Ten Wings: A Guardians of Ga'Hoole Story (Part Four)

Chapter Eighteen1

“Gylfie!” Otulissa shouted. “I’ll distract him. Keep running!” 2

“I’ll try!” Gylfie was losing speed and couldn’t fly. 3

“Hey, Digger!” Otulissa yelled. She flapped her wings and in a mocking way, screeched, “Look at me! I’m Nyra. I’m better than Glaux himself! Oooh!”4

It was working. Digger screamed at her angrily, “Oh, sprink on you!” He flew toward her and Gylfie was free.5

“RUN, GYLFIE! RUN BACK TO THE HOLLOW!” Otulissa screeched. 6

So Gylfie ran back to the hollow. “Martin!” she yelled when she got there. “You’re injured!”7

Martin looked at Gylfie with sad eyes. He didn’t say anything.8

“Oh, great Glaux,” Gylfie cried. “One of those frinking Pure Ones gave you Plintocites!” 9

Martin rolled over. His back was stained with blood. 10

“Oh, Glaux almighty! Your back! Was it from battle claws?” Gylfie exclaimed. 11

Martin just blinked. 12

“I just hope Otulissa is okay,” Gylfie said. 13

Martin nodded.14

Soren flew in. His wing was bleeding. 15

“Oh, Soren, not you too,” Gylfie cried.16

“No, just a cut.” Soren looked at Martin in shock. “What’s wrong with him?” 17

“Plintocites!” Gylfie said. “It’s where you can’t talk, and you’re really weak and vulnerable to other sicknesses.”18

“That’s terrible,” Soren said. 19

“I know,” Gylfie said. “What about Twilight? Is he okay?” 20

“Oh, yes. He’s doing a great job in battle,” Soren answered. “He’s killed so many Pure Ones.” 21

“How many?” Gylfie said in awe.22

“I don’t know. I stopped counting after 50!” 23

“Well, at least one of us is a good fighter.” Gylfie sighed. “I almost got killed by Digger. Otulissa is getting him off her tail right now.” 24

“Oh, poor Otulissa. We have to go help her,” Soren said. “Gylfie, would you go get me some Ice Sap for my wound?” 25

“Sure,” Gylfie said. Ice Sap was tree sap from the trees in the Northern Kingdoms. It was said to help wing wounds. 26

Gylfie tested her wings to see if the yeep had worn off. It had, so she took off to find a tree. When she found one, she started chipping away at the ice with her beak. 27

“Pure Ones! It is the code of death!” screeched a Pure One.28

Gylfie turned around. It was Nyra. 29

Nyra was screaming her head off. “The code of death! The code of death!” she yelled.30

Gylfie realized that the tapping of her beak was the same sound of the “code of death.” 31

“Soren has died!” another Barn Owl screamed. “Digger has killed Soren!” 32

As if on cue, Digger appeared with Otulissa in his talons. 33

“Otulissa!” Gylfie shouted. “Otulissa!” 34

Otulissa was motionless. 35

“It’s Digger the Great One!” shouted Nyra. “All hail Digger!”36

The Pure Ones stopped the battle and in chorus, chanted, “All hail Digger!”37

Chapter Nineteen 38

“Soren, we have to hide you,” Gylfie told Soren back in the hollow. 39

“Why?” Soren asked. He was caring for Martin.40

“Because. When I was tapping the tree to get Ice Sap out, the Pure Ones thought it was some type of code. They thought Digger was tapping a tree to signal that he’s killed you! If they see you, they’ll kill Digger AND you!” 41

Soren’s eyes widened. “What about Martin? Who will care for him? And Otulissa! Digger captured her. Who will help you save her?” 42

“Twilight will. He is battling the Pure Ones very well, and he will get Otulissa from Digger in no time. Just trust me, Soren.” 43

“I trust you, Gylfie.” Soren blinked. “You’re my best friend.” 44

Gylfie pointed toward a small hole in the floor of the hollow. “I am going to ask Nathra where that leads. But for now, just stay under the surface.” 45

Soren nodded and went under the hole. 46

Gylfie raised her wings and flew toward the battle to find Nathra. She heard a loud cry after she bumped into a Barn Owl.47

“It is Gylfie!” the owl screamed. “Kill her!” 48

All the other owls stopped what they were doing and glared at Gylfie. They surrounded her. 49

They all had battle claws.50

She was as good as dead. 51