Toki's Tale

"I am Vee, a great Gargoyle warrior of centuries past. I serve as a spirit guide to the descendants of my clan," said Vee. "I am here to help you fight Tae'Pan."
"Let me guess, you're here to advise me against it," scowled Toki. She felt gloomier than ever, and her mindscape showed it.
"Of course not. Nail the evil bastard," said Vee. Toki looked up, shocked. Vee smiled and lashed his tail.
"You see, battles must be fought, no matter what any Ettins say," he continued. "You are a Gargoyle, and we do not shy from battle. However, you must be cool and calm under pressure. Don't let him get to you."
"How?" Toki demanded. "Every time I see him the memories and feelings just boil up inside and..."
Toki fought back the emotions and tried to calm herself down. Vee sighed wearily and shook his head.
"Toki, I know you can't help it, but don't hate him. Orae is dead, yes, but so am I. Yet am I complaining? It was my life, after all, just as it was his."
"But I'll never see Orae again! Never!"
"No, you won't. But he was an old Ettin, almost three centuries old. He would have died soon anyway."
Toki growled at Vee, claws out, but she suddenly stopped, her hand halfway to her throat. She'd never growled before. Vee, however, was smiling.
"That's good, you're learning. The Gargoyle has more weapons than their claws, you know." Vee said, and picked up a small rock. "Watch this."
He threw the rock in the air and watched it arc high. His long tail lashed out quickly and speared the stone in two.
"You are in the stone sleep of the Gargoyle," he said. "It is a dangerous period of change in your life. Soon you will become stronger, faster and gain a longer tail and these rather nice stripes."
"I'll get the stripes?" Toki asked, eagerly.
"Oh," said Vee, looking puzzled. "I'd have thought that the strength or the speed, or even the tail would interest you. The stripes don't matter that much."
Toki stuck her tongue out at him in a gesture she'd never done for years, and Vee stuck his out in return.
"What's with me growling, anyway?" Toki asked. "It's not like I'm a Pitzen or anything."
"Feline, not canine, Toki," said Vee. "Gargoyles were forged by the Golden One from the blood of the ferocious hunting cat. He gave us flight, and gave us strength, and gave us wisdom. We are the Guardians of Midgard, the sacred protectors. Soon you will be one of us, and I will guide you."

Time passing in Toki's mind was vague and hazy. She didn't know how long she had spent in the stone sleep, and she didn't think much of it either. Vee had the knowledge of the fighting style of the Gargoyle, a fierce mixture of limbs, wings and tail. There were moves that the Ettins could never have taught her, learning to use her wings like shields.

Gradually, Toki became aware of the subtle changes in her mindscape. Boulders had slowly changed into gnarled trees, and there were a few sparse clumps of grass here and there.
Vee was in a cheerful mood, and seemed to spend all his time perched in the large tree in the centre.
"You are putting the past behind you now, Toki," he would say, "and your mindscape is changing. Don't you feel a lot lighter?"
Toki didn't feel any 'lighter' at all, but there was something, a deep change that she couldn't understand. Somehow, the ages that Vee insisted they meditate might actually be doing something. Toki didn't see the point in resting when her body was asleep, but after a while it was very relaxing just to sit and listen to her own breathing.
"Not falling asleep, Toki?" Vee said. Toki opened one eye and looked sidelong at Vee, hanging upside-down next to her.
"No, I'm wondering why all the blood isn't rushing to my head," she replied. Vee chuckled.
"Why should it? Your heart is at least twice as powerful as any Norn's," said Vee smugly. He yawned and spread his wings. "Your blood flows the right way whatever direction you facing."
"Even down, huh?"
"Even down, Toki. Gargoyles are the warriors of the Golden One himself. He made us as good as he could"
"But the Norns say that they're the chosen ones of the Golden One."
"Pah! Their greatest gift from the Golden One is their egos, I tell you. No, I have it on the highest authority that we're Kalis' children."
"The highest authority?" Toki asked, half laughing. Vee nodded soberly, with a slight hint of a smile on his lips.
"Kalis himself told me," he said. Toki hummed to herself, unsure about the claim.
"It's perfectly true," Vee said. "I am the first Gargoyle, created by the Golden One's own hands. He taught me everything I know. Magic, fighting skills..."
"Are all male Gargoyles as large as you?" Toki asked. The question had been nagging at her mind since she arrived.
"Of course," said Vee, "we're made to fight the ice wolves. Kalis was worried about them."
"Ice wolves?" Toki asked. "I've seen wolves, and they're not dangerous. I could kill one."
"No, no, not normal wolves. The Fenrir. They will descend upon Midgard at Ragnarok and lay waste to the land. We are destined to be there and slaughter them all," said Vee, his features locked like stone. "I hope you will be there. The day approaches."
"I don't think I'll live to see the end of the world, Vee," laughed Toki. Vee turned to face her.
"Kalis was very accurate. It will happen in your lifetime. You will be there to see the fire rain from the skies, the dead rise and the giants die. You will see the end of Midgard."

Chapter 11

Chapter 13