"I heard that owlet, Soren was the name, was put to laughter therapy." Me and and Grimble glided effortlessly to the walls of the pits and watched the pit guardians talking to the moonblinked owlets.

"Yes. He asked about the flecks. What they were, I believe." he sighed disappointedly. "And it was almost time for their lessons."

"I told you they couldn't make it. They're hopeless Grimble. What would make you think otherwise." he gave me a stare, a reassuring stare that reminded me. "Honestly, I don't think we'll all get out of here alive."

"Honestly or not, you believe in the Guardians don't you?" I nodded slowly. "It's just the same here." And he flew off to his post. I thought about that, but couldn't understand.

"How, Grimble do these owlets give you hope?"

I took off to the library, were the flecks were being kept in storage. I occasionally checked on it to be sure on how close they were to fulfilling their plans with the Guardians. This time, only a little fleck was added to the small pile- but it was already enough. If they can split the pile, then it would be perfect for them, and we would finally have power over the kingdoms- my father's soul dream and purpose in this world.

"And what are you doing here, young'n?" Skench walked in, tucking her feathers in from the flight here.

"And you need to know because?" I was already highly ranked compared to Skench, but after the TUPSI ceremony, I would be her commanding officer. Anyone could tell she was making the most of the time before a younger owlet became higher ranked than she.

"Your mum was looking for you. Report to the training quarters immediately." She scoffed proudly, happy that I'd be leaving her for a bit.

As soon as I arrived my mother spoke,

"Ah, there he is, the young prince has come. Could've been sooner," she whispered into my ear. The owls she was training gave me a deathly stare, in which I happily returned to them. "Now, would you mind showing them what a true Pure One can do?" I smirked as did they. They were all older than I, but they were still training, unlike me.

"Will, do." Then she unleashed a small blue bird to the caverns and let us at it. I slowed for them to get a good impression and leave ahead, but they were mistaken. Before a feather could shed, I flew ahead using powerful but quiet strokes. There were a couple that tried to fight before I grasped the bird in my talons, pushing me aside and screeching. Unfortunately for them, I used the thick muscle in my wing and pushed them both down and grabbed the bird. "Next time, grow a little more competitive." I advised them. Good Glaux, letting a owlet younger than yourself is racdrops. It should never happen, ever, period.

"Nice work, my son. However, this was a test to my students. Therefore, whom do you think has proven themselves purely?" I looked at the surrounding owls. They breathed heavily and kept glancing at me and the ground. The owlet I had the most trouble with was the best.

"That one." I lifted a wing towards a taller Barn owl with orange-red feathers. "He's the one." The owl peered at me, surprised.

"Why, Kludd? My, my. I thought you would never have the slightest chance and yet, you bettered yourself more than the rest. Come we will see just if your brother has the same gift." she said as she walked away. The owl confronted me as I started the opposite way.

"You know, you're not bad for a owlet. But you're still an hatching. I bet anyone around here with fancy flying could've done that."

"Actually, I would like to say otherwise. For however long you have been here, you should've been able to beat me. But then again, I'm the better owl here, not you."

" I'll show you one day, prince. And when I do, you'll be the lesser owl. I can promise you that." I took one long look at him and took off again. I had a feeling I would see his face again.

…...

"Aha! Caught you ya little sneaks!" I turned my head to a marching group where Skench flew down to two lone owls hiding from the moonlight. "Thought you could get away from my old eyes, did you! Well, we'll see about that number- oh, whatever. Follow me." More owls assisted her to a point directly under the moon. Moon scalding. "See what happened to your 'champs' Grimble?" I mumbled. But, as they started to close their eyes, something hit my gizzard sharply. My stomach hopped and gargled painfully, and I yarped a pellet. "But those owlets do have something about them that makes me wonder..." They reminded me of Guardians, the ones that swooped down from the clouds in gold armor and defeated evil owls. I thought I believed in them, but I was wrong. I was stuck between the two- Da and them. I wanted both, but one would destroy the other eventually. Which side?

What life do I want to live?

The next morning, I immediately went to the scalding area. Shortly before I arrived, the two came out with blank faces.

"There we go, nice and moon blinked. Just the way they should've been in the first place. Go to your pit guardians!" Skench ordered. The two shuffled back to the pits, zombified and dead.

"Oh, no." I said quietly.

"And whatever is the matter with you?" she towered over me. I puffed out my chest and replied calmly.

"You say they weren't moon blinked? And you let this happen?" She wilfed a little.

"You see, they were hiding, and well- you have to remember I am getting a little old-"

"There are no excuses. Now, back your post." Then my mother flew in from nearby. I smiled a little and settled back down into a salute. She looked at me for a moment. "Have you heard the news about your brother?"

"What?" I nearly wilfed myself. Did he die? What happened to him? I thought. "Is he alright?"

"Better than the rest, and alive I guess, but indeed he is okay. In fact, he insisted on coming home! Isn't it great?" She sang. I had never seen my mother so happy on regard of my brother, I was cheerful myself too.

"Really? Great! I'm gonna tell da." I went up the canyon walls and flew deeper into the passages that led to a darker area surrounded by a still quiet. On a perch, a tall, huge owl stood overlooking the land.

" Strife, my son, what is it?" He said, not turning to look back at me.

"Uh, did you know that Brother is coming soon?" I came in a little further. A shuffle sound aroused above me, so I ducked forward and whipped my head around to find another owl there. It was him.

"Ha, I thought for once I could could trick ya, little bro. What's up?" he fluttered down silently.

"You weren't exactly your most silent. What, do you need a little oil to make those wheels work again?" I frowned. He came up to me and looked down. He wore a shining metal piece of armor across his face, and through the light, I saw a burn scar come into sight.

"Your brother here has set up enough forces around the forests for us to maneuver freely, without worry of those pesky Guardians. In the process, they tried to fight back- their mistake seeing as none of them returned to tell the tale." my father explained, finally stepping down from his perch. "The fire of the battle has scarred your brother here for life, like me. But these wounds give us power to know we can do what we can, other than those knights in the Great Tree- they wouldn't lift a feather if their lives depended on it. That is why I want you to begin your Tupsi ceremony soon, boy." He hit me softly with the tip of his wing.

"Really? Finally!" I cheered. He and my brother cast a quick glance at each other. " I hope we can do it soon-"

Screeeee!

The sound of my mother's screech stopped the conversation. I rushed out of the space and went to her aid. A little further, two owlets were flying- flying- away. She led a small squad including Skench and Spoorn. I came in hot and flew ahead from an angle.

"Get them!" I heard from behind me. "They're going to tell the Guardians!" Then I realized who it was- Soren and Gylfie. I couldn't slack, not here, in front of my mother and a ton of other owls. I also did want them to go and be free, so what is an owlet like me to do?

"Soren! Dive into the depths!" I quietly shouted so only they could hear. "There's small enough holes for you to escape through! Go, go, go!" Quickly, they dived in a sloppy fashion. I went down after them, and our line of sight was cut from the older owls not far behind.

A dusty fog irritated my eyes as we went, but when we turned over my eyes cleared. The other two flew faster, knowing what I would have to do if they dared to slow. I clenched my talons, and readied to outreached when they went through one of the passages. I gave a small hollar as I went in for them. I gladly didn't catch them. I started back up to the camp.

I landed on a ledge not far from my father's cave and panted softly. Then I nearly yarped a pellet.

Everyone looked up at me like High Tyto and didn't stop. After a quick silence, my mother confronted me.

"Strife, did you know how these owlets learned to fly?" I gulped.

"No-no mam."

"Did you know that our good friend Grimble was actually trying to help them escape? One of the other owlets, Kludd, -you remember, the brother- saw him encourage their escape. Right Kludd?" she called down.

"Yes, General Mam." he saluted strongly. I wanted to come down and rip his gizzard from his stomach and burn it for the foxes.

"But, but he couldn't have done it. I mean, he's been on post all day." I tried to defend meekly.

"He had a chance to stop them, and he didn't. That's the end of it." She stated. I hung my head. "I understand how you feel- heart broken, betrayed, and maybe even hatred. Feel it?" I nodded slowly. "Use it. Use it and complete your TUPSI ceremony!"

Tied in vines, Grimble, nothing more than a tangled mess of feather and blood, was led to the scene. I stood, horrified. "But, I thought I could chose, like, like another uncle or something."

"But you don't know any of your uncles as you do Grimble. It's a simple sacrifice we all have to get over child." She guided me down in front of the tired, wounded old Boreal.

"Get it over with, Strife." he whispered. I stared at him.

"But-but..." I stammered. "but..."

"No, son. I have nothing. My family doesn't even remember me, and I can't even survive these wounds. End my pain." Still he grimaced at the ground below him.

"No, Grimble. I can't-"

"Strife, he's begging for death. Give it to him." I ignored my mother.

"Strife!" Grimble suddenly yelled. "Do it! Prove your worth to us all!" I felt weak.

"Grimble..." my eyes started to water.

"You're a warrior!" my mother told me. "Finish off this traitor!" I hung my head. Then, as if a last childish wish, the white shield of Grimble's eyes withered away for one, single second.

"Please, sonny, give me peace."

I remember the day I killed my best friend.