Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The River of Wind by Kathryn Lasky

Author:Kathryn Lasky
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780545283441
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2011-11-09T02:37:31+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

The Hagbogey

Now, there you go, dear! Back with Mum and Da!” Eglantine said as she dropped the little Barn Owl into her family’s hollow in the spruce tree in the forest of Ambala. The owlet shreed with delight. The mother was hysterical, and the father gruff but obviously relieved. For several nights, Eglantine and Primrose had scoured every wind track left by the westers that had marched across a great swath of the kingdoms. The main track appeared to run straight out of Silverveil, sweeping through The Barrens and into Ambala. But so far they had found not a trace of Bell. Nothing really, except this little Barn Owl who had fallen to the ground because she had tried to fly too soon, before even a single one of her flight feathers had budged.

“Now, you ain’t going to try that again are you, Eva? No more flying until you’re ready. You’re a Barn Owl. Not an Elf Owl, after all. Takes us sixty-six nights to fledge our flight feathers,” the father stated a bit sternly.

“Oh, we were so worried.” The mother was still sobbing. She lowered her voice and blinked. “What with the rumors and all.”

“Rumors? What kind of rumors?” Primrose asked.

“Nyra is back,” she whispered, “and several snatchings and even egg-nappings have been reported.”

Primrose and Eglantine exchanged nervous glances. No, it simply could not be true. There had been no sign of the Pure Ones in a long while. But this news made finding Bell even more urgent than before.

Eglantine and Primrose had been so excited when they had first spotted the distinctive yarped pellet of a young Barn Owl. They were sure it was Bell, and although they were happy to rescue this little owlet, Eva, they had to admit their disappointment that she was not Bell. Just another owl chick who had disobeyed the single most important rule for nestlings: Never fly before you are ready and never fly when your parents are out hunting. They bid the parents and the little chick good-bye.

“And where will you go from here?” the father asked.

“Well,” Primrose said, “we’re looking for a little owl who could fly, but perhaps not strongly enough. She got lost or blown down when those westers came through.”

“Oh, those westers came through Ambala, all right. Although they weakened some, I’m sure, as they approached the Desert of Kuneer.”

“Yes, well,” Eglantine said, “I think we have to go at least that far.”

“Good luck to you both and thanks ever so much,” the father said. Then the mother added, “Ever so much.”

“Thank you,” Eva said in a tiny voice. “I’m…I’m very sorry.”

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