FA+
Shop
279 submissions
A week passed since that night in the library.
Soren had stuck to his word in tutoring Pelli, the two meeting every evening for lessons. He was pleased to see that she was learning quite quickly, a clear sign of her intelligence. When they began, she couldn't make out a single word on any page, and yet she was now able to make out a quarter of a page from one of their intermediate texts. Further, Soren had taken it upon himself to integrate Pelli with his circle of friends, having her join them for meals and engage in recreational activities together. But still, it was clear that her strongest bond was with him. And everyone could see the roots of a much deeper connection forming between the two.
However, beyond that, all was not so positive.
Over the past week, several residents of the Great Ga'hoole Tree had disappeared. They would leave the tree, expected to be gone for a few hours or a day at most, only to never return home. The Short-Eared Owl and former general Strix Struma was one of such owls, which particularly concerned her mentee, Otulissa.
Equally as problematic was the impact this was having on the tree's food stock. A few of the disappeared were those assigned to go out and catch food for the rest of the residents. The first few days weren't cause for alarm, but now that a week had passed the owls were suddenly finding themselves needing to ration what they ate. They currently could only rely on what they already had, and so needed to ensure that it lasted as long as it needed to. While a majority of the owls were getting by just fine, some had visibly lost a bit of weight already.
Soren was, of course, concerned about this strange phenomenon. He was hoping that soon, a large search part would come together and get to the bottom of this.
But that concern grew to complete fear when it was reported that the most recent owls reported missing were Noctus and Marella. His own parents.
They had left a little over a week ago for a getaway to Silverveil, one that they intended to have last only a couple nights. When they were a night late to return, it seemed trivial. Two nights, a bit less so. But now, for as long as they'd been gone without a single update to their whereabouts, the Barn Owl had every reason to be fearful as to where they were.
But he wasn't the only one who feared for his parents; currently, he had taken to comforting Eglantine, his dear little sister. She had aged out of her small, white, fluffy little form; while she was still on the smaller side, her feathers and down now had color, her wings and legs more prominent, and her overall appearance had begun the transition into the beautiful young adult Soren was sure she would become.
She was currently nestled into the side of her big brother, who had a wing tenderly wrapped around her back and side, trying to make her feel safe.
"I'm worried about them, Soren," Eglantine said shakily. "I already lost my brother … I don't want to lose Mum and Da, too."
Soren could only respond to her heartbreaking words by soothingly nuzzling the top of her head, gently preening it with his beak. He whispered, "I know, Eg. I don't either."
Not knowing what else to say, the siblings just stood there in each other's comfort, staring out into the sunset. Neither had been able to sleep with this on their minds, not helped by the smaller meals they were required to have. Nonetheless, this allowed them to bask in the beautiful sight before the hustle and bustle of the night commenced.
"Do you think the Pure Ones got them?" Eglantine asked.
Soren sighed, unsure how to answer. It was certainly possible, and would explain the other disappearances as well.
"Or what if they were eaten by a predator? Or trapped in a forest fire?"
"Hey," Soren partially broke away to look at her, keeping his wing around her. Yes, he knew these were all possibilities. But that wasn't what his sister needed to hear right now. Instead, he settled on telling her what kept him going in his imprisonment at St. Aggies, when it seemed like there was no way out and his future had been cruelly plucked away from him. The same sentiments that kept him going now.
She looked back at him, listening intently as he spoke. "It doesn't do any good to doubt, or get caught up in what-ifs and what may be. We need to keep believing that if we keep looking, we'll find them, and have them back with us again."
Eglantine stared wordlessly, and Soren continued. "Ezylryb taught me to trust my instincts, to use them as my guide. And they tell me that our parents are out there. Do you believe that?"
The younger sibling looked off in thought, looking to the bright orange painting the sky in contemplation. And he stared at her bittersweetly. He knew that all of this was hard for her; she'd been put through far too much in her young life, even more than he had been, and it tore at his heart that her worries were still not over.
She then turned back to her brother and gave a gentle, silent nod.
Soren smiled tenderly, his beak curled deeply upward. His eyes shined with undying love for his little sister, love that he felt from the moment he witnessed her hatching. He swore that he'd do whatever it took to protect her from any more suffering. Just as he swore to protect the lands of Ga'hoole.
He would see to it that their hope wasn't in vain.
"I have to go out there," Soren insisted. "I can't just sit here when they could be in danger."
The Barn Owl stood agitated in his hollow, subconsciously pacing, with his Elf Owl friend watching him concerningly. The calm, reassuring tone he'd used to comfort his sister was in stark contrast to the fidgety, worried state he was in now.
He was referring, of course, to his parents. The young Guardian had let another night pass to allow them a chance to return. And when that night came and went with no sign of them, it was the final straw for him. He had to take matters into his own talons, and he had to do it now.
"I know, Soren," Gylfie insisted. "But every single owl who's left the tree in the past three days hasn't come back. What if …" Her next words were a near-whisper. "What if you're next?"
Soren sighed through the nasal slits on his beak. He knew Gylfie was right. This was potentially dangerous, especially without the knowledge of what was even going on out there. Something was clearly amok, and that mystery was sending the entire tree into a spiral of paranoia and confusion. All of it justified in his opinion, but no less a demoralizing contrast to the air of hope and glory that he'd grown used to having permeate throughout the tree.
But it didn't matter. Soren's responsibility as a Guardian was to protect those who needed him. And right now, his own flesh and blood may very well need him. How was he supposed to do nothing now?
He turned back to his friend. His best friend, the owl who was with him from the very beginning of that life-altering night at St. Aggie's, and who had stayed by his side through thick and thin since. It seemed that she knew his response before he said it.
"I'm sorry, Gylfie ... I have to. They're my family."
Gylfie took a deep breath, her wings tensing up and rising tightly against her shoulders. She truly did understand Soren's plight. And truth be told, she couldn't say she wouldn't do the same thing had she been in his position. It would be foolish, she realized then, to try and dissuade him now.
And so she stepped up to him, looking up at the noble young adult she'd come to see as a brother. "Well, I'm going with you then."
"What?" Soren questioned. "Gylfie, you-"
But Gylfie quickly shut down whatever argument he was about to make. "I'm not letting you do this alone, Soren."
Just as the Barn Owl opened his beak again, Gylfie used his own words back at him, looking him dead in the eyes. "We're each other's family."
Those four words, an echo of a statement she'd made before their quest to find the Guardians, were all Soren needed to hear. The owl could think of no reaction other than a small yet heartfelt smile. He felt that there wasn't much else to say.
"We're with you, too." A thick voice suddenly came from the entrance to the hollow. Both birds turned their heads to see Twilight and Digger standing at the entrance, proudly stanced in their declaration.
Soren's smile widened. Of course they are.
It wasn't a smooth process to convince King Boron and Queen Barran to allow him to leave the tree. They shared the concerns of his friends, and had insisted that no one leave on their own or in small groups. Fortunately, the combined efforts of Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger were ultimately able to convince them that they would be able to have each other's backs. And hopefully, with four of the tree's most capable owls investigating out there, it could lead to the discovery of the cause behind the disappearances.
The band of friends hadn't needed much time to prepare. All they needed was a set of battle claws for each of them, a map of the kingdoms, and a serviceable meal that could fill them until they found prey of their own.
Soon enough, they found themselves aloft on one of the Great Ga'hoole Tree's mighty branches. The breeze graced the down on their bodies, and they knew that breeze would guide them as they made their journey through the skies wherever they went. Digger took in a deep breath, chest puffed and posture making it clear he was ready for takeoff.
Twilight, however, soon went over to Soren and whispered something into his ear slit in a teasing voice. "Looks like someone's here to see you off."
Soren's eyes narrowed as he turned his head, but immediately softened when they saw Pelli now standing on the branch. Eyes now locked on the gorgeous female, he slowly walked across the branch, his face completely at ease.
"Hi," he said meekly.
"Hi," she said back. "Off on another grand adventure, I suppose?" she said amusedly.
"Hopefully not," Soren responded. "With any luck, this will be a basic search-and-rescue, nothing more."
"Right," Pelli looked down. She hated seeing him concerned like this. After he had provided so much for her, given her a new life beyond what she could have ever hoped for, she just wanted to be of some help to him in his own troubles.
She ultimately raised her head to look back up at his handsome face. She approached him until their chests were inches apart and lay a talon gently over his. "... Be careful out there, okay?" she asked gently.
"Yeah ... yeah, of course," Soren said back, nearly stunned by the rush he felt through his heart as they took in each other's fond expressions. He wished to say something, do something to further the moment, but decided that now wasn't quite the time.
His other three friends looked on in awe. All teasing aside, they couldn't help but beam with joy at seeing their leader's budding romance with one of the tree's newest residents. Far deeper than the childish crush he'd held on Otulissa all those months ago, Gylfie thought.
The moment was then allowed to pass when the two Barn Owls separated. There was no more time to waste. With Pelli looking on, the band of four spread their wings, lifted from the branch, and took off into the night, their wingspans silhouetted by the nearly-full moon.
The Sea of Hoolemere was bordered by a number of landmarks. The precarious Ice Narrows and Peninsula of the Spirit Woods looked over it from above, while The Beaks and The Barrens, scarcely thought of as lively territories, served as its Southern coast.
And then there was the location that Soren and his friends were bound for: the lush Cape Glaux, a vibrant cape that housed a plentiful supply of plant life and mountain ranges, all coated in an eye-pleasing field of greens and light browns that made it a haven for inhabitants and travelers alike. Much like the forest of Silverveil to which it served as a gateway.
It was little wonder why Noctus and Marella wanted to fly out here.
This was where the group of owls landed after their fairly brief trek over the watery surface below them, one they'd done many times before. They landed on the edge of the cape, enjoying the roaring sound of the sea's waves crashing into the rocky cliffside, the delightful salty spray forming a light mist that graced the forms of the four birds.
Once they were all landed, Soren and Gylfie untied the bags containing their food map, respectively, from around their waists. They in turn tied them around the trunk of a nearby tree, securely enough so that no other passing animal could easily open them up.
After that, Soren turned to the group. It was time to get down to business.
"Alright, guys," he said. "We don't want to be on our own, but we won't cover much ground sticking all together. I think it's best we go in pairs."
"Agreed," replied Digger. "And I think both pairs should be able to fend off any threat that comes their way." He turned to the Great Gray. "Twilight, you're our best fighter, so maybe you and Gylfie should go together."
Gylfie nodded, taking mild offense at the blunt implication that she was the weakest in combat but not saying anything about it. "... Right. You and Soren should be able to work well together," she added. Soren was their second strongest in battle after Twilight, and Digger the second weakest; it balanced out in their heads.
And so it was settled. With the pairs decided, the group of four began their search. Twilight and Gylfie took to an aerial view, while Soren and Digger browsed the ground below.
It was mostly smooth flying for the Great Grey and Elf Owl. Nothing immediately stood out as a sign of danger, with all looking pretty typical from above. Unfortunately, that also meant there was no lead to go off of.
So, to pass the time, the duo decided to make a little small talk.
"How've you been holding up with the food supply?" Twilight asked, flying several meters ahead of Gylfie.
"It hasn't been the easiest, but I've adjusted okay, I suppose," Gylfie responded. "I never was one to binge out ... unlike someone I know."
Twilight rolled his eyes, not visible to his companion. "Oh, har-har. I'm not the one who freaked out over the milkberry tea running out," he rebutted. He wasn't referring to Gylfie, but rather the tree's singer, Madame Plonk, who'd made quite the fuss at being denied the beverage she couldn't seem to go a day without. "How can she even drink that stuff?"
"True, point taken," Gylfie churred. "Poor old bird, though. She couldn't ..."
Her sentence faded out as she looked ahead of Twilight.
As he was preparing a descent between two tall trees, a small detail stood out to Gylfie. She noticed two loops of vines strung about the higher branches, one per tree. Such a thing wasn't uncommon in the slightest, but the way these were draped looked ... unnatural. Almost as if they were placed there deliberately. Almost as if ...
Gylfie gasped, before shouting, "Twilight, stop!"
"Wha?" Twilight turned his head to look at her but didn't change his trajectory. "What are you-"
The Great Gray's question was interrupted when he found his momentum come to a screeching halt. He'd stopped flying, and yet wasn't falling; he was seemingly suspended in midair. As he looked to his wings, his eyes widened when he saw that they were now strung out on either side of him in a tight crisscross of vines, trapping him in place.
"What the?!" Twilight shouted. He tugged his powerful wings against the vines, but it only caused them to tighten even further, making the owl wince in pain.
"Twilight!" Gylfie exclaimed. She quickly flew onto one of the branches housing the vines, looking around carefully to not get snatched by an unseen snare herself. She hopped over and used her claws to try and cut his left wing free, all while Twilight kept pulling against the vines holding him.
"Agh, Twilight, stop struggling!" the smaller owl said as she tried to get make progress. "I just need to ..."
But then, a rustling caused her to freeze and halt her efforts. It seemed like all the trees around her were suddenly shaking, and she could see shadows suddenly zooming by above and around her.
The Elf Owl slowly looked up. And she found her little wings drooping in shock and fear at what she saw suddenly perched on many branches in front of her.
Meanwhile, Soren and Digger had not been making any better progress in their ground search. Digger was of course speeding through on his skinny legs effectively, while Soren made use of his agile flying to weave through tight corners and low-hanging branches with ease.
But then they too heard a rustling interrupt them, sounding like it was coming from all around them. The two males exchanged a quick look before joining back up. They stood back-to-back with one another, wings slightly spread out defensively. Digger's legs were coiled up, ready to move at whatever was surrounding them.
"Hello?" Soren called out. "Wh-who's there?"
"Soren, quiet!" Digger whispered firmly. "What if it's a predator? Or a-"
The screech that came from the bushes, however, was very much that of an owl. Then came several more accompanying them, piercing the Guardians' ear slits horribly.
And then suddenly, from the shrubs around them, burst what appeared to be ten owls, all wearing matching, eerily recognizable, spiked gray helmets.
These figures were identical to the ones that now stood in front of Gylfie and the entangled Twilight.
Both pairs of owls were being ambushed by Pure Ones.
And with little time to react, the ambushes charged.
Soren let out a screech of his own as he braced himself for the nearest opponent's strike. He locked his battle-claw-adorned talons with the attacking bird's, knocking Soren onto his back but blocking the attack. He gave a might push of his feet to launch the enemy off him, and rolled back onto his talons before flapping off the ground. This was immediately followed by another Tyto thrusting herself at the Guardian, which Soren countered by flapping upward and grabbing the eye slits of the opponent's helmet. He flew into the nearest tree and slammed the enemy's head into its trunk, leaving her in a daze.
This unfortunately left the Barn Owl open to receive a slash on his back, which he responded to with a yelp of pain. But he extended his right leg out to deliver a returning blow to the Pure One's chest, and the two found themselves locking talons. But more enemies were surrounding them, and Soren knew he'd be doomed if he spent his efforts solely on one opponent. So he broke the talon lock and flew upwards, trying to gain the high ground.
Digger, meanwhile, was having less luck in taking his attackers down, but had taken less hits. His size allowed him to dodge the attacks and zip in between the Pure Ones. Unfortunately, this was also separating him from Soren, as he could no longer see how his friend was faring.
At the same time, Gylfie tripled her efforts to cut Twilight free as the Pure Ones charged at them. She couldn't take them on alone. Twilight swung his large legs up to grab the vines Gylfie was working on, and began pulling them heavily. Their enemies were getting closer, mere seconds away from reaching them and potentially finishing them off right there.
But thankfully, their combined efforts were enough to snap the vine, freeing Twilight's wing. He gave it a mighty flap and kicked out against the first assailant, knocking him back several feet. Before the next one could reach him, the Great Gray managed to grab the other vine with both talons and, with a powerful yank, snapped clean through them. They loosened up and fell off his other wing, freeing the owl.
Twilight couldn't resist giving a devilish smirk before charging into battle, unfettered. Now the fun can begin.
Soren was mere feet away from breaking the dome of treetops blocking the sky. But just then, another Pure One launched himself at him, slamming him into a thick tree and pinning him there.
Soren's vision went hazy for a second, before he looked into the eyes of this attacker, whose claws were wrapped around his wings and digging into the bark. His terrifying, heartless eyes were gleaming evilly, bearing a look of nothing but hatred, malice, and resentment. A look that was somehow familiar to Soren.
Nonetheless, the attacker didn't immediately go for a finishing blow, instead seeming to be drinking in this moment with the Guardian. And so, Soren took advantage of the opening this provided and wrapped his right talon around the Pure One's throat, causing a gurgled gasp to escape. The enemy quickly brought his own talon to Soren's extended leg, to which Soren responded by tightening his grip, breathing through the pain, his eyes glaring at the evil owl with firm determination.
He then used his strength to launch himself to the enemy's right. It didn't send either bird flying, but it did cause his foe's flapping wings to lose their rhythm in the air, allowing Soren to free his other wing and slash a claw across the Pure One's chest. The Pure One flew back in pain, and Soren flapped off of the tree and continued with a series of strikes, while dodging those of the opponent's.
After many seconds of back-and-forth, one of Soren's blows hit not the Pure One, but rather his helmet. The metal headwear flew off the owl's face and smacked into the trunks below him. Both owls then retreated to the nearest branches, meters apart from one another, backs to each other.
Soren was the first to turn around, and then watched as his enemy slowly did the same, revealing his face.
But nothing could prepare the Barn Owl for what he saw. It was a face that he'd thought dead, had mourned for months, and yet was staring back at him with the same look of rage that had consumed him in their last encounter.
Soren's voice caught in his throat, his grip on the branch faltering. His pupils were shrunken, and he felt his heart nearly bursting out of his chest.
He barely squeaked out his foe's name.
" ... Kludd?!"
The original Guardians of Ga'hoole series was created by Kathryn Lasky. The film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole and its versions of the characters belong to Warner Bros.
Originally uploaded on February 14, 2020.
Midterms and job hunting suck, and were heavy in my life when writing this. But they didn't stop me from getting it done! Obviously the plot has now kicked into gear, though not without those sappy character beats you know I love. The elements from the book The Siege, for those who are familiar with it, have now started to rise up, and needless to say it'll only get worse from here. Though of course Soren's parents disappearing was my own addition, something that couldn't have been in the book for ... obvious reasons.
It was nice to give a few more touching moments for Eglantine, Gylfie, and Pelli before the mission got going. As for the battle itself, there's a bit more of Twilight, Gylfie, and Digger's fight in Part 3, but Soren's received the main focus, and of course had the big reveal that isn't a shock to us but certainly is to him! And they've got some catching up to do, for sure!
I also came to realize that on top of this being a (plot-heavy) bondage story, it's just as much my desire to write a sequel to the 2010 movie. I would have loved to see a follow-up and see what else they could have done with it. But since that's likely never happening, this fanfic doubles as my own self-fulfillment of that.
Once again, I recognize this story won't have the most widespread appeal, but thank you to everyone who is reading it so far. Read on for Part 3, where the story arrives at ... what I'm sure most of you watched me for.
Soren had stuck to his word in tutoring Pelli, the two meeting every evening for lessons. He was pleased to see that she was learning quite quickly, a clear sign of her intelligence. When they began, she couldn't make out a single word on any page, and yet she was now able to make out a quarter of a page from one of their intermediate texts. Further, Soren had taken it upon himself to integrate Pelli with his circle of friends, having her join them for meals and engage in recreational activities together. But still, it was clear that her strongest bond was with him. And everyone could see the roots of a much deeper connection forming between the two.
However, beyond that, all was not so positive.
Over the past week, several residents of the Great Ga'hoole Tree had disappeared. They would leave the tree, expected to be gone for a few hours or a day at most, only to never return home. The Short-Eared Owl and former general Strix Struma was one of such owls, which particularly concerned her mentee, Otulissa.
Equally as problematic was the impact this was having on the tree's food stock. A few of the disappeared were those assigned to go out and catch food for the rest of the residents. The first few days weren't cause for alarm, but now that a week had passed the owls were suddenly finding themselves needing to ration what they ate. They currently could only rely on what they already had, and so needed to ensure that it lasted as long as it needed to. While a majority of the owls were getting by just fine, some had visibly lost a bit of weight already.
Soren was, of course, concerned about this strange phenomenon. He was hoping that soon, a large search part would come together and get to the bottom of this.
But that concern grew to complete fear when it was reported that the most recent owls reported missing were Noctus and Marella. His own parents.
They had left a little over a week ago for a getaway to Silverveil, one that they intended to have last only a couple nights. When they were a night late to return, it seemed trivial. Two nights, a bit less so. But now, for as long as they'd been gone without a single update to their whereabouts, the Barn Owl had every reason to be fearful as to where they were.
But he wasn't the only one who feared for his parents; currently, he had taken to comforting Eglantine, his dear little sister. She had aged out of her small, white, fluffy little form; while she was still on the smaller side, her feathers and down now had color, her wings and legs more prominent, and her overall appearance had begun the transition into the beautiful young adult Soren was sure she would become.
She was currently nestled into the side of her big brother, who had a wing tenderly wrapped around her back and side, trying to make her feel safe.
"I'm worried about them, Soren," Eglantine said shakily. "I already lost my brother … I don't want to lose Mum and Da, too."
Soren could only respond to her heartbreaking words by soothingly nuzzling the top of her head, gently preening it with his beak. He whispered, "I know, Eg. I don't either."
Not knowing what else to say, the siblings just stood there in each other's comfort, staring out into the sunset. Neither had been able to sleep with this on their minds, not helped by the smaller meals they were required to have. Nonetheless, this allowed them to bask in the beautiful sight before the hustle and bustle of the night commenced.
"Do you think the Pure Ones got them?" Eglantine asked.
Soren sighed, unsure how to answer. It was certainly possible, and would explain the other disappearances as well.
"Or what if they were eaten by a predator? Or trapped in a forest fire?"
"Hey," Soren partially broke away to look at her, keeping his wing around her. Yes, he knew these were all possibilities. But that wasn't what his sister needed to hear right now. Instead, he settled on telling her what kept him going in his imprisonment at St. Aggies, when it seemed like there was no way out and his future had been cruelly plucked away from him. The same sentiments that kept him going now.
She looked back at him, listening intently as he spoke. "It doesn't do any good to doubt, or get caught up in what-ifs and what may be. We need to keep believing that if we keep looking, we'll find them, and have them back with us again."
Eglantine stared wordlessly, and Soren continued. "Ezylryb taught me to trust my instincts, to use them as my guide. And they tell me that our parents are out there. Do you believe that?"
The younger sibling looked off in thought, looking to the bright orange painting the sky in contemplation. And he stared at her bittersweetly. He knew that all of this was hard for her; she'd been put through far too much in her young life, even more than he had been, and it tore at his heart that her worries were still not over.
She then turned back to her brother and gave a gentle, silent nod.
Soren smiled tenderly, his beak curled deeply upward. His eyes shined with undying love for his little sister, love that he felt from the moment he witnessed her hatching. He swore that he'd do whatever it took to protect her from any more suffering. Just as he swore to protect the lands of Ga'hoole.
He would see to it that their hope wasn't in vain.
"I have to go out there," Soren insisted. "I can't just sit here when they could be in danger."
The Barn Owl stood agitated in his hollow, subconsciously pacing, with his Elf Owl friend watching him concerningly. The calm, reassuring tone he'd used to comfort his sister was in stark contrast to the fidgety, worried state he was in now.
He was referring, of course, to his parents. The young Guardian had let another night pass to allow them a chance to return. And when that night came and went with no sign of them, it was the final straw for him. He had to take matters into his own talons, and he had to do it now.
"I know, Soren," Gylfie insisted. "But every single owl who's left the tree in the past three days hasn't come back. What if …" Her next words were a near-whisper. "What if you're next?"
Soren sighed through the nasal slits on his beak. He knew Gylfie was right. This was potentially dangerous, especially without the knowledge of what was even going on out there. Something was clearly amok, and that mystery was sending the entire tree into a spiral of paranoia and confusion. All of it justified in his opinion, but no less a demoralizing contrast to the air of hope and glory that he'd grown used to having permeate throughout the tree.
But it didn't matter. Soren's responsibility as a Guardian was to protect those who needed him. And right now, his own flesh and blood may very well need him. How was he supposed to do nothing now?
He turned back to his friend. His best friend, the owl who was with him from the very beginning of that life-altering night at St. Aggie's, and who had stayed by his side through thick and thin since. It seemed that she knew his response before he said it.
"I'm sorry, Gylfie ... I have to. They're my family."
Gylfie took a deep breath, her wings tensing up and rising tightly against her shoulders. She truly did understand Soren's plight. And truth be told, she couldn't say she wouldn't do the same thing had she been in his position. It would be foolish, she realized then, to try and dissuade him now.
And so she stepped up to him, looking up at the noble young adult she'd come to see as a brother. "Well, I'm going with you then."
"What?" Soren questioned. "Gylfie, you-"
But Gylfie quickly shut down whatever argument he was about to make. "I'm not letting you do this alone, Soren."
Just as the Barn Owl opened his beak again, Gylfie used his own words back at him, looking him dead in the eyes. "We're each other's family."
Those four words, an echo of a statement she'd made before their quest to find the Guardians, were all Soren needed to hear. The owl could think of no reaction other than a small yet heartfelt smile. He felt that there wasn't much else to say.
"We're with you, too." A thick voice suddenly came from the entrance to the hollow. Both birds turned their heads to see Twilight and Digger standing at the entrance, proudly stanced in their declaration.
Soren's smile widened. Of course they are.
It wasn't a smooth process to convince King Boron and Queen Barran to allow him to leave the tree. They shared the concerns of his friends, and had insisted that no one leave on their own or in small groups. Fortunately, the combined efforts of Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger were ultimately able to convince them that they would be able to have each other's backs. And hopefully, with four of the tree's most capable owls investigating out there, it could lead to the discovery of the cause behind the disappearances.
The band of friends hadn't needed much time to prepare. All they needed was a set of battle claws for each of them, a map of the kingdoms, and a serviceable meal that could fill them until they found prey of their own.
Soon enough, they found themselves aloft on one of the Great Ga'hoole Tree's mighty branches. The breeze graced the down on their bodies, and they knew that breeze would guide them as they made their journey through the skies wherever they went. Digger took in a deep breath, chest puffed and posture making it clear he was ready for takeoff.
Twilight, however, soon went over to Soren and whispered something into his ear slit in a teasing voice. "Looks like someone's here to see you off."
Soren's eyes narrowed as he turned his head, but immediately softened when they saw Pelli now standing on the branch. Eyes now locked on the gorgeous female, he slowly walked across the branch, his face completely at ease.
"Hi," he said meekly.
"Hi," she said back. "Off on another grand adventure, I suppose?" she said amusedly.
"Hopefully not," Soren responded. "With any luck, this will be a basic search-and-rescue, nothing more."
"Right," Pelli looked down. She hated seeing him concerned like this. After he had provided so much for her, given her a new life beyond what she could have ever hoped for, she just wanted to be of some help to him in his own troubles.
She ultimately raised her head to look back up at his handsome face. She approached him until their chests were inches apart and lay a talon gently over his. "... Be careful out there, okay?" she asked gently.
"Yeah ... yeah, of course," Soren said back, nearly stunned by the rush he felt through his heart as they took in each other's fond expressions. He wished to say something, do something to further the moment, but decided that now wasn't quite the time.
His other three friends looked on in awe. All teasing aside, they couldn't help but beam with joy at seeing their leader's budding romance with one of the tree's newest residents. Far deeper than the childish crush he'd held on Otulissa all those months ago, Gylfie thought.
The moment was then allowed to pass when the two Barn Owls separated. There was no more time to waste. With Pelli looking on, the band of four spread their wings, lifted from the branch, and took off into the night, their wingspans silhouetted by the nearly-full moon.
The Sea of Hoolemere was bordered by a number of landmarks. The precarious Ice Narrows and Peninsula of the Spirit Woods looked over it from above, while The Beaks and The Barrens, scarcely thought of as lively territories, served as its Southern coast.
And then there was the location that Soren and his friends were bound for: the lush Cape Glaux, a vibrant cape that housed a plentiful supply of plant life and mountain ranges, all coated in an eye-pleasing field of greens and light browns that made it a haven for inhabitants and travelers alike. Much like the forest of Silverveil to which it served as a gateway.
It was little wonder why Noctus and Marella wanted to fly out here.
This was where the group of owls landed after their fairly brief trek over the watery surface below them, one they'd done many times before. They landed on the edge of the cape, enjoying the roaring sound of the sea's waves crashing into the rocky cliffside, the delightful salty spray forming a light mist that graced the forms of the four birds.
Once they were all landed, Soren and Gylfie untied the bags containing their food map, respectively, from around their waists. They in turn tied them around the trunk of a nearby tree, securely enough so that no other passing animal could easily open them up.
After that, Soren turned to the group. It was time to get down to business.
"Alright, guys," he said. "We don't want to be on our own, but we won't cover much ground sticking all together. I think it's best we go in pairs."
"Agreed," replied Digger. "And I think both pairs should be able to fend off any threat that comes their way." He turned to the Great Gray. "Twilight, you're our best fighter, so maybe you and Gylfie should go together."
Gylfie nodded, taking mild offense at the blunt implication that she was the weakest in combat but not saying anything about it. "... Right. You and Soren should be able to work well together," she added. Soren was their second strongest in battle after Twilight, and Digger the second weakest; it balanced out in their heads.
And so it was settled. With the pairs decided, the group of four began their search. Twilight and Gylfie took to an aerial view, while Soren and Digger browsed the ground below.
It was mostly smooth flying for the Great Grey and Elf Owl. Nothing immediately stood out as a sign of danger, with all looking pretty typical from above. Unfortunately, that also meant there was no lead to go off of.
So, to pass the time, the duo decided to make a little small talk.
"How've you been holding up with the food supply?" Twilight asked, flying several meters ahead of Gylfie.
"It hasn't been the easiest, but I've adjusted okay, I suppose," Gylfie responded. "I never was one to binge out ... unlike someone I know."
Twilight rolled his eyes, not visible to his companion. "Oh, har-har. I'm not the one who freaked out over the milkberry tea running out," he rebutted. He wasn't referring to Gylfie, but rather the tree's singer, Madame Plonk, who'd made quite the fuss at being denied the beverage she couldn't seem to go a day without. "How can she even drink that stuff?"
"True, point taken," Gylfie churred. "Poor old bird, though. She couldn't ..."
Her sentence faded out as she looked ahead of Twilight.
As he was preparing a descent between two tall trees, a small detail stood out to Gylfie. She noticed two loops of vines strung about the higher branches, one per tree. Such a thing wasn't uncommon in the slightest, but the way these were draped looked ... unnatural. Almost as if they were placed there deliberately. Almost as if ...
Gylfie gasped, before shouting, "Twilight, stop!"
"Wha?" Twilight turned his head to look at her but didn't change his trajectory. "What are you-"
The Great Gray's question was interrupted when he found his momentum come to a screeching halt. He'd stopped flying, and yet wasn't falling; he was seemingly suspended in midair. As he looked to his wings, his eyes widened when he saw that they were now strung out on either side of him in a tight crisscross of vines, trapping him in place.
"What the?!" Twilight shouted. He tugged his powerful wings against the vines, but it only caused them to tighten even further, making the owl wince in pain.
"Twilight!" Gylfie exclaimed. She quickly flew onto one of the branches housing the vines, looking around carefully to not get snatched by an unseen snare herself. She hopped over and used her claws to try and cut his left wing free, all while Twilight kept pulling against the vines holding him.
"Agh, Twilight, stop struggling!" the smaller owl said as she tried to get make progress. "I just need to ..."
But then, a rustling caused her to freeze and halt her efforts. It seemed like all the trees around her were suddenly shaking, and she could see shadows suddenly zooming by above and around her.
The Elf Owl slowly looked up. And she found her little wings drooping in shock and fear at what she saw suddenly perched on many branches in front of her.
Meanwhile, Soren and Digger had not been making any better progress in their ground search. Digger was of course speeding through on his skinny legs effectively, while Soren made use of his agile flying to weave through tight corners and low-hanging branches with ease.
But then they too heard a rustling interrupt them, sounding like it was coming from all around them. The two males exchanged a quick look before joining back up. They stood back-to-back with one another, wings slightly spread out defensively. Digger's legs were coiled up, ready to move at whatever was surrounding them.
"Hello?" Soren called out. "Wh-who's there?"
"Soren, quiet!" Digger whispered firmly. "What if it's a predator? Or a-"
The screech that came from the bushes, however, was very much that of an owl. Then came several more accompanying them, piercing the Guardians' ear slits horribly.
And then suddenly, from the shrubs around them, burst what appeared to be ten owls, all wearing matching, eerily recognizable, spiked gray helmets.
These figures were identical to the ones that now stood in front of Gylfie and the entangled Twilight.
Both pairs of owls were being ambushed by Pure Ones.
And with little time to react, the ambushes charged.
Soren let out a screech of his own as he braced himself for the nearest opponent's strike. He locked his battle-claw-adorned talons with the attacking bird's, knocking Soren onto his back but blocking the attack. He gave a might push of his feet to launch the enemy off him, and rolled back onto his talons before flapping off the ground. This was immediately followed by another Tyto thrusting herself at the Guardian, which Soren countered by flapping upward and grabbing the eye slits of the opponent's helmet. He flew into the nearest tree and slammed the enemy's head into its trunk, leaving her in a daze.
This unfortunately left the Barn Owl open to receive a slash on his back, which he responded to with a yelp of pain. But he extended his right leg out to deliver a returning blow to the Pure One's chest, and the two found themselves locking talons. But more enemies were surrounding them, and Soren knew he'd be doomed if he spent his efforts solely on one opponent. So he broke the talon lock and flew upwards, trying to gain the high ground.
Digger, meanwhile, was having less luck in taking his attackers down, but had taken less hits. His size allowed him to dodge the attacks and zip in between the Pure Ones. Unfortunately, this was also separating him from Soren, as he could no longer see how his friend was faring.
At the same time, Gylfie tripled her efforts to cut Twilight free as the Pure Ones charged at them. She couldn't take them on alone. Twilight swung his large legs up to grab the vines Gylfie was working on, and began pulling them heavily. Their enemies were getting closer, mere seconds away from reaching them and potentially finishing them off right there.
But thankfully, their combined efforts were enough to snap the vine, freeing Twilight's wing. He gave it a mighty flap and kicked out against the first assailant, knocking him back several feet. Before the next one could reach him, the Great Gray managed to grab the other vine with both talons and, with a powerful yank, snapped clean through them. They loosened up and fell off his other wing, freeing the owl.
Twilight couldn't resist giving a devilish smirk before charging into battle, unfettered. Now the fun can begin.
Soren was mere feet away from breaking the dome of treetops blocking the sky. But just then, another Pure One launched himself at him, slamming him into a thick tree and pinning him there.
Soren's vision went hazy for a second, before he looked into the eyes of this attacker, whose claws were wrapped around his wings and digging into the bark. His terrifying, heartless eyes were gleaming evilly, bearing a look of nothing but hatred, malice, and resentment. A look that was somehow familiar to Soren.
Nonetheless, the attacker didn't immediately go for a finishing blow, instead seeming to be drinking in this moment with the Guardian. And so, Soren took advantage of the opening this provided and wrapped his right talon around the Pure One's throat, causing a gurgled gasp to escape. The enemy quickly brought his own talon to Soren's extended leg, to which Soren responded by tightening his grip, breathing through the pain, his eyes glaring at the evil owl with firm determination.
He then used his strength to launch himself to the enemy's right. It didn't send either bird flying, but it did cause his foe's flapping wings to lose their rhythm in the air, allowing Soren to free his other wing and slash a claw across the Pure One's chest. The Pure One flew back in pain, and Soren flapped off of the tree and continued with a series of strikes, while dodging those of the opponent's.
After many seconds of back-and-forth, one of Soren's blows hit not the Pure One, but rather his helmet. The metal headwear flew off the owl's face and smacked into the trunks below him. Both owls then retreated to the nearest branches, meters apart from one another, backs to each other.
Soren was the first to turn around, and then watched as his enemy slowly did the same, revealing his face.
But nothing could prepare the Barn Owl for what he saw. It was a face that he'd thought dead, had mourned for months, and yet was staring back at him with the same look of rage that had consumed him in their last encounter.
Soren's voice caught in his throat, his grip on the branch faltering. His pupils were shrunken, and he felt his heart nearly bursting out of his chest.
He barely squeaked out his foe's name.
" ... Kludd?!"
The original Guardians of Ga'hoole series was created by Kathryn Lasky. The film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole and its versions of the characters belong to Warner Bros.
Originally uploaded on February 14, 2020.
Midterms and job hunting suck, and were heavy in my life when writing this. But they didn't stop me from getting it done! Obviously the plot has now kicked into gear, though not without those sappy character beats you know I love. The elements from the book The Siege, for those who are familiar with it, have now started to rise up, and needless to say it'll only get worse from here. Though of course Soren's parents disappearing was my own addition, something that couldn't have been in the book for ... obvious reasons.
It was nice to give a few more touching moments for Eglantine, Gylfie, and Pelli before the mission got going. As for the battle itself, there's a bit more of Twilight, Gylfie, and Digger's fight in Part 3, but Soren's received the main focus, and of course had the big reveal that isn't a shock to us but certainly is to him! And they've got some catching up to do, for sure!
I also came to realize that on top of this being a (plot-heavy) bondage story, it's just as much my desire to write a sequel to the 2010 movie. I would have loved to see a follow-up and see what else they could have done with it. But since that's likely never happening, this fanfic doubles as my own self-fulfillment of that.
Once again, I recognize this story won't have the most widespread appeal, but thank you to everyone who is reading it so far. Read on for Part 3, where the story arrives at ... what I'm sure most of you watched me for.
Category Story / Bondage
Species Owl
Size 990 x 720px
File Size 1.05 MB
Comments