"OOOF!" In a cloud of dust the tan colored gargoyle hit the ground face first, much to the amusement of his rookery siblings.

'Battle training!' he thought. 'Give me an axe or sword anytime.' This new form of unarmed combat, brought to their lands by travelers from the east, didn't suit him at all. He scrambled to his feet, giving his siblings a look of mock indignation as he shook his pale yellow hair from his face. He turned and faced his opponent, a slender pink skinned gargoyle female, horns sweeping back over her long black hair. She was pretty by any gargoyle's standards. She winked, a small smile playing across her lips as she assumed a battle crouch, and for probably the hundredth in a fortnight, Flynt felt a strange pleasant sensation wash over him.

The female gargoyle leapt towards him, but this time Flynt was ready. He grasped Nightshade's arm, neatly flipping her to the ground before pouncing on top, straddling her with his weight.

"Ha! Gotcha!!" he cried.

Nightshade looked up at him. "Really?" She asked.

The next second Flynt's world turned upside down. Suddenly *he* was flat on his back, and *she* was straddling him! The tan gargoyle rolled his eyes and started grinning.

"Alright, alright. You win." He said looking at the form seated on his chest.

The pair stared into each other's eyes, neither of them in a great hurry to move. Her closeness felt exhilarating. Several seconds passed, before a voice cut into Flynt's thoughts.

"You're not planning on staying there all night, are you?" It was Athol, the clan leader. Slightly embarrassed, the pair hurriedly got to their feet.

The old, heavyset brown gargoyle managed to hide his smile, though his eyes gave away his emotions.

"That will be enough for training tonight." He said, as he turned towards the clan. "And there's work still to be done. So hurry up. The sooner its done the sooner you can all go about your business."

The clan began to disperse, heading off to their allotted tasks. Nightshade gave Flynt a small smile. He returned the gesture and watched as she headed off across the courtyard of the keep. He hardly noticed the brown haired, slate colored gargoyle that came and stood alongside.

"How's you head?"

"What?" Flynt turned.

"How's your head?" Errel repeated with a smile. "You fell on it enough times."

A snort from his friend was Errel's only reply.

"She fights well." Errel said.

"Uh-ha." Flynt replied

"Pretty too."

Flynt smiled.

"So." Errel continued. "You going to ask her or what? The way you two have been making eyes at each other these past couple weeks..."

The tan gargoyle flushed "I ..um.... Shouldn't we be helping the blacksmith tonight?" He said, quickly changing the subject and starting towards the smithy's shop.

Still grinning Errel followed his rookery brother.

The sun slowly slipped below the horizon, painting the sky a vivid orange-red. One by one the gargoyles perched about the keep's wall roared to life, shattering the stone skin that enveloped their bodies during the day's stone hibernation. Flynt shook the last of the stone fragments from his wings and glided from his position on the wall down to the courtyard to join his siblings. He nodded to a pair of soldiers as he landed. They curtly returned his nod and hurried on their way. The tan gargoyle shook his head. Though he had lived here since he was hatched thirty two years ago, Flynt believed he would never understand humans. Some were openly afraid, most barely tolerated his kind. Most but not all. The blacksmith treated all the gargoyles as he would a friend, as did the Duke of the keep. It was the Duke's father who was responsible for the clan living in the keep in the first place. Many years ago, before Flynt and his rookery siblings were born, the clan lived in the rocky hill slopes nearby. It was a time of civil unrest with skirmishes between the petty Dukedoms and provinces common. The old Duke of Storm Keep had come to an arrangement with the clan. In return for providing a safe place to sleep during the day, the clan would help aid in protecting them during the night. Though there were no longer any major disputes, the Duke's son had kept the arrangement. Now the gargoyles mainly served as scouts, patrolling the surrounding area for bandits or any unusual occurrences.

Athol was about to allocate the tasks for the night when one of the Duke's messengers appeared. He made his way through and addressed the gargoyle leader.

"The Duke wishes to see you immediately. It is a matter of urgency."

"Curious." The old gargoyle muttered. He indicated for the young man to lead the way. "I'll be back shortly." He said as he turned to follow the messenger, leaving the clan exchanging puzzled looks among themselves.

"He's back." Errel clapped Flynt on the shoulder and the pair headed back to the courtyard. Athol waited 'til the clan had assembled. He cleared his throat and began to speak.

"You're all aware of the livestock that has gone missing lately." The were several nods of assent from among the clan. For the past two months, cattle, sheep and goats had been mysteriously disappearing. Patrols by humans and gargoyles had so far come up with nothing.

"Last night," Athol continued, " A human farmer went missing. His mate and several of the villagers spoke with the Duke today. Apparently this farmer had heard a commotion near his sheep and went to investigate. That was the last anyone saw of him."

"Maybe he interrupted the thieves and they did away with him." One of the clan suggested.

"I don't think so." Errel replied. "We've searched high and low and found no signs of bandits or thieves anywhere."

Athol raised his hand. "There's more. The Duke sent some of his men out today. They found what was left of this farmer's cloak near Darken Wood. He has asked if we would help with the search and hopefully get to the bottom of this."

"Flynt.." Athol turned to the tan gargoyle. " I want you to take a patrol out and see what you can find."

"Alright." Flynt turned to Errel and nodded, then selected four other gargoyles to accompany them.

"Flynt, it might be wise to take weapons, just in case." Errel said.

"My thoughts exactly." The group started towards the armory when a voice from behind brought Flynt up short.

"I'm coming too." Flynt turned. Nightshade stood in front of him, hands on her hips. "Besides." She said as she came up to the tan gargoyle. "Isn't seven warriors better than six?" She flashed him a smile and walked past. Errel unsuccessfully tried to hide a grin.

"You can add 'spirited' to the list too.' He said

Flynt gave his rookery brother a playful shove to send him on his way.

A short time later the group alighted at the outskirts of Darken Wood. This patrol would have to be done on foot. The treetops overlapped, making any reliable sighting by air virtually impossible. All were armed with short swords and spears save Nightshade and Flynt. The female gargoyle carried a long bladed dagger strapped to her thigh and a short bow. A quiver of arrows hung from her back. Flynt carried a short handled battleaxe. He was the only one in the clan to use such a weapon. The others shunned the heavy weapon, feeling it was too wieldy and cumbersome, but Flynt liked its weight and feel and had learned to used it with great efficiency. He balanced the axe in his right hand as he surveyed the area. It was heavily wooded and dimly lit, the moonlight only breaking through the trees in small patches. Fortunately, thanks to the keen night vision of a gargoyle, the lack of light was not a problem.

"Don't the humans tell tales about this place?" a green skinned, beaked gargoyle by the name of Turenn asked. "That it's haunted by forest demons."

"Ha! Bedtime stories they tell the children." Errel replied.

"Why would humans terrify their children with such tales?" Nightshade asked.

"I don't know." Flynt answered. "Probably to make sure they don't go wandering off and get themselves into trouble. Humans are strange."

"Still." Errel said, scratching his head. "This missing human couldn't have made it here in one night. It's too far from the village."

"Don't tell me *you're* starting to believe in 'forest demons'." Flynt replied.

The slate gargoyle shook his head. "No. Just that is unusual."

Flynt had to agree. Missing animals, now a missing human. It was more than 'just unusual'. He began to enter the woods.

"Let's see if there are any answers in here."

The group slowly wove their way through the woods. The deeper they penetrated, the less Flynt liked it. It was too quiet. No insects chirping. No sounds of small creatures scurrying through the undergrowth or treetops. Nothing but silence. The tan gargoyle paused momentarily as his nose detected a faint odour.

"Can you smell that?" he asked in a low voice.

Errel came alongside. He sniffed lightly and wrinkled his nose. "Whatever it is, it's disgusting."

"It's coming from that direction." Nightshade said, pointing towards the left.

They changed direction and continued through the trees, the strength of the smell increasing. Flynt suddenly realized that the odour was that of rotting meat. He glanced back, the tense faces of his companions indicating they had reached the same conclusion. There was something else though. An underlying scent he could not identify.

He was beginning the think it might be a good idea to head back to the keep and bring more of the clan when the forest abruptly thinned, opening into a small clearing. The area was bare, with the exception of a large rocky outcrop at the far end. At its base was a large black hole. 'A cave no doubt' thought Flynt.

His earlier thought about leaving momentarily forgotten, the tan gargoyle cautiously entered the clearing, axe raised and eyes quickly scanning for trouble. Satisfied no one was about he motioned for the others to come out.

The gargoyles fanned out slightly as they advanced through the clearing.

"No guesses to where that smell is coming from." Errel muttered as they approached the cave.

Flynt stepped forward, listening for any unusual sounds. Nothing. He took a quick peek into the mouth of the cave, but it was too dark, even for a gargoyle. He rejoined his companions.

" I really didn't know what to expect to find tonight. Certainly not this. I wish we had brought a torch or at least a tinderbox."

"Like this?" Nightshade fished around in her belt pouch, eventually pulling out a small wooden tinderbox. Flynt smiled, pleasantly surprised.

"Thanks."

Nightshade shrugged. "I thought it might come in handy." Smiling, she gave the box to the tan gargoyle, her hand lingering in his a moment longer than necessary. Flynt looked at her. Errel was right, he had tarried for far too long, when this patrol was over.....

"Find something to use as a torch." He said, mind quickly returning to the matter at hand. As the group dispersed, Flynt knelt down and emptied the contents of the box onto the ground, arranging the tinder into a little pile. He struck the pieces steel and stone against each other, sparks flying from each blow as he tried to coax the little pile to catch light.

None of them noticed the pair of orange eyes that glared balefully at them from the woods.

"Here Flynt, this is the best we could find." The tan gargoyle looked up at his green skinned rookery brother. He was holding a branch about as long as his arm, the end of which was split into a number of smaller branches with quite a few dead leaves still attached. As a torch it wouldn't last long, but it would have to do. Flynt stood up and took the branch, holding it over the small fire. The dead wood caught alight easily. The group made their way into the caves entrance, carefully steeping over loose rocks and debris, the torchlight casting dancing shadows along the walls.

"I thought as much." Flynt commented as he took in the grisly scene before him. The bones and skeletons of a number of animals littered the cave floor. Several of the carcasses were only partially eaten, the rotting flesh giving rise to the odour the gargoyles had detected earlier. "It seems we've found the missing animals."

"And the human too." Errel said, and edge to his voice. Flynt followed his gaze. They had found him alright. What was left of him anyway. The tan gargoyle suppressed a shudder.

"We should head back to the keep, let the clan know."

Errel nodded in agreement.

"Look at this!" one of the gargoyles exclaimed as he ran a taloned hand across one of the walls.

The others came over to see what their rookery brother had discovered. The walls were scarred with large claw marks, larger and deeper than any of them had ever seen before.

"It looks like whatever made these, dug this cave out for itself." The gargoyle continued.

"No." Nightshade said, inspecting the marks closer, noticing that they tapered towards the cave's interior. "Whatever it is, it dug itself *out* from here.

The light from the torch began to flicker and die. "Lets get out of here." Flynt said. ''We'll tell Athol about this, and see what he and the Duke decide to do."

'How long it had slept it did not know. It had clawed its way out of it's den only to find things had very much changed from what it once knew. Hunger gnawed at it's insides as it watched the strange winged creatures reappear in the clearing. Tonight it would not have to go hunting.'

The patrol had barely made it into the clearing when a bestial roar filled the air. Moments later a huge shaggy form was amongst them, its blows sending gargoyles in all directions. Flynt picked himself up from the ground and stared as the beast roared again and reared onto its hind legs. It was easily twice his size, it's bear-like body covered in an odd mixture of matted brown fur and scales. Its head was large and boar-like with wicked orange eyes and a pair of elongated tusks protruding upwards from it's lower jaw. He would have to get dangerously close in order to use his axe. Glancing about quickly the tan gargoyle snatched up a fallen spear. Three of his patrol were already down, unconscious or dead he did not know. Nightshade had backed up , firing arrows at the beast. Errel and Turenn were jabbing at the creature with their spears. With a growl Flynt joined in the fray, stabbing at the beast's thigh. The spear glanced off the beast's scales. It roared and turned, swinging a taloned paw at the gargoyle. Flynt jumped back as the razor sharp claws whistled through the air.

"We have to get out of here!" Turenn shouted.

"No!" Errel shouted back as he dodged a blow form the creature. "We cannot leave our siblings behind."

"Turenn!" Flynt called as he jabbed at the beast again. "Go for help. We'll keep this thing busy! Errel, Nightshade spread out! Keep the beast moving!"

Turenn threw his spear, embedding it in the creatures arm. He ran towards the rocky outcrop. The beast began to give chase.

"Hey over here!" Errel shouted jabbing his spear and distracting the beast. Flynt watched as Turenn successfully scaled the rocks, and glided off back into the direction of the keep.

"Godspeed." He whispered.

*****

It was getting harder and harder to avoid the creatures blows. Though bleeding from over a dozen wounds and peppered with arrows, it showed no signs of slowing down. Despite it's size the creature was extremely quick The gargoyles however, battered, bruised and bleeding, were tiring rapidly.

Errel was knocked to the ground and rolled, clutching his right arm. Flynt's mind was working overtime, trying to find a way to end the situation. Suddenly he had an idea.

"Back off!" he ordered the two gargoyles. He threw his spear at the creature, striking it in the right shoulder. It roared in pain

"Over here you flea bitten hairball!" Flynt shouted. "Come on! Try and catch me!!"

The creature turned it malevolent gaze onto the gargoyle and advanced. Flynt turned ran towards the rocky outcrop. "This had better work" he mumbled as he leapt up, talons biting deep into the stone, and climbed to the summit. Momentarily reprieved from fighting, Errel, still clutching his arm, looked at Nightshade.

"What's he up too?"

"Buying some time." Nightshade replied. She reached into her quiver, but found it empty. Bending down, she took Errel's spear.

"You're in no condition to fight anymore. You better stay here and check on the others." she said and started to make her way across the clearing.

"What's the matter? Too fat to climb?" Flynt taunted. The creature howled in frustration as the tan gargoyle threw rocks and sticks at it from above. It clawed at the rock surface tearing away large chunks as it sought to reach its antagonist. So far so good. Now if he could only find a weakness in the beast or keep it distracted long enough 'til help from the keep arrived they may have a chance. Flynt lobbed another sizeable rock and was rewarded with a satisfying 'thunk' and another howl of anger, when he noticed Nightshade creeping across the clearing spear in hand.

'Clever girl!' The tan gargoyle thought with admiration. He loosened the axe from his belt as he threw another rock at the beast, still clawing at the outcrop and glaring at him hatefully. Flynt kept an eye on Nightshade. She ran forward a few steps and hurled the spear, striking the creature between the shoulder blades. It turned with a snarl at this new attack and moved towards the female gargoyle, who began backing up towards the trees. It was now or never. With a battle cry Flynt leapt off the rocks, axe raised high. He landed squarely onto the creatures shaggy shoulders and brought the weapon down, feeling the blade bite deeply into the beasts skull. A high pitched howl filled the air and the creature shuddered violently, its arms rising above it's head, trying to dislodge the gargoyle. Flynt, struggling to keep his balance, suddenly found himself in the creatures grasp. He was wrenched off it's shoulders and thrown solidly into the ground, the impact knocking the breath from his body. Coughing and gasping for air, the tan gargoyle groggily got to his knees and looked up. The creatures eyes rolled back in it's head and it began to topple forward.

'Oh great....' Flynt thought as he raised himself up on wobbly legs trying to get out of the way. Suddenly he felt himself knocked sideways as the beast gave a final roar and crashed into the dirt face first, dead.

Flynt felt a pressure on his chest. 'That's good' he thought. 'At least I'm not dead.' He opened his eyes and found himself looking straight into Nightshades face. She was straddling him in the same way she had at last night's training exercise.

The tan gargoyle propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze drifting towards the dead creature, then back to Nightshade.

"It's dead." She said. "And I didn't think you'd appreciated getting squashed beneath it."

Flynt managed a weak grin. "I can think of better ways to go. Thanks. I owe you one."

'That you do." The pink skinned gargoyle replied, as she moved her head closer "And just how will you repay me, O mighty beast slayer?" she whispered

The tan gargoyle held her gaze, seeing the hidden fire in her eyes. He reached up with a taloned hand and ran it through her hair, gently pulling her head closer until their lips met. The kiss lasted several seconds. The pair pulled apart. No words were spoken, none were necessary.

"Ahem.. If you two are quite finished"

Flynt turned to see Errel and the other gargoyles, as he and Nightshade stood up. The tan gargoyle groaned. "I feel like one big bruise. You all alright?"

Errel moved his arm, wincing slightly. "Sprained, but I'll live."

"I have a headache I won't forget in a hurry." A blue skinned gargoyle added.

The little group moved towards the dead creature as Athol and the rest of the clan arrived.

"Turenn told us what was happening we got here as quick as we could." The gargoyle leader looked at the beast. "Ye gods... What manner of creature is this! You're lucky your all still in one piece!"

"The remains of the animals...." Flynt paused "...and the human are in that cave. Whatever this thing was, it won't be killing anything anymore."

"A shame about the human." Athol said regretfully. "But the Duke will be pleased with the news about the beast. Let's return to the keep, I think you've had enough surprises for one night."

Flynt hopped up onto the castle wall next to Nightshade and gave her a grin. Last night's little adventure had earned his patrol the night off and the pair were going to make the most of it. Together they leapt into the night, spreading their wings as the warm currents of air carried them aloft. A short time later they landed on a grassy knoll overlooking the keep and the surrounding plains. Flynt slumped onto the grass and Nightshade joined him, cuddling up against his chest. Flynt caressed her black hair as the sat looking into the night sky.

"Look." he whispered, pointing. "A shooting star. Make a wish."

Nightshade turned and faced him, her eyes shimmering. "I don't need to." She said as she fell into the tan gargoyles embrace and kissed him. "I have everything I want right here."