What you get out of life is what you put into it.

[Collyn]

King Collyn was taking his daily stroll about the Southern Kingdoms. Each day it was a different kingdom, though he had a special order. The owl, all dressed in his simple golden armor, struggled to see through the grey, thickening clouds. Thunder boomed in the distance and the King saw flashes of light. Collyn's talons clenched together in frustration and he grimaced at his plan, it was complete idiocy to be flying out here right now. If he had just taken the time to wait for dawn so he could get a good glimpse of the sky, this might not have happened. Why hadn't he taken the weather into account? Now the owls at the tree would get uneasy with their King out in a harsh storm. There was no queen to watch over them either. He flapped his wings a few times more to give himself some more height from the ground-wherever it may be. At this point, there was no use in getting to low. If he WAS in the desert, the last thing on his mind would be to fly into a giant cactus. Collyn sighed. It was stupid on his part to even dare to fly away from the tree without checking the weather. But he was the newly appointed king, a very young one at that. Some say too young, and he agrees with them sometimes. Collyn cherishes his high position, he can lead very well, he is a great guardian, but his age was unbelievable. The King was only 12 months old. Though the black barn owl flew on, trying to escape the strong winds clutching his feathers, attempting to drag him backwards.

Collyn dropped his wings and dove towards the ground, his dark body cutting through the heavy, moist air. Now if I could just find a branch... He murmured, the garbled words undetectable among the frenzy of electricity blasting and booming above his strong ebony features. Collyn distinguished a fairly large cactus and landed a little heavier than usual among its large, sharp thorns. The King winced in pain as his talons wrapped around the barbed branch. Then, out of the blue-though in this case, a dark sooty grey-a harsh wind grabbed the black owl. Collyn's eyes widened as the gust knocked him off of his perch. His dark feathered body hit the ground with a sickening thud. The King wasn't terribly dazed from the fall due to his golden mask, and his talons weren't hurt to terribly bad-at least that is what he thought. He barely feels his talons, they are scarred thickly with cuts and scrapes from past battles. Collyn curled his wings in and rolled on his stomach. He then barely managed to lift himself up among the forceful winds. The King started walking among the dusty ground, hoping to find a place to shelter. He came on the worst day to these deserts. Its only once a year that this place gets rain and gale force winds. It didn't start to sprinkle yet but the breeze just kept getting stronger and stronger kicking up dust typhoons among the sandy terrain.

[Cleef]

Cleef flew threw the desert storm with a good struggle. He had just rescued a buddy of his' owlet from St. Aggies and was, at the very least trying, to return the little one to his parents. If only we could find some shelter from the storm and wait it out. Then I could get a good bearing on my position thought Cleef. He began to drop low, quickly but carefully. He didn't want to hurt the owlet, whom had somehow fallen asleep. Poor dear's exhausted. No owlet should have to go through that kind of scare. Cleef saw a cactus which told him that he was getting nearer the ground, he would then be able to fly high enough to hold onto the owlet but low enough to see the ground and any cover.

Cleef reached the ground and hovered a moment to pick out which way to go. He thought he saw a figure to the north of him, but he couldn't be for sure, there was so much sand being kicked up. Cleef flew that direction anyway. If it was an owl returning to their burrow Cleef was sure they wouldn't mind housing an owl untill the storm let up, especially if that owl had an owlet.

Cleef got close enough to the figure that he could make out what it was. He examined the creature and was caught off guard when he realized that it was the king of Ga'hoole. Cleef flew up to the owl, hovered in front of him, and asked "Collyn? What are you doing out in this storm?!"

[Collyn]

Collyn halted and squinted his eyes to identify the owl. It was Cleef! A good friend of the guardians. "I usually explore the Southern Kingdoms, each day I go to a different territory." He struggled to make himself audible. "It so happens to be today that the DESERT has a major storm!" Collyn scowled at the landscape then turned back to Cleef, seeing the owlet in his talons for the first time. He let out a sigh. "They are still stealing..." He assumed. "Lets find a place for us to take shelter. Nobody should be out in such a storm as this."

[Cleef]

Cleef looked around and spotted what seemed to be an entrance to a burrow "Let's use that one." Cleef yelled over the storm, he then flew over to the burrow, because the owlet had stirred and awaken Cleef sat him on the ground , landed beside him, and guided the owlet into the burrow. Luckily it was empty. When the owlet had found a comfy place to sit, Cleef told him that he'd be right back and walked back to the entrance of the burrow to make sure that Collyn was following. Cleef spotted the young king walking toward him, he couldn't help but marvel in awe and amazement at the rareness of this owl, not only was he a black barn owl but he was so far the youngest king to be on the throne of Ga'hoole! Although it would have been better to meet under better conditions Cleef was pleased to have met this owl's acquaintance.

[Collyn]

Collyn entered the burrow. "Good find." He murmured and walked further into the den. Finding a comfortable place to wait until the storm passed, the King sat and lifted his one of his feet. He saw many deep barbs cutting far into the tough flesh. He grimaced in pain as he bent down to pick them out. The black barn owl took off his battle claws and mask then he grabbed the first one in his beak and gave a hefty tug. It slid out quickly but soon after, blood welled up around the tiny wound. "Blasted cacti..." Collyn muttered in disapproval.

[Cleef]

Cleef had just taken off his battle mask and claws when he heard Collyn mutter something. "What was that?" Cleef asked turning his head toward the King. "Oh" said Cleef noticing all the barbs in Collyn's talons. "Those cacti can hurt when you land on them wrong." said Cleef knowingly "I've done that a few times before. All you haved to do is pull them straight up so they don't break. Once done little to no blood will come up, depending on the size of the puncture. Since we don't have any material that will work for bandaging, you'll have to hold that talon up off the ground for a few minutes to let you're skin heal enough to where no dirt will be able to get in."

Cleef then walked over to the little owlet who was sitting in his spot and starring at Collyn. "It's not nice to stare little one." said Cleef "Do you know who this is?" the owlet looked to Cleef and shook his head no. "This, little one, is Collyn. He is the King of Ga'hoole, the legendary island in the sea of Hoolamere, that we are told so much about through the stories." The young owlet looked at King Collyn now in amazement, he would have quite some story to tell his siblings.

Cleef looked outside the entrance of the hollow, the storm was still blowing for what Cleef could see.

[Collyn]

Collyn nodded. "Thank you, Cleef." As he was pulling the thorns out of his talons, he thought about St. Aegolius and the Pure Ones. A dark expression clouded over his face. "After the storm passes, I must go to the canyons." He said in a determined voice. "I need to know what is going on, and hopefully, it will be dark. The travel there will take an hour or two and I wish to arrive at midnight. I might be able to grab a couple owlets." Collyn looked over at the owlet and he chuckled at the expression the owlet gave him. "Before I leave, after the storm, I can help return this owlet to his home. You carried him all the way here, the least I can do it carry him from here to his home." King Collyn sat quietly, figuring out a plan in his head. His face showed that he was really thinking. His eyes squinted a little as he thought. The St. Aegolius canyons are easy to get lost in. All you know about St. Aegolius is that the horrible place is located in the center of the territory. If I can fly low or high enough to were they cannot see me, then I might be able to slip in and hide myself among the shadows. The owlets would be sleeping at night and working during the day, it worked perfect to sneak in at night, then he could grab a couple owlets and fly out. Hopefully he could do this all without being seen.

[Cleef]

"Thank you Collyn." Cleef looked at Collyn's expression and could tell that he was deep in thought. "You know, I am pretty familiar with the St. Aggies canyons. I might be able to help you out. At the moment once the owlet get's back to his home I'll be searching for something else to help with, But, if you'll have me, I would be willing to help out with freeing more owlets."

Cleef looked outside again, sand was still blowing for what he could see.

[Collyn]

Collyn did a quick nod. "I'd happily oblige your help and company." The King finished picking out the needles in his other foot before speaking again, a plan forming in his mind. "First, we go and steal information in the Ablah General's chamber. We slip in among the walls, he is awake at night I believe..." Collyn started. "And the last thing we do is sneak into a pit or two and grab some owlets...How many do you think you could take?" He asked.

[Cleef]

"I could comfortably carry one in each talon. I could, however, try to fit two in each talon, but it will decrease my flight comfort and mobility." Cleef stated in reply to the kings question.

Cleef looked at the owlet, whom had fallen asleep once again, and preened a few of his ruffled feathers. I hope this storm dies down soon. This poor dear is probably getting hungry. thought Cleef.

Cleef looked outside once again..........

[Collyn]

King Collyn nodded. "Okay, well you just take two, one in each talon. The last thing we want is to get caught." He started. "I probably should only take two also as everyone knows I am not the largest of my species." King Collyn chuckled a bit, soft enough not to wake the owlet.

After an hour or so of waiting, King Collyn peeked outside. The weather was comfortable and the winds not too fierce. "You ready, Cleef?" He started as he walked over to pick up the owlet in his talons. The black barn owl nudged the owlet awake to get him outside. The burrow was too small for him to fly in.

[Cleef]

"Yeah I'm ready, just follow me and I'll get us to the owlet's home." said Cleef. He then walked outside, took a quick bearing on their location, and took off on a northern course. Heading for the owlet's burrow.

Cleef landed at the entrance of the burrow first and called in "Excuse me, but I have a surprise for you!" The male of the residence, Cleef's friend who had sadness in his eyes', walked out of the burrow, noticing his friend, Cleef's, voice. "What is it Cleef?" asked the male burrowing owl "It's about time for me to hunt, the owlets have nearly finished off what we have in stock." Cleef stated "Well you're going to have to wait 'till my friend lands, he's the one who has it." Cleef then looked up to see where Collyn was.

[Collyn]

Collyn followed Cleef soon after he softly gathered the owlet into his talons.

Collyn hovered over the ground as he laid the owlet on the sandy floor. "You must be the owlet's father." A soft smile pierced the barn owl's features. "I am Collyn." He took off his battle mask-the black owl didn't dare say that he was king, the thing he hated most was being treated like complete royalty-even though he was the only ruler of Ga'Hoole.

[Cleef]

"Da!" the little owlet exclaimed as he ran into his da's feathers. "Oh, my son!" cried the da as he embraced his son "How can I ever repay you?" asked the father, the happiness returning to his eyes. "No need." said Cleef "You know me well enough to know that I usually don't ask for anything in exchange of a good deed. Now please excuse us, we have some more business to attend to." Cleef looked at Collyn "I'll circle above, join me when you'll ready to head out."

Cleef then took to the air and began circling above the burrow, waiting for Collyn so they could start off for St. Aggies.

[Collyn]

Collyn dipped his head to the father. "Keep an eye on that one." He said to the father before flying after Cleef. "You ready?" Collyn asked Cleef when he joined him in the night sky.