On A Wing And A Prayer [Nakaka 1]

CHAPTER 1 “Hron, are you sure this is the right place?” Groth asked, sounding confused. Nodding, Hron looked around at the quaint little town. There was a stand most likely used for people to sell fruit and vegetables, bread, and other goods, a small diner, grocery store with an attached gas station, an equipment rental place for boats, skis, snowmobiles and stuff, a motel and a bank. The problem was there were no people in it. “This is the location the ancient ones gave me before sending us off.” Hron looked around. It was dark out, but being Nakaka… or gargoyle to most humans, he had fantastic night vision and could see everything as if he was standing in the bright sun itself. Not that he had ever seen the sun, as with most Nakaka he turned to stone during daylight hours. This was why the Nakaka yearned for the day they would meet their mate. If a Nakaka were bound it would allow them to go through their rebirth. The rebirth allowed the Nakaka to choose when to nestle in stone form instead of endangering them by forcing them to do so twelve hours of every day leaving them helpless and exposed for anyone to attack. Hron was no different than any other of his kind. He dreamed of the day he would see his Viata, or life partner. The problem was no Nakaka had found their Viata in well over two hundred years. Legend has it that the gods were angry with the Nakaka for turning their backs on their creators. The god Aumakaua fell in love with goddess Madame Pele. She created the Vulcanic islands and Aumakaua created life so that the islands could be loved and cared for. They both loved the people so much they wanted to protect them. Since flight creatures were the only life force on these islands at the time, Aumakaua and goddess Madame Pele gathered the souls of the dead creatures and man mixed with Vulcanic rock and the beasts known as Nakaka were created. As time went on and times changed, the humans they had vowed to protect began calling them gargoyles, then started to hunt and slaughter their kind. They were forced to scatter around the world, going into hiding. No longer able to protect the people angered the gods and the Nakaka were cursed. There had been no Viata or hatchlings since this time, not even from the already bonded. Oh, they could find someone and screw to their heart’s content, but a life mate… well, that was not something that was going to happen. The Nakaka prayed for the day that the gods would forgive them for their cowardice and lift the curse. However, as time went on, the Nakaka stopped their prayers and accepted what fate had determined for their future. However, Hron had a secret. Every sunset, when the sky began to darken and he woke from his nestle, Hron would go onto his balcony, and pray to Aumakaua and goddess Madame Pele. He would thank them for bringing him life before the curse. He would bless them for all they had done to keep his clutch safe from the slaughter all those years ago, and he would ask only that they continued to keep his brethren safe. That’s why when his fathers had called him to service, he had gladly accepted his assignment. Hron still couldn’t believe that his fathers… leaders of the ancient ones… had been willing to give him a chance to lead his own clutch. Being the youngest of twelve boys… well, all Nakaka were male, as were their mates… Hron had thought the Ancients might send one of his brothers. Yet, here he was. A truly f****d up clutch it might be, but with his closest friends by his side, he knew that they could make the ancient ones proud to accept these clutch members into the Nakaka fold. They had to, because as far as Hron was concerned, this was the gods’ way of asking for his assistance to help his brethren and he would not let Aumakaua and goddess Madame Pele down… not again. When his fathers had called Hron to the great chamber and explained the situation of this clutch he had felt many emotions… anger for what his brethren had been put through, sadness for the same reason, and hope that these clutch members would be cared for and shown that not all leaders or Caliph as they were called, would treat other Nakaka in this fashion. Hron thought about what his fathers had told him when he had been summoned to the ancient ones. “There is a clutch in a small out of the way location in Grand-Remous, Quebec, Canada, surrounded by trees and water. It is a long way from home, however, we know you are the man who must lead our new clutch into the light after so much darkness.” His birth father explained. Hron had been confused, “I’m confused father. Isn’t Danbar next in line to lead? Won’t he and the others be upset that you have chosen to grant me with this gift?” It was his sperm father who answered, “With the atrocities these men have been put through, it is agreed that it will take a Caliph with great heart and strength to help them through all they have suffered.” “Someone with a kind heart yet a firmness that demands loyalty, yet by choice of the people. As wonderful as your brothers are, they are far too formal and not as caring nor as strong as you and your chosen circle. We know this, your brothers know this, and if you are honest with yourself, Hron, you know this.” His birth father stated. “Are you saying I should accept trouble from within. Surely those that have been put through so much would welcome a new way of life.” Hron stated. Sighing, his birth father replied, “You would think so, yes. However, you don’t know what you never had. Fairness, kindness, and loyalty are something that can be feared by those that have never experienced it, or that have been denied it for long periods of time. This clutch has been a victim of abuse for almost six months. We had become concerned when the Caliph of this clutch had not made contact as they should and were about to send out a patrol to check on them when a raven came to us. The raven told us that when he was held in his prison, although only for a few weeks, there were other Nakaka close by. They told him how their original Caliph and inner circle had been murdered and that Chantal Peru took over with his own inner circle. The abuse started immediately. Their people live in fear and none were strong enough to take him on and win back their clutch.” “The prisoners knew that the raven was a shifter and not one of them. We don’t know how he became a prisoner, he will not speak of it. However, he said when they asked him to shift to escape and get help, he explained that he couldn’t. He had been starved to the point that he did not have the energy to draw on in order to shift. One of the gargoyles dug an opening in the cell connected to the raven’s and began to give him extra food. It took some time, but eventually the raven was finally able to shift. The gargoyle that had been feeding him, told him that he had an opening the raven could fit through to make it out of the cells and hopefully to the surface.” His other father explained. Hron drew back in surprise. “The surface?” Nodding, his sperm father explained, “Yes. This clutch is located in a small area of Quebec and they live under the surface of an island. The raven made it out of the prison and went to the paranormal council—they are the ones that directed him to us. We sent Throg, Sern, and Nas to investigate. Chantal attacked and he along with his inner circle was destroyed.” “So, I am to go, take over, and figure out a way to earn these tortured souls’ trust?” Hron asked. Nodding, his birth father replied , “It will not be easy and any assistance you might need, we will happily provide.” Hron thought for a moment and then remembered a saying. “Actions speak louder than words.” “What was that, son?” His sperm father asked. Knowing he was right, Hron looked at his fathers and repeated, “Actions speak louder than words. I need clutch members, fathers. I need men that have lived in a clutch and can show them how it looks to be happy with who you are, and what it means to be in a clutch you can trust. There are going to be those that will not trust that I am a Caliph, that will do what I can to make the people happy and cared for, but if my inner circle and I can show them we are fair and caring and have others that know us help prove we are not this Chantal, then maybe it will help relieve their doubts and settle their fears.” “That makes sense. How many do you wish to take?” His birth father asked. Hron thought a moment. He knew that too few and his plan wouldn’t work, but too many and it could have the opposite effect. It would not just feel as if Hron was taking over, but that their clutch would look as if it was being taken over. “Ten. I think that is a good number for now. I also ask that the ancient guards be three of those members. I need to focus on bringing this clutch together and helping them heal. I can’t do that if I have to worry that some of them might have liked Chantal’s ways and are angry for the changes to come.” His sperm father nodded, “It shall be done.” “Damn, it’s cold. I can’t believe a clutch actually settled all the way out here.” Peth muttered. Nodding, Hron replied, “I’d like to know how a clutch could have come all the way to Quebec.” “How did the ancient ones even find out what was going on here?” Dak asked. Hron walked up to the gas station and looked through the window and noticed the can filled shelves, but it was all the dust and cobwebs indicating that it had been a long time since anyone had ever entered the place that had Hron confused as he answered, “A raven came to them. Told them that he had escaped the dungeons a few weeks back. He had a hard time finding their location. When he told them what had happened here, they sent their guards to check things out. Apparently the Caliph and his inner circle didn’t appreciate the interference and attacked.” “That was stupid. The ancient guards must have annihilated them.” Groth replied, looking in the same window. Shaking his head, Hron said, “No, they subdued them, brought them to the ancient ones, gathered information, then put them to death for crimes against the gargoyle nation. “Where are all the people? I thought you said this was some kind of vacation retreat?” Dak asked as he looked around. Shaking his head, Hron replied, “I’m not quite sure, Dak.” “I guess we ask the clutch members when we get to our new home.” Peth replied. Hron tried to hold back his cringe at those words, but he should have known he could never keep something from his best friends. The four of them had grown up together and knew everything there was to know about each other. The three men turned to Hron at the same time, but it was Dak who quickly asked, “What? What is it you’re not telling us, Hron?” Sighing, Hron turned and made his way to one of the benches just outside the diner. “I don’t know what kind of reception we’re going to get once we get to the clutch. You know that the ancient ones killed the Caliph and his inner circle.” “Yeah. You said you were going to explain things once we got here. Well, we’re here now, so spill.” Groth insisted. Sighing, Hron answered, “The Nakaka we are about to meet have been truly traumatized. From what I was told, the Nakaka we are about to descend on have been physically, mentally and emotionally abused. They were not permitted to do anything without the orders of the inner circle. From what the raven told my fathers, the people in this clutch used to be prosperous and happy. These grounds were used to bring in funding for them. They catered to the outdoor types. Swimming, boating, fishing, water zealots, as well as campers, hikers, and stuff like that. When Chantal and his inner circle took over they shut this place down. They wanted the clutch completely reliant on them for their food, shelter, and life. Honestly, I don’t think even the ancient ones know how bad things have been for our brethren here and I don’t know all we are walking into. I’m sure some are going to hate us for reasons that are their own, but I also believe more than most will appreciate that we are now leading them to a bright and better future… once they trust us.” “It’s just going to take us time to earn their trust.” Dak stated. “Why, if they have been put through such hell, would they hate us? We would never do anything to harm them and I’m sure with a bit of work we can make this place functional and a must go to place for many people to visit again.” Groth stated, looking around once more. “I suggest we fix the place up and use it as a paranormal retreat. I bet once we got this place up and running again, we could bring in shifters and other paranormals to use this place as a vacation spot. Especially with all the land they could use to run free in animal form.” Peth stated. “Why not bring in humans? They enjoy camping and fishing as much as the next guy.” Dak stated. Shaking his head, Peth stated, “It would need to be a place that shifters would feel free enough to go around in their animal form, vampires to run at top speed, fairies to be able to flutter amongst the forest… paranormals have no free zone to just… be… without fear of being discovered by the humans. We could make this place just that.” Nodding, Hron stated, “We could ask Tritan to come and place wards all around the lands. It would take some doing, since we are talking nine hundred and fifty acres of land and water, but I know he could do it. We are only talking about keeping humans away to allow the paranormals freedom.” “If these Nakaka are as abused as you say, they may need someone who can help them mentally, Hron. I can help them heal from their physical ailments, but when it comes to the psyche of someone, I’m not trained for that and neither are you.” Peth stated. Hron thought about that for a moment. An idea so crazy came to him and he smiled wide, “You’re right, Peth. What if we find a secluded area and build more cabins on it, then offer a paranormal psychologist to come in and offer him or her the ability to help paranormals with things like anger management, trauma survival… those kind of things. It would allow an opportunity for our people to be helped and bring in funding for our clutch as well by offering help to paranormals in need.” “I can contact Aum and get him started on sending us some people out here to start fixing this place up, and find us a paranormal shrink willing to relocate out here. I think if we are planning to build a rehabilitation retreat, then it should be the shrink that helps us figure out what type of living arrangements might be best.” Groth suggested. “When are Aum and the others coming here anyway?” Dak asked. Hron answered, “The raven should be bringing Aum and the others within the next couple of days. I wanted the opportunity for us to meet our new clutch without them feeling overwhelmed.” Turning to Groth, Hron said, “Make that call, Groth. It feels good knowing we have already started a plan to help our people. The ancient guards are probably wondering what’s keeping us. I suggest we head out and see what our new home looks like.”