The Human's Gargoyle

Statues

The next day, the air felt heavy with sorrow. I didn't want to get out of bed even after Doc said I was free to go somewhere around noon. I don't know how long I laid there staring at the wall. At some point another nurse came in to tell me that the funeral was soon and my family was waiting for me. I pulled myself out of the bed and dressed in the black dress the Christine had packed for me. My hair was still braided from the night before so I decided to leave it. I didn't want to wear the shoes. I hated shoes. I would walk around our pack's lands and through the woods without shoes on! Mom always said I was one with nature. I don't know how many times she and dad had found me sleeping in a flower field or sitting in a tree. I carried the shoes with me as I left the hospital. I tore the bandage off my head and hand where the IV was and threw them in the trash. Dad and the visiting Alpha, Trent, were waiting by the car for me. The funeral would be held on pack land but mom would be burried at the cemetary. The same one where she was killed. I don't remember the funeral. I could only stare blankly at her casket. Closed casket. A picture of her from last Christmas was sitting beside it. I had cried so much yesterday that today I just felt numb. Nothing felt real! I watched as my brothers, Beta Mark, Gamma Shaun, and 2 warriors I couldn't remember the names of carried my mom's casket to the hearse. I sat in the back seat of the car as we drove to the cemetary. I watched as her casket was lowered into the ground. I heard people talking but no words actually registered. I felt hands on my shoulders as people left but I couldn't tell you who stopped or who said what. It was all a blur! I was snapped out of it when my dad's face was the only thing I could see.

"Ari. Moonbeam. Did you hear me?"

"Huh?" Dad sighed.

"We're all going for a run. Are you coming with us? You can ride my back, just like always." I could tell dad was trying to keep it together. But he was breaking. We all were.

"No. I think I'll stay here a little longer."

"Okay. I'll have your brother come and get you after?"

"Okay." I whispered back. He kissed my forehead and lingered there a second, smelling my scent. I watched as he walked away towards the woods. His large black wolf looked out to me before running off through the trees. As soon as dad was gone, I kicked my shoes off and started walking. I needed to see that gargoyle again. He wasn't far. His large stony body just a handful of rows away. He was still crouching in the same position as I had always seen him. Left knee and fist on the dais, right knee bent, right elbow resting against his right knee, head bent slightly, wings folded behind him. I stood there for a few minutes, just staring at him. A sob tore out of me and I hit my knees in front of him. "Why? Why did you save me? Why didn't you just let it kill me?" Just as the sun started to dip below the horizon, it started raining. I pulled myself up off the ground only to climb onto the dais. Right in the hollow at the gargoyle's feet. His stony arm, resting against his thigh, seemed to be protecting me. "I feel lost Gargs." I closed my eyes and sighed. When I opened them again it took me a second to realize that it was darker than it should have been! I looked up to see something draped over the statue! A tarp? I reached out to touch the material only for it to shudder and for the statue behind me to growl! It wasn't an angry growl though! Living witj wolves, you know what an angry growl sounds like! I glanced up to see two almost glowing white eyes looking down at me. My heart rate spiked but I tried to stay calm. "Hi." I whispered. What do you say to something that is supposed to be extinct?

"Hello." His stony voice whispered back.

"Are you real or I hallucinating?"

"I am as real as you are." He shifted slightly but I didn't dare take my eyes off of his. I felt him lift my casted arm up to examine it. "What's this?"

"I broke my arm, in the accident the other day. The cast is holding my arm still so that my bones can heal correctly." His hands were large. Easily wrapped around the chunky cast. He sat my arm down again before moving my bangs to see the stitches on my head. His hands were so gentle! I couldn't help but lean into his touch. I felt safe here. Always have! This isn't the first time I have sat here but it's the first time I ever spoken to him and had him actually answer me!

"Why are you so sad?" Tears weld up in my eyes again.

"We burried my mom today." I folded in on myself and felt him wrap his arms around me.

"I am so sorry little one." The stony growl in his voice was comforting, like my dad's! I snuggled further into his arms. We were there for a while before I felt him moving again. "Someone's coming little one." He moved so he was back in his crouched form from before. His wings folded behind him once again. With his eyes closed he looked like stone again. I stared up at his face from my seat.

"Ari?" I heard Alex call for me.

"I'm over here Alex." I called quietly, knowing he could hear me ayway. He was standing in front of me seconds later.

"What are you doing over here?" He asked, standing in the rain in gym shorts.

"You all went for a run. Gargs is keeping me dry." I motion to the rain.

"Gargs?" Alex asks. I lay my head of the gargoyle's thigh.

"That's what I call him."

"Alright. Well dad sent me to get you. We're about to have the feast." I nod my head and get up. Alex turns to walk away but I spare one ore glance at the statue and notice a single eye open and looking at me. I smile making one corner of his mouth twitch up slightly. The whole way home, I couldn't help but think about how I wasn't crazy! My gargoyle is real! Alex didn't really say much.

There wasn't much to say. He just put an arm around me while we walked from the car to the pack house. Everyone would be out back for the feast. I didn't want to go.

"Hey Alex, would you tell dad that I'm going to bed? My head hurts."

"Sure thing. Do you need anything? Some food maybe?" I will never get over how much my brothers care about me. They have always taken care of me.

"No." I smiled at him. "I don't think I really have it in me to eat anything right now. I just need to go lay down."

"Alright." He pulled me in for another hug. "I didn't get to say it before but I'm glad you're okay. I don't know how we'd all survive if we had to bury you today too. We'll be okay Ari. I promise." He squeezed me once more time before kissing my cheek and walking away with his hands in his pockets. I climbed the stairs until I came to our floor. I sighed as I pushed open my bedroom door. My blanket and pillow had to moved back into my room and my bed remade. I pulled off the dress I was wearing and threw it against a wall. I never wanted to see that dress again! I pulled a shirt over my head. I can't remember who I stole it from but I know it was one of my brother's shirt. I was always stealing their shirts or sweaters! Sleeping in their scents always helped me sleep. Being human, I can't really smell their different scents but having their shirts on always felt like a hug. I didn't bother putting my shorts on toinght. I didn't have the energy tonight. I just opened the doors to my balcony so I could listen to the sounds of the night and the feast. I crawled into my bed and pulled the blanket up and around me. I wasn't lying when I said my head hurt. I drifted off to sleep, welcoming the familiar nightmare. Too bad I fell asleep before noticing that I had a new, large statue on my balcony, watching me while I slept.