Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of the Guardians or the book series

Chapter 20: The journey begins

Dawn had broken over St. Aegolius, and the skies were a mixture of red and orange, as usual. St. Aggies never had a bright and sunny day; it alway looked like morning or afternoon whenever the sun was out. not that it mattered anyway, for the sun was now hidden by the vast clouds of smoke from the seeminly perpetual forest fire that ravaged a large grove of dead trees nearby. even if there was no smoke, it wouldn't have made today any brighter.

Nyra led her scout party of Pure Ones through the southern end of St. Aggie's. Instead of ravines and caverns, there were great flat plains of rock, and towering spiars. To her left, the great forest fire, and to her right, the Flying Foxes could be seen conjugating with buckets of flecks. She smiled to herself; the construction of the Devil's Triangle was nearly complete. But they'd have to test it before it's true purpose could be realized.

Flanking the malicious queen, were the two highest ranking soldiers of the Pure Guard: Comander Stryker, and Lieutenant Wortmore. In her wake, was Kludd, as well as the other young recruits whoe had joined the Pure One's noble cause. Further behind them, were the two Long eared Owls, Jatt and Jutt, carrying their precious cargo, a young Barn Owlet named Eglantine. The one called Kludd, had led them back to his hollow where they had found her all alone. She told Kludd their parents, as well as their nest-maid snake, had gone out to find him and his brother. Kludd had told her to come with him, and before she could respond, Jatt had her in his talons. Now, the thirteen-and-a-half owls flew through the rocky landscape to their next destination.

They posse was headed for an exceptionally large spiar, which stood taller than all the others around it. Near the top was what looked like the mouth of a cave, and most of the bottom had a huge gap with a small stream running through it. As he and the others entered the bottom of the stone tower, Kludd could see that the inside was hollow. Inside were stalagites of all sizes, and Pure One banners lined the walls. As the owls began to turned upwards, the vertical cavern opened up into a huge cave. The ceiling was covered with jaaged stalagtites, with sleeping bats nestled in between. The 'floor' was a flattened platform of granite, large enough for all the owls to land upon. They faced a large hole in wall they had ssen from before outside, between which a strange design had been built.

It was an arch carved from wood, decorated with red banners and lit torches. Within it was a thick ring, made from tisted branches and elephant tusks. The ring was attached to a rock carved to look like an owl's open talons. And in the center of it all, was a large, dark figure, an owl from the looks of it. The thin slivers of sunlight silohetted him, casting his shadow across the floor of the cave. His back was turned to them, and he was hunched over. this seemed more like a fat vulture than an owl. But the huge apparatus he was perched on meant he was very, very important. Kludd was getting scared. This had to be the Lord High Tyto that Nyra had kept talking about. This had to be the leader of the Pure Ones from Soren's favorite book. This had to be...Metalbeak. Kludd began to wilt, but held his ground. In front of him, Nyra, Styker, and Wortmore, as well as Jatt and Jutt behind him, lowered their heads submissively. Kludd and the other young Tytos were soon to follow. In the protective shadow of her brother, Eglantine was gently nudged by Jatt's wing to do the same.

Nyra lifted up into the air and settled down on a lower perch by her mate. "My lord."

"Hmm?" the giant owl turned his head slightly to face her.

"Our work at St. Aegolius is nearly done." Nyra spoke softly, but with seriousness in her tone. "The last of the flecks are on their way, and I've brought you an offering with beating hearts." she turned her own head to face the younger owls. "Your new soldiers; tested and pure. One in particular, shows exceptional promise." She gestured to Kludd, who now wilted at his newfound attention.

The beastly owl scoffed. "I'll be the judge of that." his voice was low and gruff, but metallic at the same time. He turned around fully to face the young Barn Owl. "You, soldier. Step forward now."

The young owl could now see his new leader in full form. He was a Sooty Owl, an extremely large Sooty Owl, actually taller than Nyra. His plumage was a deep black, but became an ashy gray down by his legs, which sported the deadliest-looking battle claws Kludd had ever seen. Behind the high Tyto's mask, were dark, soleless eyes that bore right through him. The right eye was black, while the other was a milky gray that seemed to follow Kludd around. But the most frightening feature was his mask. It was not unlike that of the Pure One's battle helmets, but it had the luster of silver, with small engravings on it. In the center, was a long, pointy protrusion that resembled an owl's upper beak, and it even looked like it had been smelted in place. Kludd, with his feathers tight against his body, slowly walked closer in the High Tyto's shadow, quivering.

"Yes, you're right to be afraid in my presence." the High Tyto said, half amused, but serious. "What is your name?"

Kludd felt his name escape his beak, but it sounded more like a squeak mixed with a whisper. "Kludd."

"Speak up!" The larger bird snapped sternly, making Kludd flinch.

"Kludd! My name is Kludd." he managed to stand up straighter and nearly shouted.

"There, that's better." The High Tyto said. "Remember, weakness is for the lower species, never. for. us. Do you know why, Kludd?"

Kludd paused. He had thought it over, then remembered what every Pure One around him had said. The words came out naturally for him, his voice like that of a disciplined soldier, a true Pure Ones; "Because we, are, Tytos."

Metalbeak chuckled with plesaure. This one would prove useful. Behind Kludd, eglantine bgan to wimper with fright. She didn't understand much of what was going on, but she knew this was bad, and that Kludd was in on it. All she could do, was wait and hope she would see Soren again.

...

Far away, at the borders of Ambala and Tyto, the Band had found large tree with a warm and spacious hollow. Soren and Gylfie were relieved to be finally able to rest, and get a break from Digger's corny owl jokes. As Mrs. Plithiver went to work at eating up all of the annoying grubs and maggots that littered the hollow floor, Twilight had gone out to hunt. When he returned, he had brought back a strange tree-dwelling creature called a sugar glider. He told them it used the membranes of skin between its legs to glide from tree to tree like a flying squirrel. It tasted sweet, and Soren had to admit that he had never been so weel fed. They all praised Twilight for his exceptional hunting skills. As they dozed off to sleep, he made a soft melody on his lute that had put them right out.

"If I never taste another sugar glider it'll be toon soon." Digger beltched softly. "They keep repeating on me."

The four owls and Mrs. P. had left at First Black. they had now alighted on a tree limb with a good view down the valley. They were looking for a creek - any creek that could feed into a river and hopefully would lead to the River of Hoole, which they could follow to the Sea of Hoolemere.

'What do you mean 'keep repeating on you'?" Soren said, imagining the little wide-eyed creatures gliding in and out of digger's beak.

"Just an expression. My da used to say that after he ate centipedes." Digger explained. "And the mum would say, 'Well, of course they keep repeating on you, dear. You eat something that has all those legs, they're probably running around inside you.' "

Gylfie, Twilight, and Soren burst out laughing.

Digger chuckled. "My mum was really funny. I sure do miss her jokes."

"Really, was she she funnier than you, or did you just steal her material?" Twilight teased. Gylfie and Soren burst out laughing once again. Digger raised one brow with a sour expression. "Critic." he pouted.

Twilight had hopped to a higher branch to see if he could spot any trace of the creek that led to a river.

"He's not going to be able to see anything in this light. I don't care how good his eyes are. A black trickle of a creek in a dark forest - forget it," Gylfie said.

Suddely, Soren cocked his head, first one way, then the other.

"What is it, Soren?" Digger asked.

"Do you hear something?" Twilight flew down and landed on a thin branch that creaked under his weight.

"Hush!" Soren said.

They all fell silent and watched as the Barn Owl tipped, cocked, and pivoted his head in a series of small movements. And, finaly, Soren heard something. "There's a trickle. I hear it. It's not a lot of water, but I can hear that it begins in reeds and then starts to slide over stones. Let's go. I'll lead."

It was one of the first few times anyone except Twilight had flown in the point position.

As Soren flew, he kept angling his head so his that his two uneven ears could precisely locate the source of water. Within a few minutes, they had found a trickle and that trickle turned into a stream, a stream full of the music of gently tumbling water. Then by dawn that stream had become a river - the River of Hoole.

"A masterful job at triangulation," Gylfie cried. "Simply masterful, Soren. You're a premiere navigator."

"What's she saying?" Digger asked.

"She's saying that Soren got us here. Big words, little owl." But it was evident that Twilight was clearly impressed.

"So now what do we do?" Digger asked again.

"Follow the river to the sea of Hoolemere," Twilight said. "Come on. We still have a few hours until First Light."