Chapter 11: Closure
"Has everything been prepared, Bubo?"
"Yes, Soren. Each fallen owl has their own pyre for their Final Ceremony, and the pile of crows is dry enough to be lit. We're just waiting for you to kick things off."
"Very well. This will be a grim day many of us are sure to remember for a long time, so let's make it a memorable one."
About three quarters of the available land on the Island of Hoole was covered with stacks of wood, gathered from the surrounding lands. On top of the stacks was a platform, the remains of a fallen Guardian placed atop it, wrapped in cloth. Only their faces were visible, so the next of kin could identify their belated loved ones. A branch of the Great Tree was placed on top of each of the remains, as a symbolic gesture.
On the other side of the island, as far away as possible from the pyres, were the remains of the crows – or at least the ones that could be recovered – thrown onto a large pile. Even though they were the enemy, they too deserved some kind of Final Ceremony – albeit far less humble than the owl kind.
All remaining Guardians – still numbering well in the hundreds – were gathered around the pyres, including Ekster and Arend. Soren landed next to his foremost reason for life, Pelli, who was surrounded by the members of the Parliament and, most importantly, her daughters. Even though a large majority had survived, hardly any of the victors were unscathed in one way or another. As expected, Pelli's head was halfway wrapped in bandages, covering the injury she suffered to her left eye. The cornea of said eye was badly damaged, and although Matron had done the best she could to preserve it, she couldn't guarantee the eye would make a full recovery.
Soren shifted his gaze to his daughters. He was very relieved, and not in the least very proud, that they overcome their first – and hopefully, last – big battle. Bell and Blythe both had a bandage wrapped around their left and right leg respectively, while Bash had one around her chest.
All of the Parliament members had their own little attended nicks and gashes, Twilight obviously being the one most proud of having them.
"Guardians," Soren began his speech, "we have prevailed and lived through another battle for our survival, though the cost was high. We have lost friends and family, something we will never grow accustomed to. Let us be together today to mourn them, and release their spirits to our Almighty Glaux."
Soren turned to grab a poker from a kettle filled with glowing hot embers, provided by Bubo's furnace, intended to ignite the pyres. Yet, before he grabbed the poker, he turned back and continued his speech.
"No matter what goes on in the world from this day forward, we must never lose faith in the companionship with all the other species on this planet. Even though ours foes are vanquished, we must not eradicate them, or allow them to be eradicated. If we are called upon to endure what they have suffered, we will answer the call to arms with the same determination we have shown in our latest battle."
Soren grabbed the poker, its tip glowing white hot, and moved over to a specific pyre. On top of that pyre was not an owl, but the remains of the only bird other than a Guardian – other than an owl, no less – to receive a pyre: Kraai.
"This crow gave his life to save mine. He paid the ultimate sacrifice so that I might live. For this reason alone, I believe there can be good in every creature, despite their nature, heritage or legacy. In honor of his sacrifice, Kraai, the most honorable crow this world has seen to this day, shall be the first to ascend to glaumora, Glaux willing."
Soren turned and offered the poker to Ekster, who was standing alongside Arend next to Kraai's pyre, on the verge of breaking into tears. With a shaking claw, she accepted it, and took the tip to the base of the pyre. The wood began to smoulder, a tiny flame birthed within the smoke, and as the newly born fire expanded its way across the branches, it quickly grew into a small bonfire. Returning the poker back to Soren, Ekster let her tears run freely. Arend, no less saddened by the loss of his friend, sheltered her by placing his wing over her, allowing her to lean onto him.
Soren, poker in claw, moved over to the next pyre. This one was occupied by the remains of Targas, accompanied by his mate and son, Illia and Kerk. Even though he wasn't a victim of the war, he was still promised a fitting Final Ceremony.
"Illia," Soren began, "I'm sorry we had to meet in these circumstances. Shard has explained to me what tragedies have befallen you and your family that caused you to end up at out mighty Tree. Needless to say, all of us are very sorry for your loss. May Glaux watch over you, and welcome your mate into glaumora."
"My mate has given his life to save mine, just like that crow... Kraai... did for you," Illia replied, her voice slightly quivering from sadness. "If Glaux is noble enough to accept a crow in glaumora, I have no doubt Targas will be welcomed too. He was... something else, that one. I – we, will miss him terribly, but there will come a day we will all be reunited. Of that, I'm certain."
Nodding, Soren handed her the poker. And just like Kraai's, Targas' pyre was lit, its flames intensifying the illumination of the first pyre.
Before moving to the next pyre, Soren turned to Kerk.
"Kerk, blessed son of Targas and Illia, I would request your presence, for this next pyre holds the remains of Jette, the head of the Joss Corps, and for a far too short time, your mentor. Since you were his last student, I would like for you to ignite his final resting place, and send him off to the afterlife. Will you accept?" Soren held out the poker.
Glancing at it, at Soren and then at his mother, Kerk wondered if he wanted to have this dubious honor. But the look on his mother's face said everything he needed, and more.
He returned his gaze back to the monarch in front of him, nodded, accepted the poker, and turned to Jette's pyre.
"Jette... You taught me very much in very little time. I wish you were here to teach me further, watch me grow, and see you taking pride in a student dedicated in living up to his teacher's expectations. Alas, Glaux needs you at his side, which outweighs my need for you to be at mine. Farewell, my mentor."
As tears ran through his feathers, Kerk lit the pyre.
It wasn't long until all the pyres had been lit by the occupant's family or friends, providing them with farewells and good tidings. The accumulated light the fires emitted was bright enough to be visible from across the Sea of Hoolemere. The piled of crows on the other side of the island was lit as well, albeit far less ceremoniously compared to the departed Guardians.
After the last pyre had been ignited, some of the owls sang a farewell song for the departed.
The tragedies of life have come to an end
Let your spirit go and be born again
For Glaux, He is waiting, He will take you in
And whatever you do, don't look back
This mortal life complete
Float up to the surface of glaumora's shore
Enjoy life eternal
Don't you worry anymore
Don't you worry anymore
Don't you worry, worry for us anymore and
Go with Glaux
Go with Glaux
We'll look up at the moon
And see each other soon
We'll look up at the moon
And see each other soon
As the hours of the night passed by and the fires slowly started to dwindle down due to the lack of ignitable fuel, some of the Guardians returned to their hollows to get some rest, while others chose to stay for a while longer. Soren, after a quick consultation with Pelli and the Parliament, named Ekster and Arend honorary members of the Tree, and were given permission to come and go as they please.
Being creatures of the day, they spent the rest of the night sleeping next to each other in a vacant hollow, and planned to head out when morning came around. Soren made sure someone would be awake during that moment to provide them with some nutrition before heading out.
Shard, his broken wing firmly wrapped in a soft cloth, nuzzled Bryony tenderly as she kept her gaze on her offspring. Both of them were snoozing in the warmth of her belly feathers. Bix sat a few inches away from them, picking up some mild distress radiating from Bryony.
"Are you trying to think of a name for your son, dearie?" she asked.
Bryony looked up at her. "I was, Bix. I thought of one, but I don't know if it's a good one."
"We won't know until you tell us, sweetie," Shard said, preening a few of her head feathers. Bryony looked at him, then back at Bix, and finally looked down at her son again.
"Well... You named our daughter Luna, because you saw the moon when I grabbed you. So, since we were victorious at this Battle of the Moon Festival, I was thinking to name our son... Victus."
Shard joined his mate in looking at his son, the latter squeaking in his sleep.
"Looks like he likes it... and I do too. It's a wonderful name, honey. Victus it will be."
"Victus and Luna..." Bryony said absentmindedly. "Welcome to this world."
Minutes passed like seconds as Shard basked in the harmony erupting from the inside of his hollow, so relieved and happy that his family was spared of death's cold embrace. Enraptured, he almost didn't hear the soft rap that was created by a visitor, sitting at the rim of their hollow. Shard turned to see Twilight, a mischievous smirk donning his face.
"Hey, Cap. What's with the smile? You've never seen a happy family before?"
"Oh, I have, but that's not what I'm here for," Twilight replied.
"Then what..." Oh no, Shard thought to himself, as his face dropped.
"Yep. Time to make good your promise."
To all crows still out there.
Know that we harbor no ill thoughts towards you. We understand that you were all manipulated by the false promises of the one named Zwart.
We are willing to confer with the survivors of the Battle of the Moon Festival, for we realize your population has suffered a serious blow. It is our hope and desire to accomplish a treaty that will prevent this kind of pointless bloodshed from happening ever again.
A messenger will be waiting at Cape Glaux, at the next newing of the moon. Whether you agree to achieve this goal or not, please send your chosen ambassador to meet with the messenger carrying your decision.
We only strive for the world to be at peace, where death is only tolerated for the natural order of things. For the sake of thriving future generations everywhere, we hope you will agree with our philosophy.
Please discuss this matter amongst yourselves keeping this in mind.
Yours respectfully
King Soren, Queen Pellimore
Guardians of Ga'Hoole
"There. I hope the crows will come to terms with our point of view," Soren said, putting down his quill after he wrote the last words of his letter.
"So do I," Pelli replied, sitting next to him in the secluded comfort of their own hollow. As Soren turned to look at her, she winced and turned away, slightly ashamed of how she appeared before him, with half of her head wrapped up in bandages.
"Pelli? What's the matter, dear?"
"Soren... do you think my eye will ever recover from this?" The intonation in her voice failed to hide what really concerned her.
"That's not the real question, is it?" he asked instead.
Pelli sighed. "Will... will you still love me if it doesn't?"
"Will I- what a thing to say! Of course I will! With or without an eye, you are still the same Pellimore I fell in love with, and nothing will ever change that, least of all your appearance. I will always love you, no matter what."
"Thank you, my love," she replied, relieved beyond imagination. "Yet, I'm so worried... What if it doesn't heal?"
"Well... you could always learn from Otulissa."
"Oh yes, you're right, the poor thing. I have grown so accustomed to her appearance, the thought didn't cross my mind."
"Think nothing of it. Now, what do you say we take this letter to the printing chaw, so it can be spread across the land?"
"Right behind you, dearest. Just, please, take it slow, would you mind? I haven't fully adjusted to this condition yet..."
"Of course, my darling. Right this way..."
As Soren and Pelli swooped out of their hollow, Otulissa sat in the library, contemplating on recent past events. She sat at her desk, her latest work-in-progress 'New Tales of Ga'Hoole – After the War' in front of her. It was a good thing she hadn't finished it yet, because this latest battle was enough to provide it with a brand new chapter.
She pulled out a feather from her left wing, dipped it in ink, and started writing a prologue.
Chapter 15
The Battle of the Moon Festival
As I write this, this event occurred less than a night cycle ago. A war has been fought, to which I will refer to as the Battle of the Moon Festival, even though it occurred one night after the actual festivities. And even though we were victorious, that victory came with a high cost, just like any other victory.
We lost good friends and family members, the emotional scars of their demise added to the physical ones. No matter the outcome of any battle, wounds are always inflicted, one way or another.
In hindsight, this battle that also taught many of us an important lesson. Sometimes, allies can be found within the enemy forces itself. But when those allies come to seek you out, but are rejected because nobody believes them, it might just be your undoing.
For the rest of this chapter, remember this moral, my dear readers:
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
THE END
A/N: song inspired by Us Against The World, performed by Coldplay.