Chapter 9

The next evening, Kludd got up, left for the fortress, and met up with Cedar and Scourge in his chamber. For a moment, he wondered where Garth was, and then the memory of the previous night came back to him – and with it, the rage he had felt at Soren. At that moment, Jade flew in and landed on her perch above the three.

"Alright everyone, listen up." Jade said, her voice now flat. "There will be no more classes for the next few weeks, nor will there be any from this point on. The next few weeks will be going into planning your Special, and after that, you will no longer be students, but full Pure Ones ready for battle." She then dismissed the three and flew off, while Cedar and Scourge went about discussing the ceremony.

"Do we get to kill an owl for this?" Scourge asked. "If so, I wish to find those rogues and kill them!"

Cedar sighed. "We will get to kill an owl," she replied, "but… it will have to be a family member." Upon hearing this, Scourge wilfed. Kludd, however, felt a thrill course through his gizzard. With all the rage he felt towards his brother, this ceremony would be easy.

"I have an uncle who always drove me crazy." Scourge said, trying to sound cheerful. "I could probably do without him."

"I suppose I could kill my cousin Lily." Cedar offered. Probably hatched near a field of lilies. Kludd thought to himself. "She was hatched with only one wing; she probably wouldn't be able to live a full life anyway." She then turned her head towards Kludd. "What about you, Kludd? Who will you sacrifice?"

Unlike his chambermates, Kludd began immediately looking forward to the ceremony since he heard about what it would entail. He looked Cedar in the eye and said, in a voice without hesitation, "My brother, Soren."

The next few weeks went into planning each owls' Special. Eventually, Scourge had decided that he would drown his uncle in a lake nearby, while Cedar had decided that she would give Lily Doll's Eyes berries, which would ensure that her death was quick and painless. "If I'm going to kill her," Cedar had reasoned, "she at least deserves that much." No one was going to argue with her; many knew full well what Cedar was capable of, but most just wanted her to complete the ceremony.

Kludd, meanwhile, planned his brother's death just as meticulously. Outright murdering him was nixed from the get – go; his parents would no doubt find out. He couldn't drown him either; there weren't a lot of close by lakes in Tyto, and if it took too long, his parents would suspect something. Maybe, just maybe, he could give Soren poisonous berries, but someone would witness it; even if he managed to do it undetected, Cedar would chew him out for stealing her idea. No, he had to think of his own idea.

That was when Kludd remembered something his Da once said in his lectures: An owl that is separated from its parents before it has learned to fly and hunt cannot survive. Up until this point, Kludd never thought he would be grateful for his Da's lectures, but now, an idea came to him, clear as day:

He would push Soren out of the nest!

The morning before his Special, Nyra flew with him to his home in Tyto, stopping a little ways away so that she could watch the ceremony undetected. Kludd had gone to sleep as per usual that morning, but when evening finally came, Kludd woke up the moment his parents left the nest to go hunting. Quietly as possible, he waited for Soren to creep to the edge of the hollow and look for them, then flew towards Soren and gave him a swift kick with his talons, sending him tumbling out of the nest.

There. Thought Kludd. That should do it. He was just about to creep out through the back way to meet with Nyra when he felt Mrs. P nudge him with her head. He grunted in response, but Mrs. P persisted. "Don't be grumpy, Kludd. Your brother has… has… taken a tumble, as it were."

Does she suspect anything? Kludd thought to himself as he went to go peer out of the hollow and found Soren on the ground, still very much alive. Not that that mattered, the raccoons would get him soon. "Oh my." Kludd said flatly, "I say, you've got yourself in a terrible fix."

"I know, Kludd. Can't you help?" Soren cried out to his brother. "You know more about flying than I do. Can't you teach me?"

After what you've done? Kludd thought. Not on your life. However, he said none of this aloud. Instead, he replied, "Me teach you? I wouldn't know where to begin. Have you gone yoicks?" He then churred and added, "Stark – raving yoicks. Me teach you?" before laughing again.

"I'm not yoicks." Soren replied. "But you're always telling me how much you know, Kludd. You've already had your First Flight ceremony. Tell me how to fly, Kludd."

Kludd shook his head. "One cannot tell another how to fly. It's a feeling, and besides, it is really a job for Mum and Da. It would be very impertinent of me to usurp their position."

"What are you talking about? Usurp?" Soren cried out. Of course Soren wouldn't know the meaning of usurp. Kludd thought to himself. Now, however, would not be the time to explain such things.

Kludd then drew himself up into a serious posture. "I can't do it, Soren." Kludd replied, trying to sound contrite. "It would be extremely improper for a young owlet like myself to assume this role in your life."

"My life isn't going to be worth two pellets if you don't do something." Soren pleaded. "Don't you think it is improper for you to let me die? What will Mum and Da say to that?"

"I think they will understand completely." Kludd replied, and Soren simply stared at Kludd, dumbfounded.

"I'm going to get help, Soren. I'll go to Hilda's." Mrs. P rasped to Soren.

No! Kludd thought to himself. If Mrs. P got help, his plans would be ruined, and he would have to resort to drastic measures. "I wouldn't if I were you, P." Kludd said in a warning tone.

"Don't call me P." Mrs. P replied in a no – nonsense voice. "That's so rude."

"That's the last thing you have to worry about P." Kludd went on. "Me being rude."

"I'm going, Kludd." Mrs. P said firmly. "You can't stop me."

At this, Kludd flew towards Mrs. P's exit hole, blocking it. "Can't I?" he said, his tone now threatening. Mrs. P, however, simply found another exit hole and went for it. No matter, by the time she returned, it would be too late. With that, Kludd took his secret exit and flew towards where Nyra was perched, where one word from her beak awaited him: "Congratulations."

At long last, Kludd was a Pure One

That night, Kludd, along with Cedar, Scourge, and a company of Tytos made their way towards the High Tyto. His class, along with those of Instructor Ash, Instructor Crowblaze, Instructor Nighthawk, and Instructor Katana had passed their Specials and were now about to be given new Pure One names, as per the custom when an owl finally became a Pure One. Kludd's gizzard lept for joy when he learned that Brutus would not be passing. Serves him right. Kludd thought to himself before the memory of Garth's death filled him again. His only comfort that night came from Cedar, who had wrapped her wing around Kludd and whispered, "Garth would be proud of all of us, Kludd. Remember that."

"Enter!" Ag barked, interrupting Kludd's thoughts, and the owls stood in a line before him, bowing their heads in obeisance before Ag cued them to raise their heads. "It is time for you all to begin your proper training as full-fledged Pure Ones." He began. "From now on, you will only be known by your Tytonic Union names and will forget any previous name you have ever had." Nyra gave an encouraging nod towards Kludd, and Kludd felt his gizzard swell.

One by one, Ag flew towards each owl and gave them their new Pure One names, followed by the bowing of the named owls' heads. Finally, it came time for the owls in Kludd's group to be named. Ag first approached Scourge. "You will henceforth be known as Banshee, for your shree shall strike terror into the hearts of the Impure"

Banshee. Kludd thought to himself. That's a much better name than Scourge or Pigwidgeon. Banshees were fierce spirits the Others had thought of that let out ear – shattering screams, and a Barn Owl's shree could easily be mistaken for one.

Scourge then nodded and bowed his head, and the High Tyto approached Cedar. "You," he said, "you will henceforth be known as Blaze, for your rage burns hot like fire, and your feathers shall streak through the night and be the last thing your victims see." Cedar then bowed her head. Blaze. Kludd thought to himself. A fierce name for a fierce owl.

At last, the High Tyto approached Kludd. "And you," the High Tyto leaned in. There was a gleam in his eyes, and Kludd straightened himself up in anticipation. "You, Kludd Alba, who have proven yourself time and time again as a worthy Pure One; from this night forth, you shall be known as Bloodstar, for your gizzard, full of blood and rage, makes you a shining example for all Pure Ones to follow. I have a feeling you will lead us to greatness very soon"

Kludd could hardly believe his ear slits. The High Tyto, the mightiest of all the Pure Ones, trusted him! He bowed his head, his body quivering. "I'm honoured, Your Pureness." Kludd replied. "I will not let you down." In his mind, one thought flew through his brain like a falcon:

I am Bloodstar, the fiercest soldier the Pure Ones have ever seen – terror of Tyto!

A/N: Looks like Kludd has finally become a Pure One. He's now one step closer to becoming Metal Beak... So, what did you guys think of that chapter? You guys like Kludd's Pure One name? I was really fond of the names "Banshee" and "Blaze" for Scourge and Cedar, but I wasn't really sure what to call Kludd, so I made that name up. As always, show some love and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Guardians of Ga'Hoole; full credit goes to Kathryn Lasky.