Runaways: The Journey Home

Chapter 26 - Barry and Thalia

The following week of traveling into Wisconsin this time made Brooklyn yearn to reach New York quickly get to its peak. He liked being able to see different states, but he was certain once he got home, he wouldn't be going anywhere else again for a long time. All he wanted was to be with his family away from Anthony and just hide in his castle home until Anthony left him alone.

But then he saw the state's city of Madison coming up, a big city though not as large as St. Paul. He couldn't veer away from this city either, which meant going through it.

Swallowing, Brooklyn gathered his courage to go into the city. He had been feeling tired again and couldn't find any caves along his way to Wisconsin to sleep in. Hopefully there was another church he could spend a day or two in.

He flew in the night above the rooftops, sometimes landing to give his wings a rest before continuing on. Homesickness always attacked whenever seeing large cities that reminded him of home. This one was no better while gazing at the lights.

But this city was still something to admire by having two rivers around it and Lake Michigan several miles away. A church he finally saw then was one he read about, St Patrick's Cathedral. It was tall but not quite the size of St Paul. But looked like a good enough temporary place for him to stay.

Brooklyn let out a puff of air upon reaching the church, landing on the top tower with the cross, sliding a little on the curved roof, sweat coming from his exhaustion, then climbing down on one of the ledges, until reaching the lower roof where he could hopefully be hidden.

Ugh, my wings ache... Brook thought groggily, blinking his eyes in tiredness, rubbing his sore talons, wishing again for stone sleep to heal his sore muscles. But he knew he had to keep waiting for his reward at home. The red gargoyle curled up against the wall, taking his sack off and pulling a sandwich out. But then he saw his photo again, taking that out too and seeing Mark and Nora. He wondered if they still missed him.

Brooklyn shivered a bit from the cool autumn air, wrapping his wings around himself, lowering his head slightly, a pang in his chest from lack of company. His beak frowned, feeling like loneliness would swallow him up soon until he forgot what good company felt like ever again, tears falling down further. He wiped them away.

Get a grip. You're a gargoyle, just stop moping! Brooklyn argued with himself, but it didn't do any good. He wanted another friend with him now.

Suddenly, he thought he heard singing from the church, an organ. Brooklyn figured sometimes they did late night singing of hymns. But it gave him comfort a little, making him sleepy more. Eventually, he felt too worn out to keep himself awake once his sandwich was done, making himself comfortable as much as possible as his eyes drifted shut, sleep welcoming him in her arms.

....

The next night, Brooklyn woke to the night sounds of the city, at first thinking he was still in New York. But then he remembered his lack of stone sleep, and saw those different towers, knowing he was still lost here out west, feeling tears coming before wiping them away. He had been traveling a while now with not making any friends along the way, and the red male knew he desperately needed some but was still too scared to speak to any human.

It was then he decided to leave, not wanting all this to hold him back and to keep pushing on. Brooklyn took off from the church building and began his way east again. But while flying along the streets he heard voices; two in distress and other mean ones, perking up his urge to help, quickly following those new sounds.

He landed on another roof where the sound was loudest, looking down at the sight of a couple, a man and woman in their mid-40s being cornered by another mob gang. This made Brook's eyes glow at the sight, growling softly, waiting for his moment to break this up.