Chapter 34: What Happens if…?
Upon Return to the Beaks, Elanore is attended to and she is fine, besides having a concussion. She realises Tyto Resistance is more trained than her elites. They find themselves confused, seeing as no one is more trained than them. When Elanore is alone, she contemplates thoughts and she thinks that if Tyto Resistance can kill 100 of their owls in one battle, it will be 10 times worse when it comes to all the forces combined.
Over the next few nights, she starts to lose sleep when thinking about what will become of them. She is prepared for what comes, but she is secretly fretting anything that will ensure that she will die.
When she is alone with Nyroc, he is flirting with her and she seems disinterested. He finally notices and sees that something is amiss. He sees how tired she is and he doesn't know why she would be losing sleep, as he has made sure she has had rest from her accident.
"Elanore, what is wrong? You look like you haven't slept in days." Nyroc asks
"Nyroc… I can't tell you. I don't want you to worry." Elanore replies
"Why?" He asks
"I just… I just don't want to be killed and to have you be burdened with the Pure Ones. I know that I will meet my fate and I just don't know what to do." Elanore exclaims before sobbing into Nyroc's chest
He holds her close and comforts her as he knows she hasn't slept in the time from when she was knocked into concussion and up until now.
"For the both of us, I would lead the Pure Ones. If they were going to kill you, I would never allow that to happen." He says
"You would lead the Pure Ones?" She asks
"Look into my eyes, Elanore. They are almost red. When they are fully red, like enemies blood, I would lead the Pure Ones with you by my side. If they ever, ever lay one talon on you or your beautiful body I would decapitate their head or pull of their limbs. I would never let harm come your way." He replies
Morin flies in while they are staring into each other's eyes. They take notice of him and he bows in respect.
"Prince Nyroc, Queen Elanore, Lord Mordecai has informed us that Ga'Hoole and Ambala posts are training their hardest and are expecting the Guardians and the armies anytime soon. Are there any orders?" Morin reports
"No orders. Go and tend to your wife, Celia. She has a little surprise for you." Elanore replies
Morin bows and then flies off, as fast as he can. After seeing this, Nyroc looks at her with question, as she nuzzles his neck and asks "What do you mean?"
"Celia and Morin will be parents. She laid an egg several hours ago. I sent them a gift basket full of baby stuff. The least I could do." Elanore replies
"I see." He says confused, seeing as he didn't know Morin had a wife
Elanore and Nyroc go outside onto the balcony and look into the sky. A storm is brewing and they both feel the chill of the cold wind coming off the ocean not too far from here blowing inland. Nyroc holds Elanore close as they look up at the blood moon and the stars that are red around the moon coloured blood red. Elanore is falling asleep under Nyroc's wing and she gives him a kiss before finally getting some sleep. He knows that she will sleep well, seeing as she has been awake for a few nights (who would know what time it is anyway? That is the beauty of Night Eternal I guess).
Since he doesn't want to get a cold, neither his lover soon to be betrothed, he moves the sleeping owl inside and to bed. She is asleep when he kisses her head and then is about to leave when he thinks to himself and that she would need someone around her in her time of heavy thought and stress. The last thing he wants is for her to become like Nyra when he told her of her near death illness (Legend of the Guardians 2: War and the Ember, end of Chapter 25 and in Chapters 27 & 30) and for her to have delusions of some sort and to be haunted by her conscience.