Not a Freak
Chapter One - Revival
Darkness; and light seared into her eyes. The owl blinked, and her surroundings slowly became clear. She was lying in a crumpled heap on an icy-cold floor, with every part of her body screaming of grinding pain. A glance out of the corner of her eyes revealed that she was not injured, but merely in need of rest. Heaving herself up into a standing position, she gazed in wonder how not a single injury had been inflicted on her. She took short and ragged breaths, for her muscles were still aching of the wounds that should have been there.
Her talons were soaked in the puddle of blood in which she stood, slowly going through the process of staining them crimson red. She raised a foot carefully, then gingerly placed it as she attempted to walk. She almost slipped then, for the ground was packed with a layer of pure ice. Turning her head around, she noticed her reflection in the ice walls. It was that of a marvelous Spotted Owl, complete with the signature white patterns in her feathers. A wave of memories flooded her in a surging wash.
All at once, visions of her life flashed before her dark eyes. She was beginning to understand now; who she was, how she was here, and why she had not died. Hoole had saved me. The image of the said Spotted Owl had burned itself into her mind, and just before she had truly died, she had managed to shapeshift into one. Surprisingly, her injuries had healed miraculously during the transformation and not a single scar could be seen on her body. Kreeth would have loved to know about this attribute.
She sat down awkwardly, not having a perch to rest on. Kreeth… she used a strange magen to control me. The thought repulsed her, and yet frightened her at the same time. Kreeth will make me try to kill Hoole again. Her dark eyes widened in panic, looking around frantically for the hagsfiend. Kreeth isn't here. And neither are the owls I saw earlier, including Hoole. She breathed a sigh of relief, the throbbing finally leaving her being. She pulled herself up, and took flight before her aunt could return to capture her and use her as a tool.
Shaken by the experience of near-death, she had to rely on her own voice for comfort. "Lutta, I am Lutta. I have defied a hagsfiend, survived death and have loved." She chanted, feeling slightly braver. Her pace had picked up, and she was soaring across the ocean rapidly. Suddenly, her eyes took on a glazed look, and she whispered, "I, Lutta, who have defied hagsfiends, survived death and have loved, have also lost."
The relentless ocean threw its salty water at her, tossing and turning. But not only did they not manage to hit her, she was in an owl form. Therefore, she had no fear of drowning as she was not a hagsfiend at the moment. Where am I heading to? She questioned her wings, seeing as they followed a course of their own. They stubbornly refused to reply, preferring to keep in in the dark about their hidden destination. Lutta could only hope that they were not under the influence of Kreeth, taking her back to the hagsfiend's cave.
She drifted on the sea breezes, unsure of what fate had in store for her ahead. It was marvel enough that she was able to live, much less worry about her future. An island. A magnificent structure stood upon a piece of land, towering over it with its leafy branches. Its frame was instantly familiar. The tear-shaped berries hung from it, enticing her with their appetizing colour. She willed her wings to flap harder and as if they found the place equally appealing as Lutta did, they willingly propelled her towards the island.
Towards the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.
An immense mix of emotions rushed up to greet her; those of joy, of dread and of longing. Lutta began to change form unintentionally; her attractive spotted plumage morphed into those of a mottled brown. Eventually, ear tufts sprouted from the sides of her head, and the change was complete. Powerful wingbeats tore through the air, fueling her closer to the island. A gathering of owls started to form near the coast, and apparently they had seen her.
She swooped down into some nearby bushes, thrashing into her new hiding spot noisily. Hopefully, they wouldn't be able to find her and give up. "We spotted a Great Horned approaching the island. It was alone, and landed somewhere nearby." A voice above her head reported. A moment of silence followed, and was ended abruptedly. "Great Glaux, there she is! I can see her ear tufts sticking out of the shrubbery over there!"
Lutta broke out of her hiding area hastily, and with one flap, rose into the sky. The rustling alerted more Guardians, all who quickly joined the pursuit. Weary from traveling across the vast ocean just after her recovery, she collapsed in the middle of her flight from the physical exhaustation, and began her descend immediately. A strong pair of talons gripped her, and soon more pairs joined in. They started dragging her towards the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, and Lutta fell asleep.