Origins

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter VIII

Ryth returned, with her new claws, and parting with Gallyn. She entered throught the small crack in the door and met with her commander, who said, "Nice work, Ryth, two more successful missions and you rank up, by the way, what motivates you to fight so swiftly?" Ryth quickly responded, "My father's words, 'Whatever doesn't kill you quickly will die first.'" her commander nodded, and said "You're a good soldier Ryth, by the way, i knew your grandfather, such a great owl, my name is Kyraa," Kyraa said. She dismissed Ryth, but Ryth turned and said, "The slipgizzle had weaponry and armor, if i could borrow a pouch i could collect them. They are good condition and work well," Ryth said, and Kyraa responded, "Very well, here" she said handing Ryth the pouch. Ryth stood tall and straight like a salute, and took off.

Arriving at the forge, the molten iron was now cold due to the forge being too cold to work. The body lay, and stunk. Ryth dumped the Great grey into the forge and heated it up. She began exporing and found a collection of battleclaws. She collrcted them until stumbling upon a single battle claw blade stuck in the wall. Gently pulling on it, she heard stone sliding across stone, and a mechanical chunking sound. Looking to the direction of the sound, she stumble across a large room with books everywhere. Ryth found a book on the Ga'hoole tree. In disgust for her enemy she tossed it in the forge. She found another book on Complex Ancient Fighting Techniques and read it all the way from front to back.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter IX

Ryth stood in a row as her commander Kyraa walk up to the center of the army. She spoke out, "Soldiers, as we prepare for a battle, i would like to give special mentions. I would like six tytos to stand in front of me, these owls will recieve a higher rank. Calos, Oraa, Misty, Umbra, and Ryth," she said, Ryth spotted her father, who looked joyful for her but disappointed in himself. Ryth was a corporal now.

In the battleground in the canyons, they faced off Aggie's horrible fighters, but a challenge would arrive, the Guardians would arrive soon. Spotting over the sunset on the cloudy day was the light reflections off their battleclaws. she looked to the crevices to see militia owls of St. Aggies, hiding, Cowards, Ryth thought. She scanned around to see a Great horned killing a squad, No! Father! she screamed in her head as she spotted her father, the great horned's claws raking his face. She pulled two sharp stones out of a cliffside and threw one, getting a direct hit in the chest. She saw another great horned looking in disbelief, and the greathorned sped torwards her. She threw the stone, grazing his eye, but not a fatal blow. The greathorned smashed into her wing headfirst, and she looked in horror as her wing was unaturally bent

Ryth feinted immediatly after

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter X

Ryth awoke laying face down, sunlight blinded her. When her eyes adjusted she had feelings and thoughts return to her. She felt parched, and starving. She tried to get on her feet but her wingsent a large jolt of pain to her, causing her to screech. She noticed next to her was a dead tyto, too beat up to tell who it WAS.

She scanned her surroundings, a pond was next to her, it must of rained when she was knocked out. Ryth used her good wing to drag herself to the puddle, but she felt as her msimed wing dragged across the ground, all the broken bones shifting, rubbing against eachother. She made it to the puddle, but she had screeched due to the pain of crawling there. Dipping her face into the puddle, she drank. Ryth noticed later that the puddle was turning red, she pulled her face up and kooked at herself, she had a large shallow cut on her face, it was too shallow to scar. She looked at her wing too, would she ever fly the same again? Ryth looked at the sun before she fell unconcious.

Am... am I dead?
Just for a moment
Da?
Yes?
I... watched you die, I couldn't help
I know, but listen
what?
you make me proud, keep doing what you're doing. Be a great soldier, but don't die. If you die, well Glaux won't let me tell you.
I'm happy you've made it to Glaumora, Da
No, I'm in hagsmire, but Glaux promised me if you...

Her father looked at her, distressed. He was screeching, but it was too quiet to understand, Ryth was waking up.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XI

Ryth found herself in a cave, food lay right beside her. She had been asleep for about 3 hours judging how far the sun had moved last she saw it. The cave was small, with a large opening but it was covered with vines and a small view of the sunset. A storm was rolling in by the thich grey clouds and thunder. Ryth found that her battleclaws were missing, she worried and ate some of the food left, vole and squirrel. She stood up, it was easier now since her wing was numbed. She took a patch of moss and used it to make a sling to hold her wing beside her, it would heal better this way. She look at the wall of the cave, water was slowly leaking in. She took another patch of moss and damped it, and wiped her bloody face, when she finished the moss was stained red.

A big Barn owl flew in, he wasn't a Pure on, but she recognized him from a description of a hireclaw, he was a friend. The Barn owl spoke, "I have given word of your injuries to your commander. She hopes you will be back soon, but i'll be taking care of you until you healed. My name is Rooklyn, I'm guessing you're Ryth?" Ryth gave a sturdy "Yes." Ryth looked at her wing, she had a unusual healing ability, nothing too special, she still heals at a normal rate but never scars. She would fly silently and fast like she always had when she healed.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XII

Ryth was flying now, she had found her wing wasn't broken, just dislodged. She flew back to the headquarters, but taking a quick stop to see Gallyn.

"Hey, how's your collecting going?" Ryth said as she flew up to the tree the crow lived in. Gallyn emerged and cawed "Pretty well actually, I've found several ruins with great treasures! I'm about to trade them off soon, wanna see?" he said as he lead Ryth into the roots of the Maple. She gasped as she looked at a pile of gems, colorful cloth, and dyes. She saw a small pouch already filled with gems and cloth, looking as if Gallyn was about to leave. He grabbed the pouch and gave Ryth a small nod, and a tear dropped from his eye. She wouldn't see him soon, he would be gone a while.

Ryth was arriving at the castle she called home during a storm and was greeted by the wonderful stares of the Guards. She reported to her commander, Kyraa, and was welcomed back. Ryth was informed that the Pure ones were laying low, and not attacking soon, but training, supplying, and planning. She was given a very important mission though, it was to sabatoge Guardian supplies, and waited eagerly to start.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XIII

Ryth set out in her black claws, but no helm for she was doing this mission stealthily. She flew to a large forge in the beaks, the blacksmith there was making and storing battleclaws there for the Guardians. She was protected by a thick fog, it was morning and the smith would be sleeping. Entering the forge ryth found the smith nestled in a corner. Ryth approached him, learning it was a snowy, and slid her claws into his heart. He didn't even open his eyes. She readied herself, and using the smith's tongs she dumped all the claws in, she counted 147 battle claws. She left once she finished.

Ryth was on the second of the four missions she had to do, she had to kill a slipgizzle that had too much information. She entered a spruce tree at her destination in silverveil, and was confronted by two great horneds. She killed the male, the slipgizzle, and cut the female in the chest, leaving her to bleed to death. She ignored the egg, it would die without it's parents.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XIV

Ryth moved on after killing the slipgizzle. She grabbed a quick mouse to eat, not too much meat to slow her down. She arrived to the shadow forest. There she was to sabatoge another blacksmith, this one made special weapons. Entering slowly she came upon piles of flails, spikes, and assortments of battleclaws. She looked at the spikes, they looked as if they were used for throwing, she had to destroy these, but she couldn't dump them one by one, there were too many. Ryth looked into the limestone cave and looked at the forge, it was made of bricks. She took a spike and shoved it inbetween the bricks, and pushed down. The spike snapped, so Ryth reinforced 3 spikes togeather and tried again. She heard a crack and thought the spikes broke, but looked and saw molten metal streaming out all over the cache. The smith was nowhere to be found, so she left.

Arriving at her final destination, she was North in the everwinter sea. She was freezing in the snowstorm, but it provided cover. Ryth had to kill a few Kraals, nothing big but they kept the Pure ones away, they were inspired to protect the north because of two other Kraals. She approached an encampment and quietly killed them in their sleep, for it was the second day of her mission. She prepared to return home.

Returning with three feathers and two pieces of coal, a code of her mission complete, Kyraa smiled at her and said "Welcome back, sergeant." Ryth had recieved a rank up, she was so close to being a lieutenant.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XV

There were many advantages with being a Sergeant in Ryth's unit. They could train groups in differant situations, participate in special assignments, well, more special than the ones she already does, and can recieve special training. She was eager to recieve special training, she would learn unique, complicated moves, and try out some special armor and weaponry, even though she rather stick with her claws and her lightweight helmet. Ryth entered a wing of the ruined castle with its roof entirely missing, it was a large room with stacks of weapons and some recently ranked Sergeants training. She joined in the training.

During Training, Ryth met a handsome tyto, he was large, with long deadly claws, and beautiful light brown feathers on his back. He looked at her, and gave a small smile, executing a Roll. She smiled back, he seemed friendly and responsible, just like her, he looked strong and smart, just like her, and he looked deadly and wise, just like her. He camr over and introduced himself as Kairo.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XVI

Ryth flew with Kairo, she had become friends with him, and he said he had a suprise for her. He led her to a Rouge smiths, and Kairo stepped into the cave while she waited outside in the beautiful winter snow. He returned, and presented her black battleclaws, and said, "These are for you, made of Steel, and coated with a thin layer of Tin to keep them from rusting, and another layer of black dye, these should be better than those Iron battleclaws you have, more deadly." Ryth took them and immediately loved them. She took them as they flew back.

Ryth had lived in a large room that would of been barracks to the Others, and lived with five other sergeants. She took her old claws and put them on a chest on the end of a rotting bed. She flew with her new claws, and then returned to her commander, asking if she could go 'hunting'.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XVII

Ryth approached the shadow forest, she hoped to find slipgizzles, the shadow forest was rich for the filthy little spies. She found a hollow, and she entered. She found two Great grays with three owlets, she approached ready to kill them, but as the family cowered in the corner of the fir, she saw the owlets, all bury their heads into their mothers feathers and sobbed. Ryth remebered the descriptions of all the slipgizzles, this was a loving family, not a spy. Ryth looked at the father who stepped forward, and said "Kill me, but please let my mate and owlets live!" Ryth stared into the great grey's trembling eyes, and said silently "You are not who I was looking for, consider yourselves LUCKY," and flee out of the large hollow.

Ryth continued until daybreak and crows arrived, she couldn't test the claws on a slipgizzle but atleast on a filthy crow. One crow approached, but immediatly stopped and fell, in three pieces. The claws sliced so well, but crows were weak. A owl tried to be sneaky and hide from her, but failed due to her excellent hearing, in her right ear. She lookedbat him, the Pygmy ow matched the description of a slipgizzle, and she spiraled down to kill. The pygmy fell as a massive lump of blood and feathers.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XVIII

It has been a while with Kairo, Ryth loved him as a friend, but she couldn't have a mate, not yet, she had to finish her military life, then have children who could continue in the Pure ones. Ryth and Kairo met in the beaks by the coast of the sea of Hoolemere. They were silent, staring into the moonrise, until the silence was broken.

"Ryth, I have to go," Kairo started.
"Go where? And why?" Ryth said, worried

"Uhm, Family, my father is sick, he was the one who supported, uhh, my, decision to join the pure ones," Kairo said. Ryth nodded and Kairo took off, Ryth went back to her home and waited for his return, she wondered
How long he would take.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XIX

Ryth was patrolling, long after the dissapearance of Kairo. Kairo had told her where his family lived long ago, so she went to search.

Ryth stumbled upon the area Kairo said he lived, and Ryth entered his hollow. It was empty, some decaying moss was left and the hollow filled with insects, no owl had been living here in a while, so she left to go home, overcome by sadness.

On the way home, it was a foggy morning by the time she arrived. She heard commotion, and listened, she heard Kairo's voice, and went to investigate. She found Kairo allright, but with, GUARDIANS, saying something about an Ambush and, sparing Ryth. Ryth's anger grew and she rushed torward the team of 9 Guardians. She killed 5 before they even knew what happened, and she killed the rest while they tried to retaliate. All that was left was Kairo, she knocked him to the ground.

"How DARE YOU, YOU TRAITOR,"
"I... i... we could of still been togeather.... guardians togeather...."
"I WOULD NEVER BE A GUARDIAN YOU TWAT! tell me, did you join the Pure ones for MONTHS, until you became a SERGEANT, AND become a slipgizzle? Get all that classified info?"
"Y..yes, but, you already killed them, if you come with me we can be togeather, they will make you a prisoner but we can be togeather, and after the battles are over we can start a family,"
"Lies, Kairo, Lies, you will rot in hagsmire for lieing to me"

Ryth used the steel claws Kairo had given her, she pounced and thrust both claws into him, he gave one last breath as he died. Ryth unstrapped her claws, and left them buried in him. She return home later and tried on her old iron claws, which seemed right.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XX

Ryth started to seclude herself from everyone but her commander, and maybe Dustyn, for a sooty he was loyal and a great friend. the reason she secluded herself was because she didn't want to have any friends, or possible mates, betray her. She would eventually open up when she knew all spies and traitors were eliminated. She took her claws and scraped them on the stone, making a eerie sound, echoing through the walls of the fortress. Through the cracks of the walls daylight seeped in, the light shining on her. Ryth stepped out of the light, and headed to sleep

When Ryth awoke, she was called on by Kyraa. "Ryth, we must prepare for a full scale war, it will be held in the beyond, everyone is recommended to go through intense training. By the way, have you ever heard of the Ether veil?"

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XXI

Ryth responded quickly "Yes lieutenant Kyraa, it is what keeps hagsfiends from entering the lands." Kyraa nodded "Yes, there is more to it though, something about the Others, it's a widespread rumor, and not much is known, now go train sergeant!" Kyraa ordered, and Ryth hurried to train.

Ryth approached the costal area of the beaks, she trained on seagulls, because they were fast, improving her speed and tactics, and there was an abundance of them, and in the morning crows arrived, and she fought them, improving her strength and agility. When morning arrived, she looked up at the unnaturally grey sky, the sun was in the sky, but the blue had turned grey, and all traces of clouds were black.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XXII

Ryth trained until the sun rised, the sky had turned pitch black, and once the sun rose, the sun was an demonish red, Ryth was scared, for a long time in her life, she was scared, about the ether veil, Ryth saw the ether veil as a dome around the owl world, keeping hagsfiends to the rest of the world, but were the others secluded too? Ryth broke into tears, she didn't want to die this early.

She stiffened up, and remembered her father's scroom, saying she was, important, but for what? Important for the Pure ones?

This war wouldn't include the others, no way, they were DEAD, even with the ether veil they were dead, were they? Yes, dead, along with their horrible technology, machines that could
Launch stones, catapults? Battering rams? Swords, bows, spears, armor far superior to theirs?

Would the owl world eradicated, with all the owls, crows, wolves, polar bears, puffins, gulls, fish, and foxes die? Would even the smallest ant be killed?