“Get him mum!” shouted the young bird. “Get him in the groin!”

“Now, now,” said the bird's brother. “You’ll want to be careful around your father.”

“Now, now,” said the young bird's sister, in good imitation of her brother's tone. “You’ll want to be careful around me.”

“Kids, I’m only doing this because Amelia requested me to do a dramatic replay of the Great Battle at Feldon.” said their father as he twisted and turned. “You mother is no match for me. For I am Ipzitch!”

“Mum, get dad! Get him in the head!”

“Looks like Amelia’s got your spirit, Emily.”

And finally they stopped sparring, took off their metal claws, at the sight of a small Elf Owl heading their way.

“Sir, I was told to give you this. It's urgent.”

My father took the letter.

“Looks like there's been an attack in the north ridge. I’m gonna have to go help. Love you Emily! And remember, if we lose, go to the Island in the West! As west as possible to find the Knights of Arbonoc!”

“Your father is the best. There is no way he will lose.” The motherly bird reassured them.

“Yes, but just in case!” father shouted back.

Their father flies off into the distance. Ignoring her mothers call to them to remain silent in the hollow as she goes off for breakfast, I whisper to my sister, “Hey, wanna see Dad at work?”

“I dunno Amelia. Seems a bit much. You know how dangerous being a War Owl can be right?”

“Yeah! That's why I want to go!”

My sister thinks for a moment. Then, I swear I saw a lightbulb appear in her head.

“Ok, but we cannot let Sam know. He’ll…”

“Kill us? I’d like to see him try.”

And so we left for the Fortress of the Northern Forest, ready to see our father beat the enemies’ backsides, like he always tells us.

Let me explain. Our father is the commander of a legion of Owl Corps, who patrol the skies at night around the main Base. Our forests are split apart. North, south, east and west. Right now, the South has more than 2 million people, which has caused all the other three to team up.

Usually, our father comes home with stories of bravery and glory, without spilling a single drop of blood. Ever since his first battle, I’ve always wanted to be up there, with everyone.

There are multiple animals on our side. Our main enemies are foxes, bears and birds. We have Owls (that's us), Possums and frogs. Literally frogs. However, you shouldn’t be fooled by their names. They’re actually ninja frogs.

The Special Forces Unit can infiltrate anything. Even my brother's bath singing sessions! That happened once, per my request. I think the leader of the assault was scarred for life after what he saw or heard. All I heard was he was never the same again.

But, as soon as we neared, it was clear something was wrong.

My sister gasped. She never gasps. Even when her fifty boyfriends dumped her, she shrugged and flew away. But what made her gasp was not boys. It was the bodies.

They were piled everywhere. Fires burning, sirens sounding, panic. I could see owls and birds clawing and fighting in the sky. On the ground the wolves and ants and frogs fought with bears, tigers and lions.

“Stay here, I’m going to help.” my sister said to me. I saw her fly away, leaving me lost for words. Then, as if the world slowed down, I saw it. All the owls falling as one, Frogs scrambling away, wolves mesmerized.

A giant ball, wreathed in flame, arced through the air. It struck the ground with an earth shattering bang.

“General, we must retreat! We must save our forces for a counter-attack!” said a young wolf, desperately.

“Save yourselves. Go back to your families. Tell them to run. We’ll stay and hinder them for as long as possible!”

…

I knew that voice!

“Father?” I whispered, confused. I never knew my father was a leader.

“Hey! You, over there, show yourself!” he suddenly said, alert.

I flew out of my hiding spot, ashamed to be discovered.

“A-a? Get out of here, leave, go somewhere else! Run!” he shouted at me, panic flaring across his face.

A bird comes up to me and tries to down me, but I swing desperately at him, and his limp body falls to the ground. I look at my claws, horrified by what I just did.

This is war. Not like those stories you hear. It's hell.

And, as if all time had stopped, another flaming ball crashed down on the earth, centimetres from me. And I flew away, not looking behind me, at the piles of bodies.

And with that, the North was no more. My thoughts were scrambled. Where do I go? Then I remembered my fathers joke. Was it a joke? I start flying north to find these knights. All I’ve heard are legends. Ninja Frogs are more ninja than me. Owls of great size and strength, nimbleness, and fast. Wolves who work so well, three of them could take down scores of bears.

I’ve also heard the stories about how they disappeared and why. Now, all I need to do is find them.

As I flew, I saw cities crash down in flames, forests burn and waves of flaming balls crash upon the Earth.

As the destruction rages on behind me, the truth, heavy as an anchor, sets in.

I am the last North Owl.