Ginger's Adventures I: Ginger's Origins

by Ginger the Barn Owl

In the woodlands of Georgia, a Barn Owl named Ginger is born in a spruce tree. Her first six years are joyful and carefree, but the family's happiness is put to a halt when her brother, Felix, enters the picture. His unruliness leads Ginger to the brink of insanity, and she lashes out at her own father. Knowing the danger she poses, how will she keep her family safe...from herself?

1. Prologue

"Isn't it Magnificent?" the rusty-colored Barn Owl said to his mate.

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, Ethan," the female owl, Nutmeg, agreed.

There in the nest sat the couple's first egg. Almost perfectly round and milky white, it glimmered in the soft light of the crescent moon. It was then that the two owls heard a loud noise.

Ker-KRACK!

Though the sound was inaudible to the other animals in the Georgian forest, Ethan and Nutmeg's advanced senses of hearing were easily able to detect it, as to them, it rang throughout the entire tree hollow. Nutmeg turned her head back towards the egg. There on its surface was a tiny black seam. Just seconds later, more loud cracking noises spread through the hollow in the old spruce tree. From inside the egg, Nutmeg heard quiet peeps. Her teal eyes widened.

"Ethan, Ethan!" she called. "Come quickly!"

The other Barn Owl stepped closer to the nest.

"What is it?" There was a hint on concern in his tone of voice.

"The egg! It...It's HATCHING!"

"WHAT!?" Ethan was frantic. "But-I-But it's not supposed to hatch until tomorrow!"

"Oh, calm down, dear. It doesn't always take exactly thirty-two nights. I once new a Barred Owl family whose egg hatched three days early, and the hatchling was perfectly fine. No defects no mental problems, nothing. I'm sure it's no big deal."

"Well...if you say so," Ethan accepted.

"But let's not worry about it right now, Ethan. We'll miss our chick being born if we're too distracted. Just watch!"

The soon-to-be parents watched in amazement as the crack in the egg grew longer and wider each second. Within minutes, the two halves fell apart and revealed a slimy pink blob; their chick.

"Oh, it's a GIRL!" Nutmeg exclaimed. In her jubilation, she let out a long, piercing Barn Owl Shree. It was a shree of pure joy.

"She's wonderful, Nutmeg," Ethan sighed, now much calmer than before. "Oh. What should we name her?"

"Hm, good question, honey."

Nutmeg gave the matter a few moments of thought.

"What about 'Ginger?' I've always wanted a little Ginger. Isn't it the perfect name?"

"Yes," Ethan agreed. He bent down and gazed lovingly at the newborn owl.

"Perfect...just like her."