Soara and the Owls of Ga'Hoole

Chapter 10: How to Really Fly

Ga'Hoole Library

"Soara!" shouted a familiar voice. Soara looked down from the book shelf and at Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger. In fact, it was Digger's voice that got her out of her funk.

"We're going down to get something to eat, wanna come?" Digger asked.

Soara was going to respond, but immediately stopped when she saw Ezylryb. For some reason, s he knew he was listening to them. She didn't want to at the moment.

"No, I'd rather be alone, guys," Soara said. "For now."

"Oh, are you sure Soara?" Twilight asked.

"I just need some time to think, and to read," Soara said.

"Oh, okay," Twilight said. "If you're sure Soara."

"So, did you find anything interesting, Soar?" asked Gylfie.

"Uh, no not really," Soara said.

"Well I hope you find something," Gylfie said. She smiled at her best friend, who returned the smile. Soara watched Gylfie fly away to join Digger and Twilight. Soara continued looking through the bookshelf, but she didn't find anything interesting.

"You might want to try that book shelf," said the voice of the old screech owl. Soara looked at him.

"What?" Soara asked.

"Don't know why, but it might be right into your interests, Miss," Ezylryb told her.

Soara was confused. She flew to where the bookshelf he suggested. She looked it over then at Ezylryb but then back at the book. She found one book, The Battle of the Ice Claws, the actual book she remembered her father speak of. Without looking at the other owl, Soara took the story and began reading it.

It was near the end of the night, and Soara was still enjoying her book. What caught Soara's eye was the mark at the bottom of the page and at the end of the storybook. Ezylryb, who had been watching her, came in front of Soara without the girl noticing. She wasn't scared because she had heard him land a moment ago.

"Found something to read?" Ezylryb asked her. He looked at the book Soara was reading.

"Yeah, but it's nothing special. It's the Battle of the Ice Claws," Soara answered.

Soara wasn't comfortable talking to Ezylryb. The only time she had ever talked to him was when he showed her the true meaning of fire and a few moments ago when he told her to find that book. She continued with her story. "You know, this is my father's favorite story. He used to tell it to us all the time."

"Well, your father had good taste in authors. You enjoying it?"

"Honestly, it's not at all like my father told it." Soara admitted.

"No? How did he tell it?" Ezylryb asked curiously, still looking at his feathers.

"Well, Da always made it seem so heroic. You know?" Soara began. "Like a great victory. Well, in these chronicles, I mean, the battle just sounds like..."

He looked at her.

"Like hell?" Ezylryb finished for her. "Come on, girl. It's almost first light. " He closed the book for her. "You've got a big day tomorrow. I'm going to teach you how to really fly."

"I know how to fly," Soara pointed out.

"Oh I know, but I mean really fly, Soara," Ezylryb said. "What do you say, Lass, you up for it?"

-O-

"Feel the gutters! The currents in the rain. A scupper! A swillage! Baggywrinkles!" Ezylryb shouted.

"Baggywrinkles?" questioned Odysseus. He huffed. "He could have at least given us a vocabulary list."

Now, this, this is the way to learn!" Ezylryb said.

"Oh, yes! This is exactly how I want to learn. In a monsoon!" Digger shouted.

"The air currents warm in different ways, you see from the sky to the ocean," Ezylryb continued. "You can't fight them. You have to feel them with your gizzards."

Ezylryb looked as none of the owls got what he was saying. Soara was getting at it.

"Aha! You see that one? Soara, see it! It's there. Go for it."

He watched as she began heeding his words.

"That's it! Use your gizzard, girl Trust it! Fly inside," Ezylryb said, his voice echoing in Soara's ears and she let the gizzard do the rest.

"She sees it. She sees it," said Ezylryb. "Hold it. Hold it."

Suddenly, Soara's head began telling her something else. When Soara looked down she noticed that she was almost colliding in with Twilight. She suddenly began flapping her wings.

"Hey, careful, look out!" Digger shouted. Soara suddenly lost congrol and began to collide with the sea.

"Soara!" shouted her friends as she began falling. Ezylryb noticed the girl and began flying towards her, and hit within her to wake Soara up. She just realized what she was nearly going into.

"Soara, come to my hollow," Ezylryb told her while the girl had no choice but to follow.

With Allomere and his two fellow guardians, they were in the insides of St. Aegolius where they witnessed Jatt and Jutt manipulating a new group of owls. 

"So lean back, put your beaks up..." said Jutt. 

"...and turn your faces to the light of the glorious full moon..." Jatt said 

"...and sleep." they said together. 

"Lord Allomere, the girl was right," one of the owl guardian muttered. "Those owlets, we have to rescue them."

"Caution," said Allomere. "We mustn't rush in blindly. We don't know what we're up against. Now, see those bats? Follow them. I'll wager we'll discover the full extent of their plan."

The owls followed the bats to another corner of St. Aggie's where they noticed one Pure One above while two more were below.

"Hold! I'll take out that one, you get the two down on the platform,' Allomere said and flew up. Meanwhile the two guardians flew out with talons out and attacked the seemingly two guards However, it was not a Pure One century. It was a maniquin that made it look like an owl guard.

"What is this? " said one of the owls. Suddenly two bats flew down, unleashing a light of blue shooting out of the containment, causing the two guardians to scream in pain as the bats came in.