Seeking a Path

Elisa wrapped her arms around Goliaths neck quickly. He jumped off the ledge without much preamble. Suppose he figures I'm used to this.

That heart-rending moment, where all she could see was the long, long line of a building, terminating at the ground far below - quickly getting closer - never got easier. Sure, they'd been doing it for years now, both with her having time to steel her nerves and without. Never got easier.

She swallowed a scream this time. Wasn't hard. She had practice.

Goliath angry spooked even her. Elisa pressed her nose against the pounding of his coratid artery, wishing she could help steady it. She guessed that part of his short temper now was her fault from earlier. He would need time to himself, perhaps with his books, before he truly calmed down.

The trip across the street took a little longer than usual, the crosswinds against them tonight. When they landed, Elisa wiggled free. Goliath looked behind him as Lex touched down.

"Goliath, please." Lex sounded so young when he tried to negotiate, like he was used to not getting his way but wanting it, even if it made no sense. "He just wants to be left alone."

Elisa stepped away from them as she felt the beginnings of full-blown war. Yeah, she'd set the Big Guy off, and now Lex was paying for it.

Well, she could use that as a distraction to find this new gargoyle, anyhow.

With Goliath practically roaring his frustration, Elisa made her way around the outer edge of the roof. Lex'd chosen well, she thought, this one had strange little storage sheds covering the surface. His friend could hide easily around any of them.

"Hello? Are you here?"

Elisa saw a short flash of red eyes in the dark. Aaah, a female friend.

"Lex said that he wouldn't..."

"I'm sorry. Goliath is having a bad night. Lex is keeping him busy. I'm Elisa." She purposefully stood where the light could get to her. The gargoyle stood in shadows a moment longer, then stepped out so she could see.

Something... off. Around Elisa's height, maybe a little taller. A new wing configuration, no, she'd seen it before, on Avalon. Dark, dark green skin that almost couldn't be seen for the shadows. Hands open and relaxed at the sides. Clothing obviously borrowed from someone in the Labyrinth, ill-fitting and worn to shreds, but covering the necessary parts. Seeing a gargoyle in modern clothing looked down right strange. She wondered how they'd managed to fit that short, lashing tail into the pants. Or the wings into the button down shirt, for that matter.

"I'm Cailean." The voice low, soft, melodic, and young. "You were the human who came to Avalon with Goliath and Bronx."

"Yes, although, I'm afraid I don't remember you."

The head dipped, eyes averted. Embarrassed?

"I was hiding."

"Hiding?"

"Well, I spent most of my time studying with the Magus, then during the fights... I'm no good in battle, so I hid."

"We're all protective in different ways, Cailean. Learning, keeping records, is one way of protecting your history." The comments earned Elisa a shy smile. "So, Lex says you got hurt?"

"No, I'm healing, I'm fine."

"May I see?"

Thin, small hands came up, protectively, then slowly dropped. Elisa heard a particularly loud comment from Goliath, and some back talk from Lex. Cailean looked over in their direction, then back to Elisa.

"I guess." Cailean stepped closer. Talons shaking as they worked at the buttons. Elisa finally lent a more steady hand. She touched the young gargoyle gently on the shoulder, tilting the body so the odd lighting would play over the skin. She gasped as what she saw.

Dark green skin gave way to pink scars. Ragged, raw looking, a couple sections opening like someone had sneezed through a tissue paper.

Elisa swallowed. They didn't look like fresh wounds, no blood, but then again, considering how quickly gargoyles healed while they slept, this might only be a few days old.

"Does it look that bad?"

Elisa looked up into glistening eyes. The gargoyle's bottom lip was drawn in, a tooth showing as it got gnawed on.

"Oh my." Things suddenly started to click. "You weren't born with the name Cailean, were you?"

"No." The face tensed, a tear streaking down now. Elisa used a corner of the shirt to wipe her face, his face.

Elisa had seen a lot on the streets. Humans came in every flavor, why not gargoyles? Probably the only reason she hadn't seen someone... different before was that there just weren't that many gargoyles. Even on their travels, visiting so many clans, they all dwindled. Even if some were inclined that way, they probably couldn't do anything about it for fear of their species dying out.

Elisa's arms were around the young gargoyle, holding him tight. Oh boy. What to do.

"Elisa?" she heard Goliath, calling from the other side. Crud. No, they wouldn't discover this one without getting a talking to, first.

"Just a sec, Big Guy!" Elisa pulled back, quickly did up the buttons on Cailean's shirt. "Just having a little chat with our new clan member. I'll be right back over."

"Elisa, I'm not staying...."

"To hell your not," Elisa gentled her words with a grin. She dug into her purse and pulled out her Tylenol, the reason Lex'd risked bringing this one out in the first place. Did Lex know? Surely. He's a smart kid. That's why he wasn't ready for Goliath to see him. Probably wanted the new one to get a better chance to heal. "Take two of these every three or four hours, for the pain. Get Maggie to clean that out thoroughly then tape you up, she should know what to do, and for heaven's sakes, don't lift anything for a while! You need to let your skin heal. I'd hate to see what's under all that. Can you fly?" How would she call a taxi for him?

"I can fly. It hurts less than climbing."

"Good. If it hurts, don't do it for a while, okay? I've pulled some hum-dingers in my time, and rest is always the best medicine."

"Elisa, who-" Elisa spun around and put a hand on Goliath's chest. She felt the younger gargoyle retreat back to the shadows. "Who were you talking to?" His voice deceivingly gentle. The kind of gentle where he knows he's going to get his way.

"None of your business. Now, will you give me a lift back home? Its getting late, and I really need to get out of this getup."

His eyes quested above her head again, but obviously caught nothing.

Lex looked as pale as she'd ever seen him. She gave him a little thumbs up as Goliath hoisted her up again.

"I'll speak with you again before dawn at the watch tower," Goliath said, finally, to Lex. She could see him gulp.

Elisa shut her eyes tight as they did that stomach churning drop. Never got easier.