I fly away towards Tyto Forest. Down below, I catch sight of a Spruce. I see the old Whiskered Screech owl there as well. I light down on the same branch as him. He sees me coming and watches as I lower myself on the branch. "Who are you?" I ask.

"My name is Ezylryb. I'm the Weather Interpretation Ryb of the Great Tree. What is your name?" He asks.

"I can't tell you," I tell him.

"Why not?" Ezylryb asks.

"It's because I have to take you to them," I answer.

"To who?" Ezylryb asks.

"The Pure Ones. If I don't, they'll kill me. I don't think they know that I may turn traitor. I'd sooner keep it that way for the time being. As long as you comply with their wishes, they won't even see the need to rough you up. Then again, I could use this opportunity to escape," I tell him.

"Then, why don't you?" Ezylryb asks.

"Have you seen their numbers? There are hundreds of them! How can I escape them?" I ask. I sighed. "Just come with me. I'll get you out as soon as possible. I'd sooner not die, if you don't mind," I tell him and rise up into the air. He rises up as well. I lead him to where the High Tyto is waiting.

"Silverwing, you're back! It's about time!" The High Tyto sneers.

"I present to you Ezylryb," I speak in a voice filled with fake confidence.

Metal Beak grabs Ezylryb by his neck and forces Ezylryb towards him. "You will give us information on the flecks!" He shouts.

"Fine!" Ezylryb growls. Ezylryb tells Metal Beak all there is to tell about the flecks, some I know is fake information. Soon, the sun starts to rise. Metal Beak grabs Ezylryb and throws him into a corner of a hollow.

"Silverwing, guard him!" Metal Beak orders me. I obey. I watch the surrounding Pure Ones doze off.

When Metal Beak also drops off to sleep, I turn to Ezylryb. "Ezylryb, now is the time. They're asleep," I whisper. We lift off and fly away from the sleeping Pure Ones.

When we were far enough away, Ezylryb addresses me. "Thank you. What are you going to do now? Will you go back to them?" Ezylryb asks.

I frown. "No. I won't return to them. You're going back to the Great Tree, aren't you? I'll go as well," I tell him. We fly back to where Ezylryb was before I had come. We stand on a branch, talking. We hear something nearby. An Elf Owl is flying just level to us. She calls out to Ezylryb. Two Barn Owls, a Spotted Owl, a Great Gray, and a Burrowing Owl come as well. The male Barn Owl is holding a coal in his beak. He burns a bag that is laying on the forest floor.

Ezylryb and I wait for them. "Who are you?" The male Barn Owl asks.

"I'm Silverwing. It's Silver for short. Who are you?" I ask. The six owls introduce themselves. We are talking about leaving when screeches tear into the night. "The Pure Ones!" I Screech. Twilight fights Metal Beak. Soren and the others fight the Pure One forces. It seems lost when, suddenly, two more owls show up out of nowhere. They hold burning branches. Soren and the others take burning branches as well.

I flinch as I hear the screech of an owl. I turn and my eyes are set upon him.

"Traitor!" Metal Beak screeches.

"No. A traitor is one who was on your side. I was never on your side!" I screech back.

"You are nothing but a fool! You have chosen your own demise!" Metal Beak screeches.

"My demise must be better than following you!" I yell.

"I'll show you what is better!" Metal Beak snarls and rakes my face with his talons. I turn and try to fly away, but he grabs me and slams me on to the ground. My left wing breaks under the impact. I cry out in agony as the pain radiates throughout my left side. Metal Beak leaves me lying on the ground in excruciating pain. I glimpse him as he hides in the treetops.

I am left writhing in pain. Ezylryb flies toward me. "Are you alright?" He asks.

"No," I groan in pain.

"Is that what you said they'd do to you if they found out that you would betray them?" Ezylryb asks.

"Yes. I figured that he'd do more to me, though," I say.

I clench my beak shut in pain. Ezylryb sees my pain. He lifts me up and holds on to me. "You're going to be alright," Ezylryb says.

I start to whimper in pain. It's just too great a suffering. When I start to whimper and squirm in pain, Ezylryb tries to comfort me. I clench my eyes shut tight, but I can't stop the tears from rolling out of my eyes.

Metal Beak hovers in the treetop. Then, he launches himself towards us. Soren sees what Metal Beak is going to do. Soren charges Metal Beak with a burning branch. The fighting goes back and forth. Soren tears Metal Beaks mask off. He seems surprised by something. That surprise lasts for a minute. Soren continues to fight Metal Beak. Soren rises himself beneath Metal Beak and hits the remaining piece of his mask with the fiery branch. Metal Beak almost goes yeep. Then, at the last second, Metal Beak recovers and launches himself at Soren. Soren isn't prepared for the oncoming attack. Metal Beak's battle claws slash down Soren's left wing. The wing is almost severed from his body. Soren screeches in agony. He falls a few feet to the ground. Metal Beak snarls in rage and flies off with the remaining Pure Ones.

After Metal Beak's departure, Twilight and Ruby made vine hammocks to carry Soren and me in. Ezylryb lifts me up. I gasp in pain as I am lowered into the hammock. Twilight and Ruby lift Soren's hammock off of the ground. Ezylryb and Otulissa carry my hammock. They fly me with them to Ga'hoole.

As soon as we get there, Ruby and Twilight carry Soren to the infirmary. Ezylryb and Otulissa bring me there as well. The owl there treats my wing. She gives me something to help ease the pain. I fall asleep shortly thereafter.