The Conduit The Gryphon Series - By Stacey Rourke Page 0,8
bird I had ever seen. It looked like an eagle, but the colors were too bright, too vibrant. The head and neck of the mighty bird were the color of spun gold, its body the hue of freshly polished bronze. The noble looking creature cocked its head and examined me.
I pushed myself off the door frame and stepped closer. The creature seemed to have a mutual interest in me. It turned its head side to side like it was trying to figure me out. I was so focused on the animal that I didn’t hear Gabe calling me.
“Cee, I need the light. Cee? Hello? Celeste!”
“Oh, sorry.” I stumbled back over and readjusted the light.
When I glanced back at the tree the bird was still there. Something about it had changed, though. It seemed to be glowing. I looked around for an outside source of light. There was nothing. I blinked rapidly to clear my eyes. That didn’t help. The light grew brighter. A soft white shimmer emanated from the eagle.
I wanted to get Gabe’s attention so he could witness this. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find my voice. The illuminated eagle rose from its perch and hovered just above the tree. The flapping of its wings was slow and methodical, like treading water. The glow became brighter, the equivalent of a street light. It was like a beacon in the sky that only I could see. I toyed with the idea that I could be hallucinating.
In one dramatic gesture the mighty bird swooped mere feet over my head. I stumbled backwards, lost my footing and fell against my truck. It shot off in the direction of the mountains, and left behind a trail like that from a sparkler. The trail pointed straight to the mountain range.
With the bird gone, I regained the ability to speak. “Did… you… see… that?” I stammered, scrambling to my feet.
“What? You falling into the truck? That’s not really a new thing for you.” Gabe muttered as he pulled the jack out from under the truck.
“Look!” I exclaimed, pointing at the sky.
He casually looked up. “A shooting star. Cool.”
“It wasn’t a star! It was a bird! It glowed!”
Gabe shot me a questioning look. “What’d you doze off while you were standing there?”
“No! I’m telling you it was a glowing bird, and it was right there.”
With one quizzical eyebrow raised, Gabe snorted. “I’m sure it was. Hey, remind me to ask Mom if she hung out near power lines when she was pregnant with you.”
“I know how this sounds, but I’m telling you the truth.”
“Whatever you say. If there was something there, it’s gone now.” He wiped his hands on an old cloth from the garage as he walked inside.
I stood alone in the darkness, watching the trail fade away. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a message behind it. Sneaking suspicion told me that message was – “Follow me.”
CHAPTER 4
My tires crunched across the gravel as I pulled into the parking area at the base of the mountain trail. The sun blazed high in the sky on this gorgeous eighty degree day, with just a faint whisper of a breeze. I climbed out of my truck and flung my satchel of art supplies over my shoulder. This trip into the mountains held two purposes. The primary reason was to stretch my artistic muscles by sketching some magnificent Tennessee landscape. The secondary reason I wasn’t comfortable in admitting, even to myself. I secretly hoped to get another peek at that mysterious golden eagle.
I stepped on to the path and felt as though I’d entered another world. One minute I was in the wide open space of the parking area, the next completely encapsulated by the beauty of the mountains. Sunlight filtered through the towering trees to cast a hazy, enchanted glow on the scenery. I breathed in the peace and serenity the mountains offered.
A short hike later and the soft bubbling of a brook told me I had reached my destination. I ducked under a low hanging branch, and my breath caught. It was loveliness defined. There was a break in the trees, which allowed beams of light to shine down on the tiny creek like a spotlight. It gurgled rhythmically as the water coursed over its rocky base. Next to the brook a large tree had fallen. Wild flowers, moss and leaves decorated their fallen comrade in a beautifully messy arrangement. I wandered over to it and sat down. Then closed my eyes for a moment