"He's lost a troubling amount of blood, but they're confident he'll pull through. Had his treatment been delayed a few more minutes, it most likely would've been too late."

The females sighed in momentous relief.

"Kraal or not, my brother will do what is necessary to aid him."

"Tell the monks they have our deepest thanks."

Henrik nodded.

"Being as you aren't allowed to enter, I'll keep him company until he's released."

"It's unfortunate, but we can't expect them to ignore their traditions for our sake. Tell Aksel we'll miss him dearly, and that we hope he recovers soon."

"I will, Annika."

"Make sure he knows we won't be going on any raids while he's stuck here. Oh, and don't forget to tell him we said goodbye."

"I will, Skadi." "We'll come back tomorrow as soon as possible to find out how he's doing."

"If I can't bring you the news, another monk will."

"That's fine. I'm afraid we can't stay any longer, as my sister is waiting for me on Dark Fowl. She's in enough pain as it is and worrying about me won't help."

"I understand. Goodbye and stay safe."

They waved to him and launched themselves into the air.

"You have more power and endurance. Let me ride on your back."

"I can't argue with that. Get on then."

Annika maneuvered into position and dove, landing in-between the owl's well-muscled shoulders. Gripping Skadi's dark brown feathers firmly, she crouched to minimize air resistance.

There was no tailwind to give them a boost, yet there wasn't a headwind to oppose them either. Flying at a respectable clip, the trip to Annika's abode consumed just over 25 minutes of time.

The exertion left Skadi winded, but not totally exhausted.

"Thank you for the ride."

"I do what I can… to help my fellow kraals…" she said, panting.

The saw-whet owl slid to the earth and jogged inside. Skadi followed her.

"Thank Glaux you're back," Katarina said as Annika strolled up to her. "How are you feeling, sister?"

"Alright, but I've felt better."

Katarina winced as she repositioned herself in the nest.

"Did you get my flute back from those wicked kraals?"

Glancing up at Skadi, she added hastily, "Sorry."

"No offense taken. You bet your tailfeathers we did."

Skadi plucked it from the bag on Annika's back and presented it to the gadfeather. She inspected it briefly, noticing the bare spot near the talon holes.

She didn't care, as it was still in one functional piece. It needed to be repainted anyhow; she could take care of that menial task later.

She set the one-of-a-kind ocarina down at her feet.

"We successfully fought them for it, but our victory came with a cost," Skadi began. "Aksel, our barn owl comrade, was injured."

"Oh Glaux, that will be weighing heavily on my conscience now."

"Even though you two haven't met, you are as much a friend to him as I am. He willingly played a part in the battle but fell victim to a stroke of bad luck."

"I carried him to the Glauxian Brothers' Retreat. With our friend Henrik keeping him company and Torin watching over him, he'll recover in no time."

"Very true. We're lucky to have such a talented and selfless brother, aren't we, Annika?"

"That we are, sister." "I don't mean to change the subject, but I'm very tired."

"So am I. It's been an emotional night."

"You two get some rest. I'll stand guard."

"Don't force yourself to stay up too long. You need to keep your muscles strong and your mind sharp."

"I won't."

Annika squeezed into the nest beside Katarina.

Skadi planted herself half a pyte from the entrance, just out of the blowing snow's reach.

Drowsiness dragged the sisters under in less than ten minutes.

Skadi assumed the guise of a living statue, silent yet vigilant.

Over the course of the next two hours, the tendrils of sleep steadily tightened their grip on her mind. When she felt her consciousness faltering, she tapped into her willpower to force herself awake.

The cycle repeated several times before she succumbed and nodded off. Head hanging and wings drooping, the howl of the wind intermittently drowned out her hushed breathing but did not interrupt her slumber.

As expected, a fictitious battle erupted in her dream. There was no substitute for the rush of exhilaration spawned by talon-to-talon combat.

A grin, conjured by her subconscious, formed on her beak.

The wind continued to blow for the remainder of the night and the following day. It finally ceased with the disappearance of the sun.

The crescent moon, reduced to a lopsided smile, came out of hiding. The stars manifested to accompany her.

Annika tossed and turned on the cold stone floor. The flurry of emotions and concerns whirling around in her mind denied her the luxury of a peaceful slumber.

A distinctive noise from outside sliced through the silence, causing her to stir. Hurriedly she cast off her grogginess and got to her senses.

There was no mistaking the crunch of dry snow being compacted beneath battle claws. The sound steadily increased in volume, driving the worried kraal deeper into her dwelling.

Several tense seconds later three familiar figures crept into view, their bodies blocking the cave mouth.

"You thought our clash on the glacier was the end, didn't you?" Aevar began.

"You thought wrong," Erika spat.

"We've had the last laugh, foolish owl. Here is undeniable proof that true victory is ours."

Johanna removed the botkin strapped to her back, placing it on the ground. It was bulging in the middle, as if an object almost too large to fit had been stuffed inside.

The female great-horned owl extracted the mysterious object with her port foot. Before Annika could get a good look at it, Johanna thrust it towards her.

The saw-whet owl found herself staring into the lusterless eyes of Skadi's decapitated head. The dread she experienced moments before her execution were forever frozen on her face.

Her ghastly expression caused Annika's gizzard to practically turn itself inside-out.

"She nearly disemboweled Erika. She was a challenging adversary, until I pinned her down and split her spine in two, that is. She screamed then, and I never imagined a pathetic kraal could make such a delicious sound," Johanna sneered. "But then her screaming became irritating so I slit her throat and, well… her head came off."

"No…" was the last whisper to escape Annika's beak.

She fainted where she stood, plunging into a numbing black void.

Annika snapped back to reality, unleashing a terrified scream that jolted Katarina and Skadi awake. The former rushed over to comfort her sister; the latter stood up so rapidly her head struck the low stone ceiling.

"What's wrong, Annika?!"

Her reply came in barely intelligible fragments: "Daymare… I had a daymare… Skadi! Where is Skadi?!"

"Right here."

Annika turned toward her comrade, revealing her substantially dilated pupils.

"It was horrible… Johanna killed you… and brought me your head… "

Skadi wasn't fazed in the slightest. Issuing a derisive snort, she remarked, "Hmph, I'd love for her to try."

She ran her wing down the saw whet owl's back in a consolatory manner.

"It wasn't real. I'm perfectly fine, as you can tell. No need to be upset, mi frisen."

Annika took two deep, calming breaths. Katarina's embrace further helped to pacify her turbulent emotions.

"If they're foolish enough to fight us again, I don't plan on holding back," Skadi asserted.

"I'd hate for it to come to that. Hopefully they've learned their lesson."

"I can't, won't, trust them. The odds are against us, so we can't afford to let our guard down."

"You're exactly right. We need to eat before we go anywhere. If we don't keep our strength up, we'll pay with our lives if they decide to seek revenge."

Katarina shivered not at the cold, but at that dreadful prospect.

The trio walked outside to hunt.

The lemmings scurrying around in tunnels beneath the snow betrayed their presence to the owls above. The feathered beings stood still and listened, determining the layout of the passages underfoot.

Tapping into the power of prediction, they pounced when the opportunity arose. Their talons shot through the ceilings of the tunnels at just the right moment to stab into the backs of their prey.

The saw-whet sisters ate one lemming each; the long-eared owl consumed three. They felt well-fed but not weighed down by the rodents in their gizzards.

Patting her slightly-distended belly, Katarina quipped, "Ahh… that was delicious. This will give us the energy to go where we please."

"It sure was. I could use the energy boost."

"Let's travel to the Tridents."

"What for, Skadi?"

"That's simple, Katarina. My parents live there. They know Annika well already, so it's time for you to meet them now."

"You have a point. After this we'll go see how Aksel is doing."

"A fair compromise. Framish longa!"

They lofted into the chilled air and Skadi took point, leading them northwest across the Everwinter Sea.

Katarina flew one pyte behind her; the long-eared owl's wake reduced the effort required to stay airborne. Annika brought up the rear, her ever-watchful eyes trained on her elder sibling.

Snowflake-laden gusts sweeping in from the northeast buffeted them at random. Many were energetic enough to push the tiny owls aside. They adjusted as needed to restore the shape of the formation.

Despite the soreness that plagued her, Katarina fared quite well in the blustery conditions. The less-than-ideal weather caused their stamina to drain faster than usual.

They managed to reach Stormfast before succumbing to fatigue. Landing on the rocky promontory known as Hock, the trio took shelter beneath an overhang.

To gain further protection from the cold, the saw-whet owls sandwiched themselves between the kraal's starboard flank and wing. After roughly seven minutes of uncomfortable waiting, they felt rested enough to fly again.

Taking to the skies, they altered their heading to 270 degrees. The boisterous gusts from earlier morphed into a tailwind that boosted their flight speed noticeably.

The central island of the chain known as the Tridents slid towards them at an ever-increasing rate, though in reality it was they who approached it.

Before long, they skimmed above a secluded cave near the western shore of the island. Spiraling to the frozen earth, they touched down just outside the cavern's rounded maw.

Skadi cleared her throat, then spoke in a subdued tone to mask their presence.

"We've finally arrived. This is where my family resides, and where I was raised."

"It seems your parents chose an excellent place to live," Katarina replied softly.

"They certainly did. It was difficult for me to leave."

"I know what that's like. Well, us there anything important I should know about them?"

"I'm glad you asked. My father is very relaxed. Other owls rarely show up here, so he enjoys befriending new guests."

"Wonderful. We should get along fine then. What about your mother?"

"She's… rough around the edges and wary of strangers. Eventually you'll understand why. She doesn't mean to offend, I promise."

"Thank you for warning me in advance."

"You're welcome. Be respectful of her and our home and she'll return the favor."

"You don't have to tell me twice."

"Instead of standing out here freezing our tails off, let's head inside. Stay close and let me do the talking at first."

"Sure," said Katarina.

With that, Skadi strolled calmly into the gloom. The pair of ivory owls trailed behind her obediently.

The tunnel narrowed slightly and developed a slight grade as it ran beneath the ice-encrusted stone shelf.

Skadi's unseen parents were speaking, their distinct voices resonating within the confines of the tunnel. A hint of an accent was detectable in the male's tone, whereas the female's possessed an obvious Krakish burr.

Six pytes beyond the entrance, the passageway terminated abruptly in a spacious oval cavity. Skadi halted, sticking her starboard wing out in front of the saw whet owls, who halted as well.

Soothing heat and light radiated from a small ember pile in a metal bowl. The trio's pupils shrank by half and various details began to surface.

Two figures melted into view, their slender forms brought into sharp relief by the orange glow. The owl standing closest to them spoke again; it turned out to be her father.

"My gizzard aches for our daughters' presence. Hopefully they show up before this moon cycle ends."

Her mother, who stood across from him, replied in a curt, displeased tone.

"As does mine. Glaux knows what keeps them away for so long. It upsets me."

The siblings stayed put as their kraal companion stepped forward. Annika was plainly visible but Skadi purposefully obscured Katarina.

"Your gizzards don't have to ache anymore."

The male spun around as the female shifted her gaze. Recognition swept across their facial disks.

"We've missed you, dearest Skadi. Welcome home."

"I've missed you too, father."

"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about us."

"Nuftan, nynick, mother. I would've come by sooner, but I had to deal with some unruly kraals."

"I'm not surprised. Save the explanation for later, however."

The stout female buried her beak in her breast feathers, scratching away at a pesky itch. She then turned her attention to the diminutive kraal.

"If it isn't Annika, my daughter's feisty partner in crime."

She churred lightheartedly.

"It's nice to see you again."

"Likewise."

"Mother, father, there is someone else I'd like you to meet."

Skadi stepped aside to reveal the owl hidden behind her. Katarina perked up, donning a cheerful smile. Skadi's mother pierced her with a shrewd stare, causing her smile to quickly fade.

"This isn't a surprise I find pleasing," she hooted, disapproval evident in her tone. "I don't appreciate you bringing an uninvited guest into our home."

The kraal issued a firm but civil response in her defense: "She isn't a threat, mother."

"Obviously not."

Recalling Skadi's earlier advice, she brushed off the disparaging comment.

"This is Annika's elder sister, Katarina."

"The famous gadfeather? Interesting. Fine, she can stay."

"Takk tuoy."

"My rules aren't meant to be ignored so casually, however. Adult or not, you will obey them. Misnacht?"

"Ja, mother."

"Gunda."

Skadi's father cut in to change the subject before more conflict arose.

"So, you're the skilled musician we've heard so much about. It's a great pleasure to have you here. My name is Elliot."

"The pleasure is mine, Elliot."

"You may call me Solveig, gadfeather."

She turned towards her and replied, "Greetings."

Katarina's attention was suddenly drawn to the linear tracts of featherless skin marring Solveig's body.

One ran vertically down the port side of her facial disk, yet her eye had been spared. The missing section on her eyelid appeared whenever she blinked.

Two lacerations crossed in an X pattern in the center of her breast, and a trio of parallel slashes cut obliquely across her belly.

"Are my unsightly scars distracting you, gadfeather?"

"Somewhat. My curiosity is to blame."

"Would you like to hear the story behind them, then?"

"If you're comfortable with telling me, then my answer is yes."

"As you wish."

She scooted half a pyte to port and began exposing her dark past.

"The night I laid our second egg, Elliot encouraged me to rest and care for them. He left to hunt for me… and when I was most vulnerable, two kraals attacked, a female barred owl and a male barn owl."

Katarina gasped.

"Do you know why they conspired to slaughter me and our offspring, and in the process, destroy everything he treasured?" "I… I don't know."

"Their reasoning is poisoned with intolerance and animosity."

She huffed in irritation.

"They believed an outsider-turned-Glauxian-Monk was a wretched partner. Choosing him instead of a kraal was supposedly an unforgivable disgrace. By mating with him, I tainted my pure blood with that of a foreigner from the Southern Kingdoms. I could not be allowed to exist, neither could the 'half-breed' owlets we conceived."

"What… what happened to the kraals who ambushed you?"

"I fought harder than I ever had before to shield the eggs from their battle claws. I suffered serious wounds in the process, but I returned the favor. Paralyzed by pain and exhaustion, I could only watch as the blood leaked freely from their wounds. Their defeated cries of anger and agony pleased me. Before long, death's cold embrace took hold, banishing their souls to hagsmire. Unfortunately, I was slipping away myself."

Solveig sent Elliot a silent signal.

He contributed his own perspective to the heart-wrenching story.

"A fierce storm developed, and I was forced to call off the hunt. That was when I saw the aftermath of the attack. A pair of dead owls, my bloodstained mate, and behind her in the nest, our two eggs, safe and sound. I worked feverishly to seal her wounds and prevent infection from setting in. Whether it was due to my efforts, Glaux's will, or both, she clung to life and steadily recovered."

His mate picked up where he left off.

"These scars are a visible reminder of what I endured that dreadful night. It was a price I willingly paid. The owls who attacked me wasted their lives over a grudge borne out of prejudice. Their first and last mistake was attempting to punish our unhatched owlets for my decision. I did what had to be done to ensure they had a future."

Katarina didn't expect to see spiteful tears well in the steadfast female's eyes.

"My parents were slain by rival kraals… not long after I fledged. I committed two dozen moons of my life… to avenging their deaths. Eventually I became a fierce warrior… a ruthless killer. One by one… I hunted down those who stole my parents from me… and ripped the life from their bodies. Then I met him… found comfort in his companionship… and fell in love. I abandoned the kraal lifestyle… as I couldn't bear the thought of our daughters… losing their mother as I did."

Solveig hastily wiped the tears away, her typical brusque demeanor resurfacing.

"To this day, I have never regretted my decision," she declared sternly.

Katarina was initially too stunned to respond.

"I'm… I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you've been through. Your determination and bravery know no bounds."

"Your sympathy is admirable, Katarina, but do not pity me. My existence was far from ideal, but I've solved my problems and found some semblance of peace."

She referred to me by name! Her impression of me seems to be improving at last.

"Forgive me."

"No need for that. I value your honesty, as many kraals are fond of deceit."

"Understood."

Katarina realized that Solveig's intimidating aura and uncouth attitude were merely a coping mechanism. By appearing tenacious, she suppressed her haunting memories and hid her lingering pain from others.

Through her gizzard, Katarina could sense plenty of benevolence in the bitter owl's heart.

"You aren't the same owl you were when you hatched. Neither am I. We inevitably change with time. It seems we've all benefitted from its passage."

"It would be foolish of me to disagree, Katarina."

"I second that opinion," her mate said.

"You might not be the wisest owl in the Northern Kingdoms, but you still have wisdom to share," intoned her sister.

"I guess I have my moments."

"I should've asked sooner, but are any of you hungry?"

"No, father. We've eaten plenty already."

Katarina added, "Thank you for the offer."

"Gare heeldvig," he replied jubilantly.

Despite the native tongue's inherent abrasive quality, his Krakish was pleasant to hear.

"It would be unfair to keep my life story a secret, even if it is much less dramatic than hers."

He moved further away from the ember pile, as his flank was getting uncomfortably warm. Clearing his throat, he divulged his own history.

"My parents, Tyrian and Samara, hail from the Shadow Forest. I hatched first, joined the same night by my brother, Lysander, and the following night by my sister, Ivy. When I matured, I made the difficult journey here to become a Glauxian Monk. I spent eighteen moons learning their ways and practicing the healing arts. Once I earned the title, I left the Retreat to find a permanent home and help those in need. Four moon cycles later, I was tending to a few recently-injured kraals in a grog tree near the Bay of Fangs. It was there I met her. My efforts to save her comrades were not in vain. She was impressed by my skill, while I considered her scarlet feather highlights to be very attractive. We took a liking to one another, and the rest is history."

"Fascinating, simply fascinating."

"I have to agree, since it's the reason why I'm standing here," Skadi hooted naughtily.

"Ah, that reminds me, daughter. I expect you to show up with owlets of your own one day," Solveig quipped, winking her left eye.

"As if I spend my time contemplating that," she retorted. "I have more important things to consider, and besides, I'm satisfied with my life as it is."

"Fair enough. We're not old yet, so you have plenty of time to find a mate."

"I'll get you for this, mother… when you least expect it," she declared haughtily.

A gleam in her eye, she responded coolly, "We'll see if you succeed. I have taught you some, but not all, of the tricks I've learned."

Annika giggled along with Elliot.

"May I tell my story?"

"Go right ahead, Katarina. Enlighten us, give us a tale to remember."

"I suppose I can't ignore your eagerness, Elliot."

The gadfeather launched into a comprehensive walkthrough of her life.

Elliot and Solveig posed occasional questions, but mostly concentrated on soaking up the information. All three long-eared owls wore charmed expressions by its conclusion.

"A captivating tale," said the male. "You've come far since hatching and have found your true calling."

"Music is a special language that everyone can understand."

"I couldn't agree more."

"Give us a taste of the music that is spoken of so highly in this frigid land," the female remarked.

"Gladly."

Touching the flute to the port side of her beak, she closed her eyes and belted out an improvised tune. The gentle introduction morphed into a bouncy melody composed of staccato notes at various pitches.

As the last note faded away, she dipped her head.

"The rumors are genuine after all. You have exceptional talent, Katarina."

Her elated grin resembled the crescent moon.

Elliot began strolling out of the chamber.

"Hrash g'mear mclach?" Solveig inquired.

He paused, twisting his head backwards.

"On a hunt. My empty gizzard is restless."

Solveig nodded, saying nothing further. The owls chattered nonchalantly in his absence.

Elliot reappeared in less than a quarter hour. His gizzard churned away at the plump lemming inside; a second was primed to take its place.

The group engaged in lighthearted conversation, taking turns offering up commentary. A diverse array of topics was brought up and discussed, all of them positive in nature.

The mood in the cave lightened substantially. Several times they flooded the chamber with delighted vocalizations.

Solveig added her own laughter to the mix; it was one capacity her ordeals had not stripped from her.

The dwenking moon drifted inexorably across the starry dome overhead.

When it reached its zenith, Skadi, who spoke on her friends' behalf, expressed their desire to leave. Annika provided the reasoning behind their intent to visit the Glauxian Brothers' Retreat.

"He is lucky, as are you, daughter. I was in your position once. The bond between kraals is as strong as the bond between owls of the same blood. I won't stop you from leaving."

Solveig paused, then continued, "The night is only half over. Won't you return to us?"

"Of course, mother."

"We will too," the siblings chimed. "Wonderful."

"We'll be waiting patiently," Elliot said.

"One more thing, daughter: if you stumble upon Anja, tell her to get her sprinking tail over here immediately. We aren't taking nunchat for an answer."

Skadi churred at her mother's vexation, nodding afterwards.

"She was troublesome even as an owlet. It is clear she hasn't changed. At times I wonder where her audacity comes from."

The sisters glanced knowingly at each other and chuckled.

The trio made their way out of the tunnel. The air gladly sank its freezing teeth into their skin.

They fluffed up their feathers, swelling their apparent proportions.

"Let's get going. The beating of our wings will warm our bodies and stave off the cold."

One by one they climbed into the sky, bearing north-northeast. Katarina and Annika flew abreast behind Skadi's tail.

Their gizzards tingled with anticipation, a sensation that intensified as the distance between them and the unnamed island shrank.

No monks happened to witness their arrival. They clustered together near the entrance.

A few minutes ticked by and a familiar owl wandered out, his face peeking out from the hood covering his head.

"Greetings."

"Greetings, brother," the saw-whets replied in unison.

"I must be brief, as there is much for me to do. Your Tyto friend is awake and alert. He cannot yet leave his bed, however, as his wounds are likely to tear open."

"Encourage him to stay strong for us as we stay strong for him."

"I'll relay your message as soon as I am able."

"You have our thanks," said Skadi.

"I gladly do what I must for the less fortunate," he tooted in response.

"Until we meet again, may Glaux watch over you."

He turned and wordlessly returned whence he came.

The trio retraced their flight paths, whiling away an additional quarter of the night via idle conversation with Skadi's creators.

Weariness began to creep up on them all as the moon commenced its final descent towards the horizon. The honored guests bid the long-eared owl pair farewell and reluctantly absconded.

The trek to Dark Fowl Island sapped much of their stamina, forcing them to land on its southwestern shore to recuperate. They sensed nothing was amiss as they came swooping in.

They plopped onto the dry, crusty snowpack and entered the cave on foot. Without warning, three blurred figures barreled headlong at them from the darkened passage.

Skadi was struck square in the breast by a hefty brown mass. The impact shunted the air from her lungs and thrust her to the snow.

A pure white being four times Annika's size delivered a kick to her midsection, sending her tumbling away from the cave mouth.

A dirty grayish-white form streaked past Katarina, grazing her and knocking her off balance. It then wheeled around, seized her from behind with its starboard foot, and hoisted her into the air.

Cold metal claws squeezed her midsection, their serrated edges brushing against her skin. She whimpered, dropping her flute.

"Stay right where you are!" Katarina's captor commanded as Skadi and Annika staggered to their feet.

The female boreal owl angled her rear talon towards Katarina's breast.

Her tone dripping with malice, she added, "Don't you dare move, or I'll tear this worthless gadfeather open and show you what her beating heart looks like."