DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series or any of the characters in the books. I do own the characters Cory, Max, Holly, Rikard, Anna, Hugh, Robert, and Onyx as well as their personalities and descriptions.
This story takes place two years after the War of the Ember. The flashback occurs a moon cycle prior to this part of the story.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Your Majesty. Pelli was a good owl." I told Soren, who had been in his hollow for the past moon cycle. After five minutes of awkward silence, he spoke.
"She should have never gone out that night. The storm was too strong even for the owls of the weather chaw to handle." He said, his voice breaking.
(FLASHBACK)
"FORM UP CHAW! TONIGHT, WE ARE FLYING INTO A MASSIVE THUNDERSTORM. STAY IN THE GUTTER AND WATCH OUT FOR HOOLSPYRRS!"
The wind was so fierce that the owls could barely hear Soren as he shouted the order.
A young but skilled owl named Morgan shouted, "I don't think this is a good idea! Hoolspyrrs are tricky to fly through even in perfect weather!"
Ruby, flying tail to make sure that no owl got left behind, noticed for the first time there was an owl following them.
"No inexperienced owl is foolish enough to be out here in this slop." She thought and powered forward to warn Soren.
As soon as she got there, Soren told her that the owl following them was Pelli.
"How do you know?"
"I dreamed it. At first, I thought that it wasn't going to happen, but it is. She isn't supposed to be out here unless there is something important to tell me. She could die in these winds."
Little did Soren know that his last sentence would come true.
As Pelli willed herself to warn Soren of the impending danger, there was a new adversary. The wind. She had just reached the coastline of Silverveil, near the foul-weather hollow in a tall spruce. As she angled in to land, a maverick wind sucked her out to sea. Soren heard someone calling his name and realized it was Pelli. He pulled the largest owl in the chaw out of the hollow and they flew on to rescue Pelli.
They flew for what seemed like hours. The other owl, Max, spotted something desperately trying to stay clutched to a floating log.
"Soren, look."
Those two words instantly grabbed Soren's attention.
"Go. You're a fish owl. You can dive in and grab my mate without drowning."
Max dove down. He managed to pick the limp form of Pelli out of the Sea of Hoolemere and they continued on to the tree. Ruby had joined up with the two owls and assumed command of the chaw. As they flew, Soren tried to talk to Pelli, but she was unconscious.
After reaching the tree and taking Pelli to the infirmary, Soren decided to stay and take care of his mate.
Three days passed. Every attempt to revive Pelli failed. After another three days, her eyes fluttered open. What she thought she said was 'What happened?' but what came out was more like a low grunt than anything.
"Pelli! Thank Glaux that you're alive!" Soren was ecstatic. His mate was alive! Suddenly, as he wrapped her in his wings, Pelli started coughing, low at first, then becoming a loud wheezing. As she tried to speak, she took her last breath and died.
"There was nothing we could do, Soren." Gylfie offered.
(END FLASHBACK)
"Pelli had just laid three more eggs. She probably would have laid another two is she hadn't died." Soren said in a depressed voice.
I think you should find a new mate. You look lonely." I said.
Then, out of nowhere, Soren shouted.
"Who's there?"
My mate, Bash, poked her head in.
"Cory, Da, it's just me. Come on dear, we need our rest. So does our King."
"Okay. Should I come tomorrow, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, that would be nice. I do agree, I need a new mate."
"Alright. I'll come to your hollow at First Black."
To be continued…