“Can we not ask him?” Tashi inquired. “The gryphon, I mean?”
“Tashi!” Yeshe scolded her.
“I simply meant if there was a way to contact him. To find out. To make certain,” Tashi explained in her defense, as respectfully as possible.
“There is much about Phylassos that you do not know,” the doctor responded. “But you will, in time. Right now, you must trust us.”
Tashi nodded. “Then I will go. I will protect Sam London’s life with my own, if I must. Please forgive my brief impertinence. You were correct, Yeshe. I was at odds with my purpose, but now I see how I can be both a Guardian of the gryphon’s claw and a guardian to Sam London.”
“Good, Tashi,” Yeshe said. “Very good. You will leave at once.”
Tashi rose and walked toward the door. She paused, then turned back. “Am I leaving forever?” she asked. The crack in her voice betrayed her feelings in the matter.
“Certainly not,” Yeshe replied warmly. “Just as long as is necessary.”
“And, Tashi…don’t let Sam know of your presence. Unless, of course, it becomes unavoidable,” Dr. Knox added.
Tashi nodded and exited.
Word of Tashi’s new assignment spread quickly through Kustos and was met with surprise. The implications of Yeshe’s orders were entirely alien to the Guardian culture. Guardians did not leave their posts, yet here was one of their most gifted warriors being sent away by their leader. Many didn’t know how to process it. Guardians were born in Kustos and died in Kustos. They said goodbye to another Guardian only at the time of their death, which came at the hour of their choosing. Tashi’s parents were especially affected by this turn of events. They were saying farewell to their only daughter, but at least it was not forever. She had become the youngest Guardian of the gryphon’s claw, and now she would be heading thousands of miles from the one thing she had worked so hard to achieve. It helped her parents to see that she was at peace with this decision, and that she promised to visit them in their dreams—a trick Guardians had inherited from the gryphon.
Before she left, Dr. Vance Vantana took her aside to thank her for protecting Sam and gave her Ranger Penelope Naughton’s contact information.
“If you run into any trouble or you need anything, you contact Ranger Naughton. She’ll know what to do.”
As Tashi made her way to the entrance of the village, she found that all her fellow Guardians had gathered to see her off. Hundreds of villagers held their shekchens to the ground and sent a massive arc of electricity into the sky. It illuminated the entire valley in a swath of silvery blue light. It was an extraordinary gesture reserved for honoring those Guardians who had chosen to move on to the next plane of existence. But it was the only way Guardians knew to express the feeling of loss in any form. Tashi had never been an overly emotional individual—strong emotion was not the trademark of a warrior, and certainly not of a Guardian—yet, given this display by her peers and family, she couldn’t help feeling touched. She quickly looked back as she headed toward the dvergen subway, and admired the village of Kustos, her home since birth, from afar, wondering if she would see it again.
* * *
When you’re trained to be a Guardian, you are trained to survive in the harshest of climates. For Tashi, surviving in Benicia was a walk in the park, quite literally. She found a quiet park near the water, where she took up residency. She slept in a tree and foraged for food. Some of the local animals even gathered food for her, leaving it piled up at the base of her tree. She watched Sam’s house at night and often slept during the day near his school. She was impressed with the massive building dedicated to educating human youth, especially when compared with the small wooden structures that passed for schools in Kustos. Tashi began to get the sense there were other magical creatures near Sam, both at school and at home. But that sense also told her they were harmless.
That is, until a more malevolent force overtook her senses. Tashi didn’t know what it was, simply that it was close and evil in nature. Believing Sam might be in danger, she stepped up her surveillance.
The problem with shortening her proximity to Sam was the risk of being seen—a risk that turned into reality when Sam caught sight of her at school. Fortunately, she hid when he emerged from the building to investigate. Later, when Sam visited a local market, Tashi became concerned for his safety among so many strangers—especially with the sense of dread still hanging over her. As she approached the window to keep a closer eye on Sam, she felt like she too was being watched. She peered over to see a tanuki staring at her from a few yards away. Tashi recalled that Sam had been replaced with a tanuki…this was the raccoon-dog she had seen with him earlier. She concluded that he was one of the harmless magical creatures she could sense around Sam.
“You are the tanuki who took Sam London’s place?” Tashi asked in the creature’s native tongue, which sounded like a series of squeaks, barks, and growls. The tanuki nodded.
“I am Nuks, and you…you’re a Guardian,” Nuks responded in awe. “You’re Tashi. Sam told me about you.”
“Yes,” Tashi confirmed. She looked back to the window and realized Sam had spotted her. Tashi ducked and spoke to Nuks. “He must not know I am here.” Nuks nodded in agreement.
“I think we should talk,” Nuks whispered. “I am worried and I don’t know why.”
“As am I. I will meet you behind Sam’s house at nightfall.”
* * *
At sunset, Tashi made her way to Sam’s backyard to meet with the tanuki. In general, magical creatures possessed an acute awareness or intuition that was highly sensitive to potential dangers. If Nuks was anxious, Tashi’s instincts were correct, and it was just a matter of time before the evil that was lurking would make its presence known.
Nuks exited through the back door and spotted Tashi standing toward the rear of the yard.
“Hello again,” the tanuki said as he approached. Tashi bowed her head slightly.
“Where is Sam?” she asked.
“He’s asleep on the couch,” Nuks replied, then added, “He’s safe.” Tashi nodded. “You’re very far from home, Guardian.”
“I am,” Tashi said. “I was sent to look after Sam. Tell me, tanuki, what has you so concerned?”
Nuks shivered. “I really don’t know, exactly. Just this feeling. If I weren’t a magical creature, I would say it was the sense that a predator was near. Yes, that’s it. As if there is something in the shadows waiting to strike. Do you feel it too?”
“I believe I do,” Tashi answered. “We must remain vigilant, tanuki—”
“Nuks,” he corrected her.
“I will be watching, but if you sense anything more, inform me at once.” Nuks bobbed his head in affirmation. But it was at that very moment that Tashi herself sensed something more. The feeling was stronger than it had ever been, as if the evil was right next to them. Nuks also appeared to feel it. The tanuki looked around, as if trying to find the source. Tashi did the same. They scanned their surroundings, but there was nothing to see. “You check on Sam,” Tashi ordered. “I will have a look around.”
The night turned deathly still as Nuks went in to find Sam. No wind rustling through the trees or crickets chirping. Tashi knew this was another bad omen. The evil hiding in the shadows was preparing to step into the light. Tashi readied herself for its arrival.
—
Back in the house, Sam London was defenseless. He didn’t have Dr. Vantana, Knox, Chriscanis, or Tashi by his side. He didn’t possess the hologram device or a weapon of any kind. And Nuks was lying on the floor, having been knocked unconscious. The aswang that was masquerading as his school teacher had the upper hand. And she also had the claw.
“It is time we finish what we started in the yeti village,” the aswang snarled. “There is no one to protect you now, Sam London. And I am quite hungry.”
Sam spun around and tried to run but didn’t get far. The aswang grabbed his ankle and pulled him close, causing him to flip onto his back. She clu
tched his neck with her long, bony fingers and lifted him off the ground. Sam flailed about, trying to strike the creature with an arm or leg, but she kept him at just enough of a distance that he was unable to make contact. She apparently found his struggle amusing, and cackled evilly. Sam caught a glimpse of Nuks from the corner of his eye. The tanuki was slowly coming back to consciousness.
“Sam,” Nuks muttered.
The aswang glared at Nuks, then back at Sam. She squinted her bloodshot eyes. “Don’t worry, Sam. I’ll eat him for dessert.”
Nuks began to whimper, softly at first, but then the whimpers grew louder and stronger.
“He sounds scared. Are you scared?” the aswang asked. Sam couldn’t answer—the grip of the creature’s talons around his neck made it impossible for him to speak. He was terrified and completely helpless. “I can see it in your eyes.” The aswang grinned menacingly.
“What do you see in mine?” a voice called out. The aswang spun to see who had joined them but was met by a blast of crystalline white powder. The creature screeched as the particles landed on her exposed arms and neck. They appeared to burn her skin on contact. Her hands sizzled and she recoiled in pain, causing her to release Sam and the claw. Sam dropped to the ground, snatched the claw, and scurried away.
“This way, Sam!” the voice cried, and that was when Sam finally recognized it. He looked up to see Tashi standing in the foyer wielding her shekchen. There was a Guardian in his house! Sam couldn’t have been more ecstatic. She had arrived in the nick of time. Sam rushed to her side. “Get behind me!” she ordered. “You too, tanuki.” Nuks scampered over, still feeling the effects of his fall.
“What is that stuff? Some kind of acid?” Sam asked, referring to the white powder Tashi had thrown at the aswang.
Tashi shook her head. “Salt. It is a weakness of the aswang.”
As she flapped her wings, rising off the floor, the aswang shivered the salt off her body and hissed at Tashi. Tashi threw another handful of salt, but this time the aswang was ready. She dodged it, flying toward the entryway.
“Hand over the claw and we might let your friends live,” she announced.
“You pose no threat to us anymore, creature,” Tashi replied confidently as she charged her shekchen and aimed.
“I am not talking about you three. I speak of the pathetic ranger and the old man, who had the misfortune of meeting a few of my relatives in the Philippines.”
Sam’s heart dropped. Dr. Vantana and Knox were in danger? Tashi must have seen the concern in Sam’s face.
“She’s a liar, Sam,” Tashi assured him. “She is baiting us.”
“Yes. I am. And the bait is in Hérault. There, your friends will face their crimes.”
“I don’t believe you,” Sam said defiantly.
“Then go and see for yourself. But remember to bring the claw. It is the only thing we will trade for their lives. If you can keep hold of it, that is. We won’t stop coming,” the creature warned. She flapped her wings and disappeared out the front door and into the night.
* * *
A few hours later, Sam and Tashi were on a bus bound for Redwood National Park. Tashi had shared Ranger Naughton’s contact information, and Sam used his phone to alert her to their impending arrival. Sam didn’t go into detail, just told her it was urgent that they meet. Ranger Naughton arranged to pick them up at the bus station and bring them to the cabin. After the attack by the aswang, the revelation that he now possessed the claw, and the information she had divulged regarding the fate of Dr. Vantana and Knox, Sam had one thought and one thought only: Carl can help. But to contact Carl, they would have to see Ranger Naughton and brief her on the situation.
Nuks agreed to return to Sam’s form and continue the ruse while Sam and Tashi searched for answers. Sam felt bad about recruiting Nuks to take his place again, especially considering the state of the house after the aswang’s attack. Nuks assured Sam everything would be fine. He would clean up as best he could before Ettie returned home and if necessary come up with a good excuse for the mess.
Once on board the bus, Tashi and Sam discussed the day’s events and what they might mean. The Guardian was still struggling with the revelation that the claw had been hidden in Sam’s backpack.
“It must have been Dr. Knox, working with Yeshe, who put the claw in your bag,” Tashi concluded. “When they told me I was to travel here to guard you, they said I would also be guarding the claw in a new way. They must have known.”
“But why hide it in my backpack?” Sam asked. “Wouldn’t it have been safer in Phylassos’s cave?”
“It would seem so,” Tashi replied. “But the cave had been compromised by the yetis once before…and the gryphon has yet to be heard from. It is all quite puzzling. Perhaps there is information we are not aware of.”
Sam considered what information could justify giving a twelve-year-old kid a relic that could change the world. He bristled at the thought that the key to the greatest secret ever kept from mankind was sitting in his twenty-dollar backpack. It was like holding a winning lottery ticket and waiting to cash it in. The entire wait was an anxiety-ridden affair made worse by a sudden hyperawareness of one’s surroundings. Sam scanned the other faces on the bus, paranoid that someone knew what he had and was simply waiting for the right time to strike. Adding to his nerves was the thought that Dr. Vantana and Dr. Knox were in danger. He was more than ready to exchange the claw for their lives, if it came to that.
“Where is Hérault?” Sam asked the Guardian.
“I do not know,” she answered.
“I still can’t believe my teacher was an aswang,” Sam confessed, embarrassed. “I almost ruined everything.”
“She was in violation of Phylassos’s law,” Tashi noted. “The aswang have evil intentions in their hearts, and because of this, they were forbidden to leave their homeland.”
“She’s been my teacher this whole year,” Sam said. “Do you think it could just be coincidence that I was in her class?”
“It seems unlikely,” Tashi replied.
“So you’re saying she was my teacher for a reason?”
“Perhaps.”
“But why? How could she have known I’d be the one to see the gryphon?” Sam asked. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Tashi simply shrugged. “No, it doesn’t.”
* * *
The bus would take several hours to reach the Arcata Transit Center in Arcata, California. From there, Ranger Naughton would be waiting to drive them the rest of the way to the park. They would arrive by morning. Three hours into the trip, the bus stopped in a town called Willets for a half-hour layover. Tashi and Sam got out to use the bathroom and pick up some food at a local fast food restaurant.
As they made their way back to the idling bus, Tashi walked a few feet ahead of Sam. It was exceptionally dark. Overcast skies had diffused the moonlight, and half the lights in the restaurant’s parking lot were out. The lack of illumination left a large portion of the lot covered in darkness. Unfortunately, the two had to pass through this unlit area to reach the bus. Sam didn’t think anything of it and entered the shadows behind Tashi. Suddenly, his body was yanked deeper into the darkness. Whatever it was, it pulled Sam by his backpack with such force it took his breath away and managed to wrench the bag off one of his shoulders. Sam was instantly on his back, his bag was now at his side—only one arm through a strap—and he could feel the cold, moist asphalt on the nape of his neck. He sensed the presence of several creatures, one of which was on his chest, grabbing for his backpack. Sam pulled it close and held on tight. He could hear the creatures screeching and could smell their rancid breath, but he couldn’t see them. The stench of sulfur invaded his nose, burning his nostrils and causing his eyes to tear up. The bloodcurdling screams sent shivers down his spine.
“Sam!” Tashi called out. Before he could respond, a leathery claw clamped down over his mouth.
A pair of headlights from a passing car bathed the area in a po
ol of bright white light, but Sam could still see nothing. His heart raced, and he was growing nauseous from the encounter. And then a strange sensation came over him. A wave of warm energy rippled through his body, crawling across his skin, all the way to his head. His eyes immediately began to sting, but when the pain subsided, the creatures attacking him were suddenly visible. And they were hideous. About three feet tall, with reptilian bodies. Their legs were long, like a kangaroo’s, and their backs sported a row of sharp spines. They had red glowing eyes, protruding jaws, long fangs, and forked tongues. The little monsters were hopping on their hind legs and screeching, as if goading the one sitting on Sam’s chest. That creature bared its fangs and moved in close.
Things looked grim until one of the surrounding creatures was lit up by a flash of shimmering blue light. The monster shook and convulsed, then dropped to the pavement with a pronounced thud. The other creatures took notice, including the one on Sam. It was the next to get hit. A bolt of electrical energy found the creature’s back, sending a charge through its body and causing it to freeze. Sam threw the monster off his chest and climbed to his feet. Tashi was at his side in an instant, helping him get away from the remaining beasts. She sent a few bolts from her shekchen behind them as they rushed to the bus.
“Are you okay?” Tashi asked, her attention focused on the remaining monsters.
“I think so. What were those things?”
“They are called chupacabras. The word is Spanish for ‘goatsucker,’ ” Tashi answered. “Did it bite you?”
“No. It tried, but you saved me just in time.” Of course, Sam thought. Chupacabras. He had read several stories about these creatures, which came from Latin America. They looked exactly like their description in the stories, just a lot more terrifying. Sam and Tashi quickly reboarded the bus and headed for the back.
“The aswang warned us….She said they wouldn’t stop coming,” Sam said.
“They are nasty beasts, the chupacabras. We are lucky you are alive.”
“Tashi,” Sam said softly. The Guardian turned to face him. “I could see them. At first I couldn’t, but then something happened. I felt something strange and then I could see them.”
Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw Page 20
