The next couple days went by with Brooklyn continuing to heal and forming a close friendship with Mark and Nora.

His stomach was slowly beginning to feel better though the scar remained. Brooklyn wished that stone sleep could heal it. But at least this ranch was better than the one he left.

Thankfully for Brooklyn, Nora kept her promise and didn't tell their parents about the gargoyle hiding in their treehouse. She now liked Brooklyn as a friend and didn't want him to leave either.

One activity he and Nora also did was to play House. She had brought her doll with her. Mark was busy with his own chores and allowed Nora to keep Brooklyn company.

Brooklyn had finished his lunch from Mark earlier when Nora showed up in the treehouse with a smile on her face. He smiled back, though his heart still felt heavy from Anthony's abusing before, looking at his brand again and cringing silently from it. Nora noticed.

"Are you feeling alright?" she asked tentatively.

Brooklyn took a pillow and held it; ears flattened. "It- I'll never forget what that human did to me, Nora, when he abused me. He treated me like I was a dumb animal to be used and controlled. He kept calling me a terrible name; Diablo. I never want to belong to him and to have him find me while I travel home." He said shakily.

Nora felt concerned and sorry for him, pulling out her doll. Brooklyn raised his brow. "To me I prefer Brooklyn over that name the meanie gave you," she said. "And I think I would like to cheer you up. Perhaps we can play a game I like called House."

Brooklyn was unsure. "I don't know. I never learned how to play that," he said softly. Nora was startled at that but eventually began to instruct him in the basic rules of the game.

Nora had him be the husband and she played being the wife, having the doll as their child. Brooklyn felt somewhat awkward when starting but after a time got the hang of it. They pretended to be a mother and father, which Brooklyn began to like doing, imagining really being one to his own hatchling.

They played House for quite a while until eventually Mark finished with his chores, coming up to see what activity his sister was doing with his gargoyle friend. From what he saw; was Nora playing House of all things with this strong night warrior creature?

He folded his arms. "Seriously, Nora? You're playing House with Brooklyn? A gargoyle warrior?" Brooklyn looked up from this, his face turning red slightly but glad it didn't show up on his red skin.

Nora pouted. "He needed it after that meanie, Anthony hurt him. It seems to be helping him," she protested.

But Mark wanted to do something cool with Brooklyn. "Well, I'm sure you had fun, but it is my turn to hang with him," he said, gesturing to Brooklyn to come out now that it was close to late evening. Thankfully, their parents were busy with making dinner right now.

Nora hated it when her big brother got his way what seemed like nearly all the time just because he was older. "Don't worry, we can maybe resume this later." Brooklyn put a hand on her shoulder as he got up to go out of the treehouse.

After spending all day in here, sleeping, eating, and playing games, he was more than ready to get out of here and have some more action. His stomach was a lot better, so he didn't have to rest quite so much, but there was still a small ache in his belly.

Nora was glad that her friend was willing to perhaps play again tomorrow. She went back to the house with her doll in tow so she could get ready for dinner and then bed.

Mark took Brooklyn to the barn. The horses in there weren't so crazy for the gargoyle's scent or look. They snorted nervously, feeling like he could just about attack them if he wanted to. But Brook had no such intentions.

"So, what do you want to do, Mark?" Brook asked.

"Over there on the other side of the barn where there are no animals." Mark gestured. Brooklyn followed him again.

When they got to the other side of the barn, there were two things covered up by tarps. Mark pulled the first one off. "Cool, huh?"

"Yeah, what is it?" Brook asked. It looked a little like a motorcycle.

"You've never heard of a four-wheeler?" Mark asked.

"I've seen them on tv perhaps, but never rode one. I rode a motorcycle once that my brothers and I built together." Brook replied. "When you live in a big city, we just don't have the need of one."

"Or have wings to fly on."

"Glide." Brook corrected him.

"Ok, glide. There's another four-wheeler over there under that tarp. These keep them dry because the roof leaks on this side sometimes." Mark explained.

Brooklyn went over and took the tarp off the other one. They were two different four-wheelers but worth a ride. "Do they work?" he asked.

"Yes. Let's take them for a quick ride before dinner." Mark suggested.

"Okay."

The two of them pushed the four-wheelers out of the barn and Mark showed him how to start it up as he got on. Then Mark got on his and started his. He showed him how to make it go and stop as needed and they both started going.

The feeling of riding the four-wheeler brought back the feeling of riding the motorcycle a bit. But it was slower. They rode around the yard at first to let the gargoyle get used to it before Mark began to lead him down a trail that was on the property. The trail was also used to take horses on as well.

The trail was dry mostly, but they also went through some creeks as well and got a little muddy on the ride. Mark liked dirt biking too. Brooklyn didn't want to go too fast right now. The four-wheelers were fun but when he had gone over a large bump on the trail, it had aggravated his still healing belly. He grunted in pain.

"Hold on, slow down, Mark." Brook called out, getting the boy's attention.

Mark slowed to a stop. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing much, just the large bump back there hurt my injury. The wound may be gone, but there's still tissues under the skin still healing." Brook explained.

"I understand. Well, what did you think?" Mark asked.

"It's fun, but we ought to get back so we can clean up and you have dinner with your parents." Brooklyn replied.

"Yeah. Preparing dinner often takes a while so I thought we could do this tonight." Mark said. "We'll head back now before it gets too late."

They headed back the same way they came when they got turned around. Brooklyn tried to go slow over that bump again.

They soon got back to the barn and put the tarps over them again. Mark would clean them up tomorrow of the mud. They then used the hose outside to try to clean off the mud a bit more. The water was cold.

Mark would have to change out of his clothes before attending dinner. But Brooklyn was cleaner. He went back to the treehouse as Mark went to the house.

Mark got a lecture from his mom about riding through the mud and told him to go change and finish washing up before he came down to have dinner with his family.

Mark did as he was told. There was only so much he could do to hang out with Brooklyn outside of the treehouse.

The red gargoyle knew that Mark or Nora would bring him some food later on. But the more he waited for one of them to come visit again, the more he was starting to feel the longing for home again. The worst of his injury was healed now and he knew he needed to be on his way again soon. He had to get home. He also wanted to put as much distance between himself and that evil man's ranch.

Later, when Mark came out to the treehouse, he had on some different clothes and a sweatshirt. He brought him some meatloaf, a salad, some deviled eggs, a water bottle, and some chocolate cake.

"This all looks good, Mark."

"It was." The boy said.

Brooklyn didn't remember the last time he had had chocolate cake. The whole dinner choices were delicious.

"Thanks for my dinner, Mark." Brooklyn said.

"You're welcome."

"Mark, I have to talk to you."

"About what? The rides?"

"No. I really have appreciated your hospitality and friendship with you and Nora. But... I have a family too. One that I have to get back to. I miss them and sure they miss me." Brook explained. "I also want to make sure that Anthony doesn't find me here. I can't stay in your treehouse forever."

"Me and Nora wish you could stay." Mark said.

"I know. If you lived in New York, I would make sure to visit when I could." Brook stated.

"But we don't. Listen, I have a camera that takes photos that develop themselves after they slip out right after. Is it okay if we take some pictures before you go?" Mark asked.

"Just don't let your parents or anyone else see them."

"I won't."

Brooklyn was open to the pictures as long as it was done secretly, of course.

"Can you at least stay one more day? That way you can also say goodbye to Nora and I can also make sure that I can pack you some essential stuff for your journey home." Mark declared.

"Yes, I can stay another day, but I'm getting restless being in here all the time with limited things to do. My wings are aching to get in the air again. I would love to glide here, but Anthony might be watching your ranch too. I don't want to get you guys in trouble." Brook explained. "I have to get away from here for mine and your own good."

Mark understood but would miss his new friend. He had only known him a little over a week. His parents wouldn't understand him having a gargoyle around. Brooklyn's presence in the barn disturbed their livestock as it was.

They wished each other goodnight and Mark went to the house tonight. Brook was going to leave tomorrow night.

.....

The next day, Mark told Nora that their friend was going to leave tonight.

"Why? Did we do something wrong?" Nora asked.

"No. He has a family too, little sis." Mark said. "He misses them and needs to move on."

"I want him to stay!" Nora proclaimed.

"So do I, but that evil man is still looking for him too and he also needs to make tracks to get away from him." Mark added. He had to make her understand. "Nora, Brooklyn consented to taking some pictures for us to remember him by. But remember, you can't show them to anyone."

Nora was crying but she stopped crying for a moment. "Okay." She spoke.

They later went to the treehouse to give Brooklyn some food. Mark was also going to give him his backpack that would hold some food and water for him on his travels. Hopefully, it would last his whole journey home.

They took some pictures with the camera while there was some good light in the treehouse. One of the pictures would also be for him to take with him so he would remember what his friends did for him. It was a picture of Mark and Nora together.

They just sat and hung out the rest of the day in the treehouse till dinner, then went to the house. But they wanted to see him off that night. Brook was agreeable to that.

Later, it was after eleven when the two kids snuck out of the house to the treehouse and called their gargoyle friend down. It was clear. Their parents were in bed.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay longer?" Mark asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. I really need to get going, Mark, but thanks again for helping me get better." Brook smiled.

"You're welcome."

Then Brooklyn looked down at Nora. She had tears in her eyes. "I don't want you to go!" She sobbed. She then ran forward, and he sank to his knees to give her a hug.

"Hey, I'll always think of you. I'll always be your friend. You helped me regain a part of myself that felt something was missing. Both of you have. I needed some love and friendship shown to me that I didn't get from that man or anyone else that I hadn't gotten in a long time." Brook explained.

"I love you, Brooklyn." Nora said. "I wish you could be my husband for real."

Brooklyn chuckled. "You're still a little young yet. But if it was possible, maybe I would. But I have to go home, Nora. I love you, too. And thanks to both of you for helping me heal."

"You're welcome."

"Just look at your pictures and you'll remember me." Brook let go of Nora. "I have to go now."

It was hard for the kids to watch Brooklyn leave them. They were near the edge of their yard and there was a tree that Brook was going to use. He turned and walked to the tree and with the pack on his back, he had slid the straps up over his shoulders. He also tied the two other parts in front of them to make sure they stayed on him before he began climbing.

The kids got to see his climbing skills. It was impressive. He waved at them and they at him. Then Brooklyn jumped off the branch he was on, and he was in the air, spreading his wings. He caught an updraft, and he began to glide away. Mark and Nora hated the idea that he wasn't coming back home to them anymore.

They had to go back to the house and go to bed. They would miss him. But Brooklyn had to move on before he was discovered here.

Brooklyn had made his second move in going back to New York. At least this time, he was leaving behind friends instead of enemies. It was hard but he had to get home to his clan.