Lutta woke in a large hollow filled with mossy nests. A Sooty Owl was standing over her with a bundle of leaves in his talons. "You're awake," he said.

"Yes." The Great Gray sat up, stretching her wings. "You're Jyilen?" She had fallen asleep in the hollow before the healer had come in. "What time is it?"

"First Lavender. You've rested for the whole day as well as part of last night." The Sooty offered her a sweet-scented leaf. "Here – it will give you strength. You're pretty weak after being caught in the storm."

"Oh. Thanks." Lutta took the leaf thankfully.

"You're Thyme, right?"

"Hm? Oh, right. Yes." The shapeshifter glanced around the hollow. There were no other owls that the healer needed to take care of, and she felt suddenly alone. "Can I fly around a bit once the sun goes all the way down?"

Jyilen thought for moment. "I guess so. Just be sure to come back here if you start feeling sick." He watched her for a moment. "In fact, I think that you're strong enough to sleep in a regular hollow now. You can start training with the chaws soon, and get put into one."

"Okay. Thank you." Lutta stood as the owl moved away and left the healing hollow. She spread her wings and flapped across the room to a space in the wall, the tree trunk, to watch the sky. The subtle colors of lavender were fading into a rich blue, and the stars were starting to appear in the sky.

Abruptly a loud voice called out with ringing tones, making her jump.

Day is done

Wake and fly

In the time of night.

Rise and soar,

As sun fades away,

To starlight.

Stretch your wings

In your gizzard

Know you're free.

For we are strong

We are of the

Great Ga'Hoole Tree!

Lutta peered though the space again as a rustling filled the tree. The sky was dark now, and she saw owls soaring through the night. They wheeled around a few times, then turned back to the tree and landed in a hollow above the infirmary.

Jyilen returned. "The Snow Rose is a fabulous singer, isn't she? She's the owl who sings to wake us and tell us when it's day." He rustled his wings. "You can go eat tweener now." He saw Lutta's blank look. "You know, the meal between day and total night."

Lutta dipped her head and followed him out of the hollow.

The Sooty led her to a giant space with owls inside. Long snakes were stretched out with the owls crowded around them, and on their backs were bowls of food. Jyilen explained about the snakes.

"They're the nest maid snakes, see. They keep the hollows clean and also become the tables. They're blind, too."

Lutta blinked in surprise. She glanced around the room and spotted Hoole, Emerilla and Strix Strumajen sitting with some other owls. Jyilen directed Lutta to them.

"You're feeling better now, then?" asked Emerilla.

"Yes." Lutta tried not to act any differently to the Spotted Owl than she would to a normal owl. "Thank you for letting me stay here."

"It's nothing," replied Hoole. "All owls are welcome here."

What about a half-owl half-hagsfiend monster? "Jyilen said I was going to stay in a hollow with other owls?"

Hoole nodded. "Yes. Two others. After tweener you will practice being in different chaws, to get experience in all of them. After you have practiced for a while, your rybs – teachers – will decide which chaw you'll be in permanently." He gestured with his wings to the other owls around him. "These are the other rybs. I'm the ryb of colliering, getting embers for the smith-owls, and weather. More chaws are navigation, search-and-rescue, tracking, and other things."

"Interesting," Lutta said.

Hoole nodded. "Now, go eat. The two owls you'll nest with are at that table. Their names are Skreel and Thorn." He pointed to a nest maid snake with five owls gathered around her. "Remember to meet for chaw practices after tweener."

Lutta dipped her head and moved over to the table. Her head was buzzing just from hearing Hoole speak about the amazing tree and the wonderful things the owls did.

She had already made up her mind to get into the colliering and weather chaw.