Guardian of the Heart

by Supernova750

Tur, a young owl who is a cross between Barn Owl and Masked Owl, lives peacefully in the forest of Tyto with her Da, brother and step-mum until their hollow is raided by owls from St.Aegolius Academy of Orphaned Owls. Tur and her new friend, Cai, hold on by their memories of all the stories their parents told them about the owls of Ga'hoole and their hopes for rescue. Please R&R!

1. Chapter 1- Dreams of Flight

Chapter 1

"Da! Da! Look at me! I'm flying!" I called, flapping my wings like he had always shown me, my dark eyes bright with excitement as I landed on the next branch silently.

My father smiled at me, letting out a churr of laughter as he glided over and lighted down beside me, giving me a gentle pat with his broad wing. "Good Tur, very good." he shreed, "Your flight is getting quieter and your strokes are good and powerful. You're not far from your First Flight ceremony."

I puffed out my chest, fairly quivering with excitement at my father's words, "You really think so Da?"

The Masked Owl smiled down at me as he replied, "I know so Tur." A sad look filled his dark eyes as he murmured, "I only wish your mum was here to see it."

I sighed and put my wing around my father's shoulders comfortingly, my almost fledged flight feathers making my heart beat faster whenever I saw them. "Mums watching from Glaumora Da."

My Da smiled at me though his gaze was still rueful as he hooed, "And I'm sure she's proud of you Tur."

I fluffed up my feathers slightly. I hardly remembered Mum. I had been only a few days old when she died but I could still remember her beautiful face, like the moon. Mum had been a Barn owl and my Da was a Masked Owl. Da always told me that I looked a lot like Mum and you could often tell that I wasn't fully Masked Owl. My heart-shaped mask was mostly white like a Barn Owl's but it had specks of brown and black around my eyes and beak. Da said that they made me look beautiful but I always felt self-conscious after a friend of Huk's called me a filthy half-breed.

Huk was my younger brother but he was fully Masked Owl since Da had taken a new mate. She was a pretty Masked Owl named Sigg and I supposed she was nice but I don't think she likes me that much. Mostly, she avoids me and I don't blame her. Seeing me must be weird since I'm not her real daughter.

"So, when do you think I'll be able to fly?" I asked my Da as we hopped back up the branches towards the hollow.

Da looked thoughtful, regarding my almost fledged flight feathers for a few moments before replying, "Quite soon Tur." he hooed at last, "Within the next week or two I'd guess."

I cocked my head slightly, "How long is a week Da?"

He smiled, ruffling the still-fluffy feathers on my head as he replied, "Seven days Tur."
I nodded as we entered the hollow and I stepped into my nest. Seven more days. "Da?" I asked again.

Da looked up from the nest he shared with Sigg, "What is it Tur?"

"Seven days is a long time."

Da smiled and let out another soft churr of laughter, careful not to wake my brother as he hooed back, "Not that long Tur, it's not that long."

((A/N- Okay, that was rather short and uneventful but it was mostly for information's sake at the moment so bear with me until I post chapter 2, which will hopefully be longer and more actionish. Please Read and Review!))