Loss Of A Loved One

                                                By King Cobra3 ([email protected])

Author's Note: My aunt died of terminal cancer in 1996. This is dedicated to her. This fic takes place sometime in "Awakening: Part 2" after Goliath learns the fate of the clan eggs from Xanatos.

High above the city, towering over the bright lights and honking car horns, the eyrie building reflected in the shadows, an eerie (no pun intended) illumination that, on the darkest night, was enough to make your hair stand on end.

For one Gargoyle, it truly was the darkest night.

Not for the first time, Goliath roared his anguish at the full moon that was perched so mockingly above him. Long ago, in Scotland, almost his entire clan had been demolished, Goliath's closest blood relative, his sister, included. He grieved for her loss and for his. Goliath had always been too busy to socialize with his sister Camilla. That had been her name. She had been the only gargoyle besides him to have a name. But he had never really paid attention, had never gone to keep her company. And now he never would, not until he too left this world and crossed over.

His heart also tinged for the clan eggs. They had not survived their journey, and now he and his clan were all that was left of a glorious time when winged creatures soared protectively over Wyvern, with no chance of regenerating a new breed of gargoyle hatchlings, and no possibility of flourishing their race.

Goliath looked at the bright lights below him, tears racing down his lavender face. It was no longer a life of solitude for him, but an existence that was lost. A life of peace with his loved ones, that he would have again. But not in life. Only in death would he be reunited with all those he had loved and lost long ago.

In the end, there was only death.

Demona was gone as well. Once his angel of the night, now she was dust and pebbles. That thought struck Goliath's heavy heart the worst, and his eyes closed as he roared again.

Goliath choked back sobs that threatened to come forth. Until he could no longer fight them, and then they came. Gasping, heaving little gasps of pain and regret, Goliath wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

And then a small voice from behind spoke. "Goliath?"

The clan's leader turned adamantly to see his closest human friend, Elisa, watching him, an expression of pity and compassion in her almond colored eyes. "What is it, Big Guy? What's wrong?"

Instead of answering, Goliath hugged her, and continued weeping, mourning his loss of his clan. His friends. His family. Everything that had once been his entire life.

Elisa hugged back, giving her best friend as much comfort as she could. When they had finally parted, Human and Gargoyle looked at each other for a long time in silence, almost as they were sharing an unspoken secret.

Then Elisa broke the tension. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Goliath smiled bitterly through his tears, and they entered the castle.

The End.

As I mentioned above, this fic is dedicated to my dead aunt, who I never saw that often and probably never will again, until my time is up. I hope that she can see me, wherever she is. If she can, then I have succeeded. This fic was my way of saying that I miss her and always will.

Aunt Roxanne, if you can see me, I love you.

Any flames, mail em my way. [email protected]

King Cobra3.