An Adventure

[Cleef]

Cleef circled above one of the islands of Ga'hoole. Just a few minutes ago, Naraky, a new friend of his that had recently arrived at the tree, had told him of a gift of his. It sounded something like he had Firesight or Starsigh, but not exactly. From what he said, he got visions from coming into contact with items. This was all strange and interesting to Cleef. Naraky had also said that he needed to travel to the beaks, and that he needed Cleef's help. Cleef being Cleef, and Naraky also being his friend, had been quick to accept.

The Great Horned owl now flew towards him. "We're all set then?" said Cleef. Naraky shook his head. The two owls adjusted course for Tyto and were on their way. Naraky had said that, before they went to the beaks, they were going to get a friend of Naraky's from Tyto forest.

[xxskyfalconxx]

After a couple nights flight, Cleef and Naraky arrived at Tyto. Naraky led them through to one of the largest trees in tyto located near the border to the desert. they both were quickly able to spot malick, this was because he and another goshawk were fighting. As Naraky and cleef drew nearer, Naraky led them to a tree that was a safe distance away from the fight, this was so they could wait and watch till it was over. The two goshawks were competing for territory, they had their wings outstretched and were in an upright position while both screeching and hissing at each other. Naraky new better than to interrupt the fight, 1 small distraction and malick could lose everything. Both of the two birds looked pretty hurt, but Malick, in one quick movement, lashed his sharp beak out and grabbed a hold of his neck while thrusting himself towards the bird and pinning him to the ground. Malick had won, however by goshawk morals, he was not allowed to take the life of the same feather, and so he released his rival and he limply flew away.

Naraky and Cleef flew down to meet Malick, who was still panting from the battle. 'good hunting cousin.' Naraky landed beside his oldest friend with Cleef close behind. 'good hunting Naraky' Malick replied while also giving a small nod; Good Hunting was a traditional way goshawk would greet someone. Naraky then introduced cleef to Malick and then the 3 birds flew up the massive tree and perched around a large nest that malick had constructed. 'so, how you been Naraky?' Malick asked as he retrieved a couple of small voles and gave 1 out to the two owls, 'yeah, im doing good.' Naraky politly replied. 'so you been able to find a girl yet mate?' Naraky gave a small churr, 'you know me, I like being fairly solitary; besides, im always travelling.' Malick also gave a small churr to that I've been trying to get the attention of a nice, young lady for a little while now. she's roosting a small way from here and is interested in seeing me again sometime, however she's going back to that small forest region behind Tyto for a bit, she'll be back in a couple of days. anyway, what's that thingy you have around your neck' Malick then asked Naraky, 'oh, this is just a small necklace I found around the human roost you showed me.' Naraky replied.

(OCC: thought i should let you continue the conversation. Anyway heres pic that i thought was cool, gives you an idea of how malick and the other goshawk were fighting www.anzang.samuseum.sa.gov.au/useruploads/images/2009/brown_goshawk_standoff_resize.jpg )

[Cleef]

(OOC: Interesting. Simply trying to make themselves look bigger than the other.)

Malick looked quizzically at this "necklace" that hung around his friend's neck. "I don't remember you picking up such a strange thing?" asked the Goshawk. Cleef sat quietly eating his vole while this conversation was being held. Waiting for anything that he may be able to put a word or two in on. These Goshawks were interesting birds. They had such strange ways of fighting. Instead of simply engaging in combat, they would, instead, stand on the ground with their feathers puffed up and wings raised, trying to look bigger than the other. Then, whenever they saw fit, they would lash out, struggle for several seconds, and then break apart and take stance once more. At least their morals demanded that they didn't kill one another, that was good, thought Cleef.

(OOC: Sorry, I didn't really know how to continue the conversation. :/ )

[xxskyfalconxx]

“I saw it just after you left.” was Naraky’s reply to Malick. It was a couple of hours after sunrise and the owls were starting to get tired, Malick could see this and offered them a place to roost for the night, Naraky and Cleef were obviously quick to accept. “I’m going to be heading off hunting for a short while, I only woke up recently.” Malick told the owls, but before he was able to fly off, Naraky called “wait, before you go I need to speak with you about something” Malick turned his head around and peered at Narkay, “fly with me” was all Malick said. “We’ll be back soon,” Naraky turned around and told Cleef, obviously knowing what he wanted to tell Malick.

The 2 birds flew south from the tree and came over a lake, they then swooped down and landed in one of the trees growing from the murky water. “Naraky, mate, I know why you have come.” Malick told Naraky as he stared back at him blankly, “it’s st. Aggies isn’t it?” Malick asked after seeing the confusion in his face, “wait what?! I haven’t heard much about st Aggies since I was a chick; what’s going on?” Both of the two friends looked at each other now confused. “they’re hunting you down Naraky.” Naraky was taken back with surprise, “why?!” he asked shocked, “they gave no reason. They came here the other day and questioned me; obviously I didn’t tell them anything about you. I presumed they were searching all over tyto, they sounded like they wanted you bad; they also had an unusual spectacled owl flying with them” Malick said while scratching his head. Suddenly it all came to Naraky, “they must be the reason the spectacled owl was in hiding, but how did they find her, and why would they want me?” Naraky thought to himself, “Naraky, why are they after you?” asked Malick, “I don’t know, but I’ve met that spectacled owl before, I felt she was in trouble; that’s why I came to you, i know something big is happening.” Malick gave a small nod “you know I’ll help you with anything Naraky, but we can’t leave till night again, I’m still hungry; you head back to the tree and I’ll be their soon, you need to get to sleep.”

Naraky flew back to the tree, tired and confused. he saw cleef had already fallen to sleep in a large hollow based near the center of the tree. Naraky flew inside as well and found a nice perch and fell asleep.

[Cleef]

Cleef awoke just as the sun was beginning to dip under the horizon. The burrowing owl, without waking Naraky, walked out of the hollow onto a branch just outside it's entrance. He looked around as the world began to fall asleep to allow it's night time beings to wake up and have their turn in ruling the land. Cleef stretched his wings and yawned as he watched the top of the sun disappear under the horizon. Naraky would be waking soon.

[xxskyfalconxx]

Naraky opened his eyes and saw cleef perched on a branch at the end of the hollow. He gave his wings a bit of a stretch and hopped over to the entrance. “hey cleef” Naraky yawned “afternoon Naraky” cleef replied. The two owls talked for a little, Naraky told cleef about what he had learned from Malick; “now that we’ve got Malick, we should get to the beaks as soon as possible; especially if im being hunted.” Cleef gave a nod of approval and the two owls flew up to Malicks nest.

Cleef and Naraky landed on a branch around the large nest, malick was still sleeping, “How are we gonna guide him through the night?!” Naraky thought to himself as he watched his Diurnal friend sleep with his head tucked under one wing. Naraky knew they had to get going, he only hoped Malick hadn’t been out to long and had gotten some rest during the day. And so Naraky flew up to him and gave a friendly thwack with his wing across Malicks head, “ good tween malick” Naraky churred as he friend was groaning, “alrighty, my wings are up” he said while giving a little stretch and a small yawn. “So how’s this going to work? I can barley see a meter in front of me.” Malick asked, “Fly directly behind us and just feel for our wind current, you should be right if you do that” Cleef replied, being the older, more knowledgeable one. And so with an organised plan, the 3 birds took flight into the dark, silent night.

[Cleef]

The two owls and hawk flew through the night with Naraky leading, Malick in the middle, and Cleef in the back, watching Malick's tail and making sure the bird didn't fly off course and into a tree. Fortunately, the night looked like it was going to be a calm and clear one, so they wouldn't have any problems with the weather. That's how it seemed anyway. Cleef flipped his head around, looking at the darkening sky as several stars began to poke out and the moon started to search for its place in the sky.

[xxskyfalconxx]

After a solid nights flight they arrived in the beaks; however because the sun was rising they decided to find some food then scout out a roost for the day and continue the journey the next night.

As the moon raised the next night, they took to the air once again. This part of the journey was amazing; the mountains and stars together provide an amazing feeling as the wind passed through their feathers. The mountain that Naraky was in search for was close to the borders between the beaks and tyto so they didn’t have a long journey before they arrived. When they did eventually arrive everything was dead silent; this was very unusual for the beaks that were usually thriving with owls. Naraky landed outside the hole that entered the mountain with cleef and Malick right behind him, “this is it” Naraky told the rest of the group, “wait what?!” Malick replied, slightly shocked, “you never told me anything about having to go through an extremely dark hole that could possibly have snakes or anything inside!” Naraky gave a sigh, “I would of never thought you were claustrophobic Malick.” “I’m.... not. it’s just the snakes that get me” he said, trying to sound braver. “so you in or not?” Naraky asked him, “yeah, just you go first.” And so they entered the tunnel cautiously.

Eventually they reached the opening to the cave. Inside it was different to how Naraky first saw it, there was blood covering some of the wall and feathers spread across the floor; it looked look the after math of a battle. As they flew down to inspect he floor of the cave to search for clues to what might have happened, Naraky heard the scraping sound of battle claws leaving cold, hard stone, and he looked up to see ten or so owls from st aggies plummeting towards them, an ambush.

[Cleef]

Cleef caught a motion heading for Naraky. It was a St. Aggies owl with his battle claws extended. Cleef shot forward and nailed the owl in the side, causing his flight path to direct him into a rock rather than the Great Horned owl. Cleef looked around as more owls began to descend onto them. "Malick, Naraky, get out of the cave!" shouted the burrowing owl, naturally more concerned about the two other bird's well being rather than his.

A small noise filled the cave as Cleef took the breath of Qui. The next thing that could be seen of the burrowing owl was a brown blur darting here and there, attacking and parrying the attackers in a rush of instinct.

[xxskyfalconxx]

Naraky flew towards the tunnel leading out of the cave, however when he reached it they had already placed a rock at the exit, trapping them inside. They had to find another way out and fast; but how could they in these conditions? Cleef was darting around using the breath of qui, this was the first time naraky had ever seen another owl use this skill before, and he was in awe! Naraky started looking around for other exits while cleef and Malick held them off. Malick being malick wasn't the most merciful bird, he was tearing each of his victims apart with his razor sharp talons while he happily watched the blood spurt from their punctures.

Then Naraky remembered the crack at the back of the cave in his vision, “Maybe thats an escape!” Naraky desperately flew to crack, swerving and dodging the many owls chasing him; but as he reached it, the only thing that he could see in it was a dark passage extending further down into mountain and another two dozen owls flying towards them. “I want them alive!” screeched through the mess of blood and feathers as the 3 birds became more trapped by the second.

[Cleef]

Well, that's slightly reassuring, thought Cleef as he heard a, what sounding like, commander of this battalion yell out an order to take prisoners. Cleef knocked an enemy into a wall, dazing him, but not driving him unconscious. From a perspective. he finished the thought as he flew to fend off another attacking owl.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cleef watched as Naraky was hit upside the head and taken captive. From his direct opposite eye corner, the burrowing owl watched a Goshawks body fall through the air and be captured by another antagonist. Cleef soon realized that fighting wasn't going to work and landed on top of an ledge that jutted out of the cave wall. He folded his wings, sat down, and wilfed into a position of surrender, waiting to be picked up and carried off to.........somewhere.

"Eh, boys, it seems we have a smart one here," said a voice, "Pick him up and let's get a move on. We don't want to keep "You Know Who" waiting." With that questioning thought, Cleef felt his body lift up and be carried off into a deeper recess of the cave. The subdued owl closed his eyes and conserved energy. He didn't know when he'd need it.

[xxskyfalconxx]

Naraky opened his eyes with a throbbing headache. “welcome back.” A shadowed figure in the corner of their prison spoke with a depressed tone. “I knew when you left the cave it was the end of me,” it was the spectacled owl, and she was badly bruised and bloody as if she had been torchered. “They saw you leave the cave and swarmed in and took me captive. i've been forced to be apart of their hellish plan because of you!” She schreeched while thrusting herself towards naraky with talons extended, but before she was able lay a claw on him, Cleef rushed and knocked her to the ground. Naraky was in a daze of confusion, “What plan, and why would they need you to be apart of it?” Naraky thought aloud as Malick started to rise to his talons after being knocked out by st Aggies henchmen as well. “They have been looking for my cave for moons now, it's one of the very few in the beaks, and the only one to contain a stone that when melted to a liquid form, it releases a gas in the air that has the potential to kill, they needed me to teach them about the stone and make them a helmet so they would not be killed by it themselves when they harvest the stones and melt them into bottles to poison the guardians next spring, then they plan to steal the hatchlings.”

The three birds were taken back in shock, This was a horrid plan. “I may not be an owl, but thats just wrong” Malick said while making a sigh, “Who would even think of doing something like this!?” and then from the outside of their cell a new figure appeared, “Me.” He said “you see, the guardians have ruled that tree for far too long! A new order is needed, and that order is ours!” This owl not only looked liked a crazy whiskered screech, but was one! “Naraky, your friend here told us who you were,” he said gesturing to the spectacled owl, “and because you knew the location of this cave, we needed you eliminated, luckily you came to us instead of me having to send out hire-claws all over the kingdoms. Now if you'll excuse me, i've got work to attend to; oh, and I also forgot to mention, you three will be the first to test the gas!” he then left while churring.

Their prison, so they were told by the spectacled owl, was once her roost which is located inside a crevice in the main, first cave. She also told them that there was at least 25 owls working down in the mine that was through the other crevice at the back of the cave, collecting only the loose stones that they could actually get, “most of these stones are stuck to the wall so hard that they almost impossible to get off!” she told them. For a whole night they were in that cold, hard prison before a familiar face entered the small cave inside the crevice were they were being held. “Niamh!” Naraky exclaimed as she quickly scurried over to them and undid a latch that could only be undone from the outsides of the bars. “we don't have much time Naraky, come on!” but before he stepped out to follow cleef and the spectacled owl, Malick gave him a nudge with his wing, “now what were you saying about not looking for a girl?” Naraky replied by hitting him over the head with his wing, “we don't have time for this!” he hissed at malick while the Goshawk churred. They entered the main cave once again and saw the exit, they all then hurried towards it. “Wait!” The speckled owl shouted while also giving a deep sigh, “this place needs to be destroyed, it contains one of the most dangerous weapons of all time. St Aggies doesn't seem to know that this could not only destroy the tree; but whole kingdoms if it was to be spread through the air.” Then the whiskered screech came out along with his soldiers from the back crevice that lead down to the mine, but they were also wearing something, a hemet of some sort. They were also carrying bottles, bottles of the melted rocks! “Time for testing!” he said right before he dropped the first bottle.

[Cleef]

Cleef watched the bottle fall from the screech's talons with wide eyes. Once the glass left the little owl's talons, the burrowing owl's instincts took over. Whatever happened, none of those bottles could be opened in any way.

The Athene Cunicularia took a deep breath of qui and shot towards the falling bottle of poisonous gas. He caught it before it could even fall halfway from the screech owl, whom simply laughed at this reaction of Cleef's, to the floor.

"There are many more than just that one," he hissed. Cleef saw several more vials of poison fall towards the ground. He shot to them in order from which ones were closest to which ones were farthest from the floor while yelling to the three other birds, "It would be appreciated if you three did something! "

[xxskyfalconxx]

The bottles dropped, and cleef dived at them like a falcon; trying to get as many as he could before they hit the ground. Naraky and Malick drove towards them now to help cleef out. The spectacled owl stayed perching at the entrance; she could as easily escaped then, but she just stayed their as if she were thinking deeply. Soon enough the groups talons were full with the poisonous bottles, and consequently st aggies took this to their and advantage and started attacking while they were almost defenceless; each of the owls now had to think fast, or death would certainly meet them. Naraky did was he did best, fly. there was at least three owls chasing him as he swerved in an out of all the other attacking owls. "ahh, what can I do!" He screeched inside his head as he felt deep in gizzard that time was running short until a disaster occurred.

[Cleef]

Cleef, Malick, and Naraky dispersed as several of the St. Aggies soldiers attacked them. Cleef noticed a trio of owls right on Naraky's tail and, even though he was being pursued himself, flew into the trio, slamming one of the owl's against the wall. This maneuver succeed in knocking the owl unconscious and causing one of the other owls to break off and join Cleef's pursuers in chasing him.

The burrowing owl dived out from under a flanking attack that was meant to pin him against the wall, and suddenly realized that something was amiss. He felt lighter, and something felt lesser in his talons. Cleef looked down and horror consumed his facial expression. There, falling through the air, was a vile growing nearer and nearer to the rocky surface of the cave's floor. "Take a deep breath and hold it!" shouted the owl, "And fly!"