I have not flown for so long, I’ve forgotten what it feels like. Camping back in Western Forest is memorable. Especially because this is where we were betrayed.

Sitting around the fire, I decided to get to know my team better. Linton and Ethan are talking to the others having fun and I stare at those two.

The frog is very energetic, bounding wherever he goes. But Linton is perfect. And he knows. And wonderful.

“So, is it true you fought 5 eagles to get here?” says an over excited Brandon.

“It was 6.” Ethan reminds him.

“So, what are you guys?”

“My parents are dead and left me no money and I have no relatives.” replied Tristain. “Also, I’ve lost my legs.”

“Our parents died as well. We three triplets are trouble. That’s why we are with you. Louies the planner, I’m the smart one and Duey is the spy.”

“What about you Lucinda?” Linton asks warmly.

At these words, she turns around and I frown.

“Lucinda, why don’t you take a walk with me.”

We fly out to an overpass and away from the laughter of the boys behind us.

“What a beautiful moon.” she says.

“What’s wrong?” I say, sensing uneasiness in her.

“It’s just that...for the entirety of my life, all my mother has talked about the wrongs of you but now that I’ve met you all… I feel at home.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“My mother isn’t evil. I see good in her.”

“But isn’t she a southern owl?”

“Rumour has it Lucidious took her from the West and in one night she transformed into an evil owl. But I remember her singing to me each night.”

“Each night,

I’ll face the unknown with you.

Each night,

I think of you.

But adventures aside,

I’ll do anything with you.”

Emotions boil over. Tears well up in my eyes.

“You’re not the only one who’s lost family you know.” I say.

“I’m sorry.” she replies.

She opens her beak to talk but I snap it shut.

“Look!” I whisper.

I point to a fire in the distance with a flag above.

“The south? Here?” She sounds shocked.

“We have to warn Ipzitch.”

“But how could they know we are here?” she asks me as we fly back.

Memories flash of Snow and her betrayal but I push it out of my head.

“I don’t know.” I lie. “ Ipzitch!”

“Children these days, innit?” he mumbles in his sleep.

“Ipzitch!” I say urgently, budging him.

“Wha?” he mumbles. “What is it?”

“Southerners, 50 miles west!”

“Impossible! Tell the others to be alert. We move to position at night.” he replies.

I go up to the others and yell at them in the ears.

“Gosh, why so early?” Linton asks.

“Because the Southern Owls are nearby!”

I can’t stay mad at him.

“Me and Lucinda saw Southern Owls.”

“Suit up!”

“Permission to speak freely Amelia sir?” asks a tentative Duey.

“Don’t worry, anyone can.”

“Sir, I suggest we send out three of us three to see and scout how many owls, we need a headcount.”

“I’ll come with you.” says Ipzitch. “If trouble comes, do not engage, we must not be seen.”

“So we go in secrecy?”

“That is the whole point of this operation, we rouse the people in rebellion wherever we go, we make our own army, the islands are too much at risk.”

“So, we’ll swoop in and count and see how many owls are there and their camp.”

“If my mother hears we are here, she will come, and she will kill us all.” Lucinda says in a quiet and scared voice.

“Don’t worry Lucinda, we’ll be fine.” I reassure her warmly but really, I feel stressed.

“Alright let's move.” Ipzitch says as he flies off into the darkness, followed closely by me and Linton and Ethan on the ground.

“Where did you say you saw them?”

I nod in the general direction, but I am instantly blinded by flashes. We crash on the ground and Ethan hops over.

“Are you alright?”

“I felt a blast in my heart, like it was ripping apart.”

“We all did. It seems they are making aggresium orbs.”

He holds out his claws and gives the signal. Behind, I see yellow eyes blink in sync, meaning they understand him. I turn back.

“Lucinda and Amelia, you go around to the back. Ethan, use your orb to distract them and then we both will swoop in. If we need help, the others will come.”

We nod our understanding and crawl around to the back and I gasp.

Dozens of owls, dead, are surrounded by a squad of Southern Owls, who are harnessing their agreesium orbs. But, just as I blink, Ethan’s orb makes him go fast, and he bounds off trees like rubber.

The owls look around in alarm, but one holds out a wing and he catches Ethan.

“A lone frog? Your orb will be useful for us.” he says and he tries to throw the struggling Ethan into a cage.

“Oi!” Linton screeches from the woods. “Let go!”

Unable to see this apparent apparition, the Southern Owls waddle around and trip over each other.

“Where did that come from?”

“Over here.” says a grim Ipzitch and he jumps out with Linton. Me and Lucinda jump out as well.

Linton takes out 3 of them with a claw swipe, Lucinda strikes down one but is forced to fly away, followed closely by another owl. Ipzitch takes off after him.

The leader comes forward and strikes Linton with a swipe.

“Anyone else?”

I activate my orb angrily and I glow blue. I say, “Step away.”

“What’s a little girl going to do?” he taunts.

I sense someone in the bush behind me.

“Psst, Amelia, say idiot and we’ll jump out for you.”

He strikes his claw at me but my instincts suddenly surge and my claw is suddenly in the way.

“Who’s the idiot now?” I asked and with that, the others jumped out and the three Southern Owls remaining screeched in surprise and flew off.

“We have to follow them!” Ipzitch says as he comes back. “No witnesses.”

Me and Tristain take off to follow them, followed by the triplets, and the others chase the other one.

“I think they went this way.”

“Already on it.” Tristain says and flies ahead glowing yellow, going faster than any owl I’ve ever seen. Ahead, I see the owls collide, and one’s head falls off.

“Job done.” Tristan says as he flies past me, licking off a speck of blood.

We land at camp, and see the Southern Owl, bound to a tree.

“Do we kill him?” Lucinda asks with disgust. “Then there will be no witness.”

“Too late, an owl escaped.” gasped Tristain.

“Damn it!” commanded Ipzitch. “To where?”

“The south.” he replied grudgingly. He spits at Lucinda. “I am Gabriel.”

“Father.” Lucinda nods.

“You and your foul family. And you!” he suddenly points at Lucinda.

“You betrayed your family, your nation, your throne, for what?”

“For a cause that is right and friends. True family and friends, not by blood, but bound together by love.”

“What would you know about love?” he replied jeeringly.

“More than you’ll ever know.”

“The lands were mine! They are all your mother left me.”

Lucinda screeches and flies away to the ledge.

“Sabrina is alive and kicking. But her name now is Lucindia. Thus, her daughter.” Ipzitch says. “And the lands were not all she left you.”

Gabriel turns around.

“She left you a daughter.”

Comprehension dawns on his face, and tears roll down his burning face and hatred turns to grief and sorrow.