Chapter 7

After the incident with Soren, Kludd's days went back to their previous rhythm: get up, go to the fortress, go to classes, go back home, go to bed. However, each day served a fresh reminder of Kludd's mistake, and with each day, Kludd found himself growing angrier and angrier at his brother. Cedar, Garth, and Scourge had been willing to let the incident slide, and Jade didn't say anything about the incident to anyone, but Kludd felt his rage grow hotter and hotter with each passing day.

However, Kludd was also getting closer and closer to Nyra, who had offered one week to teach him privately. She would teach him many strategic maneuvers, but they would often spend much of their classes talking. Kludd often told her many family stories – about his mum, his da, Soren, Mrs. P, and even Eglantine. Nyra would often churr at these hilarious family stories, and Kludd loved the sound of her laughter. Actually, he loved everything about her; she was the one owl who could make him forget his anger and pain.

One such evening, Kludd had flown to the fortress in secret, as usual, but flew carrying a fire lily in his beak. He had learned the previous class that these were Nyra's favourite, as they reminded her of her mother. He didn't pause to greet his chambermates, as he usually did, but flew straight to Nyra and to her class, as he knew hers would be the first class he had that day. He then landed behind Nyra and made a slight coughing sound, and as Nyra turned around, the smile on her face grew wider and wider.

"You…" she said, her voice growing soft as she looked at the orange flower. "You brought… How did…"

"It was pretty hard to find." Kludd said modestly. "I had to wake up earlier than usual and search all over Tyto to find one, but eventually I found this on a mountain on the way to the fortress. It's a good thing I found it; otherwise, I would have way too much time on my talons." He said this part with a good – natured churr.

Nyra held the delicate flower gently in her talons, admiring it from all angles possible. "It's… it's beautiful." She said, breathlessly. "But why…"

Kludd clamped his beak at that question. He had been trying to figure out the best way to explain his growing feelings for Nyra; he wanted so desperately to express them. At the same time, however, Kludd knew she had a mate, and probably would not feel the same way for him. Nevertheless, the moment the question popped out, Kludd knew there was no escaping it; she needed to know. It was now or never.

"Nyra," Kludd said, sighing not with exasperation, but with trepidation, "You are undoubtedly the best part of the Pure Ones. I've felt that way ever since I met you when you were out recruiting, and when I was invited to join the Pure Ones, I felt as though my gizzard would explode in happiness, as I wanted nothing more than for you to be a regular part of my life. You've always had so much faith in me, and I want to make you proud, because I…" Kludd then stopped. He wanted desperately to say those three words he had always heard being said to him by his mum, but they escaped him now. It was probably just as well, for Nyra now silenced him.

"Don't say it." She said, her eyes now focused on him. Kludd began to worry that he had said something wrong, but his worries faded when her smile came back. "I already know. And I feel the same way towards you." She then wrapped her wings around Kludd in a warm embrace, and Kludd, in turn, wrapped his wings around her as she spoke to him in a lovely, lilting voice, "Erragh tuoy bit mik in strah. Erragh tuoy frihl in mi murm frissah di Naftur, regno di frahm. Erragh tuoy bity mi plurrh di glauc. E mi't, di tuoy."

Kludd cocked his head, confused. Nyra then whispered, "Your rage will be the jewel of my crown. Your rage burns in me like the fires of Naftur, ruler of the flames. Your rage is my life's blood. And mine, yours." Kludd then felt his heart flutter, and he eased himself further into Nyra's embrace until he could truly hear the beating of her heart. And as he spent more and more time in that embrace, his own heartbeat soon began to match hers.

A little ways away from where Kludd and Nyra were standing, a young Barn Owl, unnoticed by either of them, watched from a crack in the rock. For a while, he had been quite nervous around Kludd. He was, in all senses of the word, the perfect Pure One; his peers and his instructors could attest to that. Even the High Tyto seemed to favour him, although he would never admit it. His own father, too, was an esteemed Pure One commander, and he knew full well from all of his classes that the Pure Ones looked down on owls that were like him. But his other chambermates didn't seem all that mad when he told them, and now he had some hope that Kludd would be able to understand if he told him; aside from him, Kludd was the only one he knew who knew something about forbidden love.

"You love Nyra, don't you?" Garth asked Kludd as soon as he came out. Kludd knew that question would arise; Garth had been waiting outside the chamber where Kludd and Nyra had their class, most likely long enough to hear what happened. Nevertheless, Kludd tried to deny it. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, don't play innocent, Rebel." Garth replied. "Tytos have incredible hearing; I heard and saw everything. You do realize the High Tyto would be furious if he found out, right?" The warning had come out of Garth's beak, but oddly enough, there was no trace of rage in his voice. For a moment, however, there was silence as Kludd pondered the implications.

"Don't worry about it, friend." Garth said, a sadness now creeping into his voice. "I won't tell a single scroomsaw." He then lowered his head and added, "If I did, it would make me feel like a hypocrite."

Kludd's eyes widened in surprise at this statement. "What?" he said, mindful to keep his voice low. "Why would you feel like a hypocrite? You are one of the most –"

Garth then pulled him aside, turned his head from side to side looking – and listening – for others who might be nearby, then whispered, "Can you keep a secret?"

"For you?" Kludd replied. "Of course! Glaux knows your keeping a big one for me."

Garth sighed, nervous as ever. "Alright, well, you know my father is an esteemed commander here, right?" Kludd nodded. "Well, when he was hatched, his name was Logan. When he joined the Pure Ones, however, he received a new name: Purge. And for good reason, too: he made sure the Pure Ones stayed pure by purging them of Barn Owls who were crippled or who he thought of as impure in mind – that is, Tytos who liked other Tytos of the same gender as them. He was one of the best; in fact, he only made one mistake in his life as a Pure One: he hatched me."

Kludd's eyes went wide with shock. He knew a lot about individuals like this; his Da had once told him this was something that had happened to the Others quite a lot as well, and that they even had a name for it. But he didn't realize that it could happen to owls as well, and as he realized what Garth was saying now, he felt as though his legs might give way. "You mean…" Kludd stammered.

Garth simply nodded; he knew the Others' word for it too, and he remembered how his father had said it, as if it were a curse. Now, however, it was the only word that fit him. "I'm gay."

A/N: Holy racdrops, that escalated. So, many of you may have noticed a few similarities between the Pure Ones and the Nazis (attitudes, leadership styles, etc.). One interesting thing about the Nazis is that, as it turns out, they also hated gays, so I had imagined that the Pure Ones had similar attitudes to owls like that (even though Kathryn Lasky never brought such things up - not that that's her fault). So I had pondered the idea of including a gay Tyto in a while back, but wasn't quite sure how to put him in the story without making it preachy. Nevertheless, I definitely like the way Garth's revelation ended up being timed. What about you guys? As always, show some love and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Guardians of Ga'Hoole; full credit goes to Kathryn Lasky.