Part 7: Safe and Sound

By the next evening, when the sunlight recedes from shining upon the Forest Kingdom of Tyto and the Rosewood Tyto Resistance Community, everything is at peace. As the resistance change their shifts, especially in the watchtowers, patrolling the boarder, the territory and also the base, the moon starts to rise and the nightshift is under way for Rosewood. Madame Commander, Senator Sienne, awakes and she starts her nightly duties as commander. She knows Ramaxon will return when he hears the fights have stopped, however, for now she remains leader.

Autumn is sound asleep still in the infirmary of the resistance base. After the ordeal last night, almost drowning and sustaining a, could have been serious, head injury, it is good she is asleep. She has been kept on some strong painkillers, which have slightly mellowed her out to be giggling like an owlet. She awakes and her head is pounding from last night, she would need her medicine to help heal the wound and ease the intense pain she is feeling. The gash, which is situated above her left eye, has somewhat scabbed over since last night, the stiches are lying over the top of the cut-shaped gash which has been scabbed over by dried blood. The bandage will have to be kept on and replaced while it heals, to make sure the stiches aren't infected by foreign contaminants like dirt.

The door opens and Ezylryb enters carrying her now dry cape, which dried over the day, and beaded crown, along with her locket. He then kisses her cheek and she smiles as she sits up.

"How are you this evening, feeling a bit better?" Ezylryb asks

"Fine. Just got a headache." Autumn replies as she sits up and then sees her locket among the things he has brought her "What's that doing here?"

"What?" he asks as he fiddles with the beads on her beaded crown

"My locket…" she replies as she picks it up

"I thought you were wearing it." He says, baffled of what she means

Autumn admires the silver locket before noticing that it has been forced open "I lost it a while ago, probably years ago when I was ambushed."

She opens the locket gently and there is a slightly aged portrait inside, the colour is slightly faded. Autumn holds it close to her chest and kisses it. Ezylryb comes by her side to view the picture as tears start to fall from her hazel brown eyes. He is slightly surprised himself, as he thought she didn't have any portraits of this, as they were taken from her life when she was a baby.

"Is that…?" Ezylryb asks before falling silent

"King Samuel Kin the Third and Queen Celeste Kin née Signet… Mama and papa." Autumn softly cries as tears fall from her eyes

"You remind me so much of Celeste. Of course, she was my babysitter and years older than me back in the L'aristocratie du Nord (French for 'The Northern Aristocracy'). Your mother was a kind and sweet girl. It didn't help that she migrated to Ambala and became a part of their corrupt copy of our aristocracy." Ezylryb says as he holds Autumn close "She was beautiful too and also, she was fairly small, just like you, except she had this sort of greenish hazel eye colour. You must have gotten the brown eyes from your father."

"She died when I was so young… Every time I look upon the portraits of mama and papa… I cry." Autumn whispers as she cries

Ezylryb takes the locket off her, closes it, and places it around the neck of the small spotted owl with tears flowing down her face. Many pains remain in the heart of this young governess and warrior. He knows her heart can only take a few things. Her eyes are always full of tears often, when the pain she feels overwhelms her. Thirteen years of her 26 years of life here sheer agony. The following 10 were worse, but now the year after everything changed, the many months before the battle against the Pure Ones months ago, many months before coming here and those three infant years, she has had nothing but happiness and freedom.

"When we get home, when we get back to the Great Tree, those photos are coming out. I know you have them, and if you cry, I'll wipe away your tears. Besides, we let some things of the past stay there, but some things, we reminisce." Ezylryb says as he places her beautiful cape over her shoulders and places the waratah pin on the front "You ok with that?"

"I guess so… But, there will be more tears." Autumn replies as she wipes her eyes

Ezylryb has a thought as he holds Autumn's beaded crown. One thing that makes her laugh is when he takes putting her crown on her head a little too seriously and it acts like a coronation. The first time he had done this was when she was younger, probably within the first few months of her residence at Ga'Hoole.

"In the name of Glaux, Holy Owl God and Sao, Patron God of Ambala and God of the Stars, I crown you, Autumn Rose Kin, as Princess of Ambala." Ezylryb jokes as he places the crown on her head and fixes her hood

Autumn giggles, as she always loves this one joke, as it is what happened in her coronation when she was age 14. She was crowned as soon as she could drink wine. However, she was wearing a headpiece crown, not a red beaded one. She still has to remain in the infirmary until later when she has a check-up.

Before long, the moon is high, shining brightly as it and the stars illuminate the night's sky. However, in St. Aegolius, the clouds still remain after last morning's rain which down poured. Kludd remains in his bed and Nyra is waiting on him. Elanore is finding this whole situation slightly unnerving, as they could even be attacked by Rosewood, however, she knows since Ramaxon basically made the place go into ruin, they wouldn't want to waste anything if they were to attack,

"Hey, Nyra, how is Lady Brix?" Kludd asks Nyra as she hands him another hanky "I sorta feel like she might be upset still about the other night."

"She is fine, getting better and I am thankful that she is. Poor darling doesn't deserve harsh treatment. She's only young and the months have been as hard on her as they have been on me. Besides, she seems excited since hearing about your plans." Nyra replies

"I can guess so, didn't you say that Metalbeak treated her like his daughter?" He asks, "I mean, she was sorta orphaned because of the Rosewood Siege those years ago and stuff."

She sighs, "Yes, he held her dear to his heart like I do. Oh how I miss him…"

Kludd places his wing on Nyra's shoulder as tears start threating to fall. Kludd kisses her cheek as he holds her close. It pains her to have lost her former husband those months ago. He couldn't imagine how horrible it is to lose the love of your life, but within those few weeks, he understood that she was in pain, emotional no less, and so was he, but physical pain. He was suffering from burns to his body, especially his face and a broken wing. Of course, even in her darkest hours, she cared for Kludd and he cared for her and also their grieving general, Elanore. Now, reminded of those hours during and after the battle in which she had to flee from this base in defeat, reminded of when Kludd came back and what condition he was in, it is like those painstaking nights all over again, except Kludd is only sick this time, no bones broken.

"It'll be alright Nyra, I promise." Kludd soothes as the white barn owl begins to weep

"Why did he have to go, Kludd…" Nyra cries

"I know, I know. It's alright, I'm here, Kludd's here. I'll always be here, Nyra. I always will." He continues to soothe

At the door, Elanore was about to enter, but upon hearing Nyra's tears, she would rather leave them alone. She then walks off down the hall.

Autumn has gotten the all clear. She is allowed to fly back to Ga'Hoole and she has had something to ease the pain to her head. However, she will need some time off for her wound to heal and also she will need Since last night, most owls in Rosewood have been rejoicing the retreat of the Pure Ones. They would have killed them if need them after seeing what they did. Most see that the Pure One Leader should be suffering for what he almost did and also for what else he has been doing. Sienne has to yet locate where Ramaxon is, as she would need to notify him that his hide has been bailed out, barely. However, he mayn't be as clear as they think.

Soren is playing with his dagger and sitting on the branches of the resistance base, while watching the resistance owls at the base of the tree. It is like Ga'Hoole, how members of each chaw are often seen gathering for their duties in City Centre. Soren never knew Rosewood existed until arriving two nights ago and now he knows of the siege that they have been living through, it has been going on before he, even Kludd, was even hatched. Maybe even when his parents were younger. He wishes he could help the community, since hearing Ramaxon is the one who is weakening it. They will be in someday in dire help, and they won't have the owls ready to combat the Pure Ones. They have chased Kludd out of the forest, even if Nyra called a surrender after the near-death experience. Sienne was prepared to fight him, her soldiers ready and Gylfie, Twilight and Digger too.

"Bonjour, Soren." Autumn happily chirps, disrupting his thoughts "I hope that you slept well."

"I guess so, your grace." Soren replies "And you?"

"I am fine, thank you." She replies as she joins him on the branch

Soren looks at the small spotted owl and how different she looks with the bandage on her head, underneath her beaded crown, which slightly masks it and also being covered by her purple hood on her cape. He has often heard the many things said about her beauty, even if she is covered in purple bruises and maybe a rare cut, but, she looks different.

"Is there something on your mind? You seem distracted and you have practically carved the hagsmire out of this tree branch." Autumn asks, noticing the large carving left In the branch

"Nothing really, your grace. Just thinking, I guess." Soren replies nonchalantly

The small spotted owl tilts her head to a side "I can always tell when there is something up. Call it a gift if I may. Also, you don't have to address me formally, of course, it's just when we are in formal occasions. You can just call me Autumn Rose, or just either Autumn or Rose, or it seems that you lot call me 'Miss Autumn'." She then softly says under her breath "Usually I expect a French version."

"Well… Autumn, I figure that when we return, I just don't know how I would be able to, you know, talk about all of this. I mean, I just found out that my brother, my brother, Kludd, is the new Metalbeak and Parliament will want to hear all about how the mission in Rosewood went. Also, they'd sorta want to hear about how I sorta saved you." The barn owl admits

Autumn giggles, "It's hard talking about things sometimes. I am often asked about my home life back in Ambala… It pains me, you know, but I just try and make sure that I don't mention the bad stuff, or even the name of my brother. It helps if you can find anything to say which is informative, but never personal as in being what pains your heart."

"Isn't that lying?" Soren asks

"Yes, but no. However, sadly, but it is the only way that we can keep secrets. I have tried finding ways to avoid lying, but nothing actually works. I guess we can make the exception as the identity is fairly controversial as to who it is and that it could make things rather unorthodox." Autumn ponders

"Yeah… I guess. I mean, you barely even talk about anything to do with your home, huh." Soren then answers, before realising what he said, "Oh Glaux, I hope I didn't just offend you. If I did, I am so sorry, your grace."

The small spotted owl sighs and gives a sad look "It's alright. It helps never to think about the negative."

A member of the resistance bows in respect to Autumn as he approaches her before saying "Princess Autumn, Madame Commander would want to see you before you leave."

"Of course." Autumn replies with a nod of her head to the resistance member, before turning back to Soren "If you ever need to have a word with me, just say so, ok."

"Thank you, your grace." Soren replies with a nod in respect to the Ambalan princess, being in formal company

The small spotted owl then takes off with the resistance member as Soren then is left by himself on the tree branch.

"I really don't understand how Kludd can join their side…" Soren says to himself

By later, everything is sorted out. Autumn and her long-time friend are saying a fond goodbye and a little joke is exchanged between her, the princess and also Ezylryb. It seems that they are the only ones to understand it though, but not to worry, it is just a little joke about relationships and it is a slightly naughty one too which practically Northern and Ambalan Aristocrats only will understand because of their nobility.

"I cannot thank you enough for coming to our community. I just hope they will learn their lesion and maybe Ramaxon will stand down as Resistance leader…" Sienne says

"That's a big maybe, Madame Commander." Soren says

Sienne chuckles "Alright, you lot, have a good one. I'd have to get to work. Rosewood doesn't lead itself."

The six owls take to the air and are leaving the Rosewood community. Sienne watches on before someone clears their throat… Ramaxon.

"Finally came back, hm?" Sienne scoffs

"Hey, I may bail, but at least I'm keeping things under control." Ramaxon sneers in agitation

"Keep dreaming, Ramaxon." Sienne snaps as she walks off "You're on probation…"

"You can't put me on probation, you bitch. I am Resistance Leader Ramaxon Pet…" Ramaxon screeches before a book is thrown at his head, which clearly knocks him out, thus proving that he has a "soft head".

Sienne smirks "I always wanted to do that…"

Otulissa is in History Class in the last period of GTA for the night. She remains distracted from her textbook work on The Battle of Twilight Dawn as she stares out the window. She is hoping class will end soon, as she doesn't feel too up to doing class work, even if History is her favourite subject in class. In the back of her workbook, on the last page, she has been drawing… What you ask, well, when you are a 16-year-old girl in Middle Year Two, Fire Master Class in the Guardian Training Academy, you are either studying your mind out, attending training or electives or dreaming about boys, like most teenage girls.

Otulissa continues drawing in the back of her book love-hearts and their names inside the hearts or their initials. She longingly sighs. These nights have made Otulissa miss Soren, as she has her head in the clouds often. Her quill remains in her claw as she continues drawing hearts. She would hope that Soren would be meeting her at the end of school to walk her back to her hollow or to the library to study or something, but she knows he is away. The bell rings for the end of classes for the night, which snaps the young female out of her nightdreams and brings her back to reality.

"Alright class, hand up your worksheets and read Exercise 11A and do questions one to fifteen, along with your English homework of reading Chapter Nine to Eleven of your book before next English class on Thursday." Strix Struma instructs her students as they head out the door "Oh, and Otulissa, a word if you may."

Otulissa then turns around and replies "Yes, Miss Strix Struma."

"Your worksheet has been barely filled out and you spent half of this class nightdreaming and staring out the window. Goodness, lass, I've never seen you so distracted before and you always want to stay top of the class." Strix says with concern

"Sorry, Ma'am. I have been just a bit distracted lately." Otulissa admits "But, I can explain, I've just been w…"

"I saw the drawings in the back of your book, young lady. Of course, I have seen this not just before in you teenage girls in every year that passes though Fire Master, but more than once when I was your age. Don't worry, Otulissa, you're not in trouble or anything." Strix replies

Otulissa breathes a sigh of relief before enquiring, "By what do you mean by that you have seen this before when you were younger? Unless, you sorta did the same. I would never think you as the school-girl-crush type."

Strix Struma chuckles as she places the spare textbooks away in the class storeroom "No, I haven't ever drawn in my schoolbooks when I was a teenager. It was actually my friend. You know her as her highness Queen Barran."

"Barran? As in our Queen Barran?" Otulissa asks in surprise that one of their monarchs was the 'school-girl-crush' type (as it is called).

"When we attended the Queen Nya Schana-Strata Girls Boarding School when we were debutantes, which is 16 years of age, she was just as distracted with boys like you are. She was always drawing little pictures of hearts and whatnot in her workbook back in the school we attended in the Northern Kingdoms. She often got scolded by our governess too." Strix reminisces before a chuckle

"I hope that you aren't scolding me like your teacher, Ma'am." Otulissa nervously admits "Because I can explain that I just am worrying for Soren as he isn't here."

"Of course not, my prized pupil." Strix replies before closes the storeroom and collects her textbooks from off her desk, "Now, make sure to do your homework and make sure to keep your head out of the clouds. You are probably going to make the cut for Moon Master Class, but only if you keep your grades up."

"Moon Master will be a dream come true if I could get into the class." Otulissa cheers before she flies off

Strix rolls her eyes with a slight smirk with a giggle "Barran will have quite the handful next year when Miss Perrin finally gets into her Senior Year of training."

Meanwhile, as they fly over the sea back to the Great Tree, things are quiet on the way back, especially if Autumn has a headache or something as the medication might wear off, like it did four hours after she had the stiches last morning, which was a little hard for her to get some sleep that morning. Ezylryb is flying alongside his fiancée, keeping a close eye on her just in case something happens, as she has been told to take it easy and not to strain herself as she did lose a fair bit of blood from her wound. All the while, Soren, who we all know as 'the Leader of the Band', leads on the group of Guardian owls.

"We're almost home, right?" Autumn asks, breaking the silence

"I figure so, your grace." Gylfie replies, "We've been following the constellations for a while."

"Alright, here is the thing." Autumn then speaks up "We mention not of the true identity of the new Metalbeak, agreed? To swear secrecy. It is for the sake of Soren that we not speak of the accused name as it will bring controversy toward any operations if the future looks bleak."

"Agreed." The five other owls reply

"Good, but… Someday, when we hope that things can be sorted out, we will mention this." Autumn says before she sighs, "Like I will someday mention the true reason I hate Pure Ones so much…" she thinks to herself

They continue the flight before seeing the Great Tree of Ga'Hoole dead ahead. Within the tree, Otulissa is sitting in the City Centre waiting. She feels like Soren is coming home, she had a slight sense of that somehow, but she doesn't know when. Of course, she is doing her history homework as she waits. The as-per-usual in her case as he is on his mission and she is doing history homework while sitting within the serenity, but hustle and bustle of the Ga'Hoole Tree.

"I wish I knew the answer to Question five…" Otulissa sighs in distain while she looks over her homework

Soren and his friends then return through the gates, the lookout tower is alerted, and the gong chimes. Upon hearing this, Otulissa immediately perks up as not too long after, her barn owl boyfriend lands. She then closes her textbooks and runs up to him.

"Soren! You're home!" Otulissa excitably squeals as they exchange a loving hug and she kisses his cheek

"It's nice to see you too, honey…" Soren says, "Now… could you please let go? You're sorta suffocating me."

"Sorry." Otulissa replies as she lets go and they exchange an awkward smile

The five other owls roll their eyes. Within moments, the royal guard is noticed and with that the monarchs if the tree arrive. Boron and Barran are talking amongst themselves before walking up to the group of owls who went on the mission to the Rosewood Tyto Resistance Community in Northern Tyto Forest.

"It is good to see you lot have returned." Boron says before noticing the bandage around the small spotted owl noblewoman's head "Oh dear Glaux… Autumn Rose… What in Glaux name happened to your head?!"

"Well, your majesty, she was involved in an accident." Soren says, with some nervousness and before Ezylryb could even open his own beak to explain what happened to the Lady of Ga'Hoole and Princess of Ambala "The Pure Ones were proving a fight we barely were able to contain."

"You know what this means, don't you, Ezylryb and Autumn Rose?" Boron then says with an unimpressed look

"The Ambala Senate…" Ezylryb sighs in distain "But, we will have them under control this time, your highness."

"I bloody as well hope so." Boron replies "Oh how I hate the Ambalan Senate. The only one of them that I actually get along with is her majesty Queen Dowager Merissa of Ambala."

"If I could say something here, when we tell Parliament all about what happened, the Ambala Senate will be the least of our worries, Boron." Autumn then inputs, interrupting the conversation

"I hope so, Princess." Boron then announces as he takes off, leaving Barran behind "Parliament will be in 15."

"You'll have to excuse his majesty." Barran says to try to settle things "Upon hearing the three words beginning with T, A and S, he gets a little agitated."

"It's alright, your highness. We're a little stressed since what happened in Rosewood anyway." Soren then says to lighten the mood

"As you were." Barran then says to the band, before looking (down, as she is fairly short) to Autumn "Now tell me how things went and how many Pure Ones were scared. I bet they were terrified, my sister."

"Well, ma sœur…" Autumn begins

Autumn, holding the wing of Ezylryb, who is being dragged along, and the Queen of the Tree then take off as they start talking about things. The band watch as Autumn starts explaining things like a five year old to her (equally often immature) best friend. The only thing they hear is mostly explanations of how weak and pathetic Pure Ones are and the giggling of the two ladies.

"Really?" Barran then says loudly as they continue walk off away from City Centre "What a bunch of hatchlings."

Soren then takes Otulissa under his wing as she collects up her books, to walk her to her hollow. They start talking about things that happened while they were away, Soren telling her all that happened, which makes her daily routine of wake up, breakfast, GTA etc. seem boring. Otulissa even showed him her page in the back of her workbook, just proving how much she missed him.

"That must have been really brave of you, Soren." Otulissa swoons in adoration "I wish you could save me from almost drowning."

"Yeah, it was scary too as I thought I was a goner." Soren replies before he quips "That is when I now learned this, owls don't swim. We're not built for it."

Otulissa giggles as she places down her schoolbooks at her desk. She then lights the candles in the room to make things less dark and opens the curtains to let in the moonlight. Soren then perches by her desk as she then opens one of the windows.

"You are so brave to stand up to them. They're a bunch of no-good lowlifes." Otulissa then says

"Yeah, they were pretty bad. You know, I never knew a place like Rosewood existed. I learned a lot really on this mission." Soren then mentions

"I guess you learnt more than me… As I've been nightdreaming in class." She says as she sit next to him

"Yeah, I learnt never to get on the bad side of that Ramaxon Pettit guy." He then shrugs "But, really, I never knew that there would be a resistance that would be like well… the Guardians, I guess."

"Yeah, and I never knew until now that the Pure Ones have a new leader. I always thought that the wretch would have taken charge." She then scorns with distain

"Me neither." Soren awkwardly says "I guess I would have to get going to Parliament. We would need to explain a few things, especially Miss Autumn's head wound."

"Oh." Otulissa disappointedly says "I guess I'll see you later then."

"Yeah." Soren replies

Soren then takes off as Otulissa opens her workbook to find that the one question she was stuck on was answered, and she knows who answered it by the handwriting. She then mouths a thank you as she continues her homework, knowing that the following evening, her class ryb would ask to see if she had done her homework for History.

"Be careful, darling." Autumn instructs her fiancé with a fractured accent "The bow is a family heirloom I got from my papa."

Ezylryb places Autumn's prised bow down in her closet as she stands by the door along with the arrows in the carrier. She remains by the door to their hollow. He then takes her wing as she steps inside, before hearing a "watch out", making it seem like that she is fragile.

After Allomere was dead in the fight in St. Aegolius, Autumn returned to Ga'Hoole from hiding out with her sister in law in Ambala. Since then, she and Ezylryb share what was once his hollow, but with a few alterations, together. Autumn has kept most of it the same, but they had to have some things done to it, especially with redecorating. Autumn is like an interior designer sometimes, however, they did have disagreements. Autumn has the Kin Royal's family crest flag, which is a white orchid and it hangs in the middle of the living room on the wall, as it is something that she always does in respect of her family.

"Ezylryb, I am fine, now put me down." Autumn complains as he carries her by holding her under her shoulders with his wings to their room and he places the small spotted owl delicately on the bed.

"There you go, darling." Ezylryb replies, which causes his fiancé to have a 'oh really' look on her face. "I don't want anything else going wrong, alright. Just playing safe if you were to trip over on the mess we made."

"I am 26 years old and I survived almost being killed several times. I think you are underestimating me." She protests with a serious stare

"I know that, but we will have to deal with your kingdom's senate." He answers as he walks over to her closet and starts moving around everything "Now, where are the photos."

"I don't want to bring them out…" She whines in a fractured accent "Just leave them alone. I'm not I'm the mood to be looking at them."

"When I said back in Rosewood that I would get them out, I would and I know you have more photos than the one in your locket." He then reminds her

She looks down to her locket for a moment, before looking up and with a sigh she announces "Underneath the box to my headpiece crown."

"Memories hidden under a crown jewel of your ensembles, eh?" Ezylryb then quips as he finds the box and pulls it out of the closet and places it by Autumn "They must be precious memories then."

"Most of them are." She replies

Upon opening the box, memories of the only happy times in Autumn's infant years. She finds portraits of her and her parents, along with her brother. They then find a few of Autumn from when she a bit younger. Then, upon digging deeper, something is discovered.

"Portraits of us, my rose?" Ezylryb asks, astonished before an embarrassing realisation "There better not be that one from Boron's 21st as I am not going to be happy about that one that was painted of you, me, Barran, Strix, Boron and Bubo wearing the drama class costume makeup."

Autumn giggles upon remembering what happened, "Indeed, we were so drunk that all of the ochre used for drama class costume makeup for the whole semester was ruined. No wonder we all woke up looking like some weird looking things…"

"But, the party was fun either way, never doing that again though." He then says nonchalantly

Autumn picks up one "Remember the Summer Masquerade when I was about 20 or so? Within the first year we were together. Look at you, my love, you are so handsome and still are, though it only has been six years."

"You were the belle of the ball, my dear. Even Barran was envious and she is your best friend and practically a sister to you." Ezylryb replies

A knock at the door is heard and Ezylryb gets up to get it while Autumn places some photos away. Walking from the bedroom to the door takes manoeuvring around a few things, as they were in a rush to find things before leaving the other night for the mission. Ezylryb opens the door and a royal guard is at the door.

"Good evening, Lord Ezylryb." The royal guard greets before announcing "King Boron summons you to his office."

"Tell him I'll be right there, thank you." Ezylryb says before shutting the door and he looks behind him and Autumn is standing by their bedroom door. "It's probably about the Ambala Senate problem."

"Then go, I'm going to have a lie down anyway." Autumn replies

Ezylryb comes over and kisses his fiancée on her beak before taking off. Autumn swoons before going into the bedroom and lying down on the bed to rest. She then has a thought and picks up a picture of her mother and father with her from when she was a few months old. She then places it by her bedside and then lies there contemplating thought.