Chapter 3
Kira awoke the next evening to find a grey wisp in front of the aerie. At first, Kira thought it was a cloud; however, the more she looked at it, the more the wisp looked like an owl – a Barn Owl, to be precise. Kira suddenly had a rather startling thought; Could this be a scroom? She wondered. Scrooms were the spirits of owls who had unfinished business on earth, thus preventing them from going to glaumora. Perhaps this was the scroom of her da; perhaps he could help her explain these strange things. Tentatively, Kira took a step towards the scroom. Are you my da? She asked, although she made nary a sound.
No. The scroom replied sadly. I am, however, family, although you do not know me.
At first, Kira blinked a bit, but soon she realized that the scroom was telling the truth; although then again, scrooms rarely lied about things like this. This scroom, in particular, looked a lot like her – same tilt to her face, same glittering black eyes. Even so, Kira asked, How are we family, then?
We share a Da. The scroom replied. A Da whose scroom you do not want to meet, I can assure you.
So… Kira said tentatively. You're my half brother?
Yes. The scroom replied. And before you ask, our Da was a savage. He was the one who murdered me and force – mated your mother – a good friend of mine.
He what!? Kira nearly shrieked, staggering near the edge of the aerie. She knew about force – mating; it was not like normal mating, in which a male and female mated to have chicks or out of love. There was no love in force – mating, no desire for anything but power. But her mum, force – mated by her da? It just didn't make sense.
The scroom simply nodded. See, after I died, I watched over your mother and your Uncle Pigwidgeon – although he's now called Banshee and before, called himself Scourge – and your Uncle Kludd, and I saw things. Horrible things. Your father thought me impure because I was in love with your Uncle Diamondclaw, who was called Dustin when I met him. Someone had told him and another owl, Brutus, and he had come in and killed me. Shortly after that and after your mother and your uncles got their new names, our father sought your mother out as a mate, hoping her rage would bring him better offspring. When she refused, he pinned her to the stone floor and force – mated her. She later told your Uncle Kludd, and your Uncle Kludd killed him to avenge both myself and your mother. But his business on earth is not finished; therefore, neither is mine.
As the scroom said this, a sad look entered his eyes, and Kira couldn't help but feel anger and confusion; anger at her da for doing the deeds described, and confused because she couldn't feel as though this was the truth. The scroom suddenly flew towards her, the sad look in his eyes replaced by one of urgency. Listen to me. The scroom said. Our father will be looking for you. He will try to find you through Brutus, and he will try to persuade you to join him. Do not do it; fly away from him as fast as you can. And with that, the scroom suddenly floated away, while a name suddenly appeared in Kira's brain and became a heavy stone lodged in her heart: Garth. The name of the scroom; of her dead half brother. And with that, Kira let out a cry at the stars – one of rage, anger, and hurt, before collapsing into sobs. After recovering herself, she looked up towards the sky and began singing towards her father – not that he would be up there:
What goes around comes back around (hey my baby) There was a time Thank Glaux you blew it [Chorus:] So sad, you're hurt Thank Glaux you blew it [Chorus:] I know you want me back [Chorus:] I used to want you so bad What goes around, comes back around
What goes around comes back around (hey my baby)
I say what goes around comes back around (hey my baby)
What goes around comes back around...
I thought, that you did everything right
No lies, no wrong
Boy I must've been out of my mind
So when I think of the time that I almost loved you
You showed your tail and I, I saw the real you
I thank Glaux I dodged the bullet
I'm so over you
So baby good lookin' out
I wanted you bad
I'm so through with that
'Cause honestly you turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
You turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
And I'm gonna' always be the (best thing you never had)
Oh yeah, I bet it sucks to be you right now
Boo hoo, oh, did you expect me to care
You don't deserve my tears
I guess that's why they ain't there
When I think that there was a time that I almost loved you
You showed your tail and baby yes I saw the real you
I thank Glaux I dodged the bullet
I'm so over you
Baby good lookin' out
I wanted you bad
I'm so through with that
Cause honestly you turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
I said, you turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
And I'll never be the (best thing you never had)
Oh baby I bet sucks to be you right now
It's time to face the facts
That I'm the one that's got away
Glaux knows that it would take another place, another time, another world, another life
Thank Glaux I found the good in goodbye
I used to want you so bad
I'm so through with that
Cause honestly you turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
Oh you turned out to be (the best thing I never had)
And I will always be the (best thing you never had)
Oh, best thing you never had!
I'm so through with that
Cause honestly you turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
Oh you turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
Oh, I will never be the (best thing you never had)
Oh baby, I bet it sucks to be you right now
What goes around, comes back around
I bet it sucks to be you right now
What goes around, comes back around
I bet it sucks to be you right now
What goes around, comes back around
I bet it sucks to be you right now
That morning, Hortense and the eagles had gone to sleep, but Kira was up. Earlier that night, she had made up her mind to go and find the truth about her father. Where she would find it, she didn't know, nor did she care; she would go to the Northern Kingdoms if she had to. And so, as she prepared to take off, she took one last look at Hortense and the eagles sound asleep.
I am leaving everything I have ever known for Glaux knows how long. Kira thought to herself. I am leaving Ambala with it's warm summers and it's cold and dry winters abundant in snow. I am leaving all the little marshes and streams full of delicious fish that Papa Streak and Mama Zan are so good at catching. I am leaving this aerie, with it's breathtaking view of Ambala and Tyto and it's stunning sunrises in the morning and sunsets in the evening. I am leaving Papa Streak and Mama Zan, the best adoptive parents an owl could ask for, I am leaving Hortense, the hero. I am leaving my mum and Uncle Pigwidgeon and Uncle Kludd and Auntie Nyra, the warriors. I am leaving the memory of my da, the murderer. And with that, Kira spread her amber wings and lifted off into the sky, flying as fast as she could until she was merely a speck on the horizon.
A/N: And the adventures begin... OMG, what did you guys think? I had long mulled over the idea of Kira meeting Garth's scroom, but I wasn't quite sure how I was gonna put it in in a way that would add to the story. Fortunately, Gabi Girl 16 gave me the idea for Garth to help Kira discover the truth about their father, so lots of love to her. Oh, and the song I used for this chapter is "Best Thing I Never Had" by Beyonce (although I changed some of the words, since.. you know). As always, show some love and review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Guardians of Ga'Hoole or "Best Thing I Never Had"; full credit goes to their respective writers.