By Nakomis


Please send any comments to aking@kirk.ecs.umass.edu

LEGALESE: GARGOYLES and all its
characters were created by DISNEY/BUENA VISTA. 

All references to the characters and story lines are hereby
acknowledged to them.

WARNING: This story is for MATURE
READERS. Contains some very mildly sexual and some violent scenes
that are not intended for young readers.

Night of the WOLF (Chapter 1)

Driving
along a winding road in the inky darkness of night, Elisa was
headed out of the city on a three-day vacation to visit her
friend's cabin deep in the woods. Alone, she became bored and her
thoughts started drifting to her love, Goliath, as she sped along
the secluded road listening to a love song on the radio, wishing
he were with her. Above her racing car, a winged form was
following, outlined only by the light of the full moon. It was
Goliath himself following her, planning to surprise her at the
cabin, by arriving unannounced and spending some quality time
with Elisa. As he glided above her, he noticed a dark shadow
racing quickly through the woods, in the shape of a dog, however
much to large to be any ordinary canine. He grew worried when he
saw that it was headed directly for the road Elisa's car was
speeding along in its pursuit of a deer. He dove to warn Elisa,
however it was too late, and the dog-like creature changed course
abruptly, running out into the road at full speed, directly in
front of Elisa's speeding automobile.

Elisa
looked at the radio, blissfully ignorant of the form above her
that had been tailing her the entire trip so far… and began
to switch the channels, searching for a good station. She found
one, and left it set. Raising her eyes back to the road, she saw
a brief flash of what appeared to be fur the color of
midnight… and then heard a sickening thud, seeing the furry
creature spin off to the side of the road and collapse in a
ditch.

Screeching
to a halt, she threw her car into park and swore under her
breath. She hated hurting any creature, and knew she had just
done so. Cautiously opening the car door, she heard the clicking
of talons and the swish of an enormous pair of wings land right
next to her car… Startled, she looked out to see Goliath.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, not unkindly,
still shaken at having hit that poor creature, whatever it was.

Goliath
was glancing over at something moving in the ditch. "I was
following you to the cabin to surprise you, when I saw what
happened. I tried to warn you it was coming, but I was too late.
It was chasing a deer and changed course unexpectedly."
Elisa frowned… looking over at the spot. "Did you see
what it was?" she asked him. Just as he was about to
answer… they both heard a low, painful whine. "I guess
that answers my question" mumbled Elisa. Approaching the
side of the road cautiously, Elisa paused, knowing that a hurt
animal could be dangerous. Goliath walked in front of her to
protect her just in case the animal tried to attack. When they
saw it, his guard dropped. The creature was whining piteously,
its rear leg broken, the bone jutting out from the skin. 

Running…
the scent of my prey was overwhelming, I was starving. I could
see it darting this way and that, trying to escape imminent
death. The chase had me captivated. It changed direction and I
swerved to follow it, darting out onto a hard surface. Blinding
lights were too close to me, and I felt a crushing pain in my
hind end as I was spun around to the side of the road. The pain
was too great, and I collapsed, all hope of easing my hunger
lost. For what seemed like an eternity, I was floating, then I
came to, and saw two figures standing over me, one winged,
strange yet familiar to my feverish brain, and the other was
unmistakably human. Whining for mercy I tried to get away,
struggling, but it was no use…

Goliath
glanced at Elisa and motioned for her to stay back as the
creature whined and tried unsuccessfully to crawl away. He moved
cautiously towards it, murmuring words of reassurance, determined
not to let it suffer. It snarled at him, edging away warily.
Pulling back, he spoke softly to the creature, and it seemed to
relax, its eyes glazing over. He reached out and let it sniff his
taloned hand. Elisa stood by, watching Goliath open-mouthed.
After allowing it to smell his hand, the creature sighed, and
seemed to collapse, whimpering in pain. He reached out to touch
it, and his talon came in contact with soft fur. It trembled and
slipped out of consciousness.

The
larger creature moves towards me… I know what it is, but I
am in such pain I cannot comprehend any advances as anything
other than a threat. I snarl a warning at the large winged
creature to stay away. It pulls back for a moment, and words that
are familiar to a deeper consciousness in my brain pass from its
lips. Words that encourage trust and concern and a willingness to
help. I stop growling and the creature extends one if its taloned
hands, I assume inviting me to smell the claw. I do, and the
scent of the hand radiates caring and concern. Sighing, I let my
body go limp and allow the creature to touch my fur. The pain
overwhelms me and I lose consciousness.

Goliath
looks down at the creature. It appears to be a large wolf with
fur that is as black as night itself, yet he senses there is
something different about it. The hind leg of the wolf has been
fractured severely. Gently he lifts the wolf up in his talons,
turning to Elisa with an expectant look crossing his features.
"Follow me back to the town we just passed, I saw an animal
hospital there." she says. Jumping off of a nearby rock, he
glides up into the sky, the wolf in his arms, and heads back to
the town, following Elisa's car below.

They
reach the town quickly, and Elisa stops her car outside of a
hospital-like building, waving to Goliath as a signal for him to
land. He lands along the side of a building, keeping out of
sight, and Elisa enters the animal hospital, coming out a moment
later with three veterinarians. Goliath gingerly places the wolf
on the ground, careful not to injure it further, and Elisa leads
the three vets to it. They immediately spring into action,
administering a drug to dull the pain and keep the wolf from
waking. Then they gently place the wounded animal on a dog
stretcher and bring it into the hospital. Elisa follows them in,
casting a backward glance at Goliath, and he perches atop the
building to wait.

Hours
later, I awaken to a dull throbbing pain in my hind leg.
Attempting to move it, I whine in agony as a sharp pain assaults
my senses. Looking down, I see a strange white covering on the
leg that gives me pain. I try to dislodge it by biting, but a
human approaches me and injects me with something that dulls the
pain. Noticing a dish of food sitting in front of me, I remember
my hunger. I eat, and, satisfied, I fall back into a slumber,
knowing that I will be healed by morning. Little does Goliath
know how right he is that I am no ordinary wolf…

Elisa
thanks the veterinarians and goes back to her car. "I'll
come back to check on her in the morning." She says. The
vets nod in approval, and Elisa heads to a hotel to stay for the
night, Goliath following silently overhead. She checks in, and
Goliath flies down to her room when she stands out on the balcony
and watches for him. Folding his wings about her, he rests his
chin on her head. "Elisa…" he sighs, holding her
to him, in an effort to comfort her, as he can sense she is still
upset by what happened. She sighs and snuggles against him,
accepting the comfort only he can offer. "It will be okay. I
heard what the veterinarians said, and I have also sensed
something…" he stops in mid-sentence as she looks at
him questioningly. Goliath continues… "My love,"
he continues, "that was no ordinary wolf, and in helping it,
I think we have gained a powerful ally. I can sense that for some
reason, though I know not why." 

The sun
touched my eyelids, and I awaken, to find myself in a cage. My
memory of the previous night comes flooding back. The accident,
the ones who helped me, the veterinarians, and where I am.
Smiling to myself, I make a mental note that I will repay them
for their kindness in helping me. Looking down at my leg, I move
it. It has magically healed in a very short time, and I feel well
enough to be on my way again. Thinking of the woods, I teleport
myself outside to my own den, miles away from the hospital, using
magic to wipe away any recollection of my being there in the
vet's minds. I leave a large precious jewel in the cage I have
just deserted next to the discarded cast as payment for their
services. The only ones who would remember me were those who
helped me. Summoning up the magic from deep within myself, I
transform into a minute version of my other form, cloaking myself
from human sight. As a richly colored amethyst dragon, I fly
away, disappearing into the sky. 

(TO BE
CONTINUED...)