All His Wrath

Danielle could have sworn that her hovering friend winked at her. Instinctively, she reached out and gently laid her hands on the little gargoyle’s shoulders, pulled him toward her and hugged him. She felt his hands reach around her neck, grateful he took care to avoid her with his long talons. The thrumming of his wings caused a buzzing in her ears and vibrated all the way down her back.

Releasing him, Danielle giggled again. “It is so good to see you! Where have you been, Lohxnahr? We’ve been waiting for you,” she swept her arm around in the direction of her parents, Conomorg and Ita-Mudak. “We’ve been worried.”

The gargoyle’s lavender eyes narrowed slightly. “Worried? Worried, please be not! For worry solves nothing. It only distracts our minds and saps our strength.” Although it didn’t seem possible, Danielle thought Lohxnahr’s smile grew even wider.

“Yes, I suppose that is true.”

“Of course, it is not odd.”

“I’m sorry?” Danielle replied, perplexed.

“Of course, it is not odd to dream that you are dreaming.”

“Oh,” Danielle said, grinning as she caught up to Lohxnahr’s meaning. “And why is that?”

“Because you didn’t answer my question, I chose to provide it myself,” Lohxnahr intoned solemnly. His body leaned slightly to the left, and he began circling around where Danielle stood.