Soren was catching large billows of wind as he soared to the point where St. Aegolius Canyons and Shadow Forest met. He did not know why he had to go there, he just had a strange feeling in his gizzard that seemed to lead him there.
It all started when Soren needed to ask Mrs. Plithiver, his nestmaid snake, for advice. Mrs. Plithiver was in the harp guild and worked with Madame Plonk to fill the Great Tree with beautiful music. If she was not with Soren, then she was probably practicing with Madame Plonk. Soren walked over to Madame Plonk's hollow, where he was met with beautiful music. Madame Plonk was known for her amazing singing voice. Madame Plonk signalled Soren to wait for her to finish the song before coming in.
At the edge of the avalanche
At the glacier's icy rim
Grows the flower of the snowfields
Trembling in the wintry wind.
It dares to live on edges
Where naught else would ever grow.
So fragile, so unlikely
An owl slices through this blow.
She dares the katabats
Her gizzard madly quivers,
But for her dearest of friends
She vows she will deliver.
Like the lily of the avalanche
The glacier's icy rose
Like a flower of the wind
The bright fierceness in her glows.
The bravest are the small
The weakest are the strong
The most fearful find the courage
To battle what is wrong.
After all the nest maids had left, Soren entered Madame Plonk's hollow and sat down at her table, with china tea pots and fragments of stained glass windows scattered around. Mrs. Plithiver sat next to Soren, and Madame Plonk sat across from the both, eying them with her fierce yellow eyes. On her head she wore three short peacock feathers. If there was anything Madame Plonk was known for, it was for being glamorous. She made regular visits to Trader Mags, and probably had collected more Other Artifacts from her than anyone else in the Owl Kingdom.
"Soren, did you want to see me?" Mrs. Plithiver asked.
"Yes, well, I've been having dreams of Others. In the dreams they are living in the Great Tree with us, but the Pure Ones are trying to get them from us."
Excitement poured into Madame Plonk's gizzard. Soren was what most owls called starcrossed, which meant that most of Soren's dreams somehow gave hints on what would happen in the future. Will I get to see a living, breathing Other? She thought. I must prepare then. I'll fix food that the Others ate, and I'll try to make Other clothes. Maybe I should think about having Bubo make a bed, or...
"Madame Plonk, is that a new picture you have above your bed?" Soren said, shaking Madame Plonk out of her thoughts.
"Oh, yes." Madame Plonk started, trying to contain her excitement. "Trader Mags found it hardly a week ago on the border between Shadow Forest and St. Aegolius Canyons. I had to give up two pearl necklaces just to see it, and six more to keep it." Madame Plonk explained. "Would you like to see it?" She asked.
Before Soren could answer, Madame Plonk was already fluttering over to where the picture was. She delicately plucked it out with her right talon and handed it to Soren.
"It's the best picture of an Other Mags has ever found. You can't even see the paint strokes." Madame Plonk said proudly. "And also, there is a whole group of them. Six, can you believe it?"
"Hardly," Mrs. P said softly.
Soren examined the picture closely. On the far left corner was a girl with light blonde hair that she wore in a pony tail. She was holding a huge water gun. Next to her was another girl with a piercing set of blue eyes. On her shoulder was a bright red cardinal. On the other side of her was a girl with wet, wavy brown hair and a big smile. The other three were all boys. The one with reddish hair held a soccer ball. Next to him was a completely soaked boy with macoroni hair. The last one had curly brown hair and bulky glasses, like the first girl, he also had a water gun. Soren closed his eyes in disbelief.
"Everything all right?" Mrs. P asked Soren gently.
Soren slowly opened his eyes. "These... these are the same others from my dream." He said carefully.
Madame Plonk nearly fainted. "So, is this enough proof that Others will be coming to the Great Tree for the first time?" She spoke rapidly.
"Maybe," Soren said softly.
"I am terribly sorry to interupt, but I think it is time for the recital." Mrs. P said.
"Oh my, it is. We'll have to talk about this some more later, this topic is very interesting."
Madame Plonk gracefully exitted her hollow and Mrs. P slithered behind her. Most of the owls sat down to listen to Madame Plonk sing, but Soren did not. He had other things to do. Important other things to do.