Me- High Guys and Girls.
Soren- So you have returned.
Me- I vowed I would.
Gylfie- And now your using Marines.
Me- Sempre Fi everyone.
Twilight- Yeah, proper soldiers.
Digger- *Thoughtful expression.*
Me- Disclaimer- I don't own any Guardians of Ga'Hoole characters. I only own my own characters. Alex and Aaron belong to Sgt. Sporky.
Everyone- On with the show.
Loud explosions filled the air to be replace by a low whine as shells howled overhead. Troops huddled down in their landing craft as Japanese shells slammed into the water around them. It was the invasion of Iwo Jima, a small island about 600 miles from the Japanese mainland.
The island was a small dustbowl in the middle of an endless sea. Or at least, this what what Private James Taylor of the USMC (United States Marine Core) thought of what he figured would become his grave. He and his squad huddled low in their landing craft as they were slowly soaked by exploding shells.
Somewhere behind Taylor, someone threw up. He didn't bother to look back and see who. He had enough problems on his mind. He was shaken out of this idol thought by a loud shout from the squad Sergeant.
"DIVE BOMBERS!" He yelled. "Taylor, man the 50."
Taylor stepped forward and climbed up on the metal step at the front of the craft. He pulled back the bolt on the 50 calibre machine gun and turned it towards the sky. He squinted up into the sky and could make out the outline of two small planes. Japanese 'Val' dive bombers.
Taylor opened up on the lead plane with a barrage of stinging lead. The bomber screamed down and released its bomb towards a nearby landing craft. It missed by about 10 yards.
He turned back towards the sky just as the second bomber began its dive, closely tailed by a single American Hellcat fighter. Taylor lined up the 50 cal but couldn't fire because of the Hellcat.
Suddenly the tail of the Val exploded as the Hellcat opened fire. The plane began to tumble down towards Taylor's landing craft. "INCOMING!" He yelled.
The plane slammed into the rear of the landing craft. The impact acted like a catapult, blasting those at the front of the craft, including Taylor, into the water. Those at the back were killed instantly.
All of those thrown into the water were immediately dragged downward by the weight of their equipment. Taylor struggled to pull of his heavy pack and swim to the surface but the strap snagged on his rifle.
He tugged at the strap bit it wouldn't budge. He felt himself fading. He resigned himself to his fate, and blacked out.
Crashing waves brought Taylor back to consciousness. He was lying in the surf on a beach. Behind him were the remains of his landing craft. A large hole was blown in its rear. Taylor coughed violently, spitting up water and slowly hauled himself to his knees. He coughed again, more water flowing out of his lungs and crawled out of the water onto the sand.
"Am I dead?" He asked himself. He raised a fist and punched himself in the arm. "Nope, not dead." He thought as a small amount of pain ran up his arm. It was then that he noticed how quiet it was. No explosions, no planes, no shouting. Just the sound of the crashing waves. He looked back towards the water. He saw the landing craft and staggered towards it. He looked inside but there was no one in sight, not even a body. The 50 cal and much of its ammunition was still in the craft. He wrenched it off its mounting and picked up the ammunition box.
As he staggered ashore with the heavy weapon he began to look at his surrounding. A thick mist filled the air and concealed everything beyond 40 yards distance. A thin forest covered the area off the beach. He looked up the beach and smiled. There, less than 5 yards away was his rifle. A good, reliable, M1 Garand.
He put the 50 cal down and picked up his rifle. He detached the strap of the M1 and attached it to the 50. He then slung the MG on his back and picked up the rifle. Where ever he was, it was probable Japanese territory. He decided to head of into the thin forest and search for more Marines. Better than just sitting on the beach waiting for a sniper to pick him off. He figured.
As he walked he began to get the feeling he was being watched. He spun around every now and then but there was nothing there. He continued walking. Suddenly a rock materialized out if the mist and upon it was the most enormous bird that Taylor had ever seen. It was easily his height, maybe slightly more.
It was not the birds size that drew his attention, but the shining metal claws that it wore over its talons and the helm it wore. "Okay this is weird." Said Taylor. He peered closely at the bird. It appeared to be an owl.
"I could say the same about you." Said the owl said suddenly.
Taylor jerked in surprise and raised his rifle, pointing it at the owl. "What the hell are you. Where am I? What is all this?" He shouted.
The owl ignored his questions. "I'd recommend you lower your weapon." Said the owl looking at him. The fog swirled slightly and 6 more owls materialized out of fog. They all wore the same claws and helmet.
"You are now, temporarily, our prisoner." Said the first owl.
Taylor thought about shooting the seven owls. He could shoot three or four, but the rest would overwhelm him, and those claws looked mean.
He lowered his weapon. "Fine." He said and slid the rifle into the strap where his collapsable shovel sat on his pack.
"Follow me." Said the owl and turned and walked off. Taylor followed closely. The remaining six owls took formation around him.
"Where are you taking me?" He asked.
"You will see." Said the lead owl.
Taylor peered past the owl. The fog swirled slightly and began to lift. Taylor's mouth dropped open. Ahead of him was the largest tree he had ever seen. There were no words to describe its size. It was enormous.
The lead owl turned his head as he walked and smiled slightly at Taylor's expression. "I see you have never seen the great tree."
"Great is right." Said Taylor in awe. "What is this place."
"That will be explained later." Said the lead owl. You must come quickly. The parliament is in session.
In the parliament chamber.
"And this is our new design for our metal thrower." Said a great grey owl named Alex standing in the middle of the chamber next to a metal tube mounted on wheels.
"Should we fly for cover." Said a burrowing owl named Dewlap, who was perched in a far corner.
"Dewlap please." Said the king of Ga'hoole, Boron. "Please continue Alex."
"Thank you your majesty." Said Alex with a curt bow. "Now, after last time..." Every owl in the room shuddered at the memory. That attempt resulted in a fire and several weeks in the infirmary for everyone who was to close to the weapon.
Alex continued. "I have improved the mix of the blast powder and made the payload heavier. If this hits anything it will obliterate it." The owls in front of the weapon shifted to the sides. "I would have had this finished sooner if SOMEBODY..." He glared at a Barn owl named Aaron on his left, standing on the far side of the metal thrower. "Hadn't lost my powder and all my notes."
Aaron raised both his wings slightly. "That was an accident." He exclaimed.
"And now I will demonstrate its destructive power. Aaron, the target please."
Aaron produced a large target made of intertwined sticks. He walked over to the side of the room and placed it against one of the walls.
"Stand back." Said Alex taking a position behind the cannon, Aaron stood next to him.
"Ready." Said Aaron.
"Take aim." Said Alex, shifting the weapon slightly.
"FIRE!" They both shouted at the same time and Alex held a candle to the end of the metal tube. There was a loud BANG and a flash of fire. Smoke filled the parliament chamber and rushed out the open hollow entrance. Many of the parliament owls were lying on their backs, coughing and covering their eyes with their wings.
Boron, his mate Barran, Ezylryb and Dewlap were the only four still on their perches. Alex and Aaron were still standing where they had been where had been before firing the weapon. Their pristine feathers were stained black with soot.
A cough from Alex brought everyone back to their senses and the parliament owls who had fallen off their perches hauled themselves back up. "Err..." Boron cleared his throat. "Thank you. But it appears that you have not succeeded yet."
"Err, yes." Said Alex recovering and ushering Aaron out of the room. "We'll get cleaned up then clean up this mess." Boron nodded and the two left the room.
Dewlap then spoke up. "Honestly, those two are going to get us killed."
"Maybe." Said Bubo, the great trees blacksmith. "But that Alex is a genius with metal. I hate to say it but he could even surpass me sooner or later."
Thats when claw steps began to echo down the corridor. Everyone in the room turned towards the hollows entrance. A small group of owls appeared and walked into the parliament chamber. Ezylryb recognized the group immediately. "Soren. What are you and the band doing here?"
The band, plus Ruby, Martin and Otulissa all assembled in front of the parliament, hiding something behind them. Soren spoke. "We found something while we were out on chaw practice."
"What did you find?" Asked Boron. "You have peeked my interest."
Soren stepped aside and revealed Taylor.
"Hi." Said Taylor.
Me- What do you think.
Otulissa- Please review. Just hit that little button at the bottom and type a nice message and...
Me- *Clamps a hand over Otulissa's beak.* R&R. Will write again soon.