Brooklyn had never awoken from his stone slumber in such a way. On the rooftop of the temple, he greeted the night as he faced inward, away from the horizon. Another blatant reminder that he wasn't home. Yet the strong mountain breeze seemed to whisk away any chance homesick thoughts as he yawned, breaking the stone skin from his exterior. He found himself choking briefly on the unexpected, potent air current. After regaining composure, he noticed the other gargoyles awakening with a sort of anticipation of the wind; some stretched and turned towards the breeze, while other used it to drift down to the courtyards below. Brooklyn took a moment to close his eyes and relish the sweet, yet powerful, breeze. It wasn't home, it could never be. But it was nice.

Fu-Dog whimpered excitedly and looked down from the wall at the gargoyle beasts wandering about the gardens.

"You're so needy." Brooklyn grunted as he lifted Fu-Dog and glided down to the gardens. Fu-Dog immediately took off and began to wrestle with the other beasts. Claws resting on the hilt of his Scottish sword, his eyes scanned the living sea of gargoyles, until he located a familiar face among the waves. The Timedancer maneuvered through the crowd and followed Chigiriki. Some of the clan branched off and climbed the temple walls; either traveling to different courtyards within the temple or gliding away to various regions within the city or countryside. Chigiriki, however, followed other clan members out of the temple and into the marketplace. Brooklyn stuck right by his peer and sniffed the dusk breeze. The scent of ripe fruit, cooked rice, dried fish, and many other varieties of food danced about in the evening air. Brooklyn took note that while some humans had closed their little stands and shops, others were displaying more of their goods and readying themselves for work.

"What are we doing out here?" He inquired.

"My friend, you are a creature of many questions and little observation." The gargoyle approached a stand and bowed politely to an old man with a fuzzy head and snowy beard.

Keen to learn, Brooklyn turned and watched the rest of the gargoyles in the streets; and discovered that most of them were conversing with venders and receiving food. With sudden realization of his hunger, the crimson gargoyle followed the example of Chigiriki, and bowed politely to the small man. The vender returned the gesture with two bowls of fish soup.

"This is one of the many ways that we join efforts with the humans to sustain Ishimura," Chigiriki explained as he caught a piece of fish with chopsticks. "We teach Bushido and defend against any that would attack our city."

"And the humans offer you meals from their surplus?" Brooklyn added.

"You're learning."

With a confident grin, the beaked gargoyle turned to his breakfast and successfully snagged some fish with his chopsticks.

"I don't have time for this! This can't possibly be a priority!" Katana scowled as Nagainata returned to her side with a bowl of egg and rice.

"I had nothing to do with the assignment, surely you know that." He approached the wall and began to climb. Katana dug her canines into the apple and held it in her beak as she followed him up the wall. She had always been envious of his balance ability; climbing a stone wall with a bowl in one hand was a useful trick.

"I know you didn't," she took the apple in her hand as they reached the top and used the other to pull away the strands of her hair that the powerful wind blew into her face.

"I just don't understand how such a wise leader could think that this-"

"-would be a wise use of your time and skills?" Naginata finished.

"Yes! Especially now, of all times. I understand how important training is, but my responsibility is to be a strength to my clan."

"You're the most skilled with a katana, and I have been assigned to train young ones."

Katana's fangs dug into the apple, filling the air around her with a crisp, sweet aroma. As frustrated as she was, she could see no outcome that would satisfy her desires as well as those of the clan elders. She became more resigned as she continued to eat; it was her duty to accept the assignment. She took her frustration out on the apple as she took a subtly aggressive bite.

"Tana, I know-"

"Please, don't call me that anymore." Katana turned away from Naginata, and threw her apple core an impressive distance into the grassy field.

"I thought you liked it when I called you that." His voice suddenly turned sour.

"That was before." The slight edge in her voice was only frost, not ice. She couldn't bring herself to really snap at Naginata, not after all the memories they had made.

A heavy silence settled over them. Naginata set his barely touched rice bowl in his lap, and gently reached for Katana's shoulder.

"I can't do anything to change your assignment right now. But perhaps I could persuade the elders that your talents would be of more use elsewhere. But that may require time. I'll do my best, but they want you to begin training him right away."

Katana's ears drooped slightly, and she looked over her shoulder for a moment. Her superior's eyes met hers with a tender gaze. She broke away and headed towards the temple.

"Thank you." She muttered as she left.

"You're welcome." He called after her. He watched as her silhouette grew smaller with each step.

"For old time's sake, Tana." He murmured and took a bite of rice.

Chigiriki sat with Brooklyn in the courtyard as the crickets chirped. Fu-Dog contently sat at Brooklyn's feet, and the Timedancer occasionally patted the beast's head as he conversed. Brooklyn's mind has bloomed with new questions about Ishimura and the clan, and Chigiriki answered each one to the best of his abilities while they waited. Fu-Dog was laying happily on his back when the gargess approached. The beast rolled over and pranced to Katana, circling her legs as she walked. The two males took notice of Fu-Dog's sudden departure and stood to greet the female. The Ishimuran warriors exchanged polite, shallow bows. The Timedancer quickly mimicked the gesture.

"Katana, this is Brooklyn. He will learn the ways of Bushido with you as his teacher." Chigiriki recited a formal introduction.

"I am honored to serve my clan." She replied dutifully, and then turned to Brooklyn.

"I have been instructed by my elders to begin working with you immediately." Her voice wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm, either.

"Sounds good to me," Brooklyn casually responded, crossing his arms as Fu-Dog returned to his side.

"I will meet with you tomorrow night, Brooklyn. I'm scheduled for patrol." Chigiriki gave a shallow bow, and then disappeared through the temple gates.

A moment of silence hung in the room. Fu-Dog yawned loudly, and Katana finally spoke, turning to her pupil.

"We will conduct your training in the sand arena." She maintained eye contact for only a moment before turning towards a room off to the left. Brooklyn watched her disappear behind the heavy wooden door and reappear moments later with three sheathed weapons.

"This way," she lifted her head towards the fields south of the city, towards the mountains that sent forth such powerful winds. Brooklyn hefted Fu-Dog into his arms and took wing as Katana drifted from the southern border of the temple to the meadow. After clearing the bluff upon which the courtyards dwelt, Katana pulled in her wings and trooped off toward a small arena to the west.

Brooklyn followed behind obediently for a moment but soon began to observe his mentor a little more closely. Her mane, the color of midnight, shone under the moon even as a new, mighty gust sent the strands fluttering behind her. Half was secured in a high ponytail by a strap of red-dyed leather, while the remaining hair swirled around her slender neck and shoulders. Her wings were large and muscular, with patagia a few shades darker than her skin, at least from the back. Brooklyn was sure that the membranes were a light, greyish-blue on her ventral side. Her legs directed her didactyl feet into careful, muted steps. Her tail was also well muscled and swung slightly as she walked, aiding her balance. The new teacher strode with the assurance of one who knew what they were doing, who walked into every situation with a plan. She was confident in her abilities, he could tell from how she carried herself.

He realized that he had been staring for a little too long, and quickly broke the silence.

"What do you call those mountains?" Brooklyn blurted out.

"They are called Nihon Arupusu, and they span for great distances. Other clans live among them, and the southern sea sends her winds over the summits."

"That's pretty neat," the Timedancer commented as he gazed up at the not-so-distant giants. They had barely grown closer when Brooklyn felt the ground beneath him change from lush pasture to gritty sand.

"So, what is up first on the agenda, teacher?"

"You are going to learn how to handle your weapon." She responded, not even turning in his direction.

They arrived at the fence of small arena, and the gargess gave Brooklyn the third sword that she had brought with her. She offered it with two hands and handed it carefully to her student. Brooklyn admired the onyx-black sheath, and then admired the quality metal of the blade as he unsheathed it.

"This is really great and all, but I already have a sword. I know how to use one."

"You are obviously not from here, and I can assure you that you have never handled a weapon such as this."

"Oh, yeah, because swords are exclusive to Japan, I forgot." He jokingly retorted. His sarcasm was not well-received. She shot him a minor frown.

"Must you always speak in such a way? It's rude."

"Rude or candid? I think that would depend entirely upon your interpretation." He slipped the sword back into its sheath.

Katana shut her eyes for a moment and exhaled slowly, and then turned to the arena, swinging herself gracefully over the railing.

"Besides, everyone else here seems to be pretty darn good with a weapon. Why are you teaching me?" Brooklyn quipped.

"Because they want you to be taught to wield a katana, and I am the most skilled with said weapon."

"Vain much?"

"Vain or candid, it depends on your interpretation. Now, get in here."

A little irritated at the jab, Brooklyn felt his heart pound just a little harder.

He jumped over the railing after her, and his teacher indicated for him to unsheathe the weapon. He obeyed.

"It is not a stick." Katana muttered with a disapproving tone.

"I'm well aware." Brooklyn snipped back. Without a word, and before he could resist, her claws latched onto the hilt and slid the weapon further down his grasp and tilted his wrist into an angle, the way it was to be properly held. Brooklyn inhaled deeply and did all in his power to hold his tongue.

"Be sure to maintain that angle and keep your claws away from the hilt. Understood?"

"Could you make it a little more obvious for me, please?" He murmured.

From his peripheral vision, he could see Katana tense up, barely noticeably. But as suddenly as she had tightened up, she relaxed.

"Alright, Brooklyn, if you are the swordsman that you claim to be, I would have you demonstrate for me."

"How so?"

"Try to attack me." She took a couple of steps back, and mockingly extended her arms in a welcoming sort of gesture.

"You sure about that?" Was his leery response.

"Do you need me to make it a little more obvious for you?" She snapped back, her weapon still sheathed. "If I am so vain, put me in my place."

"With pleasure." He growled. This firecracker of a female was starting to make him see red. He stepped forward and took a methodical, somewhat restrained swing with the blade- and in a fraction of a second Katana smoothly dodged and drew her weapon. Her calm expression melted into a mild glare as she took a step forward.

She approached and slashed menacingly towards Brooklyn, causing him to retreat a step backward. He took another swing, and she quickly ducked in response. Impossibly fast, she crouched, spun, and lashed her tail out to Brooklyn's legs, knocking him off balance, and he plummeted to the ground. She took another swing at Brooklyn and stopped in midair as he held up his own blade to block her. She quickly pulled her sword away.

"That's not how you block," she stepped backwards, safely away from another slash. "Avoid blocking by dodging when you can," her hand struck out as her pupil attempted to stand and twisted his wrist, pointing Brooklyn's weapon to the ground. "And seek opportunities to disarm your opponent."

Katana pressed against the tendon of his arm with her own thumb, causing his claws to relax, and knocked the hilt from his grasp, sending the blade to clattering to the ground. The Timedancer growled in frustration and quipped back at his teacher.

"Glad to see that you're living up to your name."

She tightened her grip on his wrist, causing him to sharply inhale from the shooting pain.

"I worked for this name. I earned it." Her words were only a little testy, but defensive nonetheless. Katana released Brooklyn's arm and turned on her heel to retrieve the blade. She tossed the sword back to her pupil, and he clumsily caught it by the handle.

"Let's start again. And this time focus on your stance."

Brooklyn's nose curled, and his eyes narrowed. He prepared for more training, and his earlier impressions of her were dismissed to the recesses in the back of his mind.

The insides of the buildings within the temple were marvelous. The exterior was constructed of stone and wood, but the inside felt warm and cozy. Woven mats, paper room dividers, and modest tapestries gave each room a homey feel. Brook lyn let his muscles relax, warmed by the small lantern at his side. His eyes continued to scan the scroll that was laid before him. But that was all that his eyes did: scan the page.

"I'm still don't remember what this second character is!" The Timedancer scratched his scalp impatiently.

Chigiriki looked up from his own reading and rolled up his own scroll.

"Perhaps that is enough reading for now. Practicing your speaking may be the wisest use of time."

The teacher moved to sit across from his pupil and reviewed proper pronuncia tion.

After several minutes Brooklyn laughed.

"I'm learning pretty slowly. I appreciate your patience. I would be ripping my own mane out if I was in your position."

"You're a determined pupil, I do not mind."

They returned to the pronunciation exercises and transitioned into words and phrases.

"Okay, I'll admit it; I'm starting to get a headache from all this."

"Perhaps you need realistic application," Chigiriki suggested. He stood and peered out from the door into the hallway, then promptly turned his gaze back to Brooklyn.

"The humans have guard duty this evening, and the young ones have the evening to study. My rookery brothers and sisters are out in the mountains. Would you like to go and socialize?"

"And by socialize, you mean converse with them in Japanese?"

"Clever. But you may use English as well. I'll teach you more once we get there."

"I'm sold. Lead the way!"

Chigiriki led the gargoyle and his beast through the sky; over the meadows and fields behind the temple, over the forested foothills of the mountains, and into the mountain range. The three soon found themselves on a small plateau near the mountain pass, and a group of gargoyles mingled around sheltered campfires and hot springs. Fu-Dog scampered over to a small waterfall to take a drink, while his master approached a group of males sitting about a fire.

"Do all of you come here often?" Brooklyn inquired in broken Japanese, noting the charred fire pit.

"It's one of the best spots in the mountains!" Yumi exclaimed, carving an arrow shaft from a log.

"Good of you to join us, Brooklyn." Naginata said with a polite nod.

"Thank you."

"Who else is arriving?" Tantō asked as he nodded toward the northern horizon.

The males followed his gaze and took note of two graceful figures descending to the plateau. An orange tinted female in a blue kimono and Tessen.

Without a word, one of the males stood and headed over to one of the hot springs.

"Sodegarami?" Naginata turned to his fellow warrior.

The tall, lavender male gave a small smile to his brother, and then continued.

"What's he doing?" Yumi asked, although he seemed to already know the answer to his question and stifled a chortle.

"I'd dare say he wants to spend some time with Shinju." Another piped in.

"She's going to reject him again! What could have changed between them in the past two years?"

"The birth of desperation, perhaps?"

The group cackled at the response and returned to their tasks and drinks. Brooklyn noted that each male would take an incredibly inconspicuous glance over at Sodegarami every so often. The gargoyle had taken a casual seat by the hot springs and, as he had clearly anticipated, Shinju and Tessen had joined the group at the steaming water.

"Soon our sisters may become The Six," Naginata chuckled, "I wish him luck."

"What are their names?" Brooklyn muttered, surprised by his sudden ability to remember the basic Japanese vocabulary.

Chigiriki took a sip of tea and leaned next to Brooklyn. He used his chin to subtly indicate a ruby-shade beaked female, wearing a cloth wrap as she waded to her siblings in the hot spring.

"That is Akashi," Chigiriki informed Brooklyn.

"She has a marvelous singing voice, and her gaze stops even humans in their tracks." Yumi muttered as he began to carve a new arrow shaft.

"She spends most of her time helping Mother watch after the young ones." Tantō added, sipping some tea.

"You see that mated pair? The female sitting to their left?" Chigiriki nodded towards another fire.

"The tawny one? Hair loosely tied back?"

"Yes, the one wearing a dark green kimono." Naginata tossed a cherry into his mouth, turning to gaze at the female.

"Her name is Eien." A new male joined the circle, sitting on the ground beside Brooklyn. "She reads more than any other tengu I've encountered."

"You already know Tessen," Yumi pointed back to the spring with a small blade. Tessen relaxed in the water next to Akashi.

"Behind them is Koishi," Naginata nodded towards an amber-shade female with a basket of peaches. "She's very social. I'm convinced that the reason no male can ask to court her is because she is never alone."

"She weaves baskets, mostly." Yumi added, more focused on his carving than the conversation.

Brooklyn took several cherries from a basket and began to chew slowly as he listened. The males chatted regarding the females in their own clan and in neighboring clans. Brooklyn found himself absent-mindedly nibbling cherries, gazing off into the night. His thoughts drifted to Scotland, and how his rookery brothers would pass time together around a fire, chattering about their latest accomplishments and what they had seen while on patrol. Those nights somehow all seemed to rush back, and yet still felt unreachable. Those nights were eternities away. But Brooklyn's train of thought was yanked back into the present by a shift in the conversation.

"And we cannot forget about Katana. Gave Brooklyn a good fright a few nights ago." An unfamiliar voice piped up. Brooklyn didn't catch who had said it, but Yumi couldn't contain his own laughter.

"Became well acquainted with her, according to my sources," Yumi laughed aloud.

Brooklyn felt his ears twitch back angrily.

"Enough of that," Naginata growled, his eyes suddenly focused on the crackling firewood.

"She has no fear of speaking her mind."

"She trains and studies harder than anyone I've ever seen. She'll be formidable in battle one day." Tantō muttered, also staring at the flames.

"And those are The Seven. The unmated females of our generation." Chigiriki concluded, taking a fistful of cherries from a nearby basket.

"By the moon and stars, they sure are something, aren't they?" Yumi set down his carving and turned to gaze at the females.

"They sure are…" Naginata didn't lift his eyes from the fire.

Brooklyn stole a glance at the fire pit at which Katana knelt, sipping from a small cup of tea. Tessen knelt at her side and attempted to wring the water from her short mane. The two began to chatter, and Katana tossed her head back and released a hearty laugh. Brooklyn felt a grin slip across his own beak. Her laughter faded, and her mane rested fell over her shoulders and down her back. A smile lingered across her face, and her eyes twinkled as she spoke with rookery siblings. Brooklyn felt his grin grow a little wider- and then he shook his head.

Knock it off, numbskull, focus on why you're here. He scolded himself.

The Timedancer returned his efforts to practicing his Japanese and conversing with fellow warriors.

Author's Notes: Thank you guys so much for being patient. No, this fanfiction is not dead, I've just been very distracted with school and work and other such things. There are more chapters on the way, I promise. For updates and Gargoyles fanart, visit my dA page (same username). In the meantime, enjoy this new chapter! Take care of yourselves, see you next time.