Disclaimer:You all know the drill now.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
�Here�s your keys back. I enjoyed having it for awhile,� I said to Elisa.
�I�m glad you did. And here�s some bus tokens I found in my apartment.� She handed me a small coin purse of tokens.
�Thanks.� There was more than enough to supply me until next July. I waved goodbye to Elisa as she got into the elevator & was whisked down to her car.
I stood in the Main Hall for awhile, the sun shining through the windows, making the room bright. I would miss being able to just climb into the car whenever I was human & just drive into the city. I was back to being dependent on a bus ride. Which isn�t too bad, it gives me a chance to relax & read, or even write. It was nice to have a car, while it lasted.
My thoughts came to a stop when I detected footsteps. And they were close. Very close. Wondering whom it was, or they were, I started to turn around.
Suddenly, a cloth covered my eyes & was tied behind my head. �Hey! What�s going one?� I demanded.
�You�ll see,� I recognized Panthro�s voice.
�We have a little something for you,� another voice said, whom I recognized to be Tygra�s.
I felt Tygra holding my hands & leading me across the floor. I heard the opening & closing of the elevator doors. Then, I felt the rising & falling of the elevator. A chime, then a hiss as the doors opened. I again felt my love leading me for a few feet before he stopped. I stopped, too. Someone, Lion-O, as it turned out, undid the blindfold & cried, �Surprise!�
There, before we, was a silver-blue car. A mustang of sorts. I gasped slightly before saying, "It�s beautiful.�
�It�s all yours,� Panthro said. �Lex & I have been working on this car since July 2nd.� Then, he turned to me & placed a set of keys in my hand. �Let�s go for a ride.�
I climbed into the driver�s seat while Tygra got into the passenger�s seat as Lion-O & Panthro got in the backseat. We buckled up, and then I put the key into the ignition, & turned it on. The engine roared to life, I put it into drive, & drove the mustang out of the basement & onto the road.
As I drove, I felt the smooth tan leather seat beneath me & the steering wheel leather in my hands. It felt good, like it was made for me, which it was, actually. When I pulled up to a red stoplight, Panthro asked, �What do you think?�
�It runs like a dream,� I answered.
�We knew you�d like it. By the way, have you seen the radio & window buttons?�
�No.� I looked at them as I spoke. I couldn�t believe my eyes. There, etched on the radio knobs was the Thundercat insignia. Looking at the window controls, I saw the etching of three slash marks. Obviously, symbolizing a gargoyle�s claws. �Wow,� was the only thing I could think of to say.
�Lex & I considered on customizing the car a little, so we etched the designs on & decided that they were enough.�
�I think so, too.�
The light changed green & I drove the car around for awhile longer, asking Panthro some questions, such as what type of gas to use, how many gallons it had, & how he & Lex got the car�s sliver-blue color. In case you�re wondering about that last part, they took the metal from some Steel Clan robots & spray-painted some metallic blue into the metal getting the desired color.
I pulled the car up to the apartment complex Elisa lived at. I told the guys that I would be back soon, then went inside. I went up to the woman at the desk & asked for Elisa�s apartment number. She gave it to me & I went upstairs to her floor.
I approached Elisa�s door & knocked. I waited, then knocked again.
�Who is it?� a sleepy voice asked.
�It�s Jasmine, Elisa.�
The door opened & Elisa was on the other side, wearing a robe. �Jasmine, hi.�
�Hi. I�m sorry to wake you, but I have something outside I want to show you.�
�Well, come in while I get dressed.�
I stepped inside as Elisa closed the door & locked it. You can�t be too careful in New York. As the detective headed for her room, she called, �Make yourself comfortable. I won�t be long.� Then, she left. I sat down on her couch & admired the skylight view. It was beautiful. The blue sky with its� puffy white clouds.
I nearly jumped when Elisa�s cat, Cagney, leaped onto the couch, purring & rubbing on my arm. I smiled as I scratched behind his ears, then under his chin. He seemed to recognize my scent when he stayed at the clocktower.
�Okay, I�m ready,� Elisa said as she came out of her room. The two of use walked out the door (when Elisa unlocked it), Elisa locked it, we went down the hall, into the elevator, down to the main floor, & out the door.
I stopped beside the mustang, which happened to be parked behind Elisa�s Fairlane. �What do you think?�
Elisa gaped at it. �Is that yours?�
�Uh-huh. Lex & Panthro worked on it.�
Elisa ran a hand over the hood. �It�s beautiful.�
�That�s what I said.�
�Do you know how long it took them?�
�They�ve worked on it since July 2nd.�
�That�s been nine days. They must have worked hard.�
�We sure did,� Panthro spoke up.
�Oh, hi everyone,� Elisa greeted. From there, the four of them chatted about Elisa�s job, her newborn daughter, who was at the castle with the clan, sleeping, & about Matt, her partner.
�Well, I should let you go. We�ll talk once we�re at the castle,� Elisa said.
My head jerked up & looked to the west. It was almost sunset. �Okay, Elisa. Let�s go.� We climbed into our respective vehicles & roared off toward the castle.
Once we parked, I didn�t waste any time getting out & heading for the elevator. As I rode, I thought about going to Third Earth to stay. At first, Zazu asked to come too, fulfilling his promise to go where I go. I told him that he didn�t have to go. If he wanted to stay in Manhattan, that was fine with me. If I went.
An elevator chime sounded & the doors opened. I rushed out of the elevator, tore down the hall, & outside to the clan�s battlement. I was out of breath & struggled to regain it before night fell.
As the sun vanished, I changed forms while the clan awoke. Goliath & I took up our children & walked inside with the clan to discuss patrol parties.
Inside, Goliath began to assign groups. Drawing straw was banished since July 6th. The clan trusted Goliath�s judgment.
�All right. Broadway & Angela are one group; Hudson, you & Lexington are another. Bronx is staying at the castle. I will follow Elisa & Matt. Jasmine, you & Tygra are patrolling together."
I smiled, but I was also surprised. Tygra & me? This was unusual. Normally, it was Goliath & me. Leader & second. Father & daughter. But, I wasn�t complaining. I liked the idea of patrolling with Tygra.
As soon as Goliath finished announcing the parties, we broke up into our groups & headed outside. I held my love in my arms, spread my wings, & glided into the night, prepared to fight any crime we came across. Together.
Read the next adventure, "Relations"
Return to Gargoyles International Airport