Guardian's of Ga'hoole: Out of the Ash

Chapter One

"Come on Ash, stretch your wings and glide to the next branch. It's okay if your not silent at first, you are just starting off after all."
I huffed, but not loud enough for da to hear, he'd pluck me if he did hear.
I'm Ash by the way, one of the only black barn owls in the Tyto Forest, actually, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one in the whole owl kingdoms. My parents think it makes me special, but I could think otherwise.
I then lifted my wings and spread my feathers. I jumped off the branch and pushed my wings down on the air before trying to glide down to the branch. I was flapping here and there to keep afloat. I landed on the branch but my claws had scrapped against the wood loudly. I turned to look at father who had an emotionless facial expression.
"Practice makes perfect." Da commented, I winced. Da glided down to me in silence.
"Now, I want to to try to fly back up. It helps to flap too. And don't go yeep if you miss the branch on the first try."
I gave my da a look before clicking my tongue against my beak. "Da, when have I ever gone yeep?" I asked and he churred while shaking his head. "If you do go yeep, don't blame me." He announced and I rolled my eyes playfully before opening my wings again.
I jumped off the branch I was on and flapped as hard as could, I then did a sort of flap-glide thing most of the way until I reeled up, causing me to stretch my talons out on impulse and catch the branch. It wasn't silent but it was good for a first try.
"Magnificent, that is exactly how I want you to practice. Because how the branches are lined up, it makes perfect practice for catching a mouse or vole. You'll see." My dad explained as he flew more gracefully after me.
"How was my smokey feathered darling doing on her first branching lesson?" I heard my mum ask as she stepped out from the hallow onto the same few branches as me and my da.
"Good for the first day." My da said without any emotion, making me start to become uncomfortable. Mum motioned for me and da to come into the hallow.
"So your da and I have to go hunting, that means you aren't allowed to branch while we're away." She said gently but firm. "You don't want to fall strait to your doom now do you?" My dad asked playfully and we both churred.
My mum sighed while shaking her head. "And they say the egg never falls far from the hen, but what about the roost?" She said under her breath but we all heard it. My da chuckled before he led my mum out of the hallow and then over the horizon, where they would hunt further and bring me back something.