moment’s respite. Many travelers made it through the Bogs without a problem. Kephas expected to be likewise unhindered, but it wasn’t to be.
The first sign of trouble came in the form of a light mist. Gargoyles had many inhuman traits, including a flawless sense of direction. He wasn’t at all concerned about losing his way. But the mist thickened, then Triton stumbled and made sounds of distress as Kephas tried to lead him over the uneven ground. “What is it, boy? I can see well enough. Come along.”
He guided the stallion around ruts and large rocks, kicking them out of the way when needed. They’d made it a few paces when one of the rocks Kephas kicked away came rolling back to him. He halted and looked down at the stubborn object next to his boot. Then he kicked it away again, only to have it come rolling back. Triton whinnied and reared back. Kephas tightened his grip on the reins. “Whoa, boy. Easy now.”
“ Ezee, ezee, ezeeeeee .”
Kephas turned his back to Triton and looked out into the fog. The mysterious high-pitched voice had come from low to the ground. He squinted and laid a hand on a dagger, but didn’t draw the weapon. Some creatures only became aggressive when they felt threatened. He didn’t know what could be out in the mist with the ability of speech. Using his internal powers, he took on his gargoyle form with a thought.
His height rose by over a foot and his girth would’ve torn his clothes if they hadn’t turned to stone as well. His skin turned gray as a mountainside, though it would still be warm to the touch. He was much stronger in this form and nearly invulnerable. There was very little to be concerned about now.
“Ezeee, ezeee, ezeee.”
The voice grew closer to him and to the ground. He stayed perfectly still, working to keep Triton from pulling the reins from his grip. Suddenly a small gust of wind swirled the mist around his legs and when it cleared a two foot high lizard-like creature stood staring up at him.
He stared back. “What in the many hells are you?”
“You! You, you, you!”
“I’m Master Kephas.”
“Kephas! You!” It hopped up and down on stubby legs as if learning Kephas’ name had been its sole intent. Then it spun around once before staring at him again. “Giga! Me! Giga, Giga, Giga.”
“Giga,” Kephas repeated with a slight bow of his head. It was easy to be courteous to the amusing and non-threatening animal.
It chortled in a high-pitched squeal and spun around again. Its short arms didn’t allow for its four-fingered paws to touch. Otherwise, Kephas was certain it would be clapping. He scratched his chin as it danced around in place, paying no mind to the restless horse towering above it.
Kephas patted Triton’s neck. “Don’t worry, boy. I don’t think it means any harm.” He placed his hand back on the dagger, just in case, and kept a wary eye on the thing. It finally stopped dancing and stood watching him, panting with its tongue out like a hound.
“Well, it was nice to me you, Giga, but we’ll be going now. Goodbye.”
It stood to the side of the path so Kephas easily moved around it and headed toward the border.
“Bye? Bye, bye, bye. Giga bye!”
Kephas glanced over his shoulder to find the creature on all four legs lumbering after them. It didn’t move quickly, but could keep up with their walking pace.
“So, you’re coming along then?”
“Giga bye.”
Giga kept its elongated snout to the ground and kept pace with them in silence until they finally left the mist behind. Its body was covered in small scales that easily moved with its muscles. It appeared to be completely hairless and the claws at the end of its paws curved inward. The tiny beady eyes in its head told Kephas it most likely preferred the night. The moon hung high above and illuminated the road well, the only reason Kephas had chosen not to stop. He knew the Bogs weren’t always safe to fall asleep in.
Long minutes passed with Giga remaining
The first sign of trouble came in the form of a light mist. Gargoyles had many inhuman traits, including a flawless sense of direction. He wasn’t at all concerned about losing his way. But the mist thickened, then Triton stumbled and made sounds of distress as Kephas tried to lead him over the uneven ground. “What is it, boy? I can see well enough. Come along.”
He guided the stallion around ruts and large rocks, kicking them out of the way when needed. They’d made it a few paces when one of the rocks Kephas kicked away came rolling back to him. He halted and looked down at the stubborn object next to his boot. Then he kicked it away again, only to have it come rolling back. Triton whinnied and reared back. Kephas tightened his grip on the reins. “Whoa, boy. Easy now.”
“ Ezee, ezee, ezeeeeee .”
Kephas turned his back to Triton and looked out into the fog. The mysterious high-pitched voice had come from low to the ground. He squinted and laid a hand on a dagger, but didn’t draw the weapon. Some creatures only became aggressive when they felt threatened. He didn’t know what could be out in the mist with the ability of speech. Using his internal powers, he took on his gargoyle form with a thought.
His height rose by over a foot and his girth would’ve torn his clothes if they hadn’t turned to stone as well. His skin turned gray as a mountainside, though it would still be warm to the touch. He was much stronger in this form and nearly invulnerable. There was very little to be concerned about now.
“Ezeee, ezeee, ezeee.”
The voice grew closer to him and to the ground. He stayed perfectly still, working to keep Triton from pulling the reins from his grip. Suddenly a small gust of wind swirled the mist around his legs and when it cleared a two foot high lizard-like creature stood staring up at him.
He stared back. “What in the many hells are you?”
“You! You, you, you!”
“I’m Master Kephas.”
“Kephas! You!” It hopped up and down on stubby legs as if learning Kephas’ name had been its sole intent. Then it spun around once before staring at him again. “Giga! Me! Giga, Giga, Giga.”
“Giga,” Kephas repeated with a slight bow of his head. It was easy to be courteous to the amusing and non-threatening animal.
It chortled in a high-pitched squeal and spun around again. Its short arms didn’t allow for its four-fingered paws to touch. Otherwise, Kephas was certain it would be clapping. He scratched his chin as it danced around in place, paying no mind to the restless horse towering above it.
Kephas patted Triton’s neck. “Don’t worry, boy. I don’t think it means any harm.” He placed his hand back on the dagger, just in case, and kept a wary eye on the thing. It finally stopped dancing and stood watching him, panting with its tongue out like a hound.
“Well, it was nice to me you, Giga, but we’ll be going now. Goodbye.”
It stood to the side of the path so Kephas easily moved around it and headed toward the border.
“Bye? Bye, bye, bye. Giga bye!”
Kephas glanced over his shoulder to find the creature on all four legs lumbering after them. It didn’t move quickly, but could keep up with their walking pace.
“So, you’re coming along then?”
“Giga bye.”
Giga kept its elongated snout to the ground and kept pace with them in silence until they finally left the mist behind. Its body was covered in small scales that easily moved with its muscles. It appeared to be completely hairless and the claws at the end of its paws curved inward. The tiny beady eyes in its head told Kephas it most likely preferred the night. The moon hung high above and illuminated the road well, the only reason Kephas had chosen not to stop. He knew the Bogs weren’t always safe to fall asleep in.
Long minutes passed with Giga remaining
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