Chapter 3: Shall We Not Revenge?

Katarina awoke and calmly ran through her usual post-slumber routine. She played a one-minute solo on the ocarina to warm up her lungs.

The long, undisturbed slumber had left her feeling revitalized in both mind and body. She journeyed gleefully to the mainland immediately to the west of the H'rathghar Glacier's terminus.

Grog trees dotted the strip of land nestled between the Bitter Sea and the glacier proper. Randomly picking a tree out of the several in her field of view, she spiraled out of the air and swooped into it.

It was rather early so the cavity was half empty. No other performers had yet arrived; Katarina's exhibition would therefore be the first.

She and the steward, a female barred owl named Haldora, conversed briefly before the former took the metaphorical stage.

Serenading all ten spectators with an uplifting melody, she easily earned their respect, not to mention their admiration. Six kraals conducted a toast in her honor, downing their bingle juice in one gulp.

At Haldora's behest, Katarina drank one cup of the fermented berry juice. Within minutes a slight haze shrouded her mind.

Her small size meant it did not take much bingle juice to render her tipsy. Her mother and father would not be too fond of her showing up inebriated.

Exercising self-control, she politely refused a second swig. Eager to rendezvous with her parents again, she bid the owls farewell and left the grog tree.

Roughly one minute later, three kraals seated side-by-side nodded almost imperceptibly to one another. Conniving glimmers in their eyes, they filed out of the chamber one-by-one.

The remaining owls thought nothing of their departure. If only they realized that the trio of kraals harbored nothing but bad intentions.

The last owl in the line, a male snowy, grabbed a fabric pouch dangling from a slender branch just below the entrance. Extracting the armaments that belonged to him, he deftly slipped them over his talons.

He distributed the other two pairs to his comrades and slung the pouch over his back. The kraals chuckled darkly amongst themselves, their polished metal claws flashing in the moonlight.

Their target, an ivory smudge in the near distance, drifted casually westward, heedless of her pursuers.

"Poor gadfeather, alone and oblivious to our plans," whispered the chieftain, a female great-horned owl. "I pity her."

The female boreal owl off her starboard side remarked, "She has no chance against the three of us, Johanna. Either she surrenders her instrument, or else…"

She scraped her battle claws against one another softly, yet sinisterly.

"Unfortunately for her, isn't that right, Erika?"

"Ja."

The stark white owl off to Johanna's left stated, "This will be much more thrilling than any old raid."

"I agree," Erika replied.

"She's all yours, Aevar. Subdue her and wait for us."

He nodded and initiated a steep climb, his sturdy wings churning the air. Katarina's form shrunk even further, a speck of ivory drifting along above a featureless white blanket.

He partially tucked his wings in and initiated a dive, constantly adjusting his rate of descent as the gap separating him from the saw-whet owl narrowed.

Had Katarina not been playing her ocarina, she would've heard the feathered being plunging toward her. The rushing noise rose in volume, overpowering the sound produced by the instrument.

By that time she noticed was too late.

Katarina felt something cold and sharp seize her by the tail.

"Surprise!" exclaimed her unknown attacker.

Aevar banked in a tight clockwise circle to build up momentum, then forcefully flung the hapless saw-whet owl earthward. The world spun round and round as Katarina tumbled through the air, unable to stabilize herself.

She clutched her flute tightly lest it go sailing off into the night. A few seconds later she crashed belly up into the snow.

The impact with the shock-absorbing substrate did not injure her, but she'd become entrenched in the depression created by her body.

She freed herself by wriggling madly.

No sooner had she stood up did a hefty male snowy owl approach, his plumage sporting turquoise enhancements. He loomed over her menacingly, pointing the wickedly-sharp tip of a battle claw at her gizzard.

"Don't even think about trying to escape."

Two dark shadows swept over her, one squat and plump, the other elongated and slender.

The snowy owl planted himself within leg reach of her right wing. A female boreal owl landed to Katarina's left, her ashen feathers bearing violet stains in multiple places.

A female great-horned owl whose plumage featured crisp scarlet streaks took his place. Katarina glanced around frantically, searching for an opening she could exploit.

It was no use. Her foes were too close, hemmed her in too tightly.

Skewered by Johanna's daggerlike gaze, Katarina froze as if encased in ice.

"What do you want? I… I have no idea who you are!"

"That is quite simple, insignificant owl."

She gestured at the ocarina hanging from Katarina's neck in a swift stabbing motion. She recoiled backwards, nearly tripping over her own feet.

Johanna tossed her head back and laughed derisively.

"That's all it takes to scare you? How weak-minded can you be?"

She snapped her beak shut and locked eyes with the saw-whet owl, who had started to tremble.

Affecting a deadly serious countenance, she declared coldly, "Your little flute is very valuable. Give it to me or suffer the consequences."

Katarina backed away, inadvertently bumping into Aevar's midsection.

"N-no! This means too much to me! I won't do it!"

Her exasperated outburst didn't faze Johanna in the slightest. She sighed in mock disappointment.

"Aevar, teach her a lesson, would you?"

"With pleasure."

He picked her up by her wing and threw her down at the boreal owl's feet.

"Your turn, Erika," she instructed calmly.

She stabbed Katarina's starboard flank. A thin jet of blood squirted from the puncture wound.

Erika shoved her head into the snow, muffling her cry of pain. Katarina whimpered as she got to her feet.

Strolling up to her victim, Johanna curled her port toes inwards.

"You dare defy me, is that it? Defy this."

She drilled her balled-up talons into Katarina's belly, knocking every ounce of wind out of her. She flipped head-over-tail twice, sliding to a stop a good pyte away.

Pulsing waves of agony radiated outward from her bruised midsection. Inhaling suddenly, she uttered a traumatized moan.

She watched helplessly as her aggressor's port talons wrapped around her body.

Johanna bore down on her caged prey with a significant portion of her weight, driving her deeper and deeper into the snowpack.

"Augh… I can't breathe… stop… I beg you…"

"Surrender your flute and I just might consider it."

"I… I can't… I won't…"

"Then you leave me no choice."

Johanna cocked a talon as if preparing to spear Katarina's throat. She shut her eyes as the talon came down, accepting what she thought was her tragic demise.

"If you're… going to kill me… just do it…"

It never contacted her.

"Kill you? Nunchat, that would be too easy," the great-horned owl asserted.

Katarina ruefully peeled her eyes open. Clutched in the talons of her nemesis was her prized instrument.

The cloth strip lay on the snow, neatly severed in two.

"This will no doubt fetch a high price. I bet we can all receive something in return for trading it away, don't you?"

"Definitely," Aevar replied.

"Whoever our buyer is, he or she won't be able to resist this offer," Erika put in.

"Our business with this pathetic gadfeather is finished," Johanna sneered. "Let's go, we have more important matters to tend to."

"Ja, time waits for no owl."

"What Aevar said."

With that, the cruel thieves launched themselves skyward. Their maniacal laughter rained down upon her, steadily fading as they receded.

Flailing her wings and talons, she managed to enlarge the pit she was in and extricate herself. Moments after staggering to her feet, a spike of crushing discomfort shot through her being.

She plopped onto the snow in a seated position, her tail and legs sticking straight out from her body. She wrapped her wings around her belly to try and stifle the throbbing pain.

Her efforts proved futile.

Stripped of her one-of-a-kind ocarina, she felt hollow, incomplete. She feared that if she attempted to reclaim it, they would take her very life next.

The miasma suffocating her mind made it difficult for her to think properly.

"I don't… know what to do…" she hooted through her tearful sobs. "Someone… anyone… Glaux… help me…"

A hushed voice at the edge of reason communicated with her: You must seek out your sister. She alone has the means to punish those who have wronged you. Go now…

Katarina wiped the liquid from her eyes and steeled her will. Doing her best to ignore the pain spawned by her wounds, she took to the sky and flew on a southeasterly heading.

The trek to Dark Fowl Island, where Annika lived, was unreasonably long and challenging to boot. Every flap of her wings caused her midsection to ache, limiting how fast she could travel.

Tapping into her memory, she somehow managed to recall where her sibling's abode was located. Wobbling unsteadily as she glided into the conspicuous cave, she landed awkwardly on the chilled stone floor.

Annika's surprise quickly mutated to alarm as she took notice of Katarina's miserable state.

Noticing the dried blood encrusting her disheveled feathers, she exclaimed, "What in Glaux's name happened to you, sister?!"

Katarina embraced her, leaning on her for support.

"Kraals attacked me… tortured me… and stole my flute…" she croaked.

"I can't believe this. Who did this to you? Did they reveal their names?!"

"Erika… Aevar… and Johanna…"

Righteous indignation flared up in Annika's gizzard.

"I know exactly who those owls are. I've had run-ins with them before, but never have they done something this despicable."

Annika walked with her to her nest and helped Katarina clamber into it.

"Where did they go after they attacked you?"

"They flew north… towards the H'rathghar Mountains."

"That must be where they prefer to hang out, as I hardly seem them in the Lair."

Annika proceeded to hastily equip her own set of battle claws. She then procured a satchel and stuffed three extra pairs of different sizes into it.

"I will not stand for this senseless violence against any of my kin. Nunchat, nuftan, nynick!"

Even when angered her Krakish was pleasant to hear.

"My kraal companions and I will hunt them down and make them pay."

Annika whirled around and ambled up to the nest. Her irate expression melted away temporarily.

"Don't worry about me, sister, I'll be fine. I want you to rest and recover."

"If you insist…"

"I will return as soon as possible. I love you."

"I love you too…"

Slinging the satchel over her back, the gold-and-ivory kraal hugged her sibling tenderly.

She stomped out of the cave. Fueled by rage, she shot off like a rocket.

Annika made a beeline for the Pirates' Lair. Upon arrival, she wasted no time in rounding up her squad. It consisted of the following members: Aksel, a male barn owl, Skadi, a female long-eared owl, and Henrik, a male flammulated owl.

To avoid being overheard and rousing suspicion, they coolly exited the Lair. Annika explained the situation and they became rightfully flustered.

"I knew those owls were trouble, but I never expected them to go this far," Skadi hooted.

"I'm not surprised," Aksel commented. "Your sister is well-known and very vulnerable. They turned her size and passive nature against her."

Henrik added, "Us small owls are at a serious disadvantage."

Annika dumped the battle claws out of the satchel.

"Put them on, quickly."

They obeyed and she threw the limp bag onto her back once more.

"We have to take my sister's flute back by force. I hope you're ready to fight."

Skadi proclaimed, "The lust for combat is in my blood."

"I'm always ready for a fight," asserted Aksel.

"Me too," Henrik pointed out.

"Injure them if you have to, but do not kill them. Our duty is to get her flute back and teach them a lesson, not take their lives. Misnacht?"

"Ja," they answered in unison.

"Gunda. I can't guarantee they'll be as merciful. Defend yourself and don't get killed either."

"As if they'll be able to lay a talon on me," boasted Skadi.

"Framish longa!"

Annika took point and the four owls arranged themselves into a diamond formation. Sailing west over the H'rathghar Glacier, they banked ninety degrees to port.

Flying at a respectable clip, they caught up to the rapacious kraals in just over seven minutes. Silhouetted against the snow-encrusted H'rathghar Mountains, it would be impossible for them to slip out of sight.

When she was sure they were within earshot, Annika shouted, "What you did to my sister is no secret! Too cowardly to face us instead?"

Johanna and her underlings dropped out of the sky, alighting on the glacier itself. Annika and her comrades imitated them.

Both groups of kraals eagerly squared off, separated by a gap a mere pyte in width.

"Four versus three? That isn't exactly fair, is it?"

"And what you did to my sister was? Spare me your meaningless complaints, Johanna."

"Oh look, I'm being talked down to by an owl one quarter my size. How amusing."

"You won't be laughing for long," Skadi retorted.

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise. Would you like me to prove it?"

"Be. My. Guest."

"Where is the flute?" Annika demanded.

Johanna tossed it over her shoulder.

"If you want to find it, you'll have to go through us."

She, Erika, and Aevar bunched together.

"Fine. Let's settle this now," Annika said through a clenched beak.

"Yes, let's," Johanna replied boldly.

"You wronged my sister, who isn't even a kraal. Did you not expect us to seek revenge?"

The Tyto's screech set the conflict into motion.

Skadi and Johanna clashed, Aksel went after Aevar, and Henrik and Annika tag-teamed Erika.

Furious vocalizations erupted from the kraals as they fought, blending together into one unintelligible cacophony.

Having similar levels of combat experience, the adversaries were evenly matched.

Erika was holding her own against her two foes with little difficulty. For the first few minutes, the duelists alternated between offensive and defensive maneuvers on the fly.

The kraals tried their hardest but none of their attacks connected.

As the skirmish progressed, however, fatigue crept up on the members of Johanna's team at a slightly faster rate. The saw-whet owl and her comrades were relentless, though their stamina was draining as well.

The three-strong group were forced to switch to purely defensive actions. The change in tactics did not improve their situation.

Their tired muscles failed to absorb or deflect all the swipes and blows directed at them. The cuts and bruises they began to suffer impacted their composure.

In a last-ditch effort to gain the upper hand, they threw all caution to the wind.

Johanna locked talons with Skadi and tried to peck her eyes out.

"That… won't… work on me!" Skadi yelled, dodging the great-horned owl's repeated beak jabs.

She pried Johanna's port talons open, freeing her own. She then delivered a swift slice to the taut flesh beneath her starboard wing joint. The great-horned owl screamed and fled the arena.

Aevar switched his focus, lunging at Henrik and Annika with battle claws. They flopped to the ground at the last possible second, thrust their feet upward, and inflicted sixteen puncture wounds to his midsection.

He howled in pain and retreated, not wanting to risk further damage to his body.

Erika leaped onto Aksel from behind and bit down on his humerus. She raked the Tyto's lower back with her claws.

Annika plowed headlong into her port flank, knocking the boreal owl off him. Clamping her battle claws down on Erika's tail, she tore a couple feathers loose with a sharp yank.

She, too, screamed and conceded the fight.

"This won't… be the last… you see of us! Johanna… will make sure of that!"

"We'll… be waiting!" Skadi taunted.

"Skadi! Annika! It's Aksel… he's injured!"

The exhausted females trudged over to their comrade, who lay spread-eagled on the snow.

Scarlet blood oozed from four parallel slashes running obliquely across his rump. The snow around him was already turning red.

"Good Glaux… it burns!"

His breast heaved up and down, a clear indicator that he was experiencing severe pain.

Gasping for breath, he protested, "Are you… just going… to stand there… and stare?! Do something!"

"I know nothing… about the healing arts!"

"Neither do I!" Skadi blurted out. "I'm a kraal… not a blasted Glauxian Monk!"

"We must take him… to the Glauxian Brothers' Retreat. Torin… is an amazing healer… but we can't… afford to wait! Skadi… you'll have to… carry him."

"That won't… be a problem. I'm stronger than… I look…"

"We must find… my sister's flute… before we leave…"

Everyone but Aksel scoured the vicinity for three anxious minutes. Henrik recovered the ocarina, shaking the snow out of its interior.

A patch had been rubbed clean of pigment but it was otherwise intact. He handed it off to Annika.

Having recouped some of their stamina, the kraals deemed themselves airworthy.

Aksel cast off his battle claws and climbed onto Skadi's back with considerable effort. Annika stashed them in the satchel.

"Can you hold onto me?"

"Maybe…"

Tucking his legs up under his body, he established a firm grip on her rump. She winced as his talons pricked her skin.

"Careful now, or I'll have to visit the Glauxian Sisters' Retreat myself."

"Sorry. I can't thank you enough."

"Gare heeldvig. Kraals are my family too."

"Ready when you are… I think…"

Pumping her mighty wings, Skadi was able to hoist herself and her cargo into the air. Henrik and Annika glided above her port and starboard wings, respectively.

"Thank goodness the winds are calm tonight."

"You can… say that again…" Aksel replied. "Tytos aren't meant to swim in freezing seawater…"

"Or any owl, for that matter," Henrik put in.

Ten arduous minutes after liftoff, the kraals touched down outside the main entrance of the Glauxian Brothers' Retreat. Aksel's slash wounds had not stopped bleeding.

They didn't have to wait long to be acknowledged. Two Glauxian Monks, a pygmy and a saw-whet owl, approached them.

"Female kraals, here? Now that is in exceedingly rare occurrence."

"Annika? How nice it is to see you again. What brings you here, sister?"

"Our friend, Aksel, is injured! He needs medical treatment right away!"

"Fetch Brother Arrick, quickly!"

The other cloaked monk bowed and vanished.

"Hurry… I feel my… consciousness… slipping…"

"Just hold on, Aksel!" Henrik pleaded.

In less than thirty seconds the pygmy owl reappeared, a great-horned owl in tow.

"Take this owl to the infirmary."

"Of course, Brother Torin."

Just as he did earlier, Aksel heaved himself onto Arrick's back. They hurried off into the Retreat.

"Wait here. I shall return shortly with an update on his condition."

"I… I'd like to stay with him."

"Very well, but you must remove your battle claws."

Henrik complied, stripping them off hastily. Annika stashed them in the satchel.

"Come."

The owls strode through the arched entryway, rounded a sharp bend in the main corridor, and disappeared. Anxiety swamped their gizzards, poisoning them with nervousness.

Annika tucked herself under Skadi's wing to gain protection against the cold.

"That Tyto is as strong-willed as I am. He will survive… he has to…"

"I know. We can't lose him now, after all we've been through together…"

Minute after distressing minute ticked by far too slowly.

Skadi's frayed nerves upset her bowels, causing her to yarp up a pellet. Needless to say, Annika soon followed suit.

Henrik ambled out of the shadows after fifteen burdensome minutes. The female kraals perked up and walked towards him.

"Is Aksel alright?" they hooted impatiently.

Henrik locked eyes with them, drew a breath, and revealed the Tyto's fate.