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

Chapter Twenty1

Otulissa woke up in a dark hollow. She didn’t recognize it at all. “I must not be at the Hrath’ghar mountains anymore,” she said to herself. She heard faint voices speaking the Hrath language. “Okay, I’m still close,” she said, a little relieved. 2

She heard little footsteps coming toward her. She’d know those footsteps anywhere. 3

“MARTIN!” she exclaimed. 4

Martin blinked. He had a blank expression on his face. He stepped toward her. 5

“Martin—You have fire claws!” she shouted. Fire claws were the most dangerous kind of battle claw you could get. Somehow blacksmiths embedded live embers into the tips. They could rip flesh and burn it as well. 6

Martin blinked again, stepped toward her a little more, and raised a foot. He brought the foot to her face. He cocked his head.7

“Martin, why are you acting so weird?” Otulissa asked.8

Martin began speaking in Hrath. It was so fast that Otulissa couldn’t even understand anything.9

“Martin, why are you acting like this?” she repeated. She became scared. Was Martin with the Pure Ones? Was this disease that they gave him brainwashing him? Was he going to kill her?10

“Are you moon blinked? Have you gone to St. Aggie’s? Have the Pure Ones taken you there?” Being moon blinked was a terrible thing. It made an owl have absolutely no personality at all. It was where an owl’s head was exposed to the moon while sleeping. 11

Martin responded in Hrath. But it was no use. None of the owls in the Chaw knew Hrath. Martin turned around and left the room.12

Just then, she heard a loud scream. “Otulissa! I’m here!” 13

“PRIMROSE!?” Otulissa yelled. No way! Primrose hadn’t gone with them to the Hrath’ghar mountains, and yet she was here to save her.14

Primrose was Soren’s little sister, Eglantine’s, best friend. She wasn’t part of the Chaw. “How did you get here?” she wondered.15

“I flew with Eglantine,” Primrose answered.16

“Eglantine’s here?” Otulissa asked in surprise. Surely Eglantine was too young. “You two have to fly back to the Great Tree.” 17

“Well, tell Eglantine that.” Primrose gestured to the door. Eglantine was standing in the doorway. 18

“Eglantine,” Otulissa said, “you can’t stay here. It’s too dangerous for a young owl like you.” 19

“But Otulissa!” Eglantine insisted. “Please let me! Please please please?” 20

Otulissa thought for a moment. “Only if you stay in the hollow.” 21

Eglantine jumped up and down. “Oh, great Glaux! I’m so excited. A real, live BATTLE! With my favorite Chaw!”22

Oh, no. Otulissa sighed. How was she going to tell Primrose and Eglantine that Ruby had died and Digger was a Pure One? She didn’t know how she was going to do it, but she knew it wouldn’t be easy. 23

Chapter Twenty-One24

The Barn Owls surrounded Gylfie. She closed her eyes and waited. She was picked up by an owl and she dashed through the air in the owl’s talons. She couldn’t bear to see where she was going. The owl landed. 25

Something was wrapped around her eyes. A cloth! Those evil owls were blindfolding her! 26

She ripped off the blindfold. “SOREN?” she screamed. “Why aren’t you in the hole? And I’m in the hollow. What happened?” 27

“I climbed out of the hole because I heard a cry that could only be from you,” Soren said. “Besides, it was getting pretty stuffy in there.” 28

“But you were supposed to be hiding!” Gylfie exclaimed. 29

“I know, but saving my best friend was more important,” Soren replied.30

Now, how could Gylfie be mad at him for that? “Wait ... How do you explain this?” She held up the cloth.31

“You had a small wound on your forehead. I think you cut it on a branch when I flew in too close to it,” Soren said. “I was using it as a band-aid.” 32

“MARTIN!” Gylfie shouted. “Where is he?”33

“He’s disguised as a Pure One,” said Soren. “He’s trying to save Otulissa. Hopefully they’re on their way back.”34

“I sure hope so,” Gylfie said. 35

“But you do realize,” Soren said, “that this is a matter of life or death for him. And if the situation worsens, we’re going in to save him.”