I'm so P. right now… Why? Well… I had over 1,400 words on here two nights ago, but then when I'm not typing at the moment, my older brother comes in, plugs it out, and takes it into his room to Skype with his girlfriend because she lives in Virginia and we live in South Carolina. I hadn't saved, and I told him he had to start telling me when he does that so I can at least save. And he says, "Well, whatever; not my problem." Oh. My. God. Really? He has a computer sitting right next to his room! The reason he doesn't use it to Skype is because he doesn't want to hear him, when I can hear him through the wall to the bathroom and through that wall to his room… So what is the point of it? I use the laptop because when I type my whole family can hear my typing, but as for typing in my room, they can't hear little constant taps from my room. And either way; when I do it on the computer, and he wants on, I get off for him, and he just pulls it up to see what I'm doing, yet he doesn't want me to know! And not only that, but my Beagle (Type of dog) was getting a bath today, and he was last, and I had to carry the frinkin' (Yes, frinkin') 40 lbs. dog in the bathroom. He's usually friendly, but this time, he bit me in the face, made a small hole, and left it bleeding! Good god! Now then, enough of my pointless rambling and excuses, and here is chapter eleven!
Uglamore woke to the sound of fire crackling. He smelt wood burning at first, but then smelt something more; cooking flesh. He opened his eyes to see Zarko cooking a type of meat, and there was a lot of it. Uglamore could not believe his eyes.
"Is that… venison?" He asked, shocked. Zarko turned around towards him and smirked.
"Yep, sure is." He answered. "I hunted it myself, and brought it back here. Owls can take them down alright, but most of them can't even lift them! As for me- well, I didn't have to look far, and I've carried heavier."
"Wow, you've sure got a lot of strength in you…" He murmured as he walked over while Zarko tossed him some.
"Eh, don't mention it; taking it back here was easier than climbing a tree without wings or legs." He joked. They both churred at this.
Uglamore turned and saw Clay still sleeping. "Glad you showed up when you did, otherwise he wouldn't have lived long, and the same goes for me."
"I'm just glad that you're both alive and well- Him being well enough just to need a goodlight sleep!" The two churred once again, silently not to wake the others up. Then Kludd woke not to the sound, but the smell.
"Some cooked meat at first black, just what I needed." He muttered as he walked over to get some venison himself.
"Guess you're hunger then, eh?" Zarko said, handing him some of the venison.
"Yesterday was pretty rough being suck out in a place we have no clue about… So yes; I' starving." Kludd replied, taking a bite of the delicious meat.
"Well, the wind was pretty rough and we got separated, so it could have been my fault for going through at the wrong time." Zarko admitted, making Uglamore chur.
"Oh, it wasn't your fault! Besides, how were you supposed to know?"
"We all make mistakes I guess, but whatever!" He smirked. By the time Thora and Clay got up Uglamore was already done and Kludd was about halfway through.
"Ah, great to see you two awake! Now go ahead and give yourselves some time to wake up; we'll be leaving in a few to show you around the place." Zarko informed as Thora approached him to eat, and Clay getting up slowly.
"Good, I can't wait to see around this place!" Clay said, but Zarko couldn't help but chuckle.
"You'll have to slow down a bit then; you're still recovering from yesterday! Don't wanna haul you back here in my talons!" He said jokingly, then turned around to get them some venison and whispered, "Been a long time since I've had a morning like this… Not since he took over me and used me to kill-"
"You say something, Zarko?" Thora asked, concerned as he handed her the venison.
"Wha…? Oh, nothing- just thinking about the last time I had a morning like this." His answer was partially true.
"Oh…" Thora frowned, not exactly believing him. 'Well, from the way he seems I guess he doesn't get times like this too often…'
"So, what is the history of the Middle Kingdoms?" Kludd asked, finishing up his meat. Zarko cleared his throat.
"As I told Clay last night, Theo, the first blacksmith from the ancient legends came here to find peace, and he did. He became the first H'ryth of the kingdom, and had written down dozens of papers telling about this place, as well as the N'yrthghar and the S'ytrhghar. The Kingdom's language is called, 'Jouzhen', and the owls are… well, they have shades that go from Midnight Blue to Turquoise, which is very uncommon, of course. And if it gets annoying calling this the 'Middle Kingdoms', then just call it the 'M'ythghar.' And if you remember, this is near the island we were on, and there are other kingdoms to the north and south of it, making this the center of it all."
"Really?" Thora asked, surprised. "So there is more than this just there lying across the unnamed sea?"
"Exactly. So much is going on in the west, yet not as much as there is in the east. The next kingdom is to the northeast of the Northern Kingdoms. But don't worry; we'll be going there when the time is right." He clarified. He looked out at the black sky and saw that it was clear and full of beautiful stars.
"I guess we're leaving now?" Clay asked. Zarko only nodded in response.
"Let us leave for now, and return later."
A few days later…
"Are you sure the Pure Ones are coming?"
"Absolutely."
"Are you sure it's at this time?"
"Yes."
"And it's right here?"
"Certainly."
"A-"
"For the love of Glaux! I know they come through here, and they will come through here!" Zarko shouted, getting a little annoyed since his team was skeptical about them being in the right place. "And besides; Eglantine and Primrose passed through here a minutes ago! They came here to warn them about the Pure Ones attack, so they got here first."
"Sorry, I just hate waiting around here in the cold!" Kludd complained, since he had only been to the Southern Kingdoms and not the North, which meant that Clay and Thora didn't mind the weather.
"Well, you'll get used to it; we'll be going to colder places in the future." Zarko retorted. They were waiting on the edge of a mountain, with a small crater.
"I hope I do…" Kludd muttered, looking down at the fire they had made to keep them warm. They were all rather impressed that Zarko wasn't shivering at all- only the cold carbon dioxide coming from his beak. He stood tall, looking down below them in wait, but he would soon be fighting.
"I enjoyed being here, really." Clay spoke up, trying to start a conversation. "The snow-covered mountains, the glistening trees… I see why Theo came here to find peace."
"Yeah." Thora agreed. "Considering that no one knew about this place, there was no war here, keeping him the way he wanted to be."
"Right, so he lived here and taught this place how to live perfectly." Uglamore nodded, getting closer to the fire. "A perfect place to get away from violence."
"Living here would be perfect; if I were just a normal owl, looking for a home… this would be the place." Kludd said as he starred at the fire, and then looked over at Zarko. "Wouldn't you say, Zarko?"
All of them turned to look at him, and he was still facing the edge.
"This place is beautiful and peaceful; the two best nouns something can be. I always look at the mountains from a distance, and realize that all inhabitants of this place are very lucky to be a stranger to war. I'd also live here myself, but I had my eye on one place that could never get any more beautiful, and it will always be the same, forevermore…" He said, a faint and sad smile growing on his face.
"Had? Where was this? And why not anymore?" Thora asked, cocking her head. Zarko only sighed.
"It was a place far away from here, from all of the owl kingdoms. I had never gotten the chance live there, because war came in and surrounded my life."
"So why'd you step in to fight?" Uglamore asked. Zarko turned back to them, an unreadable look in his eyes.
"Because I'd vowed to keep balance in the world, and it has to be stopped." He told them, and the look he was giving had a hint of… anger? "War… Many always wanted to fight for fun, but then when they do, they realize everything that happens, and the risk of so much. Others did not want any part in it and knew the risk and why it happens, but once they somehow get in it, they realize that sometimes it cannot be avoided, and must be done. Why? War is nothing but a blood-soaked struggle for power shrouded in fear and its violence sometimes must be done to gain the opposite; peace!"
Everyone was taken aback by the last statement, but before they could say anything, Zarko turned back and squinted his eyes.
"They're here." That was all he said before taking off. The others immediately realized what he was talking about and flew after.
When they caught up to him, he was closing in on a bunch of Tytos who were unaware of his presence. The one at the front however, was wearing a Mu Metal mask, one that was all too recognizable. It was indeed, the mask of Metal Beak, and Nyra was wearing it. Kludd, Thora, and Uglamore looked at her with hate and discuss, but not Clay who didn't even know her. Zarko slowed done slightly to let them catch up.
"I count about twenty, quite a bit for an assassination team. Alright then, Thora; I want you to go for the rear area. Clay, Kludd; head for the center. Uglamore; you're with me. Remember; we don't want to kill all of them, just weaken them enough for the Guardians and Jouzhens, and let Nyra be the least injured. Now go." He darted for the owl to the right of Nyra and Uglamore went for one behind him, Thora went for to backmost duo, and Clay and Kludd went for about three of them in the center.
Zarko hit first, slicing the head of the owl with his metal wings, followed by shrieks and gasps. Uglamore then hit with a blow to the back on his target, sending him falling as an empty shell. Uglamore got attacked first, but easily dodged it and grabbed hold of his attacker's wing and throw him back into the face of another.
Thora was doing well at the back, taking down the first two like nothing but a breeze. She was then attacked by three more. The first one dived in on her, talons extended. Thora held up her talons and received the hit with a talon-to-talon fight. Another advanced on her and she let go of the first one and flew under him. Thora hit the second one from under, and then slashed the throat of the first. With Clay and Kludd, they were doing perfect.
Kludd hit his target at the same time as Clay, and drew immediate attention to them. The first one to strike was at Kludd, whom flew to the side to the side. The Pure One had looked back at him, but flew right into the sharpened battle claws of Claymore. The next two had both flown at Clay, attacking from both sides. Clay flew up and they both crashed into each other, battle claws going through their gizzards. Kludd flew behind Clay to take down an unnoticed attacker and saved his life. Clay turned around, thanking him, but then they saw three more flying towards them, and they got to work and defended themselves.
Back up front, though, Zarko was fighting Nyra in intense combat. Nyra swung for him, but missed. Zarko had reached his sword out in an attempt to wound her wing, but she dodged it and tackled him in the chest. Zarko barrel rolled to the left, getting out of the push. Nyra extended her wings to stop herself, and then flew back to Zarko. She flew in on him, battle claws ready. Zarko locked talons with her after sheathing his swords and they were stuck in a struggle. Nyra took this chance to look into the eyes of her attacker, and they were starring at each other's masked faces. Nyra then had her eyes widened.
"… You!" She yelled, recognizing him. Zarko couldn't help but churr at her surprised self.
"Well, well, Nyra… How's your mate doing?" He smirked, pushing her forward. Nyra broke the contact and backed off for a second, but then flew at him with a death stare.
"He'll be better than ever when I kill you!" She replied, missing her attack.
"Hm, I think not." He smirked, flying over to strike her wing. "He betrayed me! I don't know why he snapped, but I will stop him either way! He was always at my side!"
Nyra flew down to avoid damage, and then flew upwards and left very large gash in Zarko's torso, making him slightly grunt. Nyra chuckled darkly.
"And he was right to stop all of it and leave your pathetic purpose! You're weak! All of you pathetic fools are weak! You'll all burn on a pile of rotten bones and corpses! And there will be nothing you can do about it!" Zarko was focused on her, not even a hint of him caring about the heavily bleeding wound on his chest. However, he only smirked.
"Weak… I am not weak. We are not weak! Light is not weak! Righteousness is not weak! Both sides are even, but I know that there is a shadow in the light, and there is light in the shadows! In the end, one will triumph!" He replied, pulling a sword on her. He dived towards her at blinding speed, and before Nyra could even blink, her skin was open in her lower right body. She screamed in pain.
"Then we will see which is stronger!" She screamed back, but Zarko only chuckled.
"One day… But today, we are victorious." He smirked, widely. Nyra was confused but then a blue blur caught her attention.
She looked at the blur, and saw a blue owl attacking her remaining soldiers. When she turned around, Zarko was not there, and neither were his friends.
"Well, glad to be out of the cold!" Uglamore said, cozying in the hollow of their island.
"Yeah, no kidding." Kludd agreed, sitting next to him. Thora just sighed as she walked past them.
"It wasn't that bad!" She muttered. They both gave each other a glance, but shrugged it off. Clay was silent as he stood behind Zarko, who was writing in a book.
"What are you doing, Zarko?" He asked. Zarko didn't stop writing.
"Recording my history." He simply answered. "For anyone in the future who becomes curious about my past; I remember every detail I go through, and at the end of every day I write the events of what had happened."
"He long would it take for someone to read all of it?" Zarko was now silent for a moment, but eventually began silently churring, but eventually, it grew into roars of laughter. It took about a good twenty seconds until he answered.
"Oh, Clay… I've been alive longer than every living soul on this planet! You could read for your whole life and you wouldn't get finished!" He answered, containing laughs. "But thanks for the good laugh!"
Clay was now laughing with him in, "Guess I just got too curious!"
The two laughed for a few more seconds until Zarko walked over to address the group.
"Whelp, it's great now that the mission was successful, and the next one won't be for a while, so rest up for a good while!" He announced, and then walked back to his book. All of them had left except for Uglamore. "What is it?" Zarko asked as he continued his writing. Uglamore hesitated to ask.
"Well… Earlier I sort of overheard your conversation with Nyra… What were you talking about?" This made Zarko stop immediately. He was frozen as a statue. Eventually, he slowly turned his head, and then he completely faced him.
"That was all just about the past, which is not important at the moment."
"But who is he? Her husband?"
"… All I can say is that he and I have a… History… We used to get along, and very well. He wasn't always evil, but he was a lot like me." He was explaining it in a tone like something was disturbing him greatly and with anger. Uglamore could tell that he must have done something to Zarko that he wasn't happy about. Uglamore just nodded in apology and flew off.
And another piece of the puzzle is placed! I need people to vote on the Poll, PLEASE! Not one vote yet! And Crazybird101… I love your eagerness of Nyra's husband! I guess I should give you a clue to his name, and here is the code I got!
Tango, Charlie, Uniform, Romeo, Sierra, Alpha.
Hey, I didn't say it would be easy! Anyways, here are a few more hints! (In a very, very easy code…)
Z ^ a ^ r ^ k ^ o ^ ^ h ^ a ^d ^ ^ k ^ n ^o ^ w ^ n ^ (The Name Above) ^ ^ w ^ h ^ e ^ n ^ ^ h ^ e ^ ^ w ^ a ^ s ^ ^ m ^ u ^ c ^ h ^ ^ y ^ o ^ u ^ n ^ g ^ e ^ r ^ , ^ ^ a ^ n ^ d ^ ^ l ^ a ^ t ^ e ^ r ^ ^ f ^ o ^ r ^ ^ a ^ n ^ ^ u ^ n ^ k ^ n ^ o ^ w ^ n ^ ^ r ^ e ^ a ^ s ^ o ^ n ^ ^ d ^ i ^ d ^ ^ s ^ o ^ m ^ e ^ t ^ h ^ i ^ n ^ g ^ ^ t ^ h ^a ^ t ^ ^ " ^ L ^ e ^ f ^ t ^ ^ a ^ n ^ ^ e ^ m ^ p ^ t ^ y ^ ^ h ^ o ^ l ^ e ^ ^ i ^ n ^ ^ h ^ i ^ s ^ ^ h ^ e ^ a ^ r ^ t ^ . ^ " ^
Hope that's readable, because it took me a good fifteen minutes just to do!
Also, the website got this new thing, and it's for book covers! So if anyone wants to do one for this story, be my guest!