Two Hearts (Open)

[Deleted]

Dartmont steadily descended as the stream came into view, having only flown for a few minutes. It twisted it's way to the east of his hollow and had only been a short flight from Pinop. He had made sure to stay close to Prue, making sure that she didn't get disoriented from any of the powder that was still clinging to her feathers. He had to admit, but he partially did so to also admire at her in flight. Her wings spread out, the moon raining light upon her face, showed her beauty off perfectly. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her and it was becoming harder for him to deny the feelings that were coming to him.

Dartmont landed down on a rock overlooking the stream, which at this moment was calm and undisturbed except by a lone insect or two. "Hopefully here you can wash off that dust from your face and we should be out of range from any nosy owls," Dartmont told Prue, admitting that he wanted to be alone with her. The stream was mostly unnoticed by other owls, who usually flew the extra distance to the river that the stream split off from. But Dartmont liked the calmness and privacy here and had spent much time down here contemplating to himself. He was certain there would be very little chance he or Prue would be disturbed here.

It had been a long time since Dartmont had felt anything for another owl, probably too long. After his last love had betrayed him for another owl, he had sealed himself off from others, only interacting with them on a professional basis. But this Barn Owl, Prue, just a few minutes with her had moved him in ways he had almost forgotten. On this same token, it appear Prue had some interest in him as well, it was as if Glaux himself was pushing these two owls together. Dartmont couldn't help but smile as he watched Prue, his mind and heart an pining to know her as well to open himself up to her.

[Gabjas]

Prue tilted her broad beige wings, her head thrust up to gaze at the plethora of stars that waltzed across the fabric of night, a celestial dance. The wind darted through her plumes as she descended in the wake of Dartmont, whom had kindly led her to a stream to wash her feathers clean. She alighted gracefully behind him, her talons meeting with the cool slab of rock they had rested on.

She peered at a pool of water that had formed in a groove in the river bed, churring playfully at the distorted image of her face rippling in the water. Reluctantly, she dipped a talon into the water and quickly retracted it as the icy chill bit down on her flesh, chilling her to the bone.

"Won't you accompany me?" she cooed, her wings thrusting her off the edge and into the lethargic current of the stream. She shuddered at the cold water that surrounded her, but could not help but part her beak in a smile as Dartmont came into view once more. She extended a wing shyly, inviting him to join her.

[Deleted]

Dartmont watched as Prue plunged herself into the river, soaking herself from head to toe. Popping back up, she looked completely ridiculous, but he couldn't deny her request. He pounced off from the rock perch and landed in the river, a chill running up his back as the cool water enveloped him. He popped up next to her and ruffled his feathers out, black soot gently washing off his feathers.

"It's probably been a bit too long since I've cleaned myself up like this... after spending so much time in the forge you start to forget just how dirty you end up," he remarked and looked at Prue. He gently wiped her face, rinsing off the remains of the powder and cleaning out her beautiful eyes.

"If you do not mind in me asking, what brought you out here into Ambala? Were you tracking that good-for-nothing Grass Owl, or did you come here for another reason?" Dartmont asked, figuring it would be a decent enough question to open up with. He wanted to know all about her, where she came from, where she lived, what her dreams were... everything.

[Gabjas]

She let out a soft trill as he plunged into the water, sending a wave of water in her direction. Prue skimmed her wing just beneath the surface of the stream, sending a splash of water in his direction. "I know what you mean." she churred at his remark, back in her days as a full-on smith, her feathers often went caked with soot for days on end. It was a filthy yet fulfilling career.

She drew closer to Dartmont, ignoring the heat rising in her cheeks as she did so. Prue didn't even feel the need to resist as he ran his wing over her, wiping the remainder of dust from her obsidian-like eyes. "Ambala is where I was hatched, actually. But I was young when I left it. I decided to return."

"And how about you, what's your story?"

[Deleted]

"I was born in the South, and I mean the really South, beyond the kingdoms of Hoole... beyond the reached of owl civilization." Dartmont began, drifting a little until he stood close to her, his eyes peering down into her own.

"It was a violent place, most owl organized into rival gangs and were always fighting, for food, for hollows, for mates... my family was one of the few who tried to scratch out a life without the gangs, and we failed. My father died early in my life and shortly later my two brothers were killed one night. Only through the quick-thinking of my mother did we escape and flew north, desperate for refuge. We ended up living in the area known as the Beaks until I was an adult, when I journey and tried to join the Guardians." Dartmont paused a little, recalling his time at the Great Tree. "But I never really fit in there, I was very uncomfortable being around so many other owls and I left a month after I had first arrived. I eventually settled here and developed my smithing skills, taking jobs for local owls in Pinop to held develop the city. I also..." Dartmont paused, a pain returning to his heart as he remembered his first love.

Despite a desire inside to keep it all hidden, he forced himself to revel it to Prue, not wanting to keep such a thing from her. "I became involved with another owl here and for three months we were inseparable. But, for reason I still do not know to this day, she betrayed me for another owl and the two stole a number of possessions from me. After that I moved and settled in what is now my current hollow, closer to Pinop," Dartmont let out a small sigh once he was finished. This had actually been the first time in a long while that he had actually told his story to another owl and it actually felt very good to get all of that out.

"As bad as it all sounds, I can't say it didn't all work out in the end. Sure, there are some decision I would take back if I had a second chance, but I have a decent life. All that I'm missing is... a mate..." Dartmont remarked and turned away slightly, feeling himself blush from the mention of a mate. He didn't want to come off too strong, but his desire for Prue was overwriting his best judgement ans spilled into his speech.

[Gabjas]

Prue gazed into his eyes, before blinking and turning away timidly. "I-I am terrible sorry to hear that." she said quietly. "I was never aware that there was a place beyond these kingdoms, so - savage." She returned her eyes to his, her body now brushing against his slightly as they drifted closer and closer in the cold water. "And I never thought that one could ever break your heart like that, I guess that is why I have never given my heart out before."

"Because I am afraid someone will shatter it." A pang sounded in her heart, she had fallen in love once, but it was long ago and the two of them had both been young, foolish Pure Ones. Things had changed. Prue stepped towards him, laying her head against his shoulder, glancing up into his golden eyes. "But I guess- I'm not afraid anymore."

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"The world is a much bigger place than most of us could ever imagine and most of those places were not gifted with civilization like the owls here," Dartmont remarked, ruffling his feathers again.

"As for her, well, I can't say I have anything more to comment about. As devastating as it was at the time to learn that, despite all we had been through, she never did truly love me, the truth of the matter is in the end it was for the best. She proved to be not worthy of the love and compassion I had to give, she was too preoccupied with the notion of having a 'strong, fierce warrior' mate to see that I had plenty to offer." Dartmont smiled slightly as he looked down into Prue's eyes.

"So instead now I have the chance to find an owl who can truly appreciate what I have to offer and who can love me for who I am, it just took me a long time to realize that." Dartmont went silent for a moment, his eyes gazing into Prue's, mesmerized by this female Barn Owl. He was overwhelmed by the sense of belonging; this is why Glaux had brought the two of them together, they needed each other to fix the holes in their heart.

Dartmont gently lifted a talon up and ran it gently around the side of her face. "I guess, no matter how broken, there is always someone who can come and put your heart back together..."

[Gabjas]

Prue huddled closer to Dartmont as the droplets of icy stream water drained the remainder of soot from her feathers. She churred, peering up into his warm honey-hued eyes. "Her loss then, she is missing out on a great guy." Their moment together was disturbed briefly by the hoarse caw of a crow, she peered up at the large black bird perching atop a willow that leaned over the trickling stream. "What're you looking at?" she called with a laugh. The crow begrudgingly fixed them with one last glassy stare before his immense black wings carried him off.

"Now, where were we?" she whispered, a shiver of delight snaking up her spine as he caressed her face. She listened intently to what he said, blushing as he uttered a subtle confession of his affection. She did not know how to reply with words, for no words could describe how she felt about him; how his touch made her stomach flutter and her cheeks burn hot.

Without a word on her part, she had planted a kiss on his beak. An invitation for an even deeper embrace. She rested her head against his, breathing deeply. Prue silently awaited his response to her actions, but deep within herself, she had an unwavering doubt that he would resist. Because she loved him. And he, she prayed to Glaux, loved her.

[Deleted]

Dartmont's breath softened as Prue planted a gently kiss on his beak and his heart immediately melted. He didn't hesitate to respond, and he quickly wrapped his wings around Prue, picking her up, holding her close to him and locking his beak with hers in a much deeper kiss. At that point, he felt everything melt away, all the built-up hesitation and fear that had developed in the wake of his last love's betrayal. But here, he felt different, as much as he had once cared for Emelia, the feelings he felt here for Prue were a step beyond that. It was as if in his heart he knew that Prue was his destined mate, no matter how much he had tried to deny it to himself back then, Emelia had never been the one for him.

Dartmont closed his eyes and just savored to moment, feeling Prue's heartbeat against his chest, each breath she took against his face. There was, by far, nowhere else he would rather be than with this Barn Own, right now, in the water, clutching her close in his wings. "I don't live to far from here, I've got a nice fire there you can use to dry off," Dartmont said to her, just barely above a whisper. Barn Owls didn't not have the same water-proof oil on their feathers like other owls did, so Prue would need extra help getting herself dry.

[Gabjas]

Prue took one last shake of her feathers, ridding them of some of the ice water that clung to them. "Blast these feathers, they never dry." she churred. "I would love a nice fire." she said, gladly accepting an invitation to a nice fire. A single graceful leap propelled her from the water onto the shale ledge, and another into the sky above.

She clucked her tongue, a tsk sound forming as she peered up at the clouded sky. "A storm's forming." she called back to Dartmont. "A rather large one at that." She beat her wings, hovering above the Great Horned, awaiting his directions. She could already feel the wind churning, a turmoil of chaos hidden behind the calm. It had been a while before a storm like this had brewed in the Southern skies. Despite the havoc it could unleash upon those who were unprepared, Prue always found solace in a nice hollow during a storm, especially when accompanied by friends or family.

A deep rumble of thunder tumbled from the lips of the greying clouds above, and the sky was momentarily lit by a zig-zagging streak of lightning. "We better find shelter." she hollered over the rising winds. "Quick."

[Deleted]

Dartmont hopped out of the water, and ruffled all of his feathers, splashing water all over the place. Unlike Pure, his feather's were quite waterproof and usually just a good shake was enough to dry them all off. With a second great leap, he tossed himself up into the air, taking place up near her. "Well, you know and thing or two about weather, huh? Well, anyways, just follow me, my hollow isn't very far from here. We should be able to make it before the heavy rain starts." He told her and starting flapping his way opposite of the stream.

Dartmont ended up being right, after a ten minute flight he spotted his tree and the surrounding ruins just as a soft misting on rain being descending from the sky. "There we are, home sweet home," he told her, pointing to the tree and one of the opening illuminated by the soft glow of his forge inside. "Well be quite safe in there, this tree has been battered by the best the weather can throw at it and still it stands tall and proud," he told her and landed down at the entrance. "Just come in and make yourself at home, though don't mind the mess. I may bee good at making things, but I am horrible at cleaning up after myself."

[Gabjas]

Prue gave her feathers a good shaking, freeing her sleek wings and chest from only some of the icy water. She was certain a warm fire would do her well, and the clouds above were surging towards the two owls at an increasingly rapid pace. The barn owl blinked, and the special transparent eyelid sheltered her black eyes from the occasional raindrop.

It was hardly any time at all before they had reached his hollow. The tree was sizable, but had clearly seen better days. A weather-beaten home, but a home indeed. Something about the clutter reminded her of her own forge -- the flickering fire, the weapons and helms hanging from branches and make-shift pegs, that... was home to her. This place was very much like that. Ah, the good old days, when she had been but a carefree lass, smithing for the occasional weary traveler or guardian customer. Being a guardian was nothing short of a dream come true, but the responsibilities were often tedious.

She had lost herself in thought again. Struggling to recall what he had just said, she gave a hesitant nod. "Oh, haha, don't worry about that. I was never one much for... organizing in my smithing days. I'm a tad more neat now that I live at the Tree, what with the frequent visitor poking their head in..."
the barn owl happily babbled, pleased to have an owl she could chat with. It had been a long moon or two since she had had a taste of adventure, and her friends had all gone their separate ways for the meantime, so Dartmont was a much-appreciated owl at the moment.

Prue gave one last glance around the spacious hollow, her eyes landing on the currently put-out fireplace. Sticks an dry leaves and grass for kindling sat in organized chaos, screaming to be set alight. "I'm freezing." Prue shivered, curling her still-soaked body into a little ball. Yes, all this place needed was a nice fire and...

It would be perfect.

[Deleted]

"Yes, of course, a fire I shall create," Darmont said and flew up into the upper portions of the tree. Up here he had bundles of wood tied and hanging about, waiting for their turn to be set ablaze. When big storms hit the area, Dartmont would usually go out once the storm had passed and gathered up all the limbs he could find that had broken off. He then tied them together into bundles and tucked them somewhere in the tree, ready for whenever he needed them. Since he was all alone, he just could not spend a lot of time find fuel for his fires, time spent wandering the forest was time that could be spent working at the forge. It was one of those tedious jobs that had begun to erode his love of smithing.

Plucking a bundle, Dartmont brought it down and tossed it into the forge, followed by dried leaves. He pulled a wing out and began fanning the coals, trying to bring them back to life. He had no special devices to do this for himself, so he had to spend time standing their, waving his wings back-and-forth. It didn't help that, unlike some better smiths, he had never really learned a good way to preserve coals. Instead, he basically tossed fuel onto the fire no matter if he was using it or not. If the coals ever went out, it was going to take him a lot of effort to get them back, unless a forest first just happen to occur nearby.

After a few minutes of flapping his wings, the coals finally reignited, engulfing the leaves and wood in a warm fire. "There we go, this should help dry you out," he remarked and he settled down next to her. He gently extended his wing around her and pulled her close to him, letting his own body heat help keep her warm as well.

"If you don't mind me asking, Prue, what brought you to the Guardians? Or were you just born there?" Dartmont asked, wanting to know more about her past. He was somewhat familiar with them, having stayed at the Tree for a few months many, many years ago. Prue was actually the first Guardian he had come across since then, if was somewhat rare that they made their way into Ambala and many owls here spoke of them as just wild legends.

[Gabjas]

Prue felt a delighted shudder course through her body as the heat of the fire grew, surrounding her with its warmth. Beyond the shelter of the tree, the storm raged. The winds whistled like the howls of a lone wolf, shaking every leaf and every twig that sprouted from the forest. The rain pelted the wood, plummeting in sheets just beyond the opening.

She pulled her attention away from the brewing gale, focusing once more on her host. She drew a shaking breath and spoke, "I wasn't always a Guardian, no. When I was very young, I was captured by the Pure Ones and raised to be like them. I was one of their soldier's for a long time, but I escaped when I realized how evil they truly were."

She paused, searching Dartmont's face for his reaction. There was always the lingering fear that she would be rejected, even with a good friend like Dartmont. Not every owl she encountered could look past the sins. Many failed to see her good intentions. She could only pray Dartmont would understand.

"Iflew to Silverveil, set up a forge and did that for a living. Until a Pure One soldier arrived at my forge, trying to recruit me once more. When I refused, we fought and I won. I packed up my stuff and flew to the Tree, and there I've stayed ever since."

[Deleted]

"A Pure One, huh? I see," Dartmont remarked, turned his head slightly, looking at the fire. Dartmont was familiar with the Pure Ones, to an extent anyways. He'd certainly read about them, what had happened many years ago, their attempts to wipe out the Guardians. He had encountered them on and off over the years and at this point they seemed to have loss much of their ferocity that they had once had back in the days of Nyra. The fact that Prue was here was a testament to that, in the old days she probably wouldn't have live long enough to make it to Silverveil, much less end up joining the Guardians.

"I cannot say I approve of the morals or the actions of the Pure Ones, they are insane, power-hungry egotists following a dated ideology that is a proven failure. Nonetheless... I can't say I don't understand, for an owl raised up in such an environment, it's hard not to see the truth in their values and follow them unquestioningly. To see that you, all on your own, decided that the Pure Ones were wrong, is a credit to the kind of character you possess." Dartmont looked back at her, with a little smile. "Sure, what you might have done as a Pure One could have been horrible and disgraceful... but every owl has a chance to do the right thing and change who they are..."

"I don't know if you are at all familiar with the story, but there was an Pure One, long ago, named Uglamore, who, despite being one of Nyra's highest officers, ultimately chose to sacrifice himself for the greater good and save the young owl Coryn from death at the fangs of a wolf. Despite growing up in the Pure Ones himself, he'd ultimately chose a different path, one that would lead to the demise of the Pure Ones. Many owls have easily forgotten that the Guardians even had the son of Nyra as their king for a few years and instead scorn all who might have once called themselves a Pure One."

"But look at me drone on and on, my apologies but it was very rare that I have someone to talk to and I can get a bit carried away," Dartmont said, stretching a talon up and scratching the side of his head. "But, sufficient to say, I can see you are trying your hardest to make amends for everything you have done. You will find no judgement levied upon you from my eyes, there is no owl in this world who is without fault of some kind. But, anyways, enough about that. If you so desire, I grant you permission to use my private hollow to sleep in, it is most comfortable of all the hollows in this old tree and I don't mind sleeping in any of the less comfortable ones." Dartmont waved a wing over to a hole out behind the forge, which served as his private sleeping spot. He had purposely chosen that hollow as it's proximity to the forge kept it fairly warm as long as there was an active fire. That made it exceptionally comfortable during the colder months of the year, though it also meant that during the summer, it could be unbearable if the forge had been active for a long time.