I hope you enjoy this new story, unfortunately, it may be the last on my list to update until I finish a few other stories. Please review, because the more popular this becomes, the higher it becomes on my updating list.

The stars twinkled above like tiny lanterns lighting the way, the tree, gloriously in the time of the rose rain, and the wind, light enough not to fight against but providing the great updrafts all owls craved.

The tree, huge and standing valiantly in the middle of a golden hued island, had sturdy branches that reached to the sky, as if trying to fly like the birds that made their home in it. Every golden drop of sunlight that hit the leaves made them appear gold, the time of the rose rain helping, as the leaves were turning amber.

The sea, too, was trying to slowly eat away the soil and rocks the tree had grown onto from a sapling. The water twisted and churned around gullies and small streams that were scattered across the island. This water was teaming with fish, their tails flicking up in bursts of water and silver scales as they navigated these channels and made their way back out to sea.

Even the ground was teeming with life. Voles and mice scurried from hiding place to hiding place, foraging for food and a safe place to call home. A few larger animals, although not many, like rabbits and squirrels scampered around, chattering wildly at each other or bouncing through the grass, hoping not to be spotted.

But perhaps the most eye catching piece was all the birds that flapped silently through the trees. Now, I say silently because these were not just normal birds. Indeed, these were special birds, as they possessed eyesight that anyone would think was brilliant, and the skill of silent flight. These birds were owls, and there were dozens of them. Barn Owls, Pigmy Owls, Spotted Owls, Great Greys, Elf Owls, Sooty Owls, Great Horns, and many other species flew through the air around the tree.

As it just so happens, this story is about two of these owls, and how one choice can change history. These two owls were sitting on a branch. One was a young male, whose face was pure white rimmed in amber. His back was strewn with tiny black specks and his chest was much lighter than his back and wings, which had darker brown tips to them. His eyes were kind and golden amber as deep as the tree's leaves at the time.

The second was a much smaller female, who, if you saw her, you would not be much impressed. She had ragged feathers, dingy grey and sticking out all over the place, as if she were trapped flying in a storm perpetually. Her wings were only beginning to fledge the feathers needed for flying, and they were the same brown tipped color as the young male. Perhaps, though, despite her feathers' appearance, you would have liked her eyes. They were the color of the other owl's but slightly lighter. They had a look of deep intelligence, a look that might make you think of the saying 'as wise as an owl'.

And wise this owl was, at least now, when she was young. For most fledglings of her age, the flight feathers would make the fledgling want to begin flying as soon as there was even a sign of bumps of the feathers coming in. But this female vaguely remembered her brother talking about the time he had tried to fly. That was how they ended up here, all because of that fall.

Yes, these two owls were siblings, if you have not already guessed. Not only were these owls siblings, but heroes to the Great Tree. They had saved the Guardians from the evil grip of the Pure One's reign of terror. The Pure Ones consisted of all Tytos, or owls of the Barn Owl family species wise. They had believed that the only owls worthy to rule were Tytos, and all other owl species could be considered slaves. Nyra, the hellish owl who commanded them, along with Metal Beak, were defeated by these two owls and the Guardians.

Now, they weren't the only ones to help defeat the Pure Ones. No, there was the Band, as they had come to be known. The Band consisted of a Great Grey, an Elf Owl, a Spotted Owl, a Burrowing Owl, and our two Barn Owls. How they had come together is a different story for a different time.

But now it is time for this story, the story of one choice: to follow good or evil.

"Soren," the fledgling said, her voice soft and considerate, "can we go home? To our tree in Tyro Forest, please?"

Soren, the older barn owl shook his head, "We are Guardians now, Eglantine. Besides, don't you want to live the legend we only dreamed was true?"

Eglantine turned away, "I don't want to face the Pure Ones again, Soren, and you know that will happen if we stay. Nyra is still alive."

Soren placed his wingtips on her shoulders lightly. "But they are a small force, and they do not have their flecks anymore. Eglantine, I promise you'll be safe if we stay here. I won't let the Pure Ones get to you." The barn owl lifted his sister's head to look into his eyes, "I promise."

His sister had tears in her eyes, "What about Kludd? I want him here, like before, but I don't want him evil."

"Kludd is dead," Soren said quietly, "he can't come back."

The young fledgling opened her beak but was interrupted. A huge Great Grey's wing nearly knocked the small owl over as he landed. Now here was a sight to see, a Great Grey was always a marvelous creature that took your breath away. The species is huge, the largest of all owls. Their feathers are grey and on each side of its beak were swoops of white feather. These owls had great yellow eyes that held an entire world of mystery behind them. This owl just so happened to be part of the Band. "Hello Soren, Eglantine," the owl said, hooking his great talons around one of the branches, clicking as they took a hold. "Why the long faces? We just won a battle!"

And he belted out a loud song:

"When Twilight comes barreling into the Pure Ones,

They flee in terror at his valiant fighting,

When everything's done,

Those owls they run,

With their shame extremely inviting!

To arms!"

Eglantine and Soren covered their ears with their wings. Twilight's song was off tune, as all of his lyrics and most of his tunes were made up as he went along. He chuckled deeply, "I liked that one, I gotta make sure I remember it."

"Okay, Twilight," Soren chuckled, "what did you come here to get us for?"

"It's dinner," the Great Grey said loudly, "and the Band is all there gathering."

xXx

After a short while, the owls had flown to the dining hollow. The hollow was an elongated room, where the owls of the Great Tree were served meals of cooked meat, caterpillars, or other food that appealed to owls. At the moment, the entire Band was there.

Digger, a burrowing owl with dark brown fur, long, featherless legs, and bushy white swoops of feathers over each eye, had his head shoved into a bowl of caterpillars, as usual. He peeked his head out of the bowl and greeted them, "Hello, Soren, Eglantine… Twilight." Everyone in the Band knew that Digger never really got along with Twilight, even though the Burrowing Owl and Great Grey were friends.

"Hello, Digger," Twilight said grandly, expanding his wings to make a scene.

The Elf Owl and Spotted Owl both gave a knowing glance to each other and rolled their eyes. "Hello Twilight," they said together.

The Elf owl was a red, brown, and white coloration with elegant curved stripes under each eye of white and lighter tan. Her small size was incredible, only reaching up to Soren's wing. Her name was Gylfie. Her friend was Otulissa, the spotted owl. Her face and chest were white with dark brown and gold streaks under her eyes and on her upper chest. The rest of her body, wings, and tail were mottled red, white, gold, and black.

Eglantine walked over to Gylfie and Otulissa. They knew at once that something was bothering her. Gylfie reached up with one wing and touched the barn owl's shoulder, "What's bothering you?"

"Kludd," Eglantine said slowly, "I miss him."

Otulissa might have been a good friend, but she wasn't very sympathetic, "He was evil, you know it too. He may have been your brother, but he was dangerous. He had to be disabled. He had to be killed."

Gylfie gave the Spotted Owl a glare, "Otulissa's right, I'm afraid, but you still have Soren, your mother, and your father."

Eglantine forced a smile, "I know, but I still miss him."

The two other owls looked at each other sadly, not knowing what do say. Instead, they stayed silent and watched the Barn Owl as she chose a vole from the table.