Origins

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XXIII

Ryth headed torwards the beyond, she followed behind Kyraa, who let out a tear, as she looked up at the black daytime sky. Clouds were not in sight, and the absense of rain caused some trees of the shadow forest to wilt, and streams to drain. Ryth believed that the world as she knew it, would be destroyed.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Part III

Tale of Bashtion

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter I

A spotted owl was flying along with a small, plump, two day old snowy. The weather was unrelentless, thunder striking and rain pouring, spring ending and summer beginning. The spotted owl shielded the chick as she flew, and soon they arrived to the canyons. The owl said in a female voice "Welcome home young one," and flew over marching owlets. This owlet, or chick more like it, had still not opened it's eyes. It would wait to be blinked.

"This one is 19-2," A large great horned said naming the row of chicks, all from newly hatched to 6 days old. 19-2 opened his eyes, unto a place he would know as home.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter II

19-2 had aged at this point, eyes open, speaking, and knew every rule, and never broke one. He didn't want to follow one rule though, which was to sleep at night. He tried the best he can to sleep during day and awake at night, luckily he was sneaky. He heard stories from the other owlets about 'parents', he didn't know what they were, but they sounded important. He eventually heard stories of the Guardians, and the Pure ones. He wasn't interested in the Pure ones, they seemed mean, he was interested in the Guardians though, they sounded nice.

19-2 liked working in the pelletorium, he could find something interesting, something his supervisors called flecks. They were shiny and gave him an interesting feeling. 19-2, was confused about what numbers were, and was taught by a smart owl with featherless legs.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter III

19-2 approached the pelletorium, and went to work. He watched others work as he worked, picking apart pellets. He was promised to become a second class picker if he worked hard, and he loved the feeling of satisfaction whenever he was praised for a job well done, he was even given extra vole, of course the bone had to be taken out, the pit guardian said he was too young for bones. 19-2 picked, dreaming of what happened when he was watching over the others. He looked down, and finally noticed, he was an owl, he... had wings.... and feathers, not flight feathers, but they would come soon, but, was this place, really his home? St. Aggies was generous to him, but, but what about others?

19-2 snapped out of dreaming about becoming a pit guardian, and focused on the good of things. He could never leave this place, it was his home, but this place wasn't the home of all these other owlets, their home was with 'parents', 19-2 didn't even have a real NAME, but he didn'y care about a name, he cared about others, he heard the cries and paid no attention, while picking 19-2 vowed, he vowed he would save the kidnapped owlets, but, he couldn't now, how long did he have to wait? He wanted to be a hero.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter IV

19-2 was a month and a half old, and wanted to learn. He tried asking others but their conversations were always interrupted. While working in the pelletorium, he was already a second degree picker. He needed to find a hiding place so he could be taught by another owlet, he quietly scanned, until he found a large boulder in ther corner of the room, with a moss he knew was stringy and uncomfortable covering the top like a roof, it could not be seen from the air or ground unless you searched.

19-2 told another owlet, 142-8 the location of his new hideaway. They met and they talked, 142-8 was already able to fly.

"What's your name?" 142-8 asked, 19-2 responded "I, I don't have a name," 19-2 said. 142-8 quickly replied "You must of been kidnapped when you were young then, my name is Hereks, you look like a, a Bash... Bash... just Bash I guess?"

19-2... or Bash now, was happy, he had a friend, a name, a life.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter V

Bash waited for his friend, Hereks, to come to their hiding spot. It was weeks after their first meet, and Hereks has been teaching him. Bash learned Hereks was a 'Whiskered screech' owl, and that Bash was a 'Snowy' owl. Hereks taught Bash numbers, letters, owl species, and little pieces of math. Bash waited for Hereks to arrive, and an hour later when he didn't, he snuck away to look for him.

Bash found him, and when he did he cried, Hereks' eyes were stone grey, and he didn't speak, he was scalded, Bash's vow to save owls from this place was strengthened.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter VI

Bash returned to working, never returning to his hiding place. His only friend was gone, all because of this place, it was horrible, but it was home, he had to stay. Rain started to sprinkle down into the canyons. Bash was called to see his pit guardian, and he got scared, thinking he was in trouble.

Upon arriving, his Pit Guardia told him he was a first degree picker, but didn't crack a smile, or anything, it wasn't even a happy moment for Bash, he wanted to leave this place so bad, but he couldn't, he had no family or friends, and he knew nothing about the land, the only regions he know about is the Sea of Hoolemere , the Canyons, and Silverveil, he wouldn't knoe where to go, or what to do, other owls will, though, he could stay and save them.

Rain started pouring harder and harder.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter VII

Bash flapped pitifully. He made a deep sigh as he looked down at himself, covered in flight feathers. He has the feathers, but not the skill. He paced, looking around during the sleep march, nobody could see him in the midst of this thick crowd. He felt weary, and wanted to sleep, but he couldn't.

Bash was now suppose to be looking torwards the moon. He tried not to sleep. Bash awoke seconds later, he sighed and churred a little, he was relieved he wasn't blinked. He waited through the night, a small whiskered screech slept beside him peacefully, it was one of the newly kidnapped. Suddenly behind him, his pit guardian who guarded his group started making gagging noises. His pit guardian was an old Great horned, who wanted to be called Yule, and treated Bash by giving extra food when he had done a good days work, and praised him, but Bash hated him with all his, gizzard.

Yule fell on his back, talons kicking in the air as he started gagging even more, a supervisor came over and screeched "Get back to sleep! The old owl is having heart problems, get back to sleep!" Bash hoped it was happening, if a pit guardian died he could have the chance to replace him. The gagging stopped, and the body was carrird away.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter VIII

Bash waited as patiently as he could, until he was approached. Above him was a massive great grey, he didn't know who he was. He followed the great gray to a large circular chamber. The Ablah general was there. He was given a short ceremony, and was about to be nammed until a Great horned approached the Ablah general, who was a whiskered screech, and whispered into his ear.

Screeching out, he said "Bashtion! Suits you well, you will be given the task of watching over the sleeping owlets. You understand the rules because of you being raised here, is that correct?"

The Ablah general actually asked a question, the forbidden form of speech. Bash, Bashtion nodded, it was his name but extended, it was confusing? Bash realized as he awaited, the great horned was his old friend Hereks, still scalded.

"You will be taught to fly so things will be easier for you.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter IX

Bashtion looked at the sleeping owlets, he spotted many, still awake, but did nothing. He looked up to see a supervisor, not any but his lost friend. He shed a tear, he had overcome moonblinking but not his friend. His pupils narrowed as he heard crying, he has heard crying for his whole life, but never has it sounded so desperate.

Bashtion hopped down off his perch, and searches. The crying gets louder, still quiet though, the crying was more like soft sobbing. He neared the sound and came across a saw whet, the little saw whet owlet looked up, horrified and frightened. She expected punishment, but Bashtion hushed, and gave reassurance. The sobbing stopped, but the saw whet still looked terrified.

Sneakily leading the owlet into his hollow in a crevice nearby where the owlets slept, he hid the saw whet in there. He looked at her, gesturing to wait, and returned to the group.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter X

"No, you're not ready to fly", Bashtion replied to Sara, the young Saw whet, who was eager to leave. Sara gave a little pout, then asked "Bashtion, you have cared for me for two days, but, I know nothing about you and you know nothing about me." Bashtion churred, the little owlet was a little too curious. Bashtion started, "I was stolen when I was very young, so I really know nothing about my home or parents, but I matured fast, in mind, not body. I found a friend, who helped me learn letters and numbers, but he was scalded. He gave me my first name, Bash, but when i became a pit guardian, I learned he was a supervisor, he suggested the name Bashtion to the Ablah general, like as if his gizzard was waking up. And then i met you."

Sara started "I lived with my Mum, Da, and aunt in Ambala, i had a sister and my brother, my sister was already flying when I hatched, and my brother hatching a week after me. I loved him more than anything. One night about three days ago, they, they came, and killed my aunt, my mum, my da, my sister, and they, threw my brother out of the nest."

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XI

Bashtion headed to his hollow after his shift watching the sleeping owlets, and headed to his crevice. He spotted Sara, branching on the few ledges there. She was making good progress. Suddenly a supervisor burst in, Sara hid up in an alcove on the ledge "Bashtion! You are transfered to the pelletorium! Also you have to participate in the hatchery twice a week!"

Bashtion huffed, he had less time to train Sara. Sara came out of the alcove and hopped to the ground, "My flight feathers coming in fast!" Sara said. Bashtion loved the tiny owl, he didn't want her to leave, she was like, a, a 'daughter'. Bashtion responded "I see that Sara! Soon you, you can escape," Sara said after a moment of silence "Can you come with me?"

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XII

Bashtion looked into the cold, grey eyes of the young Saw Whet, tears streamed down his face. It was as if she was lifeless, "No...no...no...nonono.... NOOOOO,"

"Bashtion wake up!" Sara screeched, and Bashtion shot straight up. He was breathing heavily, the cool spring air chilling his lungs. He looked at Sara, she was ready to leave, just a day more of practice.

"All right Sara, you are doing well!" Bashtion said, looking at the little owl, who smiled at him.

[Batt the Barnowl]

Chapter XIII

Sara cried, staring at Bashtion "B..but, Can you come with me? If not can't I just stay here, with you?" Bashtion felt tears coming from his eyes, "No Sara, go find the Guardians, they will love you, and help you. I have to stay, to save others,"

Sara nodded, and buried her face into Bashtion's feathers. She looked to a hidden opening, and flew out. She turned, and said to Bashtion "I love you,"

...

In the distance through the fog, a giant tree came into view. Owls came to greet her, and she explained her story.