The Great Avian War

Characters:

Soren: A Barn Owl

Twilight: A Great Gray Owl

Gylfie: An Elf Owl

Digger: A Burrowing Owl

Bubo: A Great Horned Owl. The Blacksmith of Ga'Hoole

Original Characters:

Musso: He is a Black Unclassified Albatross. Leader of the Avian War Council. Master of the Seas

Ix: He is a Brown Unclassified Hawk . Hero of the Story. Inventor of Battle Claws. The Tamer of Fire.

Wind:She is a Peregrine Falcon. The Council's Assassin. Queen of the wind.

Dusk: He's an Eagle Warrior. Lord of Earth.

Dawn: Brother of Dusk, He too is an Eagle Warrior. Lord of Earth.

Bask: He is an Eagle Owl. Commander of the Trees.

CHAPTER 1

Fighting Boredom

It was a bright and starry night in the Ga'hoole Tree and Soren and his friends are done with their classes, leaving them bored for the rest of the night.

"It sure is boring around here", Twilight said, sighing.

"Well, we are done with our classes", Gylfie said.

"Indeed, Gylfie. Can anyone suggest something to do?", Digger asked.

"We could go Fly outside", Twilight suggested.

"We can't go outside, since other owls are still having classes", Gylfie said.

"How about we explore the place?", said Digger, who helped himself with a rat he caught on his class.

"Digger!", Gylfie raised her voice,as if a mother, "You know that is not allowed! Besides, King Boron will reprimand us for doing it."

"Who said Boron's gonna find out?", Twilight said with a gleam in his eye.

And they continued to argue on. Soren, however, was by the hole, looking at the stars. He was looking for constellations, but, he found none. Then, he decided to make one up, just for fun. He traced the stars and found one shaped like an Anvil. Like the one in Bubo's forge. Bubo. Bubo the Blacksmith who knew many stories. Suddenly, Soren had an idea to fight off boredom.

"Let's go see Bubo.", Soren said smiling.

"Why would you want see that old hoot?", Twilight asked.

"Well, we could ask him if he could tell us a story", Soren said. Soren grew up being told stories by his Ma and Da, so he really loved hearing stories.

"He is a Veteran you know. He could tell us stories about war.", Soren said winking at Twilight. Twilight loved to hear stories about wars and battles.

"About war!" Twilight's faced beamed with excitement." Yes! We should go see Bubo!", he added.

"I thinks it's a Great Idea!", Gylfie said, "We could learn a lot from him."

"Well, I guess you have to count me in too.", Digger said.

Just then the four owls flew out of their hollow to deeper parts of the tree.

They smelled coal and melting steel, indicating that they are near Bubo's forge.

As they entered, they found the great Horned Owl working. Creating a Weapon they have never seen before.

"Bubo, what is that?", Soren asked.

"It's definitely not Battle Claws", Twilight said.

"You have good eyes me' boy! These 'ere are Wing Talons.", Bubo said.

"Wing Talons? What are those?", Soren asked, still enjoying the privilage of asking a question.

"Before there were Battle Claws, Wing Talons and Beak Blades were used in war. To put it in a more simpler manner, They were used in war a long time ago.", Bubo said.

"Wow! And your sort of Recreating it?", Soren asked.

"Indeed.", Bubo replied.

"That reminds me. We came here to ask you for a story", Digger Said.

"Yes. I almost forgot about that.", Gylfie said. Although it was quite rare that Gylfie would forget of something.

"Hmmm…Ah Yes, I know the perfect story", Bubo said.

"Is it about war?", Twilight asked.

"Yes.", Bubo replied. "Who has heard of the story of The Great Avian War?"

"Avian? What's that?", Soren and Digger asked at the same time.

"It's sort of a word used to identify Birds right?", Gylfie said.

"Hmm. Yes Lass. It's actually the General Term for all Birds.", Bubo Said.

"Alrigh' then. I will tell you the very story that has been told through the beaks of many for ages."

The Owls leaned a little closer to Bubo.

"Once there was a Brown Hawk named Ix. He was like any ordinary bird. Much Like you Soren…."

"Racdrops! This Fire is too intense!", shouted Ix, a Brown Hawk, while forging a pair of Wing Talons.

Wing Talons were used during the old age of birds. They were three knife like blades held together by a metal harness and attached to leather belt. It was to be strapped near the end of the wings.

"Well, what do you expect? You put too much Coal!", shouted Bask, An Eagle Owl and Ix' Bestfirend.

The two have been orphaned at a young age. Both their parents were Warriors at the Avian War Council and died during the last war. They were taken in by the council at the time and raised them. They learned to read, count, hunt, and fight. But, the most greatest thing Ix and Bask ever did was the ability to tame and control Fire. No other bird can do this and no other bird knew this. Just Ix and Bask themselves. Though metal weapons were already rampant, they were made at the mouth of a Volcano. The Blacksmiths would fly to the mouth of a volcano and dip the metal to the lava and forge them there. This was very dangerous. Usually, an Expedition of 12 blacksmiths would go to a volcano to forge and come back only 5, indicating that it is a very dangerous task.

Coal are rocks that ignite to make fire. They are found in caves near volcanoes. Ix discovered the ability of coal when he accidentally dropped one on top of the other causing it to spark, therefore, making fire.

Suddenly, they heard wing flaps approaching their hollow.

"Quick! Put out the fire! Put out the Fire!", Ix cried.

"I'm trying! I'm trying!", Bask said, annoyed.

A Bald Eagle entered their hollow.

"Your presence has been summoned by the Chief General of the War Council, Musso.", The Egale Said.

"Tell him, we'll be right up.", Ix stammered.

"No.",replied the Eagle, "You are needed now. N-O-W. Now!", the Eagle shouted.

Ix Sighed, "Fine. We'll go."

"Wonder what's with this all of a sudden?", Bask said.

"The General said it was Important.", The Bald Eagle said.

They flew out of the hollow and into another tree was particularly big. Probably the biggest tree in the entire forest. It has a big sign carved on the bark of the tree that read "AVIAN WAR COUNCIL". They went in the main entrance and made their way up to the highest part of the tree, the Headquarters. As they entered an Albatross was sitting on the other end of a Long metal table forged by the blacksmiths.

"Permission to enter, Sir!", The Bald Eagle said.

"Stand Down Lieutenant.", The Albatross said.

"Affirmative, General. Request granted.",

"Thank you very much. You may leave now."

"Sir, Yes Sir!"

And with that, the eagle flew away.

This albatross was no ordinary one. He was huge and burly. His wings were clearly very long. And he kept a display of a tarnished pair of Wing Talons by his wall. He was Musso. The Chief General of the Avian War council.

"Ahmm..Sir? Why do you request our presence?", Said Bask.

"That's a good question young one. But before I answer that let me give you permission to sit down.", Musso said.

The two Young birds took a seat.

"Well, well. Aren't you the smartest birds ever.", the General said with joy.

"What made you say that?", Ix asked.

"Hmm. I'm glad you asked. This will make things less complicated"

Less Complicated? What is wrong? Ix thought. But he just kept these to himself.

"You Birds have been trained and nurtured here in the safety of our compund. I believe you have discovered something that will greatly Innovate the avian world."

Ix and Bask almost fainted.

"Wh-what is that?", Bask gulped.

"It's your ability to tame fire."

CHAPTER 2

The Truth