Origins

[Battias]

Chapter 40

It was three months after Tobias's dramatic return, Tobias had broken out of his depression, but refused to hold a conversation, and only gives short answers to questions, but he did talk to certain owls, he talked to Levi, Swarr, and Ryben, Ryben and Tobias became friends. Levi learned Krakish beautifully, and Swarr and Alysa became more attached to eachother every day.

"Swarr, want to come with me and the rest of the Search and Rescue chaw? We're finally going to raid St. Aegolious!" Alysa said, Swarr gave a short nod and said, "Of course, Alysa!" Swarr said, suddenly Cybrus and Levi entered, Cybrus said, "I'll go and provide some support," Levi blinked and said, "I want to go, I've been learning to fight, in case..." Swarr nodded, Alysa saiid, "Are you both sure, this is going to be a stealth mission, so we shouldn't have to fight," Everyone nodded, Levi hummed a little tune, "So... no fighting? Great..." Cybrus said, he sounded relieved, Swarr thought he didn't care about fighting, "So, when do we leave?" Swarr askked, Alysa buried her head into Swarr's chest, "Tomorrow,"

The sun was peeking over the horizon, and the winter winds were coming, Swarr turned to Tobias, who stood behind him a couple feet behind, "Tobias, are you doing okay?" Tobias nodded, Swarr had noticed his yellow eyes had dimmed, Tobias said, "I'm fine, about to go to sleep," Swarrr nodded, "I'll leave you to it, I'll be gone tomorrow, but I'll be back in time," Tobias nodded, as he finished a small vole.

[Battias]

Chapter 41

Swarr and a small group consisting of Alysa, Levi, Cybrus, another member of the Search and Rescue Chaw named Falkner, a ba a great grey, and the old Ryb of the Search and Rescue chaw, A tawny owl, Garren, Flew close to the ground, they were in a dangerous area, they were right outside St. Aegolious, They stopped in a rocky outcropping, when Garren spoke out silently, "Split into groups, Levi, Swarr, and Alysa, Head west, avoid contact, Cybrus and Falkner, with me, We're going east," everyone nodded, "Remember! Silence!" Garren whispered harshly, everyone nodded again, "The plan is we scout the area, find weak, unguarded spots, when we find one, we report back here, we infiltrate undetected and steal unblinked owlets, hopefully none get blinked tonight, Got it?" Garren said, Everyone nodded, "By the way, Swarr, are you sure it may rain?" Swarr looked torwards the night sky, clouds covered everywhere, Swarr whispered, "About an hour until it begins, unsure of how hard it will be," Garren nodded, "Let's go!" Garren said enthusiastically, and quietly.

"Look, noone's here, this could be a possible spot," Levi whispered, Swarr stood on a dense bush, wilfing to look like a branch, Swarr and Levi below, Suddennly Swarr heard rustling behind them, he darted his head around, he saw an owl dart and head away from the canyons, he couldn't identify them, they were too fast, "What?!" Alysa whispered harshly, Suddenly in front of them, Swarr spotted something unexpected, a squad of Pure Ones, "What in Glaux's name?! Why are they here?!" Swarr whispered, Alysa's eyes widened, she said "Swarr, was that a scout?" Swarr shrugged, Levi fell over in fright as Garren and his group darted out of a bush, "We were spotted, Pure ones are here!" Shreiks from barn owls pierced the sky all around them, Swarr could see Pure Ones coming from every direction, "Battle claws, On! Now!" Swarr screeched.

[Battias]

Chapter 42

Garren whispered quickly as rain lightly fell upon them, "Quick, any strategies for this situation?" Alysa shrugged as Levi silently prayed to Glaux, Cybrus a little twitchy, Swarr spoke silently, "Protective circle, we need to gain height so that we have an advantage," Garren nodded, "It sounds risky, but everything else will end up with all of us injured," Everbody took off from the ground and gained height, forming a tight circle, "Any idea which Pure Ones are squad leaders, officers?" Garren sighed, "Thrasius, He is a captain, and Olwa, She's a commander, they're both here, and have leading roles," Swarr nodded, the Pure Ones closed in around them, it was time to fight, Swarr calmed himself, and waited for them to attack, they came in one by one, They went down one by one, Levi sang amongst the fighting,
"Oh my friends with me here today,
our victories have brought us glo-ory!
but now is not the time to celebrate,
as a new bat-tle is nigh!"
We bear the wings of freedom on our backs!
Do not disgrac..."
Levi was cut off when the shreik of a Tyto shook them all, the Tyto barreled in and sliced Levi's face, Swarr screeched to the group, "Tighten the circle around Levi, I need to check his condition!" The circle tightened as Swarr glided down to Levi, "Oh my Glaux I'm alive, hah," Levi said, as he turned his face torwards Swarr, most of the featthers on the left side of hiss face missing, "Thank Glaux, Levi, you uninjured except for missing feathers, can you still fight?" Levi nodded, but as soon as he nodded, the entire Search and rescue chaw came to their rescue, Swarr was relieved, but confused, how would reinforcements be here if noone was sent to get them?

[Battias]

Chapter 43

Swarr stood on a branch Alongside Alysa, The Search and Rescue chaw had fended off the Pure Ones, Swarr asked a nearby chaw member, "How did you all know we were in trouble," The eagle owl smiled a short shy smile, "Ask Tobias..." Swarr bobbed his head, he was confused, Tobias wasn't even in the Search and Rescue chaw, he was in tracking... Tobias Glided down next to him, He wilfed, and had an embarrased look, "Tobias..." Tobias sighed, "Okay, I was following you all, I felt something bad might happen, I flew as fast as I could when I saw the Pure Ones," Swarr churred, "For Glaux's sake, Tobias, that probably saved our lives," Tobias looked down, holding in a laugh.

"They're back!" somebody screeched, Everybody went on alert, they could see more Pure Ones, and St. Aggies heard thee commotion, so they joined with their few unexperienced fighters, "Retreat, attack? what do we do?" Levi asked, Garren let out a short shreik and said, "Attack them," Swarr lifted off the branch with Alysa, he looked down and saw her cyan claws, "Split off, staw in groups of two or three, confuse them!" Garren screeched, Swarr split off with Alysa and Levi, they flew over the canyons, Swarr looked dow annd saw all the owlets, motionless, looking up, he could tell which were not blinked, they had a frightened look. Swarr and Alysa engaged a mixed group of Pure ones and St. Aggies owls, they fought without flaws, they would win, the Guardians would never make a mistake, This is was Swarr believed.

[Battias]

Chapter 44

Swarr watched everything, he watched as Alysa killed three Pure ones, he watched as one avoided her, getting a leg sliced off in the process, he watched as the one legged Pure one grabbed a sharp stone, he watched as Alysa saw the stone, and tried to gain distance, he watched as his instincts kicked in, hurling himself at the enemy, he watched as he was too late, he watched the stone pierce her, right in the Gizzard, Swarr screeched in horror, reaching out to finish the Pure One, the Pure one turned torwards Swarr, a ugly, Rotten smile on his horrid beak, His head was gone, detached, but the smile was still there...

Swarr rushed down to Alysa, Tears blurring his vision, she was there, breathing heavily, "Swarr..." She said, Swarr dislodged the stone and casted it aside, "No... Shhh... we'll take you back, You'll heal..." Alysa shook her head, shakily removing her battle claws, overhead, the battle dimmed, Pure ones fled... Alysa said, "I won't make it..." Swarr's gizzard felt pierced by the same stone, "No, what about a family?" Alysa sighed heavily, "You'll find a way, Swarr, you're great at doing that," How was he going to find a way to create a family without her? "Swarr, remember when we were being tapped? remember the lilacs? look..." Swarr looked to his left, a lilac bush, shaking with the wind, Alysa a said in a light whisper, "I love you.." Swarr darted his head torward her, "No!..... I...love you..." he said, fighting the tears, the Pure Ones were gone, they had won... but it wasn't really a victory.

[Battias]

Chapter 45

Swarr stood silently, he felt an urge to leave immediately, but he couldn't, Alysa needed a proper burial, no, he couldn't, he had to leave, he took one of Alysa's battle claws, the cyan shimmering in the rising sun, he took off one of own and buried them togeather, so St. Aggies wouldn't take them later, before he left, he carefully laid a Lilac bundle on Alysa's chest. Swarr met up with the rest of the Guardians, but Garren and three others weren't in sight, he clutched Alysa's cyan claws tightly, so tight his Talons started to bleed. Levi appeared beside him, asking rather quickly, "Hey Swarr, where's Al..." he stopped, looking at Swarr's bleeding talon, the cyan claws in view, "No... no... i'm so...so sorry," Swarr looked down, not saying a word, as Levi turned his head forward, a few tears escaping his half featherless face.

The group returned midday, King Soren greeted them as they arrived to the dining hall, and dispersed among a crowd of residents, Soren began to speak, "I have some important news to release, First, is that in last nights battle, we had lost Search and Rescue ryb Garren, and three who were in one of his more experienced chaw, they all shall be mourned for afterwards, second is that the High Tyto is dead, killed by his son, as our slipgizzles say, yet the reason is not yet known, and third, prepare for life without a monarchy for however long, I may pass soon, I am old, death isn't avoidable," Everyone gasped, Swarr turned away and headed for his hollow afterwards, clutching the cyan claws still.

[Battias]

Chapter 46

Swarr left the grouping of owls after the news, no goals in mind other than to wilt in his hollow from sadness, when Ryben and Tobias both stopped him, "Swarr, where's..." Ryben asked, they both wilfed at Swarr's strange silence, and the cyan claws he still held, "Swarr..." Swarr shook his head, "Yes, It happened, I'll have to get over it, but I can't now, It's too early, You both are great friends, I just wish to be left alone," They both nodded, Ryben's eyes were watery, as he was holding back some tears. Swarr left them for his hollow, when he arrived it was strangely empty, he disliked it so much, stress overwhelmed him, from the death of Alysa to the tapping of his new chaw coming soon, Swarr took the cyan claws and put them on a alcove in the wall that functioned as a shelf, and stared at them

Levi entered Swarr's hollow, eleven days after Alysa's death, his feathers on his face nearly fully regrown, Levi said, "Swarr, are you ready for your next chaw?" Swarr stood silently for a second, then said, "Don't know If I am, really," Levi sighed, "Swarr, seriously, don't all birds break out of their egg shell in order to fly? Not to crawl on the ground pathetically? For what reason do you posess your wings? Isn't the sky in this cage a little too tiny? Swarr, you need to understand, Freedom annd Death, the two of them are twins, but our friend is only one of them, I hope you believe freedom is the friend, Death plays tricks, and sneaks up on you, freedom is caged, and as a Guardian, is it your job to free it and protect it? Death has confused you, making you unable to work torwards freedom, therefore death has almost succeeded, but you can stop it right now, rid of your depression, and defeat it," Swarr lifted his head slowly, "Thank you for that, but I would like to be alone," Levi raised his voice, "Swarr! didn't you..." Swarr quickly stopped him, "Hush, I don't want to be alone to mourn, I need to be alone to think about how I should teach my next chaw!" Levi churred, leaving the hollow slowly.

[Battias]

Chapter 47

Cybrus entered Swarr's hollow suddenly as Swarr was reading, preparing for his next chaw, Cybrus came in looking sad and gloomy, and said, "Swarr, I'm sorry about your loss, but I need to tell you something I've held back from everybody," Swarr looked at him confused, "Swarr, I'm a gizzard resistor," Swarr shifted his wings, "What's wrong with that friend?" Cybrus sighed, "I feel... wrong, Swarr I killed several Pure Ones while my gizzard pounded me, I'm leaving," Swarr opened his eyes wide, "Leaving?" Cybrus nodded, "Glauxian brothers retreat is where i'm headed, I'll stop by and tell Myria what happened to you, but I wanted to say goodbye, until I run into you again," Swarr nodded, he understood his feelings, "Goodbye, Cybrus, You were a good friend," Cybrus sighed, "And so were you, Alysa was lucky to have you," Swarr was shaken by those words, they meant something.

"I am the Ryb of Weather Interpretation, My name is Swarr, I have been at the tree for quite awhile now, I have made friends, experienced happiness and love, and withstood loss, you all shall be masters in flying through every single wind and storm! But flying through storms are too dangerous for you all, so, open these books and read! knowledge is everything to storms!" Swarr said to his new chaw, quite a large one too, ten members in total, three double chawed for coillering, Swarr passed around the books and let his bright smile shine through his recent sadness.

[Battias]

Chapter 48

Swarr looked at the cyan battle claws hanging on a hook in his hollow, one he recieved from the smith, and had the permission to keep them in his hollow. He sighed as sunlight started to shine through dense clouds rolling. He would be strained with his large chaw, but he didn't worry, it would turn out fine. Swarr went over the names of his chaw's members, Aria and Fallo, two Whiskered screech sisters who were lucky to be in the same chaw togeather, but Fallo being double chawed for Coillering, Ballast, a large outgoing male Great Grey, Erwin, a male Great Horned that had quite a normal attitude, Luclen, a male Saw Whet with a large spirit, Marzia, a female Masked owl, Oden and Eule, two male Snowy owls, Lancer, a male Eagle owl, and Peony, a female elf owl, Swarr went over their skills and their issues, making sure they would be up for a winter storm, for winter was inching along at a fast pace. Swarr's feelings built up in his gizzard, he was no longer mourning over Alysa, though he did have moments of thought about her, he was still happy, just not as he was before, he kept his fun attitude, that would never change.

Swarr picked up rough winter winds as he and his chaw searched for a storm, the conditions were just right, with winter overtaking the fall at such a fast pace, there was bound to be a storm, Swarr was correct as the light clouds built up fast, and the light rain turned into heavy downpour, lightning, and currents of winds. Swarr kept an eye on his Chaw as they braced the rain, until the cold air turned the rain into frozen ice drops on their wings, Swarr decided to have his Chaw land after a while of ice building on their wings, He himself started growing uncomfortable, but as they landed on a grove of Beautiful Elm trees in the middle of Ambala, Swarr spotted in the distance with frost covering it's wings and head, a Vulture, it looked at Swarr with a bored look, it's ragged brown feathers gleamed under the frost. Swarr was disturbed yet intrigued by it, a Male by it's looks, and it seemed interested in Swarr and his chaw, Swarr hoped he wasn't interested in them in a bad way.

[Battias]

Chapter 49

Swarr and his chaw waited for the ice storm to pass before starting back to the Great Tree, but Swarr noticed the vulture followed them, after a while Swarr felt a little confused as to why this vulture was following them, he stopped his chaw and turned and landed on a branch right in front of the vulture, "Excuse me, Why are you following us?" Swarr asked, the vulture stood silent for a moment, then said in a creaky deep voice, "Well, usually one large group of owls meets another, they fight leaving the dead behind, and then that's what most vultures scavenge," Swarr felt a little struck by these words, "I'm sorry, but we aren't a battle party," The vulture smiled, and said "Well, you never know, enemies could be right around, to bad there isn't," Swarr felt he had to ask, "So you are waiting for us to fight just so you can eat dead owls?!" The vulture smirked, and said, "Not me, I've just had some leftover caribou over in the beyond, as you call it, but there are other hungry vultures raising families..." Swarr felt disgusted, but he still stuck around, apparently his chaw was listening, a couple yarped at his words, "What is your name?" Swarr asked, the vulture's smirk vanished, and he said lowly, "Vadinsk, I am a Griffon vulture, I presume you are Swarr..." Swarr looked at him confused, bobbing his head, "How do you know?" The vulture make a creaky laugh, "Let's just say, I have been listening..."


Swarr had a brilliant idea, vulture were commonly around during battles, living off of the dead, usually everybody ignored them, but maybe, maybe he could be used, his listening could be used to listen in on the Pure one's battle plans before they arrived to the battle, and relay them to the Guardians, it would be perfect, only if Vadinsk agreed, "Vadinsk, we ask if you could assist us as a slipgizzle?" Vadinsk made a short gagging sound, "A what?" Swarr said again, "a slipgizzle, a spy, your skills in listening could prove useful before a battle starts, you would help us so much," Vadinsk laughed, "whats in it for me?" Swarr was determined to get him in, "Well, useful info you pick up before a battle starts could be told to us, the important plans can be countered, meaning more dead Pure ones, which means... more food for you and the rest of the vultures, as disturbing as it is, it's true," Vadinsk looked at Swarr confused, "That's not much, we already get enough food to even finish during a battle! You're pitiful fights that never end supply us for a lifetime!" Swarr was struck hard by these words, "Pitiful? What's pitiful about protecting all of the owl species from destruction? I bet the Pure ones will want to remove vultures from their 'Pure' world if they won! so by this fighting we are protecting your sorry beaks!" Vadinsk sighed, "I'll do it if you supply the nesting grounds in the Beaks with kill, there's some starving single parents who can't leave their young unprotected, for the nearby 'Pure Ones' as you call them..." Swarr nodded, "I shall see if parliment agrees with this proposal, but if it is accepted, you shall see the nesting vultures fed, and shall continue to be fed if you do as you agreed," Vadinsk smiled crookedly, nodding.

[Battias]

Chapter 50

Swarr arrived home with his chaw, everyone went back to their hollows while Swarr met with parliment, discussing the plan to use vultures as slipgizzles, everyone had their doubts, mostly they doubted Vadinsk would do his task, thinking he was untrustworthy, but after what seemed like months of debate, everybody barely agreed, and food was sent. Swarr went to his hollow and sat wondering about Vadinsk, when Levi entered seeming a little excited, "Swarr, I heard you met a vulture today, what did he look like and sound like?" Swarr looked at him a little confused, "Ragged brown feathers, a grey neck and head, long black beak, irregular sized talons, a deep creaky sounding voice, why do you ask?" Levi smiled, "Just wondering, don't vultures usually avoid contact with owls?" Swarr nodded, "Usually," Levi nodded, "Well I better be going, got to start sing while morning comes, Hah," Swarr gave a short nod as Levi left.

Swarr left for the Beaks with a large Rabbit clutched in his talons, the food was already sent, but he thought he should bring extra, as he wished to speak with Vadinsk, to make sure he was not a liar, and was going to do what he agreed to do, Swarr arrived to the vulture's nesting area, but there were no vultures in sight, until he spotted several grey heads sticking out from the alcoves in the cliffside, they were spaced out far, not to close to eachother, all of the faces looked begging, Swarr noticed Vadinsk sleeping on a small bush, undisturbed, Swarr landed beside him, waking him up, and said, "Vadinsk, we have supplied the vultures with food, so are you going to keep to your deal and assist us when we need you?" Vadinsk yawned, then said "Yes... yes... I will, ignore their begging for that rabbit, they are well fed, they just don't know that they are fed," Swarr nodded giving him the rabbit, he tore off a small strip and ate it, then threw the rabbit down to the ground, when a couple of other vultures flew down and picked at it, Swarr left, nodding to Vadinsk, heading straight for the tree.

[Battias]

Chapter 51

Two weeks later, Something happened that was expected, but yet nobody hoped it would happen for a long while, the King and Queen lay, giving their final breaths by making a little speech, saying how parliment had to work togeather in order to achieve anything, they attempted to say something else, but died soon after, Swarr couldn't help but shed a tear or two, while others who had more of a bond with them sobbed uncontrollably, Swarr had to be strong, no, but in his mind he WAS strong, so he kept it that way and moved on, never looking behind except for every now and then, especially thinking about Alysa.

Swarr was going on an unexpected mission, he volunteered to go after listening to Parliment bicker, coming up with ideas that were unreasonable, he would usually speak up and make several suggestions, give small details, remind the others of the dangers, but he was silent, for the other owls in Parliment were a little shaken by the King and Queen's deaths. Swarr headed to the border of the Forest of Tyto and the Beaks, where apparently two slipgizzles were hiding, trying to learn about the newest High Tyto, Swarr flew over to the Beaks and met up with Vadinsk, who didn't expect him, "What do you want?" Vandinsk asked a little irritated, trying to rinse his mud covered feathers in a small puddle, "This isn't part of the deal I made with you, but I am going somewhere dangerous, I need you to keep watch for me, i'll pay with whatever you want, but erm, what happened?" Vadinsk sighed, "Couple of young mischievious vultures knocked me into a patch of mud while I was sleeping..." Swarr held in a churr, "Ah, well, will you do it?" Vadinsk sighed, "Give me a second to wash this gunk off of my feathers then yes, I will, I want to get away from here for a while!" Vadinsk finished and they headed to the location Swarr was told to go to, Swarr promised Vadinsk wouldn't get in any fights, they reached the area, Vadinsk splitting off and perching on a tall willow overhanging beside a small creek, Swarr looked around for the slipgizzles, but they were nowhere in sight, until Swarr finally spotted a hollow, he couldn't see inside, but he saw the marks of battle claws slicing down the entrance, and a small streak of dried blood on the floor of the entrance.

[Battias]

Chapter 52

Swarr entered the hollow, afraid to find the slipgizzles dead, and he did, he saw the female laying against the back wall, a wing detached and a small slash across the chest, and a bloody heap of feathers on the side of the hollow, with a lump under it, what he presumed was the male, He was about to leave to report that they were dead, when he heard breathing from back inside the hollow, and a sudden moan of agony, "Please...." Swarr turned around, The female was alive, "How did this happen? How long ago were you injured?" Swarr asked, The blood everywere was dry, this had to have happened a while ago, "Hours ago, but please, save my egg, return it to the Guardians, let him or her have a happy life..." Swarr saw the female lift herself, Screeching in pain as she removed an egg from under her, Swarr looked at it, feelings rushed over him, his mind shut off and his gizzard now controlled, he took it, not even caring about the information the female was about to give, he hoped that he might have had a chance... "The new... High.... T...Tyto... he... he's as bad as his father.... but more.... active..... his name.... K.........." The female slumped down, Swarr heard her breathing stop, the egg he held was warm, It was alive, He looked at it and tears flowed down his face, He thought with Alysa gone, he would never have a child, for he also Didn't have no interest in finding another mate, it would emotionally injure him, while this egg emotionally healed him.

Swarr left the hollow with the warm egg, he had no idea how long the female had it, she had never mentioned it to the Guardians, so she must've just laid it? Vadinsk joined in beside him, yawning, "Are we finished? Wait... whats?" Swarr shook head, "An egg, I found nobody in the hollow except this egg, all there is is blood and feathers, the egg is warm, I'm keeping it," Swarr said, lying so Vadinsk wouldn't tell other vultures about the dead owls, "So you're keeping it, what do you mean by that? are you just returning it to the Great tree or are YOU keeping it?" Swarr flew silently, "I'm keeping it! I will return and tell parliment, and when they go to find it somebody to give it to to raise it, I shall tell them I will keep it!" Vadisnk sighed and shook his head, smirking

[Battias]

Chapter 53

Swarr returned to the Great tree, the sun started rising as he arrived, the egg still clutched in his talons, Swarr being gentle with it. He headed for his hollow, making a small nest of moss and down and placing the egg in the center. Ryben unexpectedly entered, saying suddenly, "Swarr, I need to ask a favor of you, could you..." Ryben suddenly saw the egg, his beak opened slightly, "Swarr..." Swarr smiled, and looked at him, "Rescued it, it's a Great horned owl egg," Ryben gasped, "Swarr, I honestly thought, I mean, I don't know what I'm trying to say here," Swarr hushed him, "I've gotta speak to parliment about the, 'outcome' of my mission, You may stay and watch it or leave, I'm sure it'll be fine for a few minutes, It's still warm," Ryben nodded, staring at it while Swarr left.

Swarr headed back to his hollow to tend to the egg, happy that the rest of parliment accepted his proposal to care for the orphaned egg, He arrived to see Cybrus and Levi, waiting, Swarr went up to Cybrus, "I thought I wouldn't see you for a while, What are you doing here friend?" Cybrus smiled, and shrugged, "I miss the Tree, but, I'm doing fine, I came to visit, and, I see this..." He said tilting his head torwards the egg, "Levi told me what Ryben told him, Congradulations," Swarr nodded, "Thanks, Did you happen to visit Myria?" Cybrus nodded slowly, "She's old, wings are unusable and droop to the ground, and she has trouble walking, but she is doing okay, she was saddened about Alysa, but when I return to the Glauxian brother's retreat I'll stop by again and tell her... if you want," Swarr nodded, "Go ahead," Cybrus nodded, Levi finally made a sound, clearing his throat, a suprised look on his face, "Swarr, after that day, I thought..., you know..., but, Swarr, what i'm trying to say is that you found a way," Swarr nodded, Making his way over to the egg, saying "So Almost everyone I know knows about the egg, does Tobias know yet?" Levi nodded, "Ryben told him too, but I don't think he is ready to visit, still has his sister on his mind," Swarr nodded slowly, "Anyways, I need to see if I can have a nest maid help me care for the egg, It's going to be a little hard raising it alone, especially when I have important tasks to do," Cybrus perked up, "I know who you need, back at the Glauxian sisters, there's a young nest maid, Pettras, she is skilled in raising young owlets and caring for eggs alone, when I met her she told me she has always wanted to work at the Great tree, and that she would feel useful here, even though there's still enough nest maids around to help all the families, extra help would be appreciated, would it not?" Swarr smiled, nodding, "I think so, when you return, might as well invite her over!" Cybrus nodded, smiling, "I'll be heading back, Goodbye, Swarr," Swarr nodded as he left, Levi hummed silently.

[Battias]

Chapter 54

Winter was nearly ending, Swarr watched the egg constantly while Petras helped, Petras was loyal to helping Swarr with the egg, and was enthusiastic, Swarr became familiar with her and began to become friends with her immediately after meeting her. Swarr headed torwards the hollow's entrance, looking at the sky, the sun shining through the gray clouds coming from the west, he looked back to Petras who was carefully rebundling the nest the egg sat on, "Petras, I'm heading out today, going to take my chaw to another storm," Petras nodded, saying lightly, "May want to be back soon, Swarr, the egg may hatch soon," Swarr smiled before turning and heading out, the newest Search and Rescue Ryb stopped him, saying "Swarr, everyone in parliment needs to, oh it's Important just hurry!" Swarr nodded, sighing and turning around to head to parliment, hoping whatever it was wouldn't last long, so he could take his chaw out before the storm to the west ends.

Parliment spoke on and on about a new king and queen, Swarr adding every now and then, but mostly keeping quiet this time, usually he always went on and on in parliment, but not as much as others, suddenly, one of the Rybs suggested a king, everyone went silent, followed by some silent nodding, "What do you all know of him? Touran? Lars? Hanji? Swarr?" Everyone gave their opinions, when it came to Swarr, he spoke honestly, "Never really knew him personally, so I do not know, but I do know that if you all think if this choice is right, then I believe so too," everyone nodded slowly, before returning to their endless discussion about leadership, an hour went by, and they were still on the discussion of leadership and a new king, Swarr yawned, suddenly the oldest Ryb, the Metals Ryb, said out loud, "So, we all have our final thoughts on the matter?" everyone nodded, he spoke again, "Then it is settled, we have a new king," Swarr sighed a sigh of relief, the new king would be young and unskilled at such leadership given to him, but that would change.

[Battias]

Chapter 55

The new king was crowned, Swarr attended while Petras attended the egg, later after everybody celebrated, the sun started to rise, Levi was not singing like he always does when morning rises, Swarr returned to his hollow, confused, Swarr greeted Petras upon entering, who was curled around the egg protectively, keeping it warm, "Hello Petras, I promise I will tend to the egg myself when I have time, so you won't be as busy, but I need to find Levi, I haven't seen him all day, not even in his hollow or around the tree," Petras made a small smile, and said "Oh don't worry about me Swarr, You're busy, I can understand, take your time, I can help out as best as I can here," Swarr nodded and made a short smile before heading torwards Ryben's hollow, he entered to find Ryben gone, but Tobias in his place, "Hello Tobias, I came looking for Ryben but you'll do, Have you seen Levi at all today, or yesterday morning?" Tobias looked up thinking, before shaking his head turning back, "No Swarr, I haven't, I've been with Ryben today and we haven't seen him," Swarr sighed, "He didn't sing yet, and morning has already passed," Tobias shrugged, Swarr gave Tobias a nod of thanks and headed out, he asked around and found no answers, he gave up hope of him being at the tree, he had no missions, he was a singer and wasn't really sent into combat except for a few times, Swarr tried the next best place, the tracking chaw.

Swarr and the Ryb of the Tracking chaw flew around the outskirts of the Island, they covered the southern and eastern side of the island, but when they arrived to the Northern side, the old Burrowing Owl stopped him, flying close to the water, a white feather floated on the surface "Snowy feathers, Luckily he's currently molting, so he should be easy to track, looks like these feathers have been floating for a while, some of the feathers may have sunk to the bottom of the sea, Swarr I have to return to duties, Follow any more Snowy feathers you see, looks like he headed north, in the distance there's another feather," Swarr nodded his thanks as the burrowing owl left, Swarr made his way to the feather, he found another, then another, then another, all making a trail north.

[Battias]

Chapter 56

Swarr approached the barrier between the Northern and Southern lands, the Ice Narrows, the sun reflected off the snow and ice, making the land a bright white, irritating the eyes of any owl who looks at the ice and snow, Swarr lost Levi's trail, on a small stretch of land, all that was in sight was a skinny pine too small to house any owl, and snow cliffs of snow to the East, Swarr scanned the ground for feathers, but the bright snow made it impossible to see the snowy white feathers, so he would search, Swarr was confused as to why he had left, there was no reason was there? Swarr did something a little foolish, especially in daylight, he called for Levi's name, attracting any of the Pure ones or St. Aggies owls in the area, but with the trail literally going cold, it was all he could hope for, "Levi!" Swarr called out loudly and deeply, his voice echoing off the ice, Swarr heard caws in the distance, no response from Levi, Swarr tried to remember where Levi told him he had lived, Levi mentioned long ago about living in a little ice cliff, inside of a small sinkhole not far from the sea, Swarr headed up, and looked for the sinkhole.

Searching for hours, Swarr found it, Swarr headed down inside carefully, he sighed relieved, and called out quietly, voice echoing off the walls, "Levi," a sudden screech tore the hole, Pure ones dove out of the side of the cliff, Swarr was stunned, there were few, but they definantly outnumbered him, he spiraled out of the hole and dove into the snow on the top of the cliff, hiding under it, it worked well, but he wouldn't be able to leave soon, they had him trapped, unless he traveled under the snow, it would be slow but safe, as long as he didn't fall off of a cliff, they wouldn't be able to spot him moving because of how bright the snow is with the sun shining off of it, Swarr began to move slowly, after moving after a few minutes, the snow began to grow thinner and thinner, giving him less moving space, he had to leave, "Ugh," Swarr said under his breath, he had to leave now, Swarr darted out of the snow and headed back the way he came, the Pure ones followed.

[Battias]

Chapter 57

The Pure ones were closing in on Swarr, they were faster, there were too many for him to fight, before they got too close, Swarr rised up into the white clouds, the light blinded him, the clouds were just as bad as the bright snow, he heard the Pure ones below, they questioned eachother on where he was, he heard one screech "He's in the clouds!" then another, "We know, you idiot! but WHERE in the clouds?" Swarr felt he was overwelcoming his stay, and darted down out of the clouds, he was unspotted, but he had to be fast or they would see him again, he dove down until he nearly touched the ground, as he passed the skinny pine he saw earlier, he heard a small voice, "Swarr, in here," Swarr stopped, confused, and went near the tree, looking at it confused, how could he get inside that small thing? Suddenly, Levi's head poked out of the snow under the tree, "There's a small cave down here, big enough to house a few owls, the snow covers it perfectly," Swarr stepped down into the snow and went into where he saw Levi's head, and entered, Levi was inside, Levi sighed and looked down, Swarr looked at him, and said "Levi, where were you?" Levi shook his head, "I just wanted to come and check in on my family, haven't seen them for so long, well I arrived, and they were gone, In there place were Pure ones..." Swarr looked down, the floor covered in snowy feathers, "I entered my old home, instead of my parents were several Pure one's staring at me, I screeched at them demanding what happened, they said 'Your family is dead, but don't worry, you will join them,'"


Swarr sighed, "Don't seek revenge, Levi, the Pure ones will be repaid for their acts," Levi sighed, "I don't want revenge, I just want to get out of this frinking hole, but they won't go away!" Swarr sighed, looking at his leg, he should of brought a pair of battle claws, he promised himself anytime he left the tree, he would carry a pair of battleclaws, Alysa's, Swarr looked around in the cave, the roots of the pine barely sticking through the mixed stone and dirt ceiling, Swarr looked straight at Levi, and said, "We need to leave, NOW, they will not go away, they know we're around, we know how to fly through the weather that forms a barrier between the Great Tree and the lands across the sea, if we make it there in time we may be able to lose them in the strong sea winds," Levi nodded, "We should wait an hour or two, regain some energy," Swarr nodded, looking torwards the snow covered entrance.

[Battias]

Chapter 58

Swarr awoke slowly, feeling dizzy, he yawned and peeked through the small hole, the sky was partially cloudy, water could be heard in the distance, they couldn't stay for much longer, the snow was melting from the sun, which was going down, but still high in the sky, if they waited longer there wouldn't be enough snow to hide them, Swarr walked over to Levi and nudged his wing with his, "Wake up, we have to leave now," Levi nodded sleepily and they both crept out of the hole slowly, there was nobody close by, so they started to head out. They flew for a few minutes, finally reaching the sea and were over the water, strong winds making their flight slower, so they started crabbing. Levi looked behind them, and gasped silently, looking to Swarr and saying "Swarr, Up high in the clouds, I can hardly see them, but there's Pure ones I think, Do you think they hid and waited for us?" Swarr sighed, and said "Don't know, be ready to fight, nowhere to hide now, clouds are too thin right now," Levi nodded.

Flying for a few minutes, the Pure ones above were still following not making an attempt to attack, they had a rough time in the wind, but were still catching up, they made a few daring jumps from cloud to cloud when the cloud they hid in while following them had ended, they thought they were stealthy, but Levi or Swarr always caught them in the corner of their vision, Swarr felt more comfortable as the wind grew harder, almost unbearable to any owl who wasn't trained to fly throught them, except the Guardians and the most determined owls, the Pure ones struggled keeping up now, so they finally made a move, they dived down one by one and attacked, Swarr evaded two of them, but lost sight of Levi, he attempted to avoid fighting the Pure ones, but was forced too, they wouldn't give up, Swarr began to rise in the sky, he wanted to have a height advantage against them, he spiraled up and turned around, he dived down and rammed right into one of the Pure ones, the other backed off avoiding getting hit, Swarr pushed the Pure one down and down, as they got closer to the water, the Pure one started struggling, Swarr pulled up, pushing the Pure one into the water, where he sunk, Swarr looked around for Levi, and spotted him diving with a Pure one chasing.

[Battias]

Chapter 59

Swarr blinked, he was looking up, the remaining Pure ones rose higher into the sky, he couldn't remember what happened the past few minutes, Everything was silent except for his own heartbeat, and the rise and fall of his lung, he looked down, and saw his left talon locked with another Talon of the same size, his right talon, covered in blood, was dug into the upper leg of a snowy owl, Levi, the sound started coming back slowly, first the waves. then Levi's rapid breathing, Swarr noticed a dead Pure one hanging off of Levi's left wing, the Battle claws laced into the broken and torn wing, the Pure one was submerged in water, Swarr noticed himself being dragged closer, Levi's destroyed wing submerging, all sound was back to him. "Come on!" Swarr said in frustration, He attempted to rise higher, but couldn't, "Swarr, Let go! How do you expect to carry me AND this soaked Pure one back home? Especially with them chasing you?!" Swarr sighed, "Are you serious Levi? I can't do it, I'ld regret it," Levi screeched, "Do it!, You have a egg, you're a Ryb!" Swarr responded, "You're the singer!" Levi said one last thing, "Alysa wouldn't want it!" Swarr waited for a moment, thinking, "GO SWARR NOW!" Swarr was suddenly hit in the back of the head by something, last he saw was his Talons unlatching from Levi and Levi falling into the water.

"Excuse me sir, Why did we save him?" Swarr heard, his eyes still closed, "We aren't saving him, you scat brained idiot! Our insignificant friend here can probably tell us some important Information, right? He was headed torwards the blasted Great Tree, So he must be a Guardian? Luckily he didn't get far," Swarr heared another say, "Plus, I love it, the pain it brings them when torturing them," Swarr shivered, noticing the talons holding his legs, about four talons, "Set him down here," Their commander instructed, Swarr kept his eyes closed once he was set down, hoping they would mistake him for being unconcious, he began slowing his breathing when suddenly his chest was struck hard, his eyes shot open and he gagged, he saw a Barn owl standing over him with a clenched talon, battle claws off, surrounded by other Pure ones, "Now, let's get this started."