At last the moon had come out in its full shape over the starry, cloudless night. The almost soundless forest held still as time flowed through it, brightened in the lunar lights shining across it.

Kludd slowly opened his eyes slowly, bewildered slightly to find himself in an empty hollow, until the confusion faded as memory sparked through his brain.

'So it wasn't a dream...'

He'd move the exit of his hollow to see the mysterious white orb in the sky, watching it move by sight at the fastest of speeds but look slower than a slug from a mile away. The reflection upon his dark hues made it seem like he had whites in his eyes, when he didn't. It was the first time he had absolute control over himself, so it'd also been the first time he would have actually taken the time to think about the wonders of beyond the owl world. That moon, what was it? Some sort of sorcery? Every night it's come up, then the sun would come up during the day, and there were also those stars among the dark sky.
If only there were answers...

"Kludd?"

Uglamore. Kludd turned to find the older barn owl on another branch. That struck him, that Uglamore was older now. Kludd died at a younger age than Uglamore, and they were reborn at the same age they died, which made himself younger now. "I'm awake... What is it?"

Spreading his wings, Uglamore swooped downwards them back up in a perfect under-arc to land next to Kludd. "Glad I found you so easily... Guess this place is smaller than I thought." Sighing, he shook his head, "Since we're both awake, I gotta ask you... What are your thoughts on all of this? Do you think this 'Zarko' is telling the truth?"

He paused upon this question, before looking up at the sky then to him again. "One thing we can't deny is that he brought us back from the dead. He even knew more personal things as to who we are."

"I can't argue with that, but are we what he claimed we are, or are we hostages? I mean, he emphasized 'do not try to leave.'"

"Are you thinking about leaving?"

"Maybe I am, I don't know..." Uglamore watched the forest floor, scanning the scenery. "But we don't even know where we are. I don't recall any forest being as quiet as this."

"I think we may be on an island." Kludd murmured out, "I woke up on a beach, and the sun was setting on the west side over the water, I don't think there's any places known that are like that."

"That'd make sense, since he seems keen on being isolated." Uglamore couldn't help but grumble something else to himself, turning away. "I'm sorry, I'm just... Not used to this."

"Used to what?"

Uglamore turned his head back to him.

"Treating you as an equal. You used to be my leader, we used to fight for the Tytonic Unuion. It's... Different, all of the sudden. I mean, to think you were shattered?" He shook his head. "Never would have guessed."

"Wait a minute..." Kludd blinked, before gazing up at him as a thought came to him. "Then... Who caused me to be shattered?"

Now it was Uglamore's turn to blink. Kludd was right on that. Who?

"That 'true enemy,' maybe, or Nyra?"

"I guess those are possibilities..." Sighing out, Kludd aligned himself upright, looking at the stars once more. "I think I might go talk to him."

"Zarko?"

The younger barn owl nodded.

"Then I'll go with you."

"Now?"

"Why not?"

Zarko's hollow hadn't been far; only a few minutes had passed before the two were there. It was, though, easily spotted as a hole in the decently-sized tree with lighting inside of it. Both of the barn owls settled right outside, and their sensitive ear slits heard it- voices inside.

"...he's become a pacifist since then. He's living life well, even made some trips to the Great Tree."

They'd enter to see Zarko and Clay, the spotted owl's back turned to them. Zarko's eyes darted to them, but then back to the one in front of him.

"Your brother is out of harm's way for now. You'll see him again, don't worry." His attention went back to the two that were entering. "Kludd, Uglamore, I see you decided to come to me. What questions do you have?"

Claymore had looked back at the two before stepping aside out of the way between them and Zarko. The pair made their way further inside, settling in as they looked to him. The first to speak had been Kludd. "Where are we?"

Zarko churred. "An island along the outskirts of Southern Kingdoms. No other owl inhabits this place- maybe rodents, bears, or other wild creatures, but nothing that could really matter too much."

So Kludd was right.

"I'm sorry to keep bombarding you with questions," Uglamore budded in, "But why exactly are we alive again."

"Oh, I don't mind the questions, not at all." He's shake his head. "Nonetheless, I'll explain it more clearly than last time: We're going to be fighting the Pure Ones. While they're focused on reforming and recruiting, as well as plotting again the Great Tree, we'll sneaking up on them, killing what we can."

"So we're fighting against the Pure Ones. And you said that Coryn would die...?"

"Yes, and we're going to stop that. When the War of the Ember comes, we'll join in and assault them from behind. Right now, though, I want to focus on getting you three, as well as Thora, settled in and acquainted." Then, he seemed to blink and look off into nothingness. "Speaking of which... Now I'm wondering what Thora is up to."

"Should we go speak with her?" Clay suggested, stepping forwards, but Zarko held up a wing with a chuckle.

"No, it'd be a bit awkward for all of us to show up in front of her out of nowhere. You two should speak to each other." His head nodded between Uglamore and Claymore, the two exchanging glances towards each other. "In fact, head southeast from here, that's a good hunting area. I'll go seek out the Roguesmith, though I want Kludd to come with me. I need to speak with him."

Now it had been Kludd's turn to look over at him, head tilted and eyes flashing shut and open once. Hesitantly, both Clay and Uglamore stepped out as they turned their heads, taking off. A short silence took place before the blue-eyed owl moved out to the exit, gesturing for Kludd to follow. "Follow me." And he did just that with a nod, taking flight right behind him. Zarko had started to take him in a general direction, seeming as if he almost knew where she was. A minute or so of flying had passed, often landing on branches as he glanced around, before taking off again. "Stay close."

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

"I'd mentioned to you all that you'd be able to live with whatever family or friends you have left." The two landed on another branch. "And I'm going to make certain that'll happen for you, too."

"And what's so different with me?"

"Kludd." They landed on another branch, pausing this time as he turned to the smaller owl. "You used to be Metalbeak, an owl that everyone despised. An owl whose death marked a setback for the Pure Ones. Do you honestly think they'd realize that's not who you are anymore? No, they need to be convinced. And I'm going to do what I can." And then they took off once more, both of them.

"And what if you can't get the truth into them?"

He sighed. "Then I've failed you, and chances of the Great Tree's survival will greatly reduce."

"Wait wait, what?" Kludd turned to him and stared as they landed again. Zarko's beak opened, ready to speak until the faint sound of a female's voice talking to herself became clear. Closing his chops, the old owl nodded slowly at Kludd before flying a tree or two down at a hollow's entrance, the barn owl following right behind.

He'd been looking in when he spoke. "Thora?"

Kludd could even see her turn to them both. Those eyes of hers seemed to blink before narrowing. "Yes?"

"I merely thought I'd check up on you. I want to make sure you have no... Problems, with everything going on." The words were spoken in an honest manner, thankfully the tone not being mistaken so it didn't seem suggestive. Nonetheless, he stepped into the hollow. "In addition, I also apologize if I'm being intrusive."

The snowy owl continued to stare at him as Kludd joined them inside. "Of course there's a problem."

"Which is?"

"Everything right now!" She held out her wings, "I'm dead, don't know where I am, and all of the sudden have some weird, blue-eyed owl telling me what to do!"

A churr emitted from him, smiling at the edges of his beak. "You're not dead, your somewhere safe, and I'm someone who, believe it or not, already cares for keeping you and the other three alive and trained."

"You keep saying that..." Kludd muttered under his breath from behind him, catching their attention. "That you're going to train us, but we don't even know what kind of training or where it's coming from all of the sudden."

Silence fell over them- Kludd had a point. Or, at least, in Zarko's mind he did.

"Tell you both what..." He started softly, glancing between them. "Keep calm, stay on this island, get to know each other, and I'll handle everything else until I need you. I'll help you all get in shape for fighting- as I said, when I'll need you- and care for your mental health and thoughts when you need it." His stance straightened a bit, giving another faint smile. "I swear it, though: I am a friend, and I have no intention to harm anyone close to you, or you yourselves. Understand?"

Kludd nodded, then Thora did the same, although more hesitantly than the other. A returning mod came before he stood tall once more, sigh out before turning to the exit, leaving without a word, right past Kludd and out the hole. Once more, it was quiet, before the female broke it open. "Good Glaux, he's going to take some getting used to..."

Turning to her, he gave a slow nod, the two now alone. He just stared for a moment, but finally getting the will to speak. "I can't wrong you on that." This earned a raised brow from the snowy owl, but she gave a shrug of her wings, having no real response. Then, he continued. "My name's Kludd."

"I know. We've met."

"Before we came here?"

She nodded, "You wanted me to forge battle claws for the Pure Ones during the Siege of the Great Tree."

Thora was right- he even remembered it now: They both had been acquainted during that time, ages ago. "The Roguesmith of Silverveil... That's right..."

"Mhmm... Since Zarko here claims that you were shattered, I have a slight bit of trust for you."

Turning, she walked elsewhere in the hollow.

"Doesn't mean I'd put my life in your talons."

I apologize for the delay! I actually have had this done for a long while now but I didn't upload it until now. Hope you enjoyed it!

Orion Weiss - Thanks!~

Rain That Falls At Dawn - Most of my writing comes straight from the emotion and imagery. Something I like to do personally is visualize the scene like a movie or like you're there as it happens and then describe what would happen. I try to right things out with the dialect and such when needed. Another important thing I try to avoid lately is to never have two or more sentences start with the same word in a paragraph. And if you feel like a verb is being used too much, find a synonym for it!