I shall keep that in mind, Princess.”
*****<<<<<
Finlay sat on the battlements of the northern tower. He chose this spot for one reason, the view. He had a perfect view of Avalon’s sea, and he could never help but wonder, what amazing wonders lay just beyond its emerald veil...
He felt a small gust of wind behind him, causing his long hair to flow out before him, followed by the sound of a gargoyle clasping their wings, he turned to face the arrival. "Well met, Gabriel." Finlay said with a smile as he returned his gaze to the sea.
"It is not your turn to stand watch tonight, Finlay." Gabriel said.
Finlay couldn't suppress a chuckle.
"You know I do not come here to stand watch, so to speak." Gabriel sighed as he walked over and sat down beside Finlay.
"I know brother, so why do you come here?" He said, gesturing to the tower’s surroundings.
"To think," Finlay said as he rose to his feet. "I just want to know what lies beyond." He said, gesturing to the sea, Gabriel then understood, he had felt the same when Angela had left with Goliath.
"So you wish to follow Angela's footsteps and leave?" he said as he gazed out towards the sea, once again noticing its enchanted beauty.
Finlay hung his head, feeling ashamed before whispering, "Yes..." His shoulders slumped and his arms fell limply to his side. "But a gargoyle protects, and I do not wish to abandon my clan." Gabriel understood this feeling, he too wished to go on a grand adventure, meet the other clans that Goliath had told them about, but he had a responsibility to his clan to keep the them together. Finlay didn’t have this responsibility, he could leave if he wanted, but Gabriel didn’t understand why he hadn’t.
"Finlay, if it is what you wish, you have our permission to leave." The gargoyle turned to his rookery brother, making solid eye-contact.
"A gargoyle prote-" Gabriel silenced Finlay with a wave of his hand.
"I know the old saying as well as you do. ’A gargoyle can no more stop defending the castle than stop breathing the air’ But this castle needs no defenders. We all know that if a threat comes Oberon would destroy it, our titles of 'Guardians of Avalon' are just that... a title." Finlay was confused, he had always felt it was his duty to remain here, with his clan, protecting his home, yet he was being given an opportunity to follow his dreams, he had to think.
"I... I need to think."
Gabriel patted him on the back.
"Take your time brother, but remember, you have the clan’s support." Finlay smiled, a smile which Gabriel had never recalled seeing before, before turning and leaping off the wall, flexing his wings and taking to the sky, Gabriel watched him angle towards the castle’s keep, silently wishing him luck no matter what his decision may be.
******<<<<<
Finlay landed in the castle courtyard, unsure of what he should do, though he longed for an adventure, a part of him still felt as though he had to remain with his clan. You should remain with your kin. He could hear the more logical part of his mind say.
But you have been granted permission to leave, you should not remain where you do not feel you belong! The less rational more impulsive side responded.
He spent the next few minutes internally arguing with himself, before his logical side eventually gave into his heart's desire, "Farewell, Avalon..." he said as he took one last look at his surroundings, before leaving to inform the clan of his decision to leave.
******<<<<<
Finlay spent the next several hours going around to each of his clan, informing them of his decision to leave and was surprised when not a single one had any objections, most actually commended him or wished him luck. It wasn't until he reached Princess Catherine and Tom, the gargoyles guardian that he had his doubts. He slowly walked to their bed chambers, hoping his courage wouldn't fail him now.
He gently pushed the door open, and was a little confused by what he saw. Both Tom and Katherine were waiting for him, sitting on ornate looking armchairs in front of the room’s fireplace. He entered the room, but remained silent, unsure of how to proceed. The silence quickly became unbearable, prompting Katherine to rise from her seat and slowly make her way over to Finlay, giving him a loving embrace, such as a mother would give her child.
"Oh Finlay, you've grown up so much..." She said, releasing him from her embrace. Tom then also made his way over to them, stopping and waiting for the Princess to release her grip on the gargoyle before speaking.
"Gabriel told us of your decision lad," he said in a cheery tone, "And I too think its about time you followed your heart’s desire," Tom extended his hand to Finlay, which was blatantly ignored as Finlay lifted the armour-clad guardian off of his feet, giving him a crushing hug.
"Thank you guardia-," He stopped himself. "thank you Tom and you Katherine, for watching over me since I hatched all those years ago." He placed Tom down, and Katherine couldn't hold back a chuckle at watching the soldier catch his breath. “Remember when we used to lift them?” Katherine said to Tom, who then also began to laugh.
“Aye, but that was a long time ago.” Tom said, after regaining his composure.
"It has been a pleasure to care for you and your brothers and sisters Finlay," The Princess said. "but please remember this : 'The world is a dangerous place' it is not like Avalon so please, be careful."
"I promise I will, Mother." Upon hearing this Katherine gave him a wide smile, yet he could still see tears forming in her eyes, before lifting her arms and gently, playfully shooing him out the door.
"Well go on then, an adventure awaits you!"
******<<<<<<
Finlay arrived back at the northern tower, to gather the gather the only possession he desired, or that meant anything to him, namely his journal, only to find Gabriel sitting on the battlements, a small pack laid out beside him, as though he was going to be travelling.
"Brother, are you OK?" Finlay inquired as he made his way over to the distracted-looking gargoyle.
Gabriel never took his eyes off of the sea as he spoke, "I understand, you know." He shifted slightly, raising the bag to Finlay, who accepted it, gingerly throwing the leather straps over his large wings, ensuring that it would not interfere with his ability to fly.
Gabriel sighed.
Finlay crouched down and placed a hand on his brother. "So why not come with me?"
"Because it is not my place," He said, pushing himself to his feet. "be careful Finlay, and good luck." He said, extending his hand, which Finlay accepted, both of them firmly gripping each other by the wrists.
"Thank you, brother." Finlay then walked to the ledge from which he had taken flight from earlier. Before taking to the sky once again and angling towards the beach.
*****<<<<<
It only took a few moments for Finlay to reach the beach, he could see a small vessel on its sandy shore, he proceeded to land beside it and it took only a moment for him to push the small skiff into the sea, climbing aboard he recited the spell that Tom had spoken when he went to search for Goliath.
"Vocate venti fortunate ex rege Oberonis et hic navis flugem regate ad orae Avalonis." He suddenly felt heavier as a thick and unnatural fog quickly encompassed the boat, but he did not panic as this had been expected, as it began to violently rock as the calm seas had become inexplicably violent. As the sea began to settle, though the fog remained, Finlay could not help but wonder, where would his destination be? What was it that Tom had always said? Avalon sends you where you are needed, not where you wish to go...
A few moments later the fog cleared, revealing a shoreline in very close proximity to Finlay’s skiff, he sailed to shore, and securely pulled it out of the water, noticing that he was on the shore of a river bank. Finlay then turned around, only to come face to face with a large bear...a VERY LARGE blue bear.
"Of course..." Finlay muttered as the bear reared back. Finlay quickly dived to the side as the bear brought its full weight where he had been standing, unfortunately destroying the skiff. Now how do I leave?! Shot through his mind before he quickly returned his attention to the bear.
Finlay immediately realised there was no way he could fight this thing, the bear was easily ten times his size and glowing a dark shade of blue, it looked more like a beast of legend than a bear, so he grudgingly turned and retreated into the forest that the bear must have come from. After a few minutes of running he realised there was no sound of pursuit, eventually realising something that large must not real care for a morsel like him, Perhaps I was trespassing? .And once again the realisation that he could no longer leave set in. Now how do I return to Avalon? He thought and after a few minutes of venting his rage, (At the cost of several trees) he began to look for whatever gods-forsaken reason Avalon could have sent him here.
He soon found his way out of the forest, arriving at what appeared to be a meadow of grass and blooming flowers, it was certainly a lot nicer and peaceful than the forest he had just emerged from and in the distance he could see lights, not unlike the castle at nights torch's.
Perhaps I could seek shelter there... He thought as he could feel dawn rapidly approaching, he made his way through the meadow, before suddenly hearing the familiar sound of something flying behind him. Finlay turned rapidly only to be tackled to the ground by a large, midnight blue... horse?!
"THOU SHALT LEAVE THIS LAND AT ONCE MONSTER, OR YOU SHALL SUFFER MY WRA-" Finlay managed to look up and locked eyes with the creature, who appeared to have stopped abruptly and now had a confused look plastered on its face. "Finlay?" The creature said in a much quieter voice.
"Who are y-" Finlay attempted to speak, only to be cut off by dawns rays, once again confining him to his stone form.
*****<<<<<
Princess Luna looked down at the creature before her, which had now turned to stone, and a smile slowly grew on her face. The only thing she could think of to say, "It's good to see you again."
