The Chronicles of Hototo, The Blood's Hearth

Chapter 13

Aiyana looked worse when Hototo visited her the next day. She smiled and congratulated him on his role.

"A soldier! Wow, that's really good. We'll be training together, so that's good."

Hototo smiled. "We'll also be able to visit eachother whenever we want, since I'll be in here for a while, haha."

She smiled appreciatively.

Hototo was walking back to his hospital nest, when his nurse flew in front of him. He stopped in front of her, confused.

"You can now be emitted back," she said curtly. Hototo cocked his head to the side.

"What?"

"Your injuries have almost finished healing. You'll only be a bit stiff for a little while. You can now start your training with the other cadets."

He turned his head towards Aiyana. "Why only me? What about her? I have worse cuts." He opened his cut wing.

The nurse clicked her beak impatiently. "She hasn't been requested to start as soon as possible. You have. Now go!" She ushered him out before he could say anything more.

He turned towards her. "Wait! I don't even know where-"

"Hey, Hototo!"

He jumped. It was Nukpana.

"Congrats on being picked as a soldier," he said, envy in his voice. Hototo smiled nervously.

"Do you know where I go to train?"

Nukpana nodded and pointed with a talon. "Just over the Yellowpines. It'll be in a clearing."

Hototo said his thanks and pushed off. His wings yelled in protest, pain flaring up his sides. Only stiff my tail feathers, he thought.

He followed the trees until he spotted a large clearing with owls gathered in makeshift lines facing each other. They were in stance mode, the mentors at the end. He recognized this as the training arena. They went silent as Hototo landed.

Inteus smiled. "Hey, there's the champ! Come on over and find a partner. We're just discussing the basic stances."

Hototo walked over to a glum looking owl and copied her position.

"So, as I was saying, when confronted with an opposer, always look bigger and scarier than them. You can do so by flaring your wings and feathers like this-" he spread his wings and puffed out is feathers. His head bobbed from side to side. "and give a good hiss."

The owls mirror him, and soon the clearing was filled with raspy hissing. Hototo felt quite silly, but supposed this was necessary.

Inteus clicked to get their attention. "Enough with that. Let's get to the fighting!"

The owls cheered. Inteus laughed. "Okay, before you learn air combat, you need to learn how to fight on the ground. It's difficult, but necessary if you're knocked down and can't fly up."

He turned towards Namid and displayed his feathers. "Watch closely," he muttered. 

The owls were transfixed on him as he slowly moved towards his target. Suddenly he shot forwards, swiping under Namid with one foot and bringing back his other and slamming him backwards.

The class cooed in awe.

Inteus turned towards the class, looking satisfied. "Now you try."

Hototo faced his opponent nervously. She looked very intimidating with all her feathers displayed. I'm so small. What was he thinking letting me spar with such a big owl?

He didn't she her coming when just then, she slammed into him, sending him reeling across the grass. He heard laughter.

"Aw, sucks doesn't it?" Askook howled. "poor little Hototo can't handle a simple move!"

He got up, shaking with anger. He refused to be the laughing stock.

When he faced her again, he was ready. She came at him quickly, but it only seemed like slow-motion. As she kicked, he jumped up and slammed his talons into her face. She screeched as she fell hard on the ground.

He heard someone whistle and turned towards Inteus. "Well done!" he chirped.

Askook's smile fell as Hototo was brought up towards the front.

"Now, show us again," Inteus said, getting ready. 

Hototo's heart fluttered. "Sir, I don't know if I can do it again." 

Askook laughed. This made anger flare in his chest.

"It's okay if you can't, son," Inteus murmured.

Hototo shook his head. "No. I'm ready."

His mentor came at him like a whirlwind. Hototo jumped up in surprise and flew over him.

Askook and his friends roared in laughter. "Don't be a coward!" they yelled.

Hototo hissed and flew at Inteus. He didn't get the chance to recover as Hototo hooked his leg and flung the mentor to the ground. He landed with a heavy grunt.

Namid looked at Hototo with a mix of fear and awe. Hototo was scared for a moment when Inteus didn't get up. But suddenly he started laughing.

"Outstanding!" he yelled, shaking his head as he got up. "absolutely stunning!" He clapped him on the back and pushed him back to his partner. "Good work. I think you're all ready for our next move!"

Hototo fell to the ground, panting hard. He had never worked as hard as this before. Inteus walked up to him as the others flew back to the basin.

"Get up, son," he said gently. Hototo obliged and stood up, muscles terribly sore.

Inteus regarded him with warm eyes. "You did well today. I want to show you something." He flew into the air, beckoning Hototo to follow.

He led him into a small clearing between two large trees. Large holes that looked like old nests lay inside the trunk.

Hototo landed on the ground, breathing heavily. Inteus faced him. "I wanted to show you this area. It's a secret place I take my chosen cadet to train."

Hototo looked up at him. "Chosen cadet?"

Inteus nodded. "Every batch I pick an owl who shows exceptional promise. You fit that criteria. Be proud, son," he nuzzled Hototo. "you are a special owl."

He wasn't sure how to feel. Me? Special? I just acted on my instincts. That wasn't talent...

Inteus nudged him. "I know you're tired, but let's do a few more moves, yes?"

Hototo nodded, not wanting to disappoint him. Inteus stood up straight and did a different stance.

"Come at me," he said. Hototo smirked and flew towards him, but Inteus was too fast. He had swept him off the ground with his wing and pinned him to the ground. He laughed heartily.

"We got a long ways to go."