What are you doing here!? (Complete)

[Sompom]

"Hah hah. Don't be ridiculous." Tinker laughed metallically, "the Pure Ones haven't taken an interest, I was just away and they needed my help. Nothing to do with the Pure Ones at all." Tinker was caught completely off guard. He quickly glanced out the hollow entrance. The storm was still intensifying.

[Cleef]

Cleef looked at his friend. Was he telling the truth? Did it really matter? No, what really mattered was making sure that he was kept out of danger. Now that Cleef was out of the storm and had his friend safely in his hollow, he could think clearer. He really couldn't see the guardians hurting this Sooty. But what would happen when they found out, if they found out? Cleef didn't know. There were many possibilities. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Alright, Tinker, I suppose you do travel a lot. Although I'm not sure how the Pure Ones let you wander. You are a good owl, and I know that you would help others. You've helped me before. But, and this is just to keep my conscious clear, if you are lying to me for any reason, I forgive you."

Cleef walked over and stuck his head out into the corridor again. He still didn't see anyone. He didn't even bother looking outside, the only owls that would be out in this weather would either be the weather chaw, or an owl who hasn't made it to their hollow yet. The latter was a slim possibility Cleef told himself.

"I suppose we'll just wait for the storm to die down. Once it's stopped, or at least slowed, we'll fly out towards the Northern Kingdoms to stop these fights. Unless, of course, you've already finished that," Cleef rubbed the spot were he had bashed against the tree.

[Sompom]

Tinker took a moment to "consider" the suggestion, then said "Thanks for the offer, Cleef, but you really shouldn't come. They're bandits, you know, and I'm sure you must have other things to do."

[Cleef]

"Actually, I don't really have much. I think I've finished all I need to do here for now. Although I don't like to fight, if you need help Tinker I'll help." Cleef looked out the hollow, the storm was now dumping buckets of rain.

[Sompom]

"No, you really wouldn't be able to help. They wouldn't trust you."
It was still pouring rain outside.
"Is there somewhere I could sleep? I might as well take this delay to get some rest."

OOC: I've been thinking the whole week trying to find a response that would allow this story to continue but I can't find anything. I am also going to be away for the next two weeks, so don't be surprised if I don't log on for awhile.

[Cleef]

"You can pick a spot in the hollow," said Cleef, "I would suggest on the opposite side of the rain," he added as a joke. Cleef picked a spot for himself and sat over his legs. It wasn't his usual sleeping position, but he didn't plan to take a nap. He just planned to sit down. Wouldn't trust me? Cleef thought Well, they wouldn't have much reason to fully trust me or distrust me would they? They probably don't know me much. Cleef just let the scenario die. Tinker probably was running work for the Pure Ones. The poor Sooty didn't want to admit it to his friend and probably knew the Pure Ones wouldn't trust his information anyways. Little did they know that he had actually been in the tree!

Cleef felt for his friend once again, and probably not for the last time, if only there was some way he could get the Pure Ones to somehow discharge Tinker and forget all about him. Cleef sighed, if only.

Cleef looked outside the hollow the storm seemed to be lightening up a little, not by much but maybe a little. He began to look away but quickly snapped his head back. A feather slowly fell into his hollow. It appeared to be a Barn Owl's primary. Cleef stared at it. Many thoughts shot through his brain. Cleef shook them off and focused on the thought that it was probably a feather from the weather chaw.

Cleef's thoughts were thinking other wise, Would the weather chaw have really flown out in this? Cleef tried to reassure himself, The weathering ryb has flown the chaw members into some tough storms before, and I think that their is an advanced Barn owl in the chaw. But this did no good, Cleef simply had to let the other scenarios flow through his head, you never know.

(Occ: That's okay, I do need to pick this thread up a bit.)

[Sompom]

Tinker crawled to a side of the hollow which looked mostly unused and prepared to sleep. He considered the possibility of sneaking through the tree but he really didn't care to do this job any more than he had to.

[Cleef]

Cleef awoke with a jolt. He thought he had heard something drop. He looked around and saw that a map with a metal end had simply fallen over. "Guess I fell asleep," said Cleef to himself. He walked over and leaned the map against the wall again. He then turned around to see two things: one was that Tinker was sleeping peacefully, or at least seemed to be sleeping peacefully, and two was that light flooded in through the hollow's outside opening. The storm had led up and now things were beginning to dry. At least no one noticed that I was housing a Pure one........ Cleef thought, .......and if they did they must have just taken him as a random guest.

Cleef went back over to were he had slept, he would let Tinker sleep a little longer, just until the time when the early owls would awake as not to seem too suspicious. Then he would escort Tinker out to the Northern Kingdoms. Cleef might even follow the Sooty. It would give him a starting track for the day and the Northern Kingdoms might be nice to visit, but if Tinker insisted that he fly by himself to his next location Cleef would respect that and let him go. Maybe, if that happened, Cleef would still go to the Northern Kingdoms and visit one of the retreats or just fly around. "Hmmmm," Cleef thought to himself as he assumed his regular burrowing owl sleeping position.

Another feather floated down in front of the hollow's opening, but Cleef didn't see it. He had fallen into a light sleep.

(OOC: You're back

[Sompom]

(OOC: You seem to have something cooking here, so I really don't have anything to post. Rather like last time, I'm afraid)

Tinker relaxed for the first time in days. He slept as he had been unable to in weeks. When he finally awoke the world was quiet and the heavens an ebony black. The moon had set and the sun was beginning to rise.

[Cleef]

Cleef awoke just as the sun was slipping down into the horizon. "Alright, Tinker, I think now is a good time to........." Cleef didn't get to finish the sentence, as there was another owl present. What made Cleef wilf was when he realized that this owl was big, looked war torn.............and was a Tyto Alba, a Barn Owl. He had his battle claws unlocked and wore a menacing mask that had curved spikes jutting out of the forehead. "Holding prisoners are we?" said the owl as he took a step forward, away from Cleef's Sooty owl friend. "No," Cleef managed to recover from his surprise quite well, "I am simply housing a guest from a bad storm."

The Barn Owl looked Cleef in the eyes, "That storm passed last night, before day break," he shot back. "But since this Sooty owl had a long way to travel, I let him stay longer," replied Cleef. "You don't even care that this owl is a Pure One?" the owl said, a small smudge of surprise in his voice. He took another step closer. "You forget where you are and obviously don't know who you are talking to," said Cleef, "how did you get into the Great tree unnoticed anyway?" he asked. The barn owl advanced yet another step, as if Cleef didn't notice that he was slowly getting larger as he got closer. "I'll have you know that I am the only one asking questions smelly little Burrowing owl, but since you've been so nice so far, I'll allow one. I followed Tinker here ever since he left the Pure One fortress. My higher command doesn't trust Sooty owl information to well, and he wanted someone to be able to confirm any intel. With that storm I was able to follow you two to this hollow. I've been sitting outside the whole time." Cleef believed this owl, he had seen one of his feathers fall past the opening of the hollow. "Now," began the Tyto as he covered up the rest of the distance to Cleef, "If you would like to live and not leave a mess for you're fellow Guardians," he spat the word out as if it had a bad taste, "I suggest you keep your beak shut and not run when you wake up." At that Cleef watched the owl quickly raise one of his talons and bring it down at Cleef's head. To Cleef it happened slowly as he analyzed it all. Right before the Tyto struck, Cleef turned to his friend, winked as he took a small breath accompanied be a white noise, and quickly shot out of the Tyto's reached. A small thunk resonated through the hollow as his talon slammed into the floor.

"My friend, have you been skipping out on homework? Us burrowing owls are pretty fast when our talons are on the ground. You'll find that I'm rather quick in flight to," Cleef said smartly. He then shot over and slammed into the barn owl's gut, but Cleef didn't expect what happened next. As he shot forward, the barn owl had raised one of his talons. Upon Cleef hitting him, the Barn owl had reflexively moved his talon down, catching Cleef on the back of the head with the blunt side of the claws.

As the world slipped away into a dreamy black haze, Cleef heard the Barn Owl reply in a smarter tone, "You'll find that I'm faster."

(OOC: Actually, I wasn't 100% sure of what would happen. I thought the owl outside was a Pure One, but I wasn't certain. I think it turned out a little exciting though. Hopefully the pace will pick up a little now. Maybe our new member will find a way to join in. She seems pretty enthusiastic. )

[Gabjas]

(OOC: Thanks for the welcome, Cleef

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[bg=6a2100] Prue perched in the dining hollow, a nutshell of milkberry tea clutched in her talons. It had been nearly two nights since she had arrived at the Great Tree, after completing a harrowing journey over the forest of Silverveil and across the vast Sea of Hoolemere. Prue had finally found a home where she could feel content, a refuge from her dark past. It had been a rather lonely few nights, although a rather friendly Burrowing Owl who had introduced himself to be Cleef had given her a warm welcome. She had rather enjoyed the song that Cameron, the Great Tree's esteemed singer, had sung to welcome and commemorate the arrival of a various assortment of owls that had just arrived at the tree, like herself. In a few weeks, Prue and the others were to be tapped for a chaw and begin classes, Prue was hoping that she would be in the Colliering chaw so she could perfect her skills as a Smith as well as learn new techniques for catching coals mid-flight. Her thoughts were disturbed as a fleeting sense of discomfort passed over her; a memory from her flight of the sea of Hoolemere that gave her creelies - as Prue had been flying with all her strength against the baggywrinkles that arose above the sea, she had turned to find the silhouettes of two other owls. They're species was unclear and hard to determine as sea water sprayed into the air. One was smaller than the other and appeared to be unaware of the presence of the other, quite larger owl that was flanking him just off his starboard wing. The owl that was following the other turned to Prue and gave her a steely glare through the mask of metal that covered his face. No! Prue's mind screamed. No, it couldn't be - not a Pure One, right? It was not long ago that Prue had been a Pure One herself...

[/blockquote][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table]
(OOC: see Prue's bio for more details)

[Sompom]

Tinker was stunned. How had the other owl been able to completely evade his notice? He hadn't taken any special cautions against being followed, but he wasn't totally oblivious either.
Cleef was faster on the uptake and ran across the room and began harassing the barn owl. All of a sudden, the barn owl landed a blow on Cleef and the little owl flew across the room. Tinker looked at the other owl, and saw the look of total hate and disgust there. Tinker suddenly realized that his friend was in mortal danger. As the barn owl was still recovering his footing, Tinker ran across the room and grabbed Cleef. Since the other owl was still in the entrance, Tinker jumped through the interior passage and shouted "There's a Pure One in the Tree! Help!"
Hopefully he himself would be able to evade detection. He had on a pair of battle claws, but as with everything supplied by the Pure Ones, they were dull and hardly functional. Capable of parrying, but probably unable to inflict more than a scratch.

[Gabjas]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[bg=6a2100] A shrill cry came from behind Prue. "There's a Pure One in the Tree! Help!" Swiveling her head in a manner only an owl is capable of; a distraught Sooty came into view, carrying an unconscious Burrowing owl in an awkward fashion. The dining hollow was filled with a frantic chatter as owlets clung to their parents for safety. A Spotted Owl Matron named Canis dispersed from the crowd and flew to the Sooty's side. He gave the Sooty a nod as he carried the Burrowing Owl into the Infirmary. Prue hesitantly approached the Sooty, who was now frantically trying to locate someone that could help his situation while he awaited the Guardians' arrival. As she approached the Sooty, an enraged Barn Owl dove from the very hollow that the Sooty emerged from minutes ago - he extended his battle-clawed talons and aimed for the neck of the sooty, a smirk edged on his beak. "You shall pay for your insolence, turnfeather!" the Pure One shrieked. "Watch out!" Prue cried to the Sooty, and watched as he dodged from the talons of the Pure One, who, unsuspecting this move, rammed into the wall behind them and collapsed into a pathetic heap of feathers. Prue turned to the Sooty and gave a reassuring smile. "I'm Prue, pleased to make your acquaintance."

[/blockquote][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table]

[Cleef]

Cleef's consciousness returned to him briefly. He thought he heard Tinker's voice, but it was hard to make out words, and it sounded as if it was underwater. Cleef opened his eyes a sliver and noticed that he was moving, but his legs weren't moving, where they? Cleef felt a terrible pain in the back of his head and heard a constant ringing in his ear slits. He was in a daze and all at once, the world went into a darkness again.

[Gabjas]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[bg=6a2100] The matron busied himself with arranging a pile of peat moss for Cleef to nest in as he was being tended to. Carefully, Canis inspected the blow to Cleef's head - a trickle of blood was flowing from a large cut in his head, luckily, the blunt end of the claw was incapable of dealing serious damage to any grown owl. It was a rather well-planned shot, the Matron thought to himself, dealt in such a way to make the Burrowing owl lose consciousness without much effort on the Pure One's part. Some time had passed before a Sooty and a Barn owl were escorted in by one of the Matron's assistants. "Is he going to be alright?" the Sooty named Tinker asked quietly, the Matron gave a sympathetic smile. "Yes, he is just resting. He will be perfectly fine, but he should take it easy for a few days. A little break who do him good." Tinker gave a nod of understanding. "Can we wait here?" Prue asked gingerly, gesturing to Cleef, "Until he wakes up?" The Matron nodded and turned his attention back to Cleef, whom still lay unconscious. Moments passed as the three owls huddled around the moss nest, glancing at each other. Cleef steadily gained consciousness, cringing as the blurry figures of three other owls came into view. The Matron pressed a talon to his beak in a hushing manner, and began to explain what had happened.

[/blockquote][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table]