During Night Flight, Parzival, the Spotted Owl she had Chaw practice with, glided among the air currents with the Barn Owl and showed her how to properly ride them in order to gain momentum in flight. During the session, he decided to start a bit of small-talk.

"So, Ginger, did you ever visit Allomere's hollow?"

"Well, no," she fibbed. "I...I kind of chickened out when I was about to go in."

"You what-ed out?"

"Have you never heard of chickens?"

"Absol-utely not. What are they?"

"You know, little flightless fowl with combs and waddles that make a clucking sound."

"Kind of like a quail?"

"I suppose, but they're quite dimwitted, and they can lay eggs like crazy."

"What, you mean like a lot of them?"

"Exactly. I'm surprised you've never heard of them. Do any live around here anywhere?"

"I don't think so, considering I've never heard of them."

"Well, they're also quite cowardly, so one may often say that one is a chicken or chickens out, it's used like that."

"I see. Which Kingdom do they live in?"

"I...I don't know myself, but I've heard they can adapt to many environments."

"Ah. So, you never asked him anything?"

"No, Parzival."

"Yeah, it was probably best that you didn't. When Allomere gets mad, he sometimes goes and gives flint mops to us when we didn't even do anything."

"Wow. I guess it's best not to provoke him, huh?"

"Indeed."

They continued riding the air currents for a few more minutes, then retired to the dining hollow for Breaklight.


...


Ginger's Breaklight was found to be surprisingly unappetizing this morning. All she found on her plate was a dead vole that hadn't even been cooked, and she could tell by the dried blood all over it that it wasn't even fresh. In fact, the faint, but sickening smell coming from it indicated that it was beginning to rot, much to Ginger's disgust. Not wanting to eat it, Ginger carried it down to the ground and buried it near the Great Tree's base before flying off to find a living vole to make her meal. Once she found one to pick off, she went into a kill spriral and sunk her claws right into it, then she landed on a protruding root to eat it, where she was immediately confronted yet again by Boron.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" he asked her with the same oozy tone she'd heard him use in the Parliament meeting.

"Just getting Breaklight, sir," she answered shakily. "There was something wrong with the one given to me."

"Is that so?"

"Yes...Is there something wrong with that?"

"Not really, except...It's the greatest insult to the Cook to discard his food without tasting it."

"Are you sure that Cook even touched it? The thing smelled like it was beginning to decompose. Besides, I had no idea that that was insulting him."

"You didn't?" The Snowy Owl's voice grew testy.

"No."

"...Fine, then. Have a nice rest of the day."

The Snowy Owl flew off to the Parliament hollow, much to Ginger's relief.

It looks like they're on to me. I sure hope he doesn't decide to come into my hollow today. she said to herself as she slid the vole down her throat. Once it was in her gizzard, she flew to her hollow. Unlike yesterday, however, she lied down in her nest to rest, but not sleep, before Valdimore came, which seemed like forever to Ginger, who, by the time the Eagle Owl arrived, was tired, but not tired enough to have a fuzzy head. Valdimore simply let himself inside the hollow in order to avoid being seen by the daily guard patrols.

"Ginger, are you awake?" he asked her.

"Yes...What's up?"

He seemed exited. "Oh, you're gonna love this. Here!"

The minute Ginger crawled out of her nest, the Eagle Owl handed her a rolled up piece of paper tied up with a red dyed strip of animal skin.

"What is this?"

"It's a message," Valdimore told her. "From the King!"

"Metal Beak!?"

"YES! I'm trying not to yell, but it's just so thrilling, am I right!?"

"Whoa..."

Not wanting to waste anymore time, Ginger carefully untied the piece of skin, put it to the side, unfurled the paper and read the ink-written message inside.

Dearest Trainee Ginger;

I am happy to inform you that me and the rest of the Pure Ones here at the Beaks
are ready for the upcoming attack on our fortress. We have crafted armor and weapons
for Allomere's fighters here at home with Mu Metal, the same metal which makes up
the artificial beak on my helm which, as recent studies show, can protect and owl from
the harmful effects of the flecks by repelling the magnetism they release.
You are required to begin your journey back to the Beaks as soon as you are completed
reading this scroll, as I will assign you a place in the battle upon your return. Me and Ablah
General Nyra are indebted to you, Ginger, for if no owl were to accept the delicate operation
and check up on the Guardians' plans, we would be oblivious to their horrible scheme, and
the Tytonic Union should surely fall to the mercy of Ga'Hoole. If all goes well during the
fight, your reward shall be great. May Glaux bless you for your act of heroism.

With all do respect,

King Metal Beak.

Ginger beamed. Finally, she would return home! The Barn Owl rolled up the scroll, placed it in her nest and headed towards the hollow opening.

"Where are you going?"

"Home. I have been called back to assist the Pure Ones in the battle, and you are to return as well. My mission here is complete."

"We might want to wait, Ginger. The guards are coming this way! Wait, they're turning...THEY'RE COMING STRAIGHT FOR THE HOLLOW!"

"Oi! Get back up onto the ceiling!" Ginger whispered as softly as she could as she shoved him back up again, then scurried into her nest and pretended to sleep. When the guards looked inside to check on Ginger, they were easily fooled by her convincing posture; turned on her back in what looked to be an uncomfortable position, wing folded over her stomach, and tongue hanging clean out of her beak.

"Yup. She's out cold. Best go tell King Boron, eh, fellas?"

"I guess so."

So they left, and Ginger rose again, peered outside for any other potential Guardian patrols, then gave Valdimore a signal with her wing indication that the coast was clear before she lifted off into the light of late morning sun along side the Eagle Owl, who would guide her through the harsh weather during the return trip to their homeland.