|
Gargoyle Clan of the Gatekeepers
In the deep woods of Sardis, Arkanas lives a woman named Jade. She is about 5feet 8inches & 140 lbs, and has dark brown hair that is almost black, with brown eyes to match. She lives alone with only her cat to keep her company.
On the first day of October, 2004, Jade awoke from a deep sleep, with an urge to go for a long walk in the crisp morning air. Jade liked to go for walks in the woods as often as she could. On this morning as Jade was walking on the path she normally took through the woods, she saw out of the corner of her eye a small path off to the side of the road that she had never noticed before. She was curious as to where this path went, and since she had time to explore that morning, she turned down the unknown path that would change her life forever.
This new path that Jade took was much narrower that the paths she usually took. It looked as if it hadn't been used in a long time. Grass and weeds were grown up almost covering most of the path. Jade had been walking down this path for 15 minutes when she came across something very unusual. It looked like two twin stone pillars that were side by side and 4 feet apart. As Jade got closer she noticed that something was carved on them. She tore the vines off one pillar so she could see the carving better. It was a Gargoyle that looked as if it was guarding something. Jade had always loved the Gargoyles in buildings and artwork she had seen. She reached out and touched the face of the Gargoyle.
Instantly she was in darkness and felt as if she were falling. Only seconds later she landed on a steep hill and rolled down it head over feet. After what seemed an eternity to Jade she stopped rolling when she hit something. She was very disoriented and hurting all over, as she looked up to see where she was. Staring down at her with his knife drawn was a real live Gargoyle!
As soon as Jade hit the ground in front of his feet Rastin drew his knife out of a defensive reflex. Because Rastin drew his knife the rest of the hunters did too. They were all surrounding Jade with their knifes pointing at her.
"What is your name?", Rastin asked.
Jade crawled backwards away from the knives that were pointed at her. Jade was still stunned by all that had just happened to her and did not understand what the Gargoyle had said. She said weakly,
"I can't understand you".
Slasher one of the other hunters quickly bent and put his knife to her throat and said,
"Why are you here in our territory? This forest is forbidden to humans"!
Rastin pulled Slasher back as he lowered his own knife. Rastin realized that the woman had come through the Gate that was up on the hill. Slasher should have known that too, but his hate of humans was so strong that it made him not think clearly when close to a human.
"All of you put away your weapons, NOW", Rastin commanded of his hunters as he sheathed his own knife.
Rastin reached out and touched the woman's arm. She tried to pull away but he had a firm hold of her. Rastin was using some of the magic he as the Clan leader had for trading purposes with those who didn't speak his language. With his touch and a little concentration He magically gave the woman his full language. He let go of her arm and again asked,
"What is your name?"
Now able to understand the question the woman answered,
"My name is Jade."
Rastin reached out his hand to help Jade in standing up. As he did so he said,
"Hello Jade, I am Rastin leader of the Clan of the Gatekeepers." Rastin helped steady Jade on her feet and supported her with his arm.
"I am sorry for drawing my weapon on you. Your sudden arrival at my feet just startled me a bit. I am afraid my hunters are so used to following my lead that they drew their weapons on you just because I did. Please, don't be frightened. Slasher has a great hatred of Humans, most Gargoyles do. On this world Humans are the enemies of Gargoyles". Rastin explained.
Rastin helped Jade over to a big rock so she could sit down. Slasher was mad that Rastin was being so nice to the Human so getting in Rastin's face he said,
"Rastin why are you being so nice to her? She is a human and deserves to die"!
"Why do you think she deserves to die?
Just because she happens to be human?
Or because she has done something to you that deserves death?" Rastin exclaimed.
Slasher scowled at Rastin and said hatefully,
"She deserves to die because she is a Human!"
"Slasher, THIS Human is NOT our enemy!" Rastin exclaimed.
How can I get Slasher, such a hateful Gargoyle to come to his senses
about this Human! Rastin thought.
"This human came through the Gate from another world. She has not been hunting us like the Humans of this world do. Why can't you just let her be? She has done nothing to you!"
Slasher put his fist in Rastin's face, but did not hit him. Instead he just said in a very hateful tone,
"You will be sorry you ever helped this Human!" Then he huffed off in the direction the hunters were going before Jade came through the Gate. The other hunters followed him.
Rastin stayed by Jade knowing she was very weak, and vulnerable. He felt protective of Jade and didn't want to see any harm come to her from any dangers that she may face.
"Where am I, and how did I get here?" asked Jade.
Rastin smiled at her, pointing up at the Gate on the steep hill and said,
"See that arch on the top of that hill?"
Jade nodded as Rastin continued.
"That is what we call a Gate. It is a magical doorway between alternate realities. This is still Earth, but it is a different reality than yours is. You came through that Gate when you somehow triggered a Gate in your world."
Knowing what he had to say next would be very hard for Jade to listen to, Rastin placed his hand on Jade's shoulder, to try and comfort her as he continued talking.
"Unfortunately as far as we know it is a one way trip. None alive knows where we would end up if we tried to go through the Gate. I am sorry, but you can't go back to your world. You might end up somewhere much worse than here, if you tried to go back through the Gate." Rastin explained sadly.
Jade hung her head and cried. The salt from her tears burned her cheeks where she had scrapes and cuts from her fall down the hill. It was a painful reminder that this was really happening to her.
She thought back to all her family at home. How could she live without her family? She was very close to her Mother, Sister and Grandparents. Jade had lived next door to her Grandparents for the past two years and close by to most of her Aunts and Uncles and cousins.
Jade couldn't believe that there was no way to go back home. That she would never see her family again was too much for her to bear alone. Jade leaned into Rastin and he wrapped his arms around her as she cried on his chest. When Jade had cried herself out she lifted her head up to look into Rastin's eyes as she said,
"Thank you Rastin, for being here for me even though you don't know me. You said that most Gargoyles hate humans, and yet you didn't act like you did. You could have just left me here, and gone on with the rest of your group, but you didn't. Thanks!"
Rastin gently wiped away the tears on Jade's face and smiled down at her as he said,
"You are very welcome".
He didn't understand why he felt no hatred or loathing to this human. He felt protectiveness towards her and sadness that she wouldn't see her family again.
Like most Gargoyles he had been raised to fear and hate all Humans. Gargoyles were hunted down and killed by Humans for sport. Yet this human woman did not fear him, nor intend him harm. She seemed to trust Rastin enough to allow herself to be held and comforted by him. These were new feelings for Rastin. For Gargoyles were not generally affectionate at all to each other. Even children didn't get much if any affection from their parents.
Jade without knowing it was mind-sending her sadness, trust, and whatever emotions she was feeling to Rastin. He didn't know that, that was why he was feeling this way towards her.
As Rastin looked down at Jade he really looked at her, and saw all the cuts and scrapes on her face and arms. He walked over to his horse and opened up his saddle bag. He got out a skin of water, with a rag and took it over to where Jade sat,
Rastin sat down next to Jade, then poured some water on the rag and gently washed the dirt out of Jade's wounds. Luckily none of the cuts were very deep, and should heal up ok. Rastin is not a healer like his Sister Serina, yet he had learned a few tips from her incase anyone of his hunters or himself got injured during a hunting trip.
Rastin decided that he would take Jade with him to wherever they camped for the night. He knew the others wouldn't like it, but he just couldn't leave Jade here alone, hurt and defenseless. He was the leader of the Clan so the other hunters could complain all they wanted, but what Rastin said would be obeyed even if it was grudgingly.
"Jade, I don't want to leave you here alone. I also know that if I take you with me the other hunters will really not like it, and will probably be hateful to you." Rastin explained.
"I want to take you to where we camp for the night. I will protect you from the others. Do you want to come with me?" Rastin asked.
Jade looked up into Rastin's eyes and smiled warmly. She reached up and touched the left side of his face as she said,
"I would be honored to have your protection. Thank you."
Rastin smiled back at her, glad that she was willing to go with him, even though it would probably cause trouble.
This is just the very beginning of the story. I will post the full story when it is done on my web site Gothic At Heart. I will post in here to let you know when the full story is ready. Leave me a message and let me know what you think of this much of the story. I would really appreciate your imput. Thanks. Have a Great Day!
Countess
|
