Yeah, I was supposed to have this story, plus another, up last week, but I had to undergo an untimely extraction of my four wisdom teeth on Wednesday...
Needless to say, I was in too much of a sedated stupor to do anything besides sleep. Now I am feeling a little better, although my face is still swollen like a balloon :-(
This is the sequel to my previous story, A Tainted Bond, just in case you need a refresher.
*Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters/ locations/ ideas of wonderful K. Lasky. Those thoughts came from her mind, and her mind alone.*
Any characters that you do not recognize I created previously, and they belong to me. However, some appear again in this story.
Theme Song: Falling Inside The Black, by Skillet
Please review when finished! If you feel an irresistible urge to flame, you can...
And off we go-
Prologue:The King & Queen of Ga'Hoole have returned from the Shadow Forest.
The Guardians are anxious to hear about the gift their King has received. Nimsy Night has recently passed, and Soren must prepare to to escort Mason to the Glauxian Brothers.
Little does he know, enemies new and old will surface and threaten the Southern Kingdoms.
Can one blessed owl defeat the enemy that plans to destroy him, along with everything he holds dear?
Chapter 1: Answers
"What has happened, Your Majesty?" "How have you survived!" "Tell us your gift!" "What did Glaux say to you?" "What will you do now?" Soren's ear slits were humming from the barrage of questions spewing from the Guardians' beaks. He had just returned from the Palace Of Mists the previous night, and had simply retreated to his hollow with Pelli and fallen asleep.
He still felt a tad weary, for the flight home from the Palace had sapped every ounce of his strength. He and his mate were perched in the Great Hollow before scores of owls. He cleared his throat and shreed, "One at a time, Guardians. I shall explain everything I can, but you must not all talk at the same time."
The noise in the hollow died off, and Sylvanaryb stepped forward and raised a talon from a crowded shelf to the left of Soren. "May I ask a question, Sir?"
"Go ahead, Sylvana."
"I want to know what Glaux said to you after you...died."
"I heard a strange, ancient voice speak to me. I felt somehow it was Glaux. He told me I was given new life as a result of my sacrifice. He also said I was gifted with his essence, the Strands Of Glaux, in the process. He warned me that I must learn to respect them, for there are dire consequences regarding their misuse."
Sylvana nodded, her face laden with understanding, and retreated back alongside the other owls. A Spotted Owl then flew up and alighted on the arcing birch branch.
"I also have a question, Sir."
"What might that be, Cleve?"
"What is the nature of your gift? I am sure many other Guardians have been wondering the same ever since that dreadful evening..." Many owls nodded their heads and shifted around uncomfortably, recalling the bloody scene that had been described to them from the Parliament owls that had witnessed it.
"The cloud that hides within me can be shaped into vines, although they are composed of a substance not unlike mist. They can harm only when I allow them to, though they are still hard to control, which I plan to work on vigorously for the next few moons. I shall try to demonstrate, but do not fear."
Soren closed his eyes, concentrating on the fog he felt coursing inside him. Pelli cautiously stepped a few paces away from him, towards the edge of the branch. The Guardians gasped and stared nervously at him as a strange haze began rising from his body. He then spread his wings, and what looked like tiny tendrils of pitch black smoke began to grow from his wingtips. They twisted and curled as if they were alive, and began growing in length like two shadowy claws, towards the crowd of owls.
They shrank back nervously, and a Burrowing Owl shut his eyes as a tendril reached for him. However, he felt nothing but a soft caress as the thread slid over his feathers. A few other owls were also touched, and many suppressed churrs as the wisps began tickling their faces. Just then, a small cry of discomfort resounded from the beak of the Burrowing Owl.
"Ouch! That hurt, Your Majesty!" He glanced at the bend of his wing and saw a dusting of blackened feathers cascade to the floor.
Suddenly, the wisps turned the color of blood and began to tremble and writhe violently, as if thirsting for something, and Pelli glanced in horror as her mate's eyes flew open in a blank stare and began to fill with a violet hue. Dozens of owls then fled the hollow as a net of scarlet threads began to rake across the floor and walls, leaving scorched trails as they went. Otulissa shouted, "Oh no! Soren! Stop!" as a quaking thread backed her into a corner, undulating like a crazed serpent.
Pelli shreed, "Do something, Digger! Quick!" Digger stepped away from her and flew straight at Soren, dodging the misty laces that struck at him. He slowed his flight, lowered his head, and rammed him dead in the breast, knocking him to the floor. The violet shine in the Barn Owl's eyes cleared, and Pelli watched as the black vines retreated back into the clouds under his wings and vanished.
"A-a-are you okay, dear?"
"Is that you, Pelli?"
"Yes, it is."
"I felt lost in my own body...All I remember is falling off of a cliff, into a dark void..."
"I saved you, Soren. You almost wounded Otulissa."
"Th-thank you, Digger." He rose to his talons and saw the Spotted Owl fully wilfed in the back corner. "Please forgive me, Otulissa. It wasn't me controlling them..."
"I believe you, but that didn't make it any less terrifying, Soren..." She regained her composure and said, "I think you have a lot of practice to do, Soren. You must not allow this to ever happen again..." Still trembling, she rose weakly into flight and lofted out of the port, Digger close on her tail. "I fear for you, Soren. You must teach yourself restraint when it comes to this...ability."
"I swear upon Glaux that I will never endanger my fellow Guardians again," said her mate, crossing his gizzard with his left talon.
"I think it is time we escort Mason to the Glauxian Brothers, dear. He is not fit to live here any longer. He is too unstable."
"You are right, Pelli. Let me inform the steward of our trip. Should we leave now?"
"Yes. The sooner we get back, the sooner you can hone your control over your power."
Soren walked over to the main passage leading up to the hollow and called into the gloom, "Cleve, I must speak with you at once." The noise echoed down the dimly lit passage, and shortly after, an ashy figure emerged from an adjoining passage and clambered into the hollow.
"Is something amiss, Sir?"
"No. I am headed to the Northern Kingdoms to deliver Mason to the Glauxian Brothers. Inform the other members of the parliament as soon as possible. I hope to return before the next newing, fourteen nights from now."
Cleve nodded steadily before turning to leave. Soren stopped him. "One more thing, Cleve. Please send for Gylfie, Twilight, and Mason. Tell them to meet me here after they put on some battle claws."
"Right away, Sir."
Pelli began preening his feathers as they waited for them to arrive. "Why did you send for them, dear?"
"Gylfie will be able to help us navigate, and Twilight will be a good ally in case we run into any trouble."
Meanwhile, a Great Gray Owl and and Elf Owl were busy whispering to each other as they threaded their way down the middle of the tree, the rhythmic clinking of metal filling the passage. "Why do you think Soren needs us, Twi?"
"Maybe he has a mission planned. I am so glad I get to wear my battle claws again!" Gylfie noticed he was almost trembling with anticipation. I swear to Glaux that is all he ever thinks about!
Arriving at the round entrance, she raised a metal talon and tapped the edge softly.
"Is that you, Gylfie? Is Twilight with you?"
She replied, "Yes, it's us," before she and Twilight stepped into the hollow.
"Why did you call for us? Cleve said it was important."
"I am taking Mason to the Bitter Sea. The Glauxian Retreat, more specifically. I need you to help us navigate there, and Twilight could help us fight if we run into any kraals or hostile creatures. Did you see Mason on your way down here, Twilight?" "No, I didn't. I think he is on his way."
Just then, a somewhat disheveled Barn Owl entered the hollow. Gylfie suppressed a snort of contempt as he looked around absentmindedly. "Mason, I am taking you to the Glauxian Retreat in the Northern Kingdoms. Perhaps there you can mend your unjust spirit and find peace." He said nothing, and merely gazed at the floor.
"I shall return soon, dear." "Okay, Soren. Just be careful. I will look after the tree while you are gone." Soren nodded and turned to the three owls before him. "Are you ready to leave, Gylfie?"
"Yes, I am."
"Twilight?"
"Never been more ready, Soren!"
"Wait here, looks like I need to put some on too!" He flew out into the moonless night, and returned shortly after with a gleaming NAST strapped on each foot.
"Let's go, mates!" With that, four owls lifted off into a lovely tailwind, heading northeast out across the Hoolemere Sea, towards the Ice Narrows.