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The view of the Manhattan cityscape at night from atop Castle Wyvern was nothing short of stunning. Bright lights illuminated the buildings shrouded in darkness, the glass from all the skyscrapers reflecting it and bathing the city in brilliance. It was quite the spectacle that only some were privileged enough to see for themselves.

The gargoyles that called the castle home were among the prestigious few, able to soar over the city wherever the wind currents took them and view the lights up close for themselves. It'd taken a while to acclimate to the hustle and bustle of modern life, but through ample exposure they managed to habituate themselves to their new surroundings. Now they couldn't get enough of the place.

Of course, they couldn't stay out and about forever; they needed to be back before sunrise as their bodies turned to stone while they slept, and the castle was far and away the most protected place that any of them could think of. It was a life they could have only dreamed of one thousand years ago.

And all of that would be good for Lexington had there not been a problem – one of them was missing, and on a regular basis.

It took him a moment to realize at first, but then once he did it wasn't hard to recognize who was gone. Out of everyone who could've possibly wanted to spread their wings and glide around, he pegged Hudson as the last one to do so. The elder gargoyle was far past the prime that he used to be, having grown up at a time without both modern conveniences and modern problems, so it made little sense to decide then was the perfect time to explore the area when expressing little desire to do so earlier.

After the first time it happened, he thought something terrible must've taken place, and he'd gotten ready to do something about it until the older man swooped in, completely unharmed. His worries assuaged, he happily retired to the TV room where the others were.

That peace of mind lasted until the following night when he noticed the old timer was gone again, having not stayed there in his usual spot during the day. He then spent his time wandering around, trying to see where his mentor had gotten to, but it was to no avail. It left him scratching his head as to what was going on.

The weirdest part of it all was that the others weren't as concerned for the older gargoyle's well-being as he was. Asking around, he discovered that the rest of them didn't know where Hudson had run off to either – which relieved him knowing they were all on the same page – but none seemed to be particularly worried; no one saw this as an issue.

No one except Lexington, of course. It wasn't like the old man to vanish. His place was in his recliner with the television blaring, so to not see that be the case indicated something was wrong. At least it did in his mind.

A quick venture through the castle led him to the rest of his rookery trio in the foyer, not doing anything more than hanging out for the evening. It was the perfect opportunity to express his concerns. “Hey guys, have you seen Hudson anywhere?" The other two gargoyles locked eyes with him for a second before turning to look at each other, both uncertain. “I'm kinda worried about him."

Brooklyn quirked an eyebrow. “You are?"

“Well, yeah, he hasn't been home all that much lately." Lexington's concern was met with blank stares coming from his brothers. “Do either of you really not think it's a problem?"

“Nah, why would it be? It's not like he doesn't know where we live."

“And he deserves to have as much fun as the rest of us do."

“What Brooklyn said!"

Hearing his brothers dismiss his worries didn't sit well with Lexington. “You guys don't think it's a bit troubling that he's gone all of a sudden? He could get hurt and we'd never know!"

“Relax, Lex," Broadway threw a meaty arm around his shoulder, “Goliath would tell us if there was a problem, and he hasn't mentioned a thing to us at all."

“Also, I remember the two of them talking the other day," Brooklyn chimed in. “Goliath didn't seem anxious from what I recall."

A part of Lexington wanted to fight those remarks, to say that there was something to be uneasy about and that Hudson should be here where it's safe. But a much larger part of him knew that he'd be forced to go out hunting for the old timer should his leader say there was a problem. The mounting evidence that proved the latter seemed insurmountable, which calmed him down, if only a bit.

At the very least his mentor did make a return. Casually showing up while they were eating wasn't exactly the entrance Lexington was expecting, but it was one nonetheless and made him happy knowing the old timer was alive.

The cloak, however, was new. He would've recognized if Hudson had worn one while living at the castle, so to see him sporting one now felt a bit odd. He knew it wasn't his place to judge, though.

But the elder gargoyle leaving again so soon after coming back didn't sit right with him either. He'd have thought they'd get to spend some time together and maybe fly across the city for the night, but he didn't even have the chance to ask before the other man had vanished. If only he knew where his mentor was going; that would at least give him something to talk about the next time they met.

Every subsequent visit was more of the same – Hudson chatting with the others like he'd been there the whole time, no one questioning why his appearances were so intermittent these days. Had he had feathers, they'd certainly be ruffled right now

But the strangest thing about every arrival was that he could've sworn the elder gargoyle was getting bigger. At first, he thought it was maybe a trick of the light, or perhaps a lack of sleep – his nights had been pretty restless lately – but there was definitely more of his mentor than there was before.

And most maddeningly of all, he seemed to be the only one to have noticed.

Maybe it was too imperceptible to the others – after all, he was the smallest member in the group, it was easier for him to discern these sorts of things. That then came with wondering how it was happening in the first place. The other man was a veritable couch potato in this current era; if he were to grow, it'd be around his gut, not his shoulders, so what sense did it make that doorways looked increasingly cramped when he walked through them.

Each visit showed the old timer had tacked on more size, the cloak working miracles in keeping his body obscured. And that was seemingly on purpose as Hudson never displayed what he looked like under the shroud, leaving Lexington to imagine for himself, though it'd have been nice to be able to verify.

Another stop was made by the older gargoyle, and, of course, he'd grown larger yet again. The rest of the clan remained none the wiser as they chatted each other up, the conversation flowing every which way except for the scant amount of time they got to see him. The subtle hints Lexington made as to the whereabouts of his mentor when getting the chance to speak apparently went unnoticed given how they were glossed over.

The presence the elder commanded was certainly impressive, veering on the side of the statuesque visage of their leader, Goliath, just without the added height. It was quite the remarkable transformation considering how short of a time frame it transpired in. Seeing the other man stand so imposing reminded him of when he and the rest of his trio were back in the rookery.

Eventually Hudson took his leave again, slipping away while the rest of the clan were preoccupied with something else, using the cover of the new moon sky to make his move. His ability to disappear in spite of his broadening frame was impressive if nothing else.

Again, Lexington appeared to be the only one of them who noticed the gargoyle's absence, the castle feeling a bit empty while one member short. Checking every room proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the old man had left, with the only evidence that he was even there at all being the empty plates of food soaking in the kitchen sink. The amount he was able to put away at dinner must correlate with his increase in size somehow.

But he was still no closer to uncovering where his mentor escaped to. Where in the city could be more interesting to hang out than Castle Wyvern? It's not like there were any other clans in the area they were members of.

Curiosity got the better of him. He couldn't just sit idly by and let the elder gargoyle wander the skies of New York alone, he had to see for himself where the other man was going. Using the cover of the blaring TV to mask his footsteps, he made his way to the top of the castle where he proceeded to jump, letting the wind current carry his wings as he soared over the cityscape.

The surge of air sailing past his face rushed the blood through his veins, the beating of his heart making him feel alive. Buildings passed him by the longer he flew, his head on a swivel looking for the old man, wondering in which dark corner of the city he'd find the other gargoyle.

And then he saw Hudson, hanging a left around a skyscraper he was coming up to. For a moment he felt his entire body freeze at the thought of getting caught, however, the old timer didn't seem to notice him trailing behind, meaning he was at a safe distance to continue. The idea that he'd finally get to see where the other man had been going soothed the part of him aching for answers.

But the questions would only continue piling up when he realized how far away he was being led, making it all the way to the edge of the city's perimeter, only to then keep going. The concrete jungle turned green with lush foliage, any buildings come across becoming fewer and farther between as he stayed hot on the heels of the elder gargoyle. His need to discover the new whereabouts of the tan-skinned man kept his arms in the air even when fatigue began to set in.

His desire led him to the base of a nearby mountain, confusion growing stronger as things made less sense. The safety of the castle easily outclassed whatever shelter the outdoors could provide, and yet his mentor acted without hesitation, coming to a slow landing before clambering up a cliff face to a forest clearing some ways up. It wasn't his favourite thing to do, but if it meant he could rest easy knowing the old man was safe, he'd climb whatever he had to.

The other man was surprisingly spry given his age. The speed in which his mentor scaled the rock wall made his efforts pale in comparison. Could that have anything to do with the older gargoyle's change in appearance? Ugh, always more questions, never more answers…

It took him every ounce of strength in his body, but he finally made it to the top of the cliff, his lungs devoid of air. Not wanting to be caught, he carefully snuck around to some bushes to watch the other man from afar, and was struck when he realized what he'd stumbled upon. The area appeared to be some sort of campsite, complete with a pitched tent and a fire pit that the old timer was reigniting. Receiving answers of any kind was always welcome, but they always seemed to be replaced with other perplexing questions.

The bushes were obscuring his vision too much, his eyes darting around for a better vantage point until they locked onto a nearby tree that he then scaled discreetly. The whole time his mind kept attempting to piece together the reason why the elder gargoyle decided it was best to stay hidden from him and the others.

But the distance between him and the campsite was perfect. He was concealed amongst the leaves, the green colour providing the ideal camouflage for his skin. Now all he needed to do was observe.

Hudson ducked into the tent, out of sight from his point of view, only to return with a full-length mirror. That struck him as odd, but he had a feeling all would be revealed if he just kept watching.

The older man grabbed his cloak where it parted and deliberately stepped forward so as to stick out a leg, wearing a pleased expression. Meanwhile Lexington's eyes bulged out like saucers when he viewed the limb in question, thick slabs of beef stuffed under that tan-coloured hide, thigh bulging out into a rippling mass when flexed. He couldn't believe what he was seeing – he almost didn't! – but the reality of the situation dawned on him the more he watched.

Of course, it wasn't only one of the old timer's legs that had exploded in size, the other was just as girthy, equally a showstopper in its own right. The elder had gone and tied the cloak up behind him, keeping his legs unobscured as he continued to flex them in the mirror, seemingly admiring the shape of them judging by the look on his face.

One at a time he lifted them in the air, slowly shaking them about to witness how the muscles barely budged. Thick as the stone he became at dawn, they bulged out greatly when he swung his foot back while keeping his knee in place, the result being his limbs tensing bigger and harder than any other person he'd ever seen. The other man then rubbed down the bulk piled onto those legs of his, gently at first, but growing firmer as if to feel the incomparable girth attained. He wasn't the first to feel themselves up while looking like that, and he certainly wouldn't be the last.

Lexington only grew more quizzical the longer he witnessed the scene unfolding in front of him. His mentor had never mentioned any interest in this sort of thing, so him now flaunting quads that would turn a cyclist green with envy clearly indicated a change of heart.

The wandering of his mind caused him to miss the other man taking position by a stack of logs, recently cut down from the looks of how fresh the marks in the wood were; the axe he spotted by the tent all but confirmed his hypothesis. He tried to speculate why the older gargoyle would make such a pile before he watched one be grabbed.

Instantly the old timer set the log on the ground, feet planted behind it as he hunkered down, his shins vertical as his hips hinged backwards. His hands gripped onto the stubs of branches roughly as far apart as his stance was, grunts rumbling in throat as his body tensed. Carefully and deliberately, he lifted, knees bent and back straight. This movement was undoubtedly practiced.

The weight of the log would be evident were one to try and hoist it for themselves, so to see a man of great age do so was a feat that very few could match. Higher and higher the hunk of wood rose, the bottom now clear off the ground with an increasing number of inches between them, the log grazing his shins. This honestly might be one of the most incredible things Lexington had ever seen.

Hudson gritted his teeth as he hoisted the log with all his might, face contorted with determination as his body trembled. The hunk of timber continued to rise the more power was put into it, the cloak he wore quivering. It almost appeared he couldn't do it until the piece of wood had been lifted past his knees, which is when he explosively thrusted his hips forward, locking them in place as he let out a triumphant gasp. It was obvious this was an activity done before given how comfortable he seemed to be at it, but Lexington knew the elder couldn't deny the passage of time and its effects. That was his line of thought until he saw an equally large pile of smaller tree trunks nearby, indicating that the old man had actually recently moved up to the logs he was at now. It only made things all the more impressive in his eyes.

The other gargoyle continued with his deadlifts, them becoming easier after the first one had been accomplished, only slowing down once fatigue visibly set in. All the while his sumptuous legs bulged broadly, pumped up from the vigorous exercise and pressing against each other. The sight intrigued Lexington all the more and he tried to get a better view.

Carefully he twisted himself along the branches, trying to not make too much noise and alert the old timer to his position, but that was easier said than done with the tree he ended up picking. The dense cover of leaves had him needing to feel where he had to go without being able to see. Steadily he crept along, his hand grabbing a branch further out from the trunk, only for it to snap under his weight and send him plummeting to the ground, hitting much of the rest of the tree along the way.

In spite of his fall, he didn't seem to be any worse for wear, his pride bruised more than any part of his body was. A number of twigs blanketed him, requiring him to brush them off in order to get up. When he did, however, he was greeted with the sight of the older gargoyle completely cloaked and standing above him, a displeased look on his face. He tried to counter with a nervous smile of his own, but he couldn't stop his heart from sinking at so clumsily blowing his cover.

“Ah, Lex," Hudson glowered, “so nice of you to drop in." His words almost sounded angrier through the lens of his thick, Scottish brogue.

Lexington gulped. “H-Hey Hudson." There hadn't been a moment in his life where he felt meeker than right then. “Fancy seeing you here."

“Spare me the pleasantries, lad, I don't want to hear them. I'm not happy you followed me all the way out here." He crossed his arms, inadvertently showing off how muscular they'd gotten.

That incensed Lexington, who didn't think it to be fair that he was the one looked down on in this situation. “Can you blame me for following you?" His anger stood him up straight to face his mentor. “You've been gone for so long and I just got worried something bad might happen to you!"

While Hudson's expression still showed him as being peeved, it softened after a deep breath. He couldn't stop himself from chuckling. “Lad, there's no need to worry about me. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."

“Ah, everyone keeps saying that, but…" Lexington sighed, his rage subsiding. “We've been looking after each other for so long that I can't help but wonder if you guys are alright when you leave the castle alone, so to see you frequently disappearing night after night just set off some alarm bells." He grabbed his shoulder, regret beginning to set in. “I'm sorry."

“It's alright, I don't blame you for worrying." Hudson clicked his tongue as he surveyed the area. “You're the only one here?"

“Yeah, the others are back at the castle."

Hudson couldn't stop himself from chuckling. “I'm a little surprised at how much faith the others have in me to be honest."

Lexington's mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts. On one hand, he knew it was right to have been concerned with his mentor's disappearance. On the other, he should've trusted the elder gargoyle considering nothing seemed wrong whenever he showed up. Ultimately that persuaded him to respect the other man's privacy. “Hey, I'm sorry about all this. I'll just leave you to… whatever it is you're doing." With a sigh he turned toward the cliff face to get ready to glide back to the city, but before he could go anywhere, a hand firmly grasped his shoulder.

“Not so fast, lad." Hudson pointed at the horizon behind them, warm, orange light replacing the stars hanging above them. “Daylight's coming; I wouldn't want you falling out of the sky now."

Lexington's blood ran cold – that could've been a costly mistake had he been even a half-step faster. “Uh, thanks for that." His eyes darted around the camp, looking for a place to hunker down for the night. “There might be enough tree cover around here to keep me safe."

“Ah, no need to worry about all that. My tent is big enough for the both of us."

Lexington's eyes snapped to the makeshift shelter, then to the older man beside him. Not intending on staying had blinded him to the fact that the canvas dwelling actually looked fairly sizable for only a single person. “Oh, thank you!" His gaze happened to linger on his mentor longer than he meant it to. “Say, I was kinda wondering how—"

“Save it for nightfall, lad." Hudson warmly smiled, patting his shoulder and leading him into the tent.

***

Despite having just come out of slumber, Lexington was wide awake, his battery nearly overflowing as his desire to know more about the old man's disappearances was finally being sated. “Okay, I've got, like, a million questions to ask you."

“A million?" Hudson laughed, his cloak shuffling as he did. “Next sunrise will come before we finish! Give me the important ones."

“Well," Lexington cupped his chin in thought, “I guess the biggest would be just… what the heck you're doing all the way out here. You're pretty isolated up in the mountains like this."

“I've seen the humans out here many a night, sleeping under the stars with nothing more than a tarp propped up keeping them covered." Hudson gestured around to the spacious tent. “They call it 'camping,' and I thought I'd give it a try."

While that did make sense in Lexington's mind, it still didn't answer the entire question. “But why come all the way out here when you can do all that on top of the castle where you have much more protection?"

“It's the chance to stretch my legs, lad. Being in the castle all the time makes me feel cooped up, whereas out here I get to spread my wings and feel like a gargoyle again. The city is fine and all, but I'm an old-fashioned creature of habit, and being surrounded by all the buildings and lights and sounds and smells so much gives me the urge to retreat into nature before calming down again, if only for a bit." Even Hudson's voice quavered with anxiety. “I imagine the rest of you must feel the same way from time to time."

“Well, we do," Lexington started, rubbing the back of his neck, “it's just that we don't leave for days at a time without telling people where we're going."

“Alright, lad, you and I both know that's not true. Tell me the number of times you've wandered off unannounced, and I'll go ahead and let you know that you're lowballing that amount."

As much as Lexington wanted to protest, he knew there'd be no chance of him winning that fight. “Fine, there's precedence. But none of us have been gone for such a long period of time like you've been!"

And that's when Hudson became tongue-tied. “Okay, you got me there. But I enjoy breathing in fresh air on a regular basis, and you can't even see all the stars in the city thanks to the rampant light pollution. It's nice out here."

It might not have been the most satisfying answer in the world, but it was an answer nonetheless, and Lexington would just have to deal with that. It didn't bother him too much because other vital questions needed explaining as well. “Alright then. How about why you're so… pumped! I could tell you looked different somehow when you started wearing that cloak, I just didn't know what was going on."

“Ah, well…" Hudson clapped his leg as he leaned back, his face contorting into an expression of annoyance. “You lot have a tendency to poke fun at my weight, and I don't think you honestly realize how much you do it."

It was the first time Lexington had heard anything about that. “Uh, that—" It was a thing they all did for sure, but it was always meant in jest, never malice! “I'm sorry, I didn't know how much that was affecting you. I would've stopped if you said something."

Hudson merely glanced at him before sighing. “I'd thought about it, but I feared that would only egg you guys on harder."

“Really?" Now Lexington was understanding his mentor's position less. “I can't see any of us willingly wanting to hurt you like that. You're way too important to us!"

“It was the intrusive thoughts talking. You're a good bunch of lads, and I know deep down that you wouldn't intentionally try to hurt me considering all we've been through." Hudson sighed again, though a knowing smile gradually wormed its way across his face. “The brain just says funny things if you let it."

The pieces in Lexington's brain were finally falling into place. “So that's why you came out here then? You didn't want us to see you making any changes?"

“Aye. I thought it might give you ammunition to use against me." Hudson shrugged his shoulders. “Plus, I really needed the change in scenery."

With the picture growing clearer, Lexington kept going. “Well…" He cleared his throat. “When were you going to tell us? You weren't honestly thinking that you'd stay out here forever, right? I know the others are happy to give you your space, but we both know they'd think something's up if you just never showed up anymore."

“I know, I know." The entrance to the tent framed a patch of the sky, the stars in between the flaps like bright holes poking through a black sheet. “It wasn't going to be for much longer. I was genuinely thinking of showing off my work in a few days' time, I just wanted to make sure I was comfortable with the level I've reached."

“How'd you do it though? It hasn't even been that long since you first left!"

“Ah, that was the easy part! I saw an infomercial late one night on the television, said I could lose weight and build muscle fast, only needing thirty days for the full training regimen." Hudson chuckled. “For as much trash as that blasted thing bestows upon us, it can also show us things that are rather interesting."

Lexington scoffed. “Sounds like a miracle cure you'd find in the back of a magazine."

“It's no swindle, lad." Hudson reached for something behind him before displaying what it was. “This book here's the real deal. Shows exactly what you're supposed to do, and how long to do it for."

Lexington's gaze lingered on the front cover, the words expressing the rapid nature of the routine front and centre so as to capture the reader's attention. But the span of time needed stuck out in his brain. “Hang on," the reason only dawned on him there, “it's been well over thirty days since you first disappeared."

Hudson chuckled under his breath. “Aye, it has. I, uh, seem to have lost track of time."

“At least that time spent was worth it, right?"

With a grin that could put Brooklyn's to shame, Hudson slipped his arm free from the cloak and held it right in front of Lexington's face. “That it was, lad. That it was." He gave a flex to show off the sheer mass of his limb, veins crawling over his split-peak bicep as it rose up his forearm. “I thought I'd have plateaued a few weeks ago as I quickly matched the size of the humans on the cover of the book, but the results have never been better."

“I'd have to wonder what Goliath would think of you now." Lexington sat there with a smile on his face, a rapt observer to the other man's show.

“Who do you think I was planning on outpacing at the start?" Hudson shot back a smirk not quite smug, but definitely assured.

“Wait," suddenly the pieces in Lexington's head were fitting into the wrong puzzle, “is that the whole reason for this in the first place?" He looked at the other man with confusion written on his face. “Do you wanna become the leader of the clan again or something?"

That immediately put Hudson in hysterics. “Heavens no, lad!" He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “I just wanted to see if someone like me could match the size of someone like him. It was more of a personal achievement than anything else."

“I think you did, in all honesty."

Hudson grinned. “I would say so." Matching his arm, he slid the cloak off his upper body, letting his progress speak for itself as he proudly displayed his swollen heft.

The sight of his mentor stripping off the cover worn this whole time had Lexington stunned. While he couldn't see the elder gargoyle's body all too well with the tent blocking off more of the moonlight, that didn't stop his brain from mentally sketching an image of what he imagined was there. He couldn't deny how much he really liked it.

And then he could see the rest of the cloak come off, the darkness still obscuring the other man's body, but he was able to sculpt the old timer's impressive image in his head. It almost felt like his vocal chords were squeezed shut in spite of his jaw dropping to the floor as he couldn't manage to utter a single vocalization.

Hudson's expression grew pleased, his body at ease. Even he was powerless to stop himself from admiring his bulk as his fingers found themselves dancing along his meaty legs. His hands ran along his thighs, digits curling as the masses twitched and flexed, rippling harder than any other part of his body could and were easily the highlight of his physique.

When they flexed, he gripped with just as much strength, the force from his limb matched what his appendage could reciprocate with. Even his own hands were no match for the bloated bulk of his quads given how little of them could be held onto while tensed. Lexington's eyes never left the scene the entire time.

“Woah, that's amazing!" The awe-inspiring accomplishments that his mentor achieved were nothing short of astounding, until he grabbed the book off the floor and realized just how inconceivable they actually were. “Wait, you got that big that fast? The humans on the cover of the book look puny compared to you. How is that even possible?"

“Ah, well, I've been wondering that myself. My best guess is because they're humans and I'm not." Hudson cloaked his body fully once more. “Gargoyle physiology is an incredible thing. We're already much stronger than a similarly-sized human is, so I have no doubt that even you could get results like this just because of how you're made, lad."

The gears in Lexington's head spun rapidly at what was likely the most probable explanation, but even then, his brain struggled to fully process what he was told. “That… that kinda feels a bit unrealistic, but clearly you prove that wrong." He tossed the book aside and flipped his gaze back at the old timer. “Still the results you've attained seem out of reach for me."

“Hey, I said the same thing before. Now look at me!"

“I did, especially with that sneak peek I got earlier." Lexington giggled.

Hudson cocked a brow. “You did, did you?"

“Yeah, that was really something!" While it was nice that Lexington had his fears assuaged, he figured he might as well head back to the castle as there was nothing else for him to do there. “Alright, it's obvious I overreacted, but I'm glad I checked in." He pushed himself up and began walking out of the tent. “I guess I'm gonna head out now."

Hudson was taken aback. “Really? You're going to leave so soon?"

“You're not in danger – that was the main thing I was concerned about. I'll let you have your space back."

“Oh, there's no need to be so hasty, lad." Hudson followed him out of the tent, though instead going to relight the smoldering campfire by adding fresh kindling. “You're free to stick around here for longer."

The insistence of the elder caught Lexington off guard. “You sure?"

“I see you still need persuading." Hudson wasted no time in gripping the cloak draped around his broad shoulders with a hand before ripping it off in one fell swoop, revealing a physique more befitting a heavyweight bodybuilder than the man who would fall asleep in front of the television. Flames licked at the shadows creeping around his swollen muscles, his body totally nude save for the loincloth he always wore, though it did little to hide anything else. “How about now? Do you still feel like leaving?"

To say Lexington was stunned would be an understatement. He was frozen in place, almost as if in stone sleep while remaining completely conscious, eyes glued to the muscular specimen in front of him. The staring he gave before couldn't even compare to the ogling he was doing now, tracing along the ridges of the other man's form. He genuinely had no idea how to proceed from this situation.

“Well," Hudson rested his hands on his hips, “I might not be quite where I want to be, but would you like to see my progress so far?"

Lexington was beside himself in excitement, his heart beginning to race. The preview he got before only incited his interest, so to now get a look up close and personal sent him over the moon. “Only if you want to. I won't twist your arm," he said coyly.

“Oh lad, I'd be delighted to. I've almost completed my training as it is."

Getting to witness the majesty of the gargoyle behemoth in front of him was a fantasy that Lexington didn't know he wanted, not able to glance away from the incredible transformation that the old timer had gone through. The firm curves of his muscularity could be seen in the ample shadow cast along the ground.

A wry grin slid across Hudson's face as he subtly pulled his arms in towards his sides, puffing out his chest to show off the amount of work done to develop beef like his. The striations showed through his skin, the fat that normally rested on his body greatly diminished, barely visible except to make his mass appear bulkier. Pride in his accomplishments was written all over his face.

He then shifted his stance to show off his side, his brawny arm now front and centre. The way he'd positioned himself demonstrated the mass accrued in his limbs, his tricep a beast of a horseshoe that commanded the space around it with its presence. It alone dwarfed the arm he used to have, jutting out huge from even mild tension being applied by straightening his limb. But bending it flaunted the other jewel in his crown – his mighty bicep. Those split peaks of his bulged out like a miniature mountain range, the tops of which far more achievable to scale, but far more fun to do so.

Lexington watched with great delight as the other gargoyle put on the show of a lifetime for him, his eyes never once leaving the burly visage of the older man. So much bulk paraded in front of him kept his rapt attention as different muscles flexed.

The way his mentor's physique swelled as it was tensed felt hypnotic in a sense, already raring up to see the next group flex for his amusement. Goliath was assuredly a beast of a gargoyle, but clearly there was more that could be done to truly become monstrous.

And then he was drawn back to the elder's legs. Those quads were practically in his face, rippling with power as they consumed the space between them, nearly touching even when the other man's feet were spread apart. It was fortunate that none of them wore pants as Hudson would've needed a new set considering how much thicker his legs had become.

Those calves of his were just as impressive, broad teardrops that matched the width of his shins. Lexington's eyes were drawn to them as they flexed, watching how they bunched up under the tan skin in ways that he'd never seen on another person before. Their allure was far greater than he realized.

Hudson's expression grew pleased the more his hard work was basked in. Now with greater confidence, he sauntered over, an impish smile forming. “I see you're enjoying the show, lad."

“Am I ever!" Lexington beamed as he watched the other gargoyle draw nearer, his heart beating faster.

“Glad to hear it. I wasn't entirely sure how well my work would be received by the clan." His gaze then dropped, hands resting back on his hips. “Would you like to take a closer look?"

Lexington's face lit up like he'd just been handed his own computer lab, his breath caught in his throat. “Woah, can I?"

Hudson warmly grinned. “Of course! You're already invested, so I don't see the harm."

Springing to his feet, Lexington wasted no time in getting personal with the old timer. His hands found themselves gravitating to that barrel chest, so thick with mass that one needed both hands to hold a single pectoral, but the thrill of feeling up something so huge had him groping both at once. His enjoyment skyrocketed when his mentor went and flexed his chest, letting him know what so much unadulterated might on a gargoyle really felt like.

To his immense surprise, while Hudson hadn't managed to rid himself of the gut he'd come to be known for, the thing had become rock-solid, an absolute slab of beef that domed his abs outward. His hands running down it sent shivers racing up his spine as his fingers followed every muscle outline he could find. These abs weren't the brick wall he'd seen on TV all the time, but they were every bit as powerful as those were, perhaps even more so with so much mass being packed into such a small area. He couldn't help but feel a bit smitten.

Those sumptuous arms were next, and he couldn't get enough of the strength latent in each muscle group. His fingers traced along the curvature of the muscle mass, contouring around beef that not even Goliath had, or any other gargoyle for that matter. Caressing biceps bulging as big as his head was a sensation he'd remember for a long time, but to do the same with triceps that jutted out as thick as his own limbs made him weak.

He also couldn't get enough of the elder's back muscles, those peaks forming a range that he was adamant he'd scale. Very few, if any, people could achieve a width like that, losing himself in lats broad and flat enough to eat off of, gripping onto traps that were well on their way to swallowing the other man's neck. His fondling grew faster with the amount of bulk he wanted to revel in, though he didn't anticipate his mentor securing him an even closer look by squishing him against that swollen form with those leathery wings of his. That immediately put a goofy grin on Lexington's face.

But being so intimate with Hudson's back had his attention eventually drawn to the older man's rear, those glutes bulging with power from over a month of dedicated training. Even an errant touch was enough to get them to tense, allowing him to experience the outcome of all those deadlifts, his fingers running along the ridges of every muscle like an explorer charting unknown lands, wanting to ensure he left nothing unfound. Were he not careful, he might realize that the midst of those glutes contained a pretty powerful pinch point.

Proximity led him to the old timer's thighs, which he could've sworn was made of steel given how he couldn't leave any imprints in the flesh. The skin grew taut as it stretched over quads that made watermelons weep. His hands jumped from one to the other, stroking along the rippling musculature that he couldn't even palm, before gripping onto both with gusto, each muscle group stronger than the corresponding arm holding onto it. The thrill of encountering a beefcake like his mentor had him wanting more.

And more came in the form of groping those teardrop calves, at first wondering if they were one solid mass before he felt them fall to rest. These things could likely kick a door down without breaking a sweat and he was lucky enough to get his mitts on them. His mind was abuzz with excitement over how attentive the elder gargoyle was in developing his full body, which made it all the more pleasurable to relish in as an outsider caressing this beef for the first time.

Hudson, meanwhile, grinned wide as his legs were indulged in, his hard work paying off as he tensed whichever muscle group was rubbed along. He playfully squeezed the hands fondling his inner thighs with a flex from both legs, showcasing what hours of dedication a day can do for a person. A sigh of contentment slipped past his lips from his achievement being recognized.

Everything along his lower body was fair game, tensing different parts of his form simultaneously as attention to them became split, though the chuckle that fell from his mouth indicated his own enjoyment at the situation. Multiple times he flexed everything below the belt, eliciting gasps from the size it all jumped to. Deliberate contact got him to give it his all.

Being able to see in person what his mentor had been up to relieved Lexington, but to physically savour it like he had just now electrified him to his core. A body like the other man's shouldn't be possible! And yet it was – his hands were certain of it. Thick with beef and rippling with power, he couldn't get enough of the older gargoyle's impressive physique.

“I take it you enjoyed your time here," Hudson cooed.

Lexington bounced to his feet to meet the other gargoyle face-to-face. “Hudson, this was incredible!"

“Glad you think so, lad. It's nice to see I made the right call in the end."

Seeing his mentor's success stroked a certain part of Lexington that he tended not to bring up, but couldn't stop from appearing now. “Um, Hudson," he fidgeted as he had clue what to do with his fingers, “do you think that maybe… I could have a look at the book when you're done with it?"

Hudson cocked his head. “You want to see it?"

“Well, I…" Lexington gulped. “I've always been the small one of the three of me, Brooklyn, and Broadway, and I kinda felt like I haven't really been on par with the other two. I kinda wanna see if this can level the playing field a bit."

“Oh Lex, it's not a competition. I'm sure your rookery brothers don't think of you any less." Hudson looked back at the tent over his shoulder, an eyebrow quirked. “But I can for sure show you everything I know about the training I did."

Lexington's face immediately lit up. “That'd be so cool!" He nearly jumped in the air out of excitement.

“But remember, this stays between us." Hudson's expression snapped stern, though grew softer. “For now, at least. I'm still building up the nerve to show the others."

Lexington beamed. “Don't worry, your secret's safe with me!"