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Post by Gabjas on Aug 8, 2013 14:01:08 GMT -6
"I-I'm glad to hear that. Thank you... for understanding." Prue thanked, releasing a relieved breath that she hadn't known she was withholding. She didn't mind how he babbled on, she found it cute - though she'd hate to admit it. Every kind word he uttered soothed her. Everything he spoke made her want to trust him even more.
She glanced to the hollow he had mentioned. "Oh no, it's quite alright. One of the other hollows should do just fine." she insisted. Yawning audibly, she stumbled to her talons. "Glaux, am I tired." She staggered into one of the smaller hollows, feeling an icy breeze ruffle her drying feathers. She shivered.
"Erm, now that I think about it. Could I sleep in the warmer one? I'm terribly cold." she said with a sheepish grin, eagerly escaping the cold room. A nice warm nest would be the cherry on top of this wonderful night.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2013 15:38:38 GMT -6
"Yes, of course, help yourself," Dartmont remarked and he led her into his private hollow. What served as his 'nest' was basically a pile of leaves, some long grasses and some of his old feathers and tucked together in a vague nest-like shape. Sure, it didn't look pretty or anything, but Dartmont had never intended it to look pretty, as long as it was comfortable that is all that mattered. Aside from that, his pair of battleclaws also hung on the wall and there was a map of Ga'Hoole and the surrounding kingdoms hung up. There were a few marks on the map, showing where his current home was as well as where he was born, where his mum lived and where his da and brothers were buried.
"It might not look like much, but it can be quite comfortable if you give it some time," Dartmont remarked and turned back to the hollow exit. "Enjoy your sleep, if you need anything, I'll be out here," he told her and left the hollow to let her get some sleep.
Back out in the main hollow, he tossed another piece of wood onto the fire and flew up to one of the holes in the tree. He pulled out one of the books he had stored there and dropped down back in front of the forge. The book was a small tome that talked about the Guardians; Dartmont was now interested to read about them, maybe learn a little about the kind of life Prue now lived at the Great Tree. He had only been there for a short time, so he really didn't learn a whole lot about how the Guardians were organized or everything that went on there.
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Post by Gabjas on Oct 7, 2013 19:40:10 GMT -6
She lumbered into the room, popping her head out briefly to bid her host and goodnight. It seemed that as she neared the warmth of the nest, her eyes only grew heavier in anticipation of rest.
She felt rather selfish stealing this hollow away from her host only to save herself from a fretful case of the shivers, but she soon swallowed her dignity as the pattering of rain lulled her to sleep. Her face twisted downwards, burrowing into her feathers. Her wings tucked at her sides and her body sunk into the layers of moss and down that lined the nest.
Through the fog that cloaked her mind came a dream.
Prue was in the air, and she could feel the wind ruffle her feathers as her wings stroked and caressed the winds. Beneath her sprawled a luscious forest of emerald green and rich crimson, dimmed in the darkness of dusk. The barn owl let out a cry of glee as she spiraled downwards, following the sound of laughter and music that drifted softly from the depths of the forest below. They sounded so enchantingly merry, she wished nothing but to join them in their dancing and playing.
She broke through the leaves, dodging boughs until she reached the meadow beneath, blanketed with fresh dew. All about Prue, owlets giggled and gleeked about as they tumbled through the tall grass. Owls of all sizes and shapes looked on with faces aglow, basked in the moonlight. These owls had garnished their talons and ankles with rings of grass, with flowers and leaves woven in, Wreaths of roses hung upon their heads. They seemed not to notice Prue approach, no matter how the Barn owl tried to gain their attention. They stared past her, still watching the children behind her as though she were invisible.
These owls seemed oddly familiar. She had been here before, at this joyous celebration. Some peculiar sense of dread loomed over this scene.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shrill scream, followed by several other cries of terror. Her head rotated so quickly that she felt several muscles in her neck jerk painfully. Her eyes widened as a troop of barn owls clad in metal helmets and wearing battleclaws swooped down upon the innocents, shrieking and scanning the crowd with their bloodthirsty eyes.
Tytos were spared, young ones were snatched in the talons of the pure Ones and carried, crying, away. Prue averted her eyes as the rest were slaughtered. She blinked away tears, choking back what she could of her emotions. Reluctantly but with morbid curiosity, she glanced back in time to see a sleek young female barn owl pounce upon an unsuspecting mother. Moments later, the barn owl tore of her mask and gave a cry of triumph as she hovered over the severed corpse.
This owl was Prue.
"NO!" Prue cried, though she knew in her heart that her words were futile. This was the past, a mere memory she could not alter. She could only watch as the Pure Ones departed, leaving behind a trail of bloodshed and the lingering sound of a broken song ringing in Prue's ears.
"Prue." a soft voice came from behind. She spun around, shocked that she was finally visible. It was Dartmont. The Great Horned owl gave her a sad smile. "You've seen enough. This is just a dream. Wake up, Prue."
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2013 21:30:46 GMT -6
Dartmont had fallen asleep himself out by the fire, he had only spent an hour reading before he felt his eyelids grow heavy and settled himself near the fire. His dreams were a mad flurry of memories, long-forgotten events from his time with the Guardians. Despite not being with them for a very long time, he had certainly learned a fair amount in his time there, far more than he ever had growing up. But he never felt comfortable there; after all his mother had raised him to be fearful other owls. He couldn't blame her, she herself had grown up in such a harsh environment where you couldn't trust any owl outside your own family. But having been taught that lesson so many times, Dartmont had never been able to adapt to living among owls who were actually friendly and worthy of trust. So what made this Barn Owl so special? That was the ultimate question, under any other circumstances he would have dismissed her... but not this time.
His dreams rattled off the possibilities and he couldn't help but consider the possibility of this being the work of Glaux himself. His mother once told him that some owls were destined to be mated, to serve some greater purpose in Glaux's grand tale. Just like some owls were marked from birth for a greater purpose, like Hoole, Grant or Ezylryb, maybe there were those who were marked to be together, who might never have even met each other were it not for his direction.
As his dreams pondered such possibilities, he was abruptly awoken by the loudest shriek of terror he had even been unfortunate enough to hear. Immediately Dartmont was ready to attack, his talons eager to defend his home, but he quickly realized that horrid noise came not from outside, but from within. It was Prue, wailing horrible from the other room. He charged in, finding her still asleep but seemingly afflicted by the worst of dreams. "Hey! Prue, wake up! It's just a bad dream, wake up!" He immediately began shaking her, hoping to free her from the horror of her nightmare.
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