I have had nothing to do all day, I am putting off homework 'till tommorrow so yeah. Trying to write good but bite my head off if I am not. It will do me good. Also, Need names for characters...Don't make me go to name generators. I hate those things. So sorry that this chapter took so long, I had to finish homework and such and then put up with my bro at the same time.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Peony (Thanks, Zealak for the name) and Solar

Reviews: Thanks Zealak Silverdirk for the two reviews, very helpful, I am trying hard to fit standerds and keep sending reviews if you get the chance.

Chapter Three: Hatching

Three days and four nights had passed since Digger had left and it was on that fourth night that while Solar had gone hunting she came home to see something shocking. Her egg had hatched and was crying for food. Solar gave a shree of joy and fluttered over to the big-headed ball of fluff. It chirped something and she nudged it gently. "Peony." She murmured deciding that was to be the name of the she-chick, but she also relized that this cute creature would need feeding, "Give your Mum a second to go get you some nice bugs for you to eat."

With that Solar went out to the edge of her den and ran, ran to find food, stopping every few feet to look for bugs. Not any bugs, the creepy-crawlies her mother had always caught her. She grinned as she found a large nest of them who looking positively perfect. She picked up a few in her beak, careful that her she wouldn't swallow them.

The harsh winds of the coming winter blew around her and tossed up some dirt, she knew her daughter would be getting cold and that would be also tired. She herself had to fight of the tiredness at her feet and wings, how heavy her eyelids felt and how she longed to go to sleep in a bed of moss. But Solar shook off the sleep and looked up to the lonely moon, no stars were out yet and she heard loud wing beats. Familar wing beats.

The band had been found, in good time, faster than the Barn Owl would have thought. He flew ahead of the group searching the ground for any sights or sounds. Gylfie flew down low, getting a better view than the larger owls, Twilight flew port and Digger Starboard. "Owl below!" Soren hooted to the others and saw that a burrowing owl was running back to where it was most likely living. "Up ahead."

Digger looked and saw Solar, he decended untill her was lower than Gylfie, and looked at Soren who was giving him questioning looks, "It's my mate, I wonder though why she is running." But with a loud hoot he landed on the ground and the others shook their heads. None of them had even known about Digger's mate, but they had met her.

"Solar!" He hooted to her and she stopped abruptly, it took him a few seconds to catch up with her to find that she had a bunch of bugs in her beak. He cocked his head to the side and she nudged her head in the direction of the den, which was now about a few feet ahead of them.

Soren could now hear the wails of a young chick and landed beside them, "Digger, there's a chick in your den." He had heard it from above but wasn't quite sure. Now he was.

Digger nudged Solar so happily she almost toppled over, "Is it a girl?" He asked happily, she couldn't get over how happy he was and now she was even happier. She nodded and he churred, "Well, I think we should get back to the den."

With that Digger motioned for Soren, Twilight and Gylfie to follow and the two Burrowing Owls took off towards their den and crawled in with the others following, the little owl with the big head now looked like a giant ball of down, whining and hooting for food.

Solar lay the bugs down near her feet, "Eat it head first." She spoke calmly to Peony.

"What's her name, Solar?" She churred to him and then looked at the other three owls who had followed them. It seemed odd to see Twilight in the underground burrow for he had to hunch over and Gylfie seemed so small.

"Peony, the name of my grandmother." Soren looked at Lothilicia and remembered back to Eglantine, he nudged his mate once more but then turned to the others', he had completely forgotten they were there.

"Soren, Twilight, Gylfie. This is my mate Solar and now Peony." Digger churred a bit but then whispered something to Solar but Soren picked it up. 'Have you seen anymore of them?' With a slow shake no, the Barn Owl was wondering who they were talking about. "The reason that I brought you here is that five nights ago two owls flew by our burrow."

This had gotten the groups attention and Solar was attempting not to listen by showing young Peony how to properly eat the bugs. "No, you have to eat the legs." She hooted softly.

"In their talons held the sadiest thing I think either of us has ever seen. A dead owl, torn apart by an owl's talons'." Gylfie gasped at that, and behind Digger, Solar cringed. "I don't know who they were or what they were doing but it didn't look like this was supposed to be a burial."

A/N: You like so far? Yes/No? Tell me, please, and also if anyone would like to just give me an owl that they like to be included or their own made-up I would be happy to add them in. They can be good or... BAD! MWUHAHAHA, Sorry, I'm okay now.