Guardians of Ga'Hoole: Barbarian of the Jungle

(A/N: I have not seen the Film, so this may not repersent the fantasy world like you seen it. But also, just because there is no signs of Humans in the Kingdom of Owls doesn't mean that they're not around. Remember that because this is one of those fanfics)

An fatherly Snowy Owl flew over the clouds high above, the sun was just beginning to set over the horizon and he flew down to the Forest Kingdom of Tyto; the home of Barn Owls which he along with mate were known to live here. He captured an mouse and continued gliding until he reached the wooden platform from where his beloved mate stood with her eggs, containing their children. Their appearance was simple really, white and with some very bright and tan markings. They nuzzle each other as one of them started to move a bit, they look up and saw that it started to crack open; the shell began to crack and chip apart, with it emerging their first hatchling. But this was no ordinary Owlet, it's appearance was indeed a true mystery

He bore the image of his Father, yet had some of his Mother's. What was the real mystery was the fact that he was black, sporting a pebble grey belly with white talons. Ice blue eyes and white spots on some parts of his feathers, an beak that remained the same as the color of his feathers while he did inherit his mother's dots. He appeared to have an heart shaped face like his mother but still bore his father's appearence, albiet Inverted colored to be exact; it's tail feathers did span out in the back and did have a pattern similar to his Mother's. His parents couldn't care less as he looked up to them and snuggled in between them as they now become apart of their family. They saw him as a special child and that didn't really mean that all their children were special, they hated playing favorites; speaking of which. Their other children had hatched later on and they were normal looking, it's just that their first hatchling was a rather mysterious case. His name was given to him while he was with his Father as the moon was shining on the two, it was from this day that he shall be given the name: Korventus, also known by his nickname Korvus

From the time that he hatched, he did what any other Owlet did: He listened to the stories about how the Guardians of Ga'hoole emerged victorious through gruesomely tragic casualties, to the defeat of Metal Beak in the notoriously and infamous Battle of the Ice Claws. Many lives were lost but it was a victory worth avenging their fallen Guardians, they like any other Owlet liked listening to the Legends of Ga'hoole; just in case they get moon blinked by the Pure Ones as Metal Beak called his soldiers. Hell they even liked to act out the battle scenes while their Father was out hunting, with the end of each day having Korvus tell of how the Lyze of Kiel struck down Metal Beak to any of his siblings. But this was done by choice if they were curious or if they just simply liked hearing their brother being the storyteller

"Some say that Metal Beak, shamed of his missing beak wore an helmet to cover his battle scar, I do believe it myself because who wouldn't?"

"What about those who don't?" His only sister asked

"They're just being jealous because they don't want to admit that it really did happen long ago, no matter what they try to make you think; don't let them ruin your spirit, just simply believe and if you're ever captured by the Pure Ones whom the rumors say they capture young and adolescent owlets, just recite the Legends and you'll never be moon blinked by them"

"Thanks Korvus"

"It's why I'm here for"

With that they slept peacefully as the sun came up and the Forest of Tyto became bathed with the morning light, Korventus had always dreamed about joining the Guardians in case that his own 3 Brothers and Sister might be in danger along with his parents. What Korventus couldn't really know or be aware about was the fact that at this moment, he was about to discover and meet somebody and something that would destroy his very beliefs on what he thought about the Kingdoms of Owls among the Legends of Ga'hoole forever. But then again, it was this discovery that may as well be the reason he had joined and fought for the Guardians against the Pure Ones...

It was during one such night of fate that he was learning his branching lessons while their Nest-Maid whose name was Ms. Audrery was watching him. His father was also watching as he planned out everything and went on ahead, his flight turned out smoothly but unfortunately; this is also where he turned to face his father and instead was met by an branch that smacked him in the face, making him fall. But rather than hit the ground, he was taken away by an group of both Long Eared and Boreals. He was frightened obviously but realized that these were the evil soldiers belonging to Metal Beak's antagonistic force, the Pure Ones as they were called. He was taken to be Moon Blinked at "St. Aggie's Academy for Orphaned Owls" or as he liked to call it: "The Lair of the Pure Ones"

"Let go of me!" Korvus yelled, struggling to free himself as he was incapable of slipping out. The soldier who carried him did not respond but instead gave a silent threat of stabbing him by tightening it's grip,"Like I'll ever be one of you!" This time, one of them did say something

"Keep your threats, we'll be doing Ga'Hoole itself a favor!"

"But kidnapping me? This is absurd!"

"Then how 'bout you shut up"

They finally reach St. Aggies and bring him forward to the chamber where Owlets such as him are Moon Blinked. He slammed onto the stone floor where the moon was out and demanded that he sleep before they left him alone, secretly watching him from within the shadows. Korventus refused to do so and this led him to be restrained,"I will never become one of the Pure Ones!" All throughout the session of the darkened sky, he had been struggling and fighting the restraints. Even secretly reciting the Legends when he felt like he wanted to sleep. The ones who were put in charge of forcing other young Owlets had taken some interest in this uncooperative but yet rebellious and resentful one, having enough endurance to fight back all throughout the hours that passed. Once the morning sun came, that's when he finally passed out; out of energy and most importantly out of the Moon's glare. They came flew down to him right away and kicked him to wake him up

"You two... what do you have against me, the other Owlets' parents?" He asked in a yawning, but a resentful voice

"That's not what matters. Considering you were resisting to sleep and you kept up a fight to stay awake, we've come to a decision; we're not going to force you into the Moon Scalding chamber" The one on the left began walking around,"Instead, you will join us for battle each and every nightfall that comes and passes. Unless of course, you want us both to be your worst daymare"

The one on the right stepped on him and brought his talon over to his neck,"We will not hesitate to kill you for the pleasure towards our great leader, we will be superior to all and you will fly by our side as we will be praised for our great deed we did..."

"How 'bout you got to Hagsmire, both of you" He resisted as he fruitlessly attempted to break free from his restraints

"Then I take that answer as a Yes. You will come with us and you WILL follow orders, if you value your own life that is..." He was freed from his restraints and led to follow the Pure One who was leading him through the hellhole. Korvus looked down on himself as he just wanted to go back home, he didn't want to be here at all and he didn't want to die; not for real. But he also didn't want to be Moon Scalded, have his free will be taken away. The Forests of Tyto was his own home and he missed it already, the many Barn Owls who flew around; bidding him a nocturnal morning, being with his family he missed more than ever and just simply being able to wake up to spend time with them. He's going to go through lots of hell just to be rescued and reunited with them

It has been a single week since Korventus' abduction into St. Aggie's, forced to endure the pain of the Battle Claw chamber; which went surprisingly well. He's a little older now but not quite, still young prior to his abduction. His parents on the other hand did not give up hope that he would be lost and they made sure to check every sunrise, scout out for signs of him; no matter what happens or who tells them that their son is dead and to give up. They have faith and they have hope, showed no despair for whom they refuse to believe is dead; entered the heavenly Glaumora, his siblings thought not. He's still out there alive and he was coming back to home thanks to the Guardians

Most Owls would be asleep by then in the burning sunlight of day, those would sleep until Noon would be asleep; Korventus was not. He was instead put through terrible and grueling training, mostly flying with his undeveloped Wings as he doesn't even know how to fly properly. He just wanted to go back with his Father to continue his branching lessons, not be forced to fly with the Pure Ones; this is punishment, not training. The other fellow Owlets have thought so accordingly. All they wanted was, like him, to be with their parents and to go back home again. The reason for them flying over the verdant forest/jungle known as Silverveil was because there was apparently a lost contact that was found by them

However, this was merely a trap set up by the Pure Ones; but if only he could've realized before hand. Once they flew over the deepest part of Silverveil, the trap was sprung and the ambush began. The other Owlets were being blinded by the unexpected swarm and they couldn't see who they were, Korventus on the other hand was being wounded in both the talon and even scratched in the Wings; this of course had made him fall down below in the darkest place of the environment. Hitting himself and getting smacked multiple times repeatedly, painfully feeling and hearing the sound of something tearing from his body before he finally hit the ground hard. No soft landing, just the hard and dirty ground on the earth. He looked up from above and saw the ambushers were actually the evil soldiers of the Pure Ones, they were flying off without him and were leaving him behind; he was being abandoned

No, he was being left for dead. Korventus looked down onto himself; just to see that he was missing half of his talon, leaving behind nothing but the end of his leg. Even worse to have his own feathers be stained by his blood and not even his beak was safe as, but was rather damaged from the impact than the trap he had blindly flew into; or at least tried to fly. So this was what he was becoming now: Lost, left for dead, bleeding and in need of a rescue. "Help me..." He called out to nobody as he turned his head to see no sign of his talon that was torn off from him anywhere, dammit. Might as well make the best of it and try to crawl out of Silverveil, wasn't too easy thanks to not being able to stand up properly and neither the fact that he wasn't shown a map with shortcuts to get back to Tyto easily

He came across an pond to drink from, which can help since he's feeling dehydrated. But just as he was about to crawl over to it, he was suddenly pinned backwards by an Mountain Lion that came out of nowhere. This ferocious beast surely couldn't have tracked him using his bloody wounded talon could it? But most importantly, what was it doing here? He's too weak to fight back against a predator this size and even then; he'll need some help from others just to take down something this size, it just couldn't be a Tasmanian Devil of all things. The Mountain Lion released him from the mossy log behind him and gathered distance away from him

"Help.. me" He could only pray to himself as he was going to pass out at anytime, he really doesn't want to die; not like this, not be stuck in Silverveil with an predator who has arrived to kill him. It unsheathed it's claws and was preparing to run towards him when this happened: A loud and echoing warcry was heard coming from the distance, getting closer and coming in really fast as this was no animal he had heard before. The Mountain Lion ran forward and jumped as it prepared to strike when the source of the echoing yell came out in the form of a hairless and fleshy ape who swung to the scene on a vine, kicking his predator in the stomach and sending it flying away as wielded an Knife made from an buffalo horn before running in to fight it

This hairless, fleshy and bony Ape like being was biscotti toned and was supposingly bipedal as he was both tall and larger than him and his predator. He wore very minimal clothing as the only thing he wore was what looked like shorts made from animal pelted skins and tree bark that were tightened around his waist along with an long loincloth in the middle that went down to his lower thighs on both sides. He had an belt wrapped around his waist as well and that's where his Knife was placed when not in use from his big, meaty arms with dexterous hands; but unlike other Apes, his feet were not very animal like and doesn't seem like he's native here. The way he would walk was feral and wild like. Though he could briefly see his eyes, they were focused and his long hair was drenched; but that face of his was a much different shaped skull than the others

Korventus could only watch as the Unknown Ape fought his predator, slashing at it's face and having it's fangs get caught on the sharp end; which allowed him to stab through it's nuzzle and have it snarl in anger. The hairless ape did the same and gave out his own growl with an vigilant look on his face, the Mountain Lion came sprinting towards him before being tackled by the hairless ape and thrown to the side from where he stabbed the beast's hind leg and forced it to run off; leaving behind a trail of blood as it did and yelping all the way as it screamed out blood vengeance

"Venatrix, danger" Korventus could swear that was what he was getting from him, but couldn't think for very long as the hairless ape turned to face him. Frightened at first sight he was, he had tried to stay far away from this being; climbing above and over the mossy log as he crawled quickly to a nearby cave where he would rest for a bit since he's lost a bit of blood thanks to his missing talon. He yawned and closed his eyes, imagining that he was back home all throughout the while

By the time he did reawaken, he sat up and stood with his one talon intact; turning to both sides of the Cave he rested in as he saw some really unfamiliar objects that lied around such as a long thick but thinned down wooden stick; a cord for wrapping and even the same Knife that the hairless ape held in his hand. Although it was sharper, and longer without being curved as it was thinned out to make it much more straighter. He also looked down and saw that his missing talon was wrapped up to stop the bleeding, did he do this he wondered to himself. He wondered where he could've gone off to seeing the verdant forest/jungle in the distance, he was still terrified by his presence; dreading what the Pure Ones could have done if they came across him. While he was thinking, he had completely forgotten that he hadn't drinked at all thanks to be ambushed

"I feel... dry" He spoke to himself, turning to the side only to noticed that the hairless ape was holding a bowl of water; startled by his appearence, he stumbled backwards to the wall in fear of what he may do to him. Instead, the hairless ape had laid it down and stepped away to look at the horizon

"Thank you" He told him, the hairless ape did not reply but looked up slightly, did he not understand? Did he not know how to speak at all, he had to sneak around secretly to see his confusion implanted on his face. He could be a silent one, incapable of speech as if this was all new to him. Still as curious as he was, he would not dare to go anywhere near him. It was then that an mice came near the hairless ape before the latter grabbed it and walked on all fours towards him, holding it out for him as if he was offering food to him. "Thanks, I did feel hungry" It didn't matter if he understood him or not, he hadn't eaten anything and his stomach rumbled

"Thank you..." Oh, perhaps he did understand him; his voice was deep, but gentle; wonder if he knew any other words

"You do speak, I thought you were a mute" The hairless ape placed a finger on his beak before standing back and tapping his chest with both arms at once

"Sultuvir" Korventus looked up at him as he did the same thing again, though more slowly to pronounce his name,"Saul-Tuu-Veer" He fully introduced himself and waited as if he was wanting for the young Owlet to do the same

"Korventus, I also go by Korvus" He introduced himself as Sultuvir tilted his head down and went back to watching the horizon

For the next 5 Days that they have spent together, Korventus had became less fearful of him and more attached to him; but also became curious to know about him. Right now, Korventus was talking about how he was trying to look for his family, his parents and siblings to be exact who were at his home known as Tyto

"Look for Da, Korvus?" The Owlet nodded,"Look for Tyto, Korvus" Another nod

"Yeah, that's it. But don't you have a family?" He asked, Sultuvir never turned his head away to face him

"Family... Family..." He echoed the word,"Sultuvir live alone, fight danger who hurt Barbarian of the Jungle; whom animals gave Sultuvir name" He then turned and showed himself in the sunlight that bathed on him as he appeared to be missing half of his foot due to his bones being exposed and bloody flesh being the same, although it was not bleeding out. He was also missing a third finger on his left hand as there was only half of it left. "Sultuvir, lost like Korvus. Venatrix, danger, took away foot and finger. Venatrix took away talon from Korvus" He compared himself to the Owlet

"That's horrible, but you survived in the end right?" He asked with brimming curiousity in his voice as he sounded, strangely excited like he always is when listening to the stories about the Guardians of Ga'hoole

"Sultuvir fear no one in Jungle. Sultuvir go hunt for Korvus, hunger" He got up and dropped down as Korvus heard him say something else that he didn't understand from him

"!$%* & (Eh Bubu, Bo La Baw)" Sultuvir left without hearing Korventus ask him what it meant, leaving him to wonder for himself. This also led to him drawing out pictures on what he was saying as he decided against sleeping, due to Sultuvir's unusual time where he wakes up like an earlybird in the morning before sleeping later on in the day, only then does he wake up past noon. Well, it didn't change a whole lot for him as he decided to abide by how his parents always said that it was bedtime for him and his siblings; he rested up against the stone wall and slept in the nest made by the hairless ape himself

The next 9 Days after Sultuvir and him spoke to one another, Korventus and the latter began to have a bond between one another. Sultuvir fed him, helped him recover faster, played with him and even took him to swing on vines that grew here in Silverveil, slide on the large and mossy branches of the trees and even hunted together with his new spear like weapon. Korventus in return taught him everything he knew that his Father told him and told to his siblings, especially the story of how the Guardians emerged victoriously in the infamous Battle of the Ice Claws. All while they foiled Venatrix's schemes to kill them both

Really, it was one such sundown that Korventus and Sultuvir slid all the way back to the latter's Cave and landed that Korventus noticed that there was an flock of Owls coming towards here. It was the Guardians, but it was also his parents who have come to rescue him who have finally found him after so long and after so much time as passed

"Korvus, go home with Family. Return to Tyto?" Sultuvir asked

"Yes, that's my Family over there. I wish I could stay but..." He was stopped when Sultuvir placed a finger on his beak

"I will miss you, Korvus" Sultuvir told him. The Barbarian of the Jungle now walked bipedally and he even learned to say goodbye thanks to Korvus teaching him how to speak

"The Forest of Tyto will seem small compared to the time I had with you, but we will meet again. I promise you that" Korventus looked up to see them approaching,"Then this is goodbye" Korventus held out his Wing as did Sultuvir hold his arm as he spoke out his farewell without trouble,"Goodbye, Korvus" The Owlet nodded before dropping down to reunite with his family, Sultuvir stood up and still had his arm out with an open palm as he looked on feeling somewhat sad that he did everything for him. His drenched hair blew in the cold wind and left him to watch his only friend leave with them

However, this would not be the last time we hear of the Barbarian...

Sometime later, Korventus was now a Guardian; with an lifelike prosthetic that remained attached to his missing talon. He now wore battle claws and was equipped with an Helmet that was designed like the traitorous Allomere's, his feathers had been dyed with paint like Grimble but only because he was ready to fight and defend Ga'Hoole at all costs for the sake of his own family. But he was not very happy at all, not that he didn't want to become a Guardian; he loves being one as he always dreamed of becoming one, but it's for another reason instead:

Ever since his experience with Sultuvir, Barbarian of the Jungle; he's been looked at as nothing more but an Outcast to his fellow Owls who first heard of him. They were mocking him and he hated it, but then the real reason why was because he's changed since then; his parents saw Sultuvir as a savior along with the children, an elderly horned Owl however did not. He was the reason why Korventus was considered a outcast among them, he even mocked his hairless ape friend right in front of him and he was both angry and hurt; why can't he understand that Sultuvir saved him when he was about to meet his death? He owes more than a debt to him

Within the Great Ga'Hoole Tree where his parents were along with Ms. Audrery, Korventus returned from scouting out signs of the Pure Ones and didn't feel like he was hungry at all. Instead he'd just looked outside and sat on the platform as he watched the sun come down,"Ms. Audrery..." He asked

"Yes?" She replied as she slithered over to him

"I just wanted to say, thanks for taking care for all of us; especially my sister. While I'm out there fighting with a sword in my beak and battle claws on my talons, she's in here waiting for my return and hoping to see me again. Thanks to you, you've given her no reason to lose any hope and fall into despair; like I have" He looked down from below the tree

"You know I wouldn't do so towards Alejandra, she's been having a good life thanks to you and she's even having her first branching lessons by now. From the time you've had your first pellet and I kept a collection of them, to the experience with your friend you miss so much; there's always that chance that you may get to introduce her to him"

"Of course you've kept a collection of pellets, who wouldn't since everyone wants to keep some memories from the past. But yeah, if we ever came across each other again; then I'll be sure to introduce my other siblings to him"

"I'm glad you decided to do so, but please don't ever fall into despair Korvus; your parents wouldn't want that, I wouldn't want that would I now? I best get back to wake up Alister and Sandor; Eudomand is already nearing the end of his lessons with Alenjandra" She slithered away from him and back into the hallow

"Yeah, my next oldest brother Alister could stay up for the entire day, but Sandor ain't gonna be easy" He called back as he returned to his thoughts back on the cloudy sunset sky in the horizon, he's gotten himself one hell of an adventure planned out for him. He feels better now that he's been cheered up by their own Nest-Maid snake, when they say that he has changed; they were not lying. Although his own brothers and sister enjoyed hearing his story, Sandor was not one of them as he always looked disinterested; not really seeing what makes them so great to hear. In fact, he's even told him that he may end up like the tragic passing of a fellow Guardian's, whose name was Soren, brother who was named Kludd. Poor Owl became Metal Beak and he ended up dying in front of him

Since then, Sandor told him that he just doesn't understand anything behind it. Though he did say that he will not end up like Soren's brother, he promises it on his very death nest where he will be joined with him if he ever falls in battle. Like his sister Alenjandra, Alister was a brother he looked after; but he could look after himself, no worries. He breathed one in and continued to look to the sky with a smile on his face

Oh long he's been waiting to meet Sultuvir again, that time will come soon...