Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw

by Todd Calgi Gallicano

  Tashi raised a single brow, intrigued. “The chupacabras are among the cursed. They are not shape-shifters; therefore, humans cannot see them.”

  “But I did,” Sam proclaimed. “I totally did.”

  “And you had the sight taken from you, did you not?”

  Sam nodded. “Before I left Kustos. Dr. Knox insisted. He gave me an injection that took it away,” he explained. “And it must have worked, because I didn’t see them at first.”

  “Events grow stranger by the moment,” Tashi concluded.

  The bus left Willet and resumed its course for Arcata. Sam’s unanswered questions kept piling up. Redwood National Park couldn’t come quickly enough.

  Penelope knew that her amnesia hadn’t been caused by an accident. She hadn’t fallen and hit her head or walked into a tree and knocked herself out. Her doctor found no evidence of cranial trauma. When she pressed for answers, he simply told her that dysfunctions of the mind can prove quite mysterious. One never knows what spurs changes in brain chemistry. But his assessment wasn’t good enough for Penelope. This mystery was too personal and too important. In the absence of a clear-cut scientific explanation, the ranger began to conclude that her memory loss was not a matter of brain chemistry; rather, it was a matter of magic.

  She was still learning every day about the world around her and the mythical creatures that populated it. She was aware of the presence of magic and the ability some creatures had to manipulate it, but because her analytical mind could not accept the word “magic,” she referred to it as “strange science.” She was determined to find out who had had the means and the motive to erase her memory. It was easier said than done. Even if she had been aware of such a plot and left clues to the answer, she couldn’t remember where she had hidden the evidence. Fortunately, she stumbled upon it while cleaning. She was moving a refrigerator in the lab, when she heard an object fall and hit the floor. She peeked behind the fridge and spotted a notebook. It looked like the kind she kept for recording her experiments—black with a white, numbered label—but where the number usually was, this one was blank. It also had a large elastic band wrapped around it. It reminded Penelope of the diary she used to keep as a child. She had wrapped it with a large rubber band, as though that provided some protection for her private thoughts. She pulled the rubber band from the notebook and noticed creases on the cover and binding—telltale signs it had been well used. When she opened it, she learned why: it was a personal journal.

  The journal started three years ago, when Penelope had begun her job at Redwood National Park. It didn’t include entries every day, only when she had something important to express. She pulled up one of the lab stools and sat down, then flipped through the pages until she reached the last few entries, leading up to her amnesia. The first one she read, which was dated two weeks before her episode, seemed relatively benign. She discussed her latest experiments with Gus’s blood and the impact they had on their friendship. She also talked about a problem with a colony of jackalopes stealing food from human campsites. Toward the end of this entry, she came upon an interesting statement. While on a hike to confront the offending jackalopes about their illegal activity, Penelope had spotted massive footprints leading to a more remote area of the park. In the entry, she theorized that they were bigfoot prints and said she would follow up with Carl. The next entry didn’t mention anything about the prints or the follow-up with Carl. Instead, it was dedicated to the surprise visit by Dr. Henry Knox, Penelope’s superior. It read as follows:

  Today was an unusual day. Upon returning from my morning rounds, I discovered Dr. Henry Knox waiting for me at the cabin. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen Dr. Knox without Dr. Vantana by his side. I love sharing my work whenever I have the opportunity, and can always count on Dr. Knox to express much enthusiasm. He was particularly interested in the new holographic projector I built, which is intended to aid rangers in situations when they are outnumbered and need to appear to have a larger presence. The doctor had many questions about how the device works and how to create the illusion it projects. He also asked if he could borrow it, but I explained it is still a prototype and requires a further round of tinkering before being allowed out of the lab.

  The following I make note of here because it was so odd. Dr. Knox inquired about any “strange happenings” at the park. He asked about the goats in the northern sector and whether I had checked on them recently. When I asked if that meant I should be keeping an eye out for chupacabras, he suggested I keep an eye out for anything unusual. The doctor left before sundown, saying he was going to take a look around. I have never seen him so pensive. It makes me nervous.

  Penelope’s curiosity had been more than piqued, so she continued reading. The next entry relayed her follow-up with Carl, which had an intriguing outcome. Apparently, when she went to speak with Carl, she spied him heading into the woods alone. Penelope followed and found he was walking toward the area where she had seen the bigfoot prints. Unfortunately, Carl’s sense of smell was much too keen for her to follow undetected for long. He became aware of her presence and turned back. She played dumb and asked if he had spotted any jackalopes in the area. He claimed he hadn’t, so she went on her way but returned later that afternoon to track Carl’s prints. As she did, she noticed that his prints were joined by additional footprints. The first set appeared to be human, but those disappeared after a few yards and were replaced with other animal-like prints that Penelope could not identify. She took some casts and returned to her lab to determine who or what Carl had been meeting.

  The final entry before the diary went blank—and Penelope suffered her bout of amnesia—proved especially revealing. She wrote:

  I have discovered a great secret. The kind I cannot disclose in this book. I intend to prove my theory today when I track Carl the bigfoot through the northern section of the park. I will be using a spray I synthesized from samples of Carl’s fur that will duplicate his scent. If my scent matches his, he will not be able to distinguish it and I should be able to follow undetected. If my theory is correct and these meetings with Carl are taking place, I wonder what it might mean for the department and the curse. I can’t help but conclude that we all must be in some kind of danger.

  Penelope closed the diary and returned it to its hiding place, wedged between the wall and the refrigerator. She dropped back down onto her stool, the revelations weighing heavily. She contemplated what she had read and what it all meant. What was Carl up to? And why did she sound so concerned in the entry regarding the curse? But most importantly, what was the great secret she couldn’t reveal on paper? It was all quite confounding, made more so when taken together with the previous entries, especially the entry on Dr. Knox. Was Knox aware of this impending danger? Perhaps that was why he disappeared around the same time Penelope lost her memory. This was no coincidence, she surmised. With Dr. Knox still missing, there was only one other person she could talk to about the events surrounding her amnesia: Carl the bigfoot. He obviously knew something; after all, according to the diary, she’d been following him the day she lost her memory.

  Penelope had been trying to meet with Carl ever since she’d returned, but he never made time to see her. Trevor the troll claimed it was simply because he was busy; however, in light of the information in the diary, Penelope started to believe he’d been avoiding her on purpose. She felt a knot in her stomach at the thought of meeting with Carl—how could she be certain he wasn’t a threat? Given his commitment to the cause for so many years, a development like this would be devastating.

  As Penelope prepared to leave to visit the bigfoot, she received a phone call from an unnerved Sam London. He spoke quickly, informing her that he had been attacked by an aswang and that he was headed to see her, along with a Guardian. She wondered if she had misheard that last part. Surely Sam wasn’t referring to an actual Guardian from the village of Kustos. He must be confused. The last she had heard about Sam London was when Vance called, requesting to have a
car ready for Chriscanis so he could bring the boy home. Vance hadn’t said much else on the call, which Penelope had noted was cryptic. All the recent events, together with the journal entries, led Penelope to believe that Knox was aware of the coming danger and that danger was now at their doorstep.

  Penelope left her lab and found Trevor sleeping on the couch in her living room. She closed the painting that doubled as the lab’s secret door extra hard. Trevor roused at the noise and noticed he wasn’t alone. He sat up, eyes wide.

  “Did you hear about Sam London?” Trevor asked anxiously.

  “How did you—” Penelope started, then realized. “Let me guess—a friend of a friend of a friend.”

  “Of a friend of a tanuki who went foraging with Nuks. He’s the tanuki that took Sam’s place,” Trevor explained. “He didn’t say much, just that Sam was attacked by an aswang.”

  “Yes,” Penelope replied. “He called me. He’s on a bus headed this way. What are you doing here?”

  “I came to tell you the news, but when I saw you were in your lab, I figured I’d wait until you came out. I know you don’t like to be bothered when you’re in the lab,” Trevor noted. “Aswangs are nasty creatures, Ranger Naughton. Why would they attack Sam?”

  “I don’t know, Trevor. I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”

  Trevor rose from the couch and walked over to Penelope. He got in close, glanced around as if to make sure no one was within earshot, then whispered, “I did hear one other thing, but I’m not sure I should believe it.”

  “Sam is traveling with a Guardian?” Penelope guessed. Trevor gasped.

  “So it is true!” the troll exclaimed. “Wow! I wonder if they have friends. I’m a good friend. I bet I’d be their first troll friend.”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Penelope cautioned. “I’m sure the Guardian isn’t here to make friends.”

  “Of course,” Trevor replied. “I’ll do whatever I can to help. You can become very good friends with someone if you go through ad-ad-adversity with them.” Penelope rolled her eyes. Trolls were way too obsessed with collecting friends—it was irritating.

  “Do you mind if I stay here tonight?” Trevor asked. “It’s awful late, and I’d like to be here when Sam arrives. Just in case he needs me. He’s my—”

  “Friend. Yes, I know,” Penelope said, exasperated. She usually wasn’t this cranky, but her mind was still swirling with thoughts of her journal. She refocused and tried to smile. “Sure, you can stay here.”

  “Thanks!” Trevor plopped back down onto the couch, which was clearly not made for a creature his size.

  “I have to go out,” Penelope announced.

  “Now? But it’s pitch-black out there. Where do you have to go that’s so important?”

  “I have to talk to Carl.”

  “I think you should wait till morning,” Trevor advised. “He likes his sleep.”

  “Unfortunately, I can’t wait. He’s been avoiding me for too long. Haven’t you noticed?”

  “It was strange that he had time to meet with Sam but he still hasn’t checked up on you,” Trevor admitted. “Especially since you two are friends.”

  “Well, it’s time to find out why. Make yourself comfortable; I’ll be back later,” Penelope said, before heading to the front door. She opened the door to leave and came face to face with a dog-man.

  “Ranger Penelope Naughton, I presume?” the dog-man said in a British accent.

  “You’re a cynocephalus,” Penelope responded, shocked to finally see one in person.

  “Indeed I am.” The cynocephalus thrust out a paw. “The name’s Chase. Agency for the Welfare of Mythical Beasts, retired.”

  Penelope took Chase’s paw and shook. “Pleased to meet you.”

  Trevor was up and heading toward the door. “I know exactly who you are, Mr. Chase,” the troll said. “I’ve always wanted to be friendly with—”

  “Trevor,” Penelope interrupted firmly. “This is likely not a social call.”

  Chase nodded. “You are correct. I have received some rather disturbing news regarding Vance Vantana and Henry Knox. I am hoping it is merely rumor.”

  Penelope realized that meeting Carl was not in the cards for her tonight. She gestured to Chase. “Come on in and tell me what you’ve heard.”

  —

  The sun was just inching up over the horizon when the bus pulled in to the Arcata Transit Center. Sam and Tashi had taken shifts sleeping, though Sam was pretty certain Tashi never actually fell asleep. The slightest bump or mechanical noise would wake the vigilant Guardian. Sam did manage to get some much-needed rest despite his anxiety regarding Vantana and Knox, combined with the fact that he had the claw in his possession. As the day’s first light hit his tired face, his body was brimming with the excitement of seeing Carl and getting some answers. It wouldn’t be long now.

  After the chupacabra attack in Willet, Tashi insisted on walking behind Sam as they headed to the parking lot to meet Penelope. But when Sam spotted the ranger waiting near her department-issued SUV, he took off running toward her. This sent Tashi into a tailspin. The Guardian sprinted after her charge but couldn’t prevent him from reaching Penelope and delivering a welcoming embrace. When Tashi arrived at the car a second later, she yanked Sam backward by his shoulder and scolded him.

  “Sam London!” Tashi exclaimed with fury. “I am bound to protect you. I cannot have you acting the fool, putting yourself in danger.”

  “Danger? This is Ranger Naughton,” Sam replied. “We can trust her.”

  “I am sure that is what you believed about Miss Capiz,” Tashi countered.

  “My teacher turned out to be an aswang,” Sam explained to the ranger. He shrugged. “How was I supposed to know?”

  “Your friend is right,” Penelope said. “You must be more careful now, Sam.” The ranger turned to Tashi. “I’m Ranger Penelope Naughton. I’m human.” Tashi eyed her for an extended moment, then nodded.

  “I am Tashi of Kustos.”

  “An honor to meet you, Tashi,” Penelope said. “Now, what is all this about an attack by an aswang? What would a creature like that want with you?”

  Sam gestured for Penelope to lean in close. She obliged, intrigued.

  “I have the gryphon’s claw,” Sam whispered. He noticed her skeptical expression and pulled his backpack around to his chest. He unzipped it and revealed just the tip of the shiny gold claw. It glinted in the light—the reflection was so blindingly bright, Penelope shielded her eyes. She cupped her hand to her mouth in disbelief.

  Tashi peered around nervously. “I think it would be best if we go,” she suggested. “We do not need to attract more attention to ourselves.”

  “Oh, yes. Right,” Penelope replied. “Hop in.”

  The trio settled into the SUV and Penelope pulled out of the transit station and headed onto the highway.

  “I can’t believe you have the claw right there,” the ranger said, still trying to process what she had just seen.

  “Neither can I,” Sam confessed. “It’s why I need to talk to Carl right away.”

  Penelope pursed her lips. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Sam eyed her, curiously. “It’s a long story,” she added.

  “But he may be the only one who can help us. The aswang said they have Dr. Knox and Dr. Vantana.”

  “I’ve been made aware of that,” Penelope replied. Sam looked at the ranger, surprised she knew. “I got an unexpected visit last night from Chase,” she explained.

  “The cynocephalus?” Sam interjected. Penelope nodded.

  “He also heard the doctors were in danger. He’s concerned and wants to lend a hand…or paw, I guess.”

  “Does he know anything else?” Sam asked.

  “Just where they’re being held. A region in Southern France. I believe it’s called Hérault.” Sam sat up straighter.

  “Hérault?” he exclaimed. “That’s what the aswang said. She also said I would have to trade the claw
for their lives. I’m hoping Carl will know what to do.”

  “Carl can’t be trusted,” Penelope said with reluctance.

  “Why not?” Sam asked.

  The park ranger relayed the story of her private journal, the great secret, and how Carl was somehow involved. She suggested they discuss it with Chase and maybe contact Chriscanis to determine the best course of action. Carl was off-limits until she could ascertain which side he was on.

  The remainder of the car ride to the park was spent with Sam updating Penelope on the events of the last few days. When Sam got to the part of the story with the holographic device, Penelope’s expression turned to one of unsettling shock.

  “What?” the ranger interjected, as if she had heard incorrectly.

  “I don’t know what it was called, but it was just this really cool device that projected holograms,” Sam explained.

  “Oh, I know what it does…it’s my device. I built it,” Penelope replied, the irritation evident in her tone. “Knox had it? And gave it to you?”

  Sam nodded. “Did I do something wrong?”

  She shook her head. “No, you’re fine,” she responded warmly this time. “Tell me more.”

  “Not much more to say,” Sam said. “Dr. Knox told me to hit the button and run. It was awesome!”

  “Really?” The remaining hints of Penelope’s annoyance were instantly replaced with giddy excitement.

  “It created hundreds of projections of Guardians,” Sam revealed. “The yetis completely freaked out.”

  “So it worked?” she asked excitedly.

  “Big-time,” Sam said. “If it didn’t, we would all be yeti leftovers now.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “Then the aswang realized what was going on and destroyed the device,” Sam answered.

  “Destroyed?” Penelope responded, crestfallen. “As in…”

  Sam nodded. “Yeah. Sorry,” he said, noticing Penelope’s solemn expression.