The Other Clans

Leader

Faulkner smiled at her and nodded his head. Lilias could feel Elspeth jumping up and down with her hand in the air.

"Count me in as well," Gillian said, raising his hand with Lilias and Elspeth. Faulkner smiled and motioned for them to join the other five. Elspeth was only too willing to jump off of the ground and spread her wings to join the group. Gillian followed close behind her, but Lilias was far more hesitant to spread her wings. Instead she walked up to the front of the room, the crowd parting easily in front of her. Lilias ignored the curious looks that the new gargoyles were giving her. She was all too used to the expression that her wings garnered. Faulkner smiled at her as she finally made it next to the others.

"I will begin preparations. You eight should get to know each other, you'll be together for quite a while," the aging human said, clapping Lilias on the shoulder as he offered a smile to the small group. He then followed Neil out of the great hall. The rest of the clan dispersed soon after.

The older male from the other clan broke the silence that had fallen over them. "Well, as Faulkner said, we should get to know each other." He gestured to himself first. "The name's Ivar, and this is Aileen. We're both from the Danotaa clan. As well as young Donnan here." He finished, pointing to his companion and the young male gargoyle. "What about you all?"

"I'm Bonnie." One of the two young females introduced herself. "And this is my rookery sister, Shona."

"We're from the Buremah clan," Shona said, "north of here."

"Obviously, we're from Kloni," Lilias told the others. "My name is Lilias. These are two of my rookery siblings, Gillian and Elspeth." There was only a slight pause in the conversation before Donnan filled the silence.

"Sooo... what's up with your wings?" he asked Lilias.

"Donnan, be respectful," Aileen chided, whacking the younger gargoyle with her tail. "Sorry Lilias."

"Don't worry about it." She adjusted her large and gold trimmed wings as she thought about how to explain. "To be completely honest, I don't know myself. I was born with them like this. I've never seen another gargoyle with the gold trim." She paused and considered her wings. "Or with this small extension on the front." Lilias showed them the small extra section.

"Woah," Donnan, Bonnie, and Shona chorused.

"Thanks," Lilias said, chuckling awkwardly as she tucked her wing back again.

"I see you're all getting along well," Faulkner commented with a smile. "Lilias, may I have a word?"

"Of course." She followed him to an empty room. Faulkner gazed out the window at the other end of the smaller room. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"I want you to lead the group," he stated simply leaving no room for debate, but that didn't mean that Lilias wasn't going to try.

"Are you serious? Me? Wouldn't the older male from Danotaa--Ivar I think--be a better choice for this? Or Donnan? Or Gillian even?"

"I've already discussed the matter with Ivar and he has no desire to lead. He is willing to act as a source of wisdom for whoever does though." Faulkner turned to face her, leaning back on the windowsill as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I've watched all of you grow up. Bonnie is a good girl, but she is too focused on Shona to provide proper leadership. And we both know Elspeth will be more focused on the newness of the situation to be focused enough to make thought out decisions."

"And Gillian and...Donnan?" The name was still new and unfamiliar to Lilias.

"Both would be fine leaders, but Gillian would always turn to you to verify his decisions. He knows that while you may not have firsthand knowledge, you've done enough reading to know what you're talking about." He stroked his chin as he thought. "As for Donnan... while he is fairly mature, he has problems taking advice especially criticism."

"So you're basically saying that Ivar has declined the position and all of the other candidates aren't qualified?" Lilias clarified. Faulkner nodded his head. "One question, what makes you think that the others would actually follow me? I don't exactly look the part." The statement was extremely true. Unlike Neil who was large, well muscled, and had that air of command about him that demanded attention; the only thing that demanded attention about Lilias were her wings. They were too large for her small frame and the membrane was tipped in a golden color that glittered in any type of light.

"I doubt that you'd have any problems from others." He paused and amended his statement. "The others except Donnan. He'll likely think that he should be the leader, but I'm sure that Gillian and Elspeth will be more that willing to defend you. And even if they weren't, you'd be able to deal with him easily."

"If he wants it then he can have it. I'd rather avoid a fight if I can."

"Please Lilias," Faulkner begged. "I'd feel more comfortable about this trip if I knew that you were the one making decisions."

Lilias sighed and ran her talons over her face. "If he challenges me I'll try my best, but if he wins you can't complain. Deal?"

"Deal," he agreed with a grin. "We should tell the others."

"This should be interesting."