The sun had peaked low in the sky today, glowing dimly in the northern winter. Long night had passed two weeks ago, and the days were gaining length. The nights still remain long as always for the Northern Kingdoms, so twixt and tween time were short apart.

I had conversed with some of my colleagues and convinced them that we should return back to the retreat tonight. We would be taking those owls who had been acquitted by the tribunal and were turned over to our care. In total, there were ten Pure Ones minus Flint. Additionally, an equal number of soldiers would be accompanying us to the retreat to ensure the captive Pure Ones would remain well behaved.

Many members of the Glauxian Brothers, myself included, were aghast that armed soldiers and their weapons of war would be infringing on our sanctuary of peace; however, it is a required evil. Therefore, we insisted that the only armed owls that accompany us would be Guardians of Ga'Hoole. They had not been tainted in the blood of pointless wars like the Northern Kingdoms and, though they are superb fighters, are peaceful.

All those who were to be taken were held in the Ice Cliff Palace near the infirmary where Flint was located. This was fortunate because it took little effort for me to ask one of the armed escorts to accompany me to retrieve Flint.

When we arrived in the infirmary, I saw that since I was last here Flint had changed the croft he was in. He was next to a Lesser Sooty who had lost a wing and was conversing with him. I was glad to see that he was feeling well enough to socialize. Curious about his state, I spoke with a matron.

"Hello." I caught his attention. "I am here to take Flint to the sanctuary. How is he doing?"

"The wound is still swollen and producing a small amount of fluid. However, his fever has gone down and is very mild. I do believe the injury is doing better since we cleaned it a second time before twixt time yesterday." The matron replied.

"Good to hear." I replied to him. "Is he ready to go?"

He nodded. "I received approval earlier tonight. He is now yours."

"Thank you." I said and then walked over toward Flint. "Hello, Flint."

As I approached him and spoke, Flint looked away from the Lesser Sooty he was talking with. "Hello." He replied flatly.

My armed escort stepped forward and spoke. "We are leaving for the Glauxian Brothers' Retreat. You are to follow us."

In many ways, I had nearly forgotten that Flint was indeed a soldier from an enemy regime. This ignorance was broken when I observed the spiteful, hate filled look that Flint gave the Guardian of Ga'Hoole.

Several tense moments passed while my escort returned a serious glare to Flint. I was terrified that a fight between these two was going to ensue and that Flint would either be further injured or give the tribunal a reason to have him killed.

A vengeful fire was burning in Flint's eyes. "Your kingdom killed my brethren."

The Guardian then replied, "The Pure Ones gave us no choice. Your regime was hurting owls from every kingdom and was a threat to our very lives."

"We were doing what was right, you impure splat!" Flint growled with great anger.

I did not like where this was going. Being a Short Eared owl myself, I was offended by the insult Flint directed towards the Guardian who was a Western Screech owl. Up to this point, I had been questioning where Flint's dark side was and if he even had one. Needless to say, I had found it.

Worrying that this outburst would endanger him, I foolishly stepped next to Flint and put my wing on his shoulder. "Please Flint, be calm."

Unexpectedly, he pushed me away with such force that I was knocked off balance and fell to the ground. "Don't touch me!"

"That's enough." My Guardian escort stated and quickly pelted Flint on the uninjured side of his face with the blunt side of his battleclaws. He fell to the ground as I was getting back to my feet.

I was now questioning if proper justice was dealt when Flint was shown mercy.

I looked down at Flint and pleaded. "Please, don't make us regret the kindness we have shown you. We only want what is good for you."

Flint avoided making eye contact with me. It was like he was an entirely different owl from yesterday.

He offered no apology as he turned to the Lesser Sooty and spoke. "Goodbye Griedawl. I hope your tribunal goes well." He then said nothing more as we flew back to where the other Pure Ones were held.

We returned and met up with the rest of the group. My friend Klarusia of the Glauxian Sisters was there and she was among a number of her fellow sisters. She and the female Pure Ones would be breaking away from the formation at a point to head to the Glauxian Sisters' retreat.

After a few remaining Pure Ones and their overseeing guards arrived at the assembly, we were ready to leave. Flint protested saying that he would not be able to fly far with his broken ribs. We retrieved a medical sling and packed it into our supplies in case he became incapable of flight; however, the Guardians who were escorting us had been taught to fly in a special formation. Due to the particular configuration of those flying and the timing of their wingbeats, the flying owls create a pseudo-vacuum that pulls other owls along both assisting them in flight and hampering their escape. It is a ring type formation where the Guardians will be the outermost ring and the Pure Ones will be flying inside the moving vacuum.

So long as Flint is capable of holding his wings in the air, he will be able to fly. Beating his wings is unnecessary because maintenance of velocity is performed by the owls ahead and he will be pulled along in their wake.

I assured Flint of this, and soon we as a whole formation left. After we were free from the confines of the Ice Cliff Palace and flying in open air, the aforementioned vacuum formation was formed and Flint had no trouble keeping along with us.

It took us only a night and a half to reach the retreat, during which time no altercations occurred. There was much time to think deeply as in my daily meditation flight. At points, I found my prayers to Glaux difficult because my mind was drawn to ponder Flint and his situation. I worry for his future because, as seen earlier, he has a very rash, impulsive side that is easily provoked to anger. When I first met him, I questioned how he was capable of killing another owl in cold blood because he seemed to have a very meek, kind personality. However, I now know that Flint's personality is far more complex and faceted. I worry that the hateful, dark side of him is what lies underneath his outward demeanor; however, I hope that is not the case.

Whenever my thoughts would drift towards this during my prayers, I would ask Glaux to intercede on Flint's behalf and give him a peaceful mind and control over his impulses.