Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of the Guardians or the book series. The belong to Katheryn Lasky ans Warner Bros.


It had been a day since the Guardians had left. The whole tree had been relatively quiet, and all chaws had been put on hold. Soren had taken up an almost sedentary position by Eglantine. The matrons had agreed to let him and Mrs. Plithiver stay by her as long as they wished, for they could not bear the awful sight of him pleading. His friends had stopped trying to make him leave to eat, and would often come up with food. Soren didn't care, though. Nothing could draw him from the fact that his little sister still hadn't come back to him.

"You know, Eglantine," Soren choked, "I'd trade places with you if I could. I wish it were me lying there instead of you."

"Oh, Soren," Mrs. P. said with undying sympathy. She was just as heartbroken as he was. They knew Eglantine could hear them, but she had no processing thoughts or comprehention of her surroundings, whether she could see or not. Otulissa was right, she may as well have been dead.

"If only you could see this place for yourself, Eg," Soren began to ramble. "Da's stories were true. They're all true. The Guardians, and the Ga'Hoole Tree, the stories of Hoole and the wolves, the ember, they're all true. Even Lyze of Kiel. He's real, Eg," A few stray tears leaked from his eyes. "He's real."

It felt like Soren had stood there for hours. Though time was no longer important to him. He had to face fact; Eglantine was probably never coming back, like it or not. He had friends by his side, but nothing could cease the lonely feeling in his gizzard right now. But by some miracle, there was the sudden and unexpected chime of Eglantine's voice: "S...Soren?"

"Eglantine?" the Barn Owl whipped around.

"Soren. You promised...I could be Lyze on the next go." The milky film on Eglantine's eyes had faded, giving way to her dark black pupils. She looked dazed and groggily tried to heave herself up from the nest. Behind her was Mrs. P. with the biggest grin of happiness Soren had ever seen. The bitter tears of anguish has sweetened with joy, as Soren lept to his sister's side and took her under his wings in a hug. She was back.

"Soren? Mrs. P.?" Eglantie said in a tired voice, "we're not at home, are we?"

"No, we're at the Guardians' tree, Eg. This is Ga'Hoole!"

"No; it can't be. Kludd, he..."

"Kludd was wrong," Soren interrupted blissfully, "da was right. He was right all along, Eg!"

Eglantine sat up. "No, I mean Kludd was there, with me. He did this to me, Soren He's one of them."

Mrs. Plithiver gasped, and Soren found himself at a loss for words. Most of what Eglantine had just said barely resgistered to him, but he picked up enough of it to understand what she meant. "He what? No, Eg, you must be confused." He felt a rush of anxiety and fear. "It can't be. But still, thank Glaux that Allomere rescued you."

"I wasn't rescued; Kludd gave me to the owl that brought me here," Eglantine said with her head held low.

Certain she was refrring to the old ryb. Soren continued with a chur, "Eg, that's impossible. I mean, that would have to make Allomere a...a traitor." As much as he wanted not to think about it, his mind began racing to put togeter a puzzle. Lord Allomere had spent a long time out looking for the Pure Ones, wich could have taken less time with the coordinates given to him. And he had come back without his two suboordinates, who looked like they could have handled any Pure One. And lastly, he had come back with Eglantine, specifically Eglantine. He could have grabbed any moon-blinked owlet, but no; it was her. and that was exactly what was supposed to happen.

"Oh no, it's a trap!" Soren realized. He spun around and dashed out of the hollow, leaving Mrs. P. and Eglantine to themselves. On the limb, he was about to spread his wings when Pelli suddenly appeared, looking confudsed.

"Oh, Pelli. What are you doing here?" asked Soren, regaining his balance.

"I thought I'd stop by and help you with your little sister. What are you doing?"

"Egantine said she was given to Allomere by the Pure Ones. The Guardians are being led into a trap. It's a contingency!"

"Oh, Glaux."

"I have to get my friends and fly to the canyonlands," Soren continued. "We have to warn them before it's too late."


"Now this is the life!" Twilight boomed as he fastened the last leather strap of his battle claws. The Band had snuck into the Guardians' armory and were trying out whatever arms they could handle. They had each put on a set of battle claws and were considering what else to use. Twilight had selected only one battle claw and use his bare talon to grip his lute in. Digger and Gylfie had both picked full sets of claws, specifically sized for their species'. Soren, meanwhile, had taken the refurbished claws of Ezylryb, their serrated edges making even himself wilt slightly.

"So, uh, whow do we get to this place?" Digger asked, tilting his head.

"We'll follow the Whale's Fin. It's where the Guardians would have gone. I'm sure of it," said Gylfie.

"You're not going anywhere," they heard the unmistakable voice of Otulissa. The Band turned around to see her, Shard, Martin, Ruby, Primrose, and Pelli, standing at the mouth of the hollow. The Spotted Owl's glare turned to a cocky smirk. "Not without us."

Though flattred and relieved, soren didn't want them to get involved in something that wasn't their problem. "That's great, you guys, but you don't know what the Pure Ones are like."

"Racdrops!"i snapped Shard. "Your our friends. And besides; we're all probably at this tree becasue of these Pure Ones, anyway. And you're gonna need plenty of backup."

"He's right. If this is your problem, we'll help you through it. That's what you've done for us these past months," said Ruby.

"So we're going with you," Pelli said sternly as she marched up to Soren, "no questions asked."

"...Okay."


Sorry for the delay. I've been trapped between school and driver's Ed. Please review.