Chapter 4: Suspicions
Mason and Blythe had been mates for two moon cycles. However, all was not well between them. Blythe was speaking with Mason in his hollow, which was illuminated by a nearly full late spring moon, and he seemed distraught.
"I hardly ever get to see you, Blythe. Why don't you come and visit me? You must have some free time during the night, don't you?" he pleaded sadly.
"Yes I do have some free time, but I am not just sitting around. I have been busy with the weather chaw lately. I am studying storms that form over the sea, as opposed to the land. I am not trying to avoid you, I promise."
"Wow, you do sound busy. I am still studying the different types of fires and how to fly them. I guess I have been occupied myself. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, I forgive you. I will try my best to see you more often." she conceded.
"Me too," he replied, feeling reassured.
"I have to go now, dear. I can't afford to miss flying in the typhoon that is brewing off the south side of the island."
"Okay, Blythe. See you in the dining hollow."
She touched her wing to his before she left the room and joined the small group of owls flying past.
He meditated silently for a few moments: I believe she is not telling the whole truth. I need to keep a closer eye on her.
That was his last divination before he rose into flight and chased the fading specks of the owls headed southbound over the island.
The storm was a mighty one, seeming to lift the sea into towering whitecaps with its howling winds. Mason struggled to stay right side up as the driving rain blurred his eyes and stung his back. Suddenly, the wind dropped to a mere whisper, and the pounding rain slowed to a trickle.
The other owls now hovered along with him as the moon glared down upon them in the middle of a ring of clouds. He looked down and saw that the ring extended far below him, nearly touching the sea, the clouds that composed it circling rapidly.
A drenched Sooty flew up to him and asked in a dread filled voice, "What is it, Mason?"
"It's a hurricane, Henry. We just entered the eye."
"So what happens if we stay here?"
A Boreal Owl flew up and answered his question.
"The hurricane is moving northeast, so the other half of the hurricane will-"
Poot stopped talking as the space in the eye grew ominously dark.
Henry looked up at the top of the storm.
"The moon is gone! The clouds covered it up!" he exclaimed.
The other owls gasped in awe as they looked up and saw the same strange sight.
Poot faced the other chaw members and shouted urgently: "Weather chaw, we need to leave now before the other side-"
His order was cut off as a wall of wind and rain rushed in from behind them and barreled into them with great force.
He had barely managed to stop tumbling as he heard Poot's orders over the din of the wind: "Chaw, form up! Follow my lead! Fly with the wind, not against it! Use it to push you up and on top of the storm!"
The several owls slowly tilted themselves upward and began a tumultuous ascent. After what seemed like forever, the owls rose above the storm and saw the Great Tree scraping the sky not too far away.
Mason frantically scanned the group for Blythe. He saw her flying next to another Barn Owl, who he could tell was speaking to her. His gizzard squeezed tight, and he flew up to her, worry and anger filling his eyes.
"Are you all right, dear? That hurricane was horrible!"
"Yes, I'm fine. I was just-"
Mason interrupted her.
"Why didn't you come to check on me! Did you forget that I am in your chaw? And who is this you are talking to?" he screeched.
Blythe was astounded by his outburst.
"Poot said I was flying funny, so he asked Wensel to check my wings, that's all. I thought I had sprained one, so I couldn't just come looking for you. I am sorry."
A look of sadness perfused her face.
"I don't believe you. You look like you are okay now. Did your wing heal in five minutes?" he retorted, and flew off confused and angry.
"Oh Wensel, please forgive him. He is worried about me, that's all. Are my wings okay?"
"Yes, Blythe, I don't see any injuries. You should go talk to him."
"I will when we get home. I am exhausted. I just want to sleep." she muttered wearily as the Great Tree loomed in front of them, and the group of battered owls spiraled down into the Weather chamber.
They stayed just long enough to be warned about the dangers of such storms, and how to navigate them if they should ever get caught in another. Blythe slowly walked to Mason's room and waited for him to arrive.
Suddenly, he stormed in and bombarded her with many questions, his voice screeching with confusion.
"Who was that Barn Owl you were flying with? Are you hiding something? I want to know why you never spend time with me anymore. I miss you, Blythe!"
"His name is Wensel. He's just my friend! He got placed in the weather interpretation chaw after me, and he said he wanted me to help him in the class!" she countered as she glared at him harshly.
"Why would I ever hide anything from you Mason? I'm your mate, for Glaux's sake! How could you accuse me of flivling with Wensel!" she added hotly.
The Barn Owl cooled down somewhat, but he was losing trust in her.
He spoke in a downtrodden tone, "I apologize, Blythe. I just miss you so much, I guess it's getting to me."
"Well you should be. Still, I promise to be with you more often from now on, Mason. I have missed you too. Good light, Mason."
"Good light, Blythe."
Both owls retreated to their nests that sat against the wall, and closed their eyes wearily.
I have to make sure she isn't trying to get intimate with Wensel. If she does, there's only one course of action to take...
Mason continued his watch over Blythe, and found her to be near Wensel on many occasions such as during their chaw flights into storms and during their meetings in the Weather hollow. She did, however, make good on her promise, eating with him every night and frolicking through the steady late spring winds every night by his side.
Still, he believed this was her cover up, since he had caught her spending as much time with Wensel as she did with him.
As they arrived at their sanctuary after chaw practice, he intended to set everything straight then and there.
"Blythe, is Wensel flivling with you? I often see him whispering to you during chaw class. Do you have feelings for him? I want to know now!"
"No, he is not flivling with me! We were teamed up to study the windkin interactions in the Shadow Forest. He is having trouble understanding the way they act upon storms that approach the Forest! I am growing tired of you accusing me of being unfaithful, Mason. I love you, but I am not sure you love me anymore..."
A tear rolled from her eye as she spoke.
"I have lost trust in you, Blythe. I just need some time to decide what to do..."
Without another word, he shambled towards the opening and with a few sorrowful flaps rose into the cool night and headed for the east coast of the island to think. He alighted on the sodden beach and trotted back and forth for several minutes.
Suddenly, a plan formed in his head.
I must put an end to this madness. If I alone can't have her, no one can!
He then lofted into the air and headed straight for the cold storage armory at the base of the tree.
He saw that the entrance had been sealed, but not totally. He grabbed a small branch in his talons, wedged it between the boulder and the mouth, and flapped in reverse as hard as he could. The stone moved far enough to where he could slip in.
He entered and lifted a small ice dagger from its mount on the wall. With a deadly determination burning in his eyes, he flew upward and began searching the tree for Blythe...
"Da, I have to tell you something."
Blythe had found her parents perched in the Parliament room, preparing to announce the plans for the coming Nimsy Night. The messenger had already been sent out to gather the assigned helpers to place the decorations.
"What is it, Blythe?" Soren asked as he hopped down from the perch. He could sense a deep sadness in her.
"I don't think Mason is a fit mate for me anymore, Da. He is accusing me of flivling with Wensel, when we are just helping each other out in Weather class. He told me a few hours ago he has lost his trust in me."
By then, a few of the decorators had begun filing into the hollow. Among them were Gylfie, Ruby, Wensel, Grom, Cory, Lydia, and Otulissa. Soren leaned closer to his daughter and whispered, "Let me talk to Mason and see if I can sort this out, okay?" Blythe merely managed a disheartened nod.
Just then, the owl in question burst into the hollow, eyes glowing with anger.
"Mason, why are you accusing my daughter, your mate, of being unfaithful? Do you believe she would betray you like that?" he demanded.
"I see her with Wensel every night! She keeps telling me she is just his friend, and that she is helping him succeed in Weather class. I don't believe her!" he screeched.
Pelli felt his anger, and Blythe's sadness. However, she did not believe her daughter would betray him. She had been so excited at first.
"I am not with Wensel! I can't believe how much you have changed, Mason! Why won't you listen to me?"
"I refuse to hear these lies!"
"I once trusted you, Mason. I thought you would make my daughter happy. I know now I was wrong to do so." The king said dejectedly.
Mason took a determined step towards her as the other owls in the hollow looked on in stunned silence. Her Da quickly stepped in front of her and shielded her with one wing.
Soren spoke directly at Mason: "Violence will not be enacted upon any owl in this tree, no matter the reason or justification. You dare try to harm her? No Guardian answers words with talons."
He walked towards the port and began pacing nervously. Pelli then addressed Mason.
"How can you mistake a friendship between Blythe and Wensel as a betrayal. She loved you from the day she met you. She was merely being a noble friend."
The Barn Owl took a step back, as if in submission.
Pelli nodded at Soren, who turned to the Guardians who were glancing at each other and whispering to their neighbors.
"I do apologize for this distraction. We will address the plans for Nimsy Night in a moment."
He spoke to Blythe from across the hollow: "I am so sorry, dear. I can see why you don't want to be with him anymore. He is wrongly accusing you, and neither me or Pelli will stand for it..."
The other owls gasped as Mason slowly drew an ice dagger from under his wing.
"If I can't have her to myself, then no one can!"
He yelled and flew straight at Blythe. She saw Mason charge at her, the azure blade flashing in the sliver of moonlight from outside.
She shut her eyes, knowing she was going to die, killed by her once charming mate.
Why, Mason? How could you?
She suddenly felt a gust of wind and opened her eyes to see her Da standing in front of her, his wings spread wide.
"You fool!" Mason laughed maniacally.
Soren folded his wings in and turned around.
"I would never...let anyone...hurt you...Blythe." he said softly.
She and Pelli gasped in horror as several scarlet trails ran down his talons and diffused across the floor.
"Soren, No!" Pelli cried as she saw her mates eyes turn a light gray hue. He swayed and collapsed onto the floor, the dagger embedded in his chest.
A few owls quickly grabbed Mason and subdued him, while his mate and friends crowded around the dying king, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"Why, Soren! Why did you allow Mason to attack you!" Gylfie cried, her tears swirling with the blood on the floor.
"I will gladly give my life for the ones I love. That is the true meaning of love, Gylfie."
His breaths grew ragged as blood foamed from the edges of the dagger.
"Please, Soren, don't die. We need you! You are our king. You have a mate and chicks that need you too!" yelled Ruby.
"Forgive... me... Guardians."
He struggled to speak as his vision began to fade: "I have sacrificed myself for my daughter. It was not in vain. Pelli shall be your monarch in my absence. May Glaux bless you all. Farewell..."
The circle of owls gasped as their king ceased to breathe and gazed blankly upward. They sat and watched with heavy hearts as a ghostly form rose from the bloody feathers and drifted towards the port.