Follow Closely, Little One

Gargoyle led the way off through the trees, staying at a walk at first, wanting to keep beside his daughter, at least until he was sure she was awake. But he needn't have worried, the girl seemed happy only too happy to come along. The big male led her out of the shades of the pines and, nudging aside one cone laden bough to reveal a cut away of the mountain. Here the slope dropped off in a sheer crumpling wall. Below the volcanic soil gave birth to dozens of different types of trees, and to bushes and brush - even some spring flowers were beginning to poke their heads up. And of course beyound that stretched another arm of the mountain. And another. And another, until the Tortugan domain faded to foothills, banding the sky in various shades of blue-grey.

It was not Glaciem, no, but it was equally worthy of an artist's brush. "Our new home, Avalon." Gargoyle rumbled quietly. It was as good a time as any to teach an important lesson. "Change isn't something to be scared of," he murmured. "Everything changes. Night to day. Pup to grown wolf. Winter to Spring. It's just a part of life and we keep going." Gargoyle meant every word, and he was beginging to find, as most parents did, that in teaching their children, they were also learning something themselves. Truths were refreshed. "But then again," the father added, lowering his head to suddenly snort a ticklish breath of hot air in the pup's ear. "There are some things, like family, that aren't meant to change." A grumbling sort of sound came from the male's chest (beleive it or not - a chuckle) and cocked his head slightly trying to peer into his daughter's eyes. "I'll always love you Avalon - even when you start growing up. And you'll always love me right?" He waiting, neck lowered, almost smiling in the morning air.