History Tap

[Almasy]

Prologue

Otulissa was dusting her beloved books in the library. Its been many

moon cycles since the War of the Ember and many things have changed.

King Soren has balenced the Kingdom and the Pure Ones are no where to

be heard of. As she was gingerly dusting each book she bumped her port

wing to a shelf stand. Though it was supposed to be anchored to the

wall, the stand fell off and inside of the strangely hallow stand was a

book. The book popped out upon impact and Otulissa picked it up. Its

pure black title, barely visable, read "History Tap". Otulissa could of put

the book back on the shelf and simply finish dusting, but she sat down

and began to open the book. Besides, she thought to herself, I have

plently of time...

Chapter 1

If your wondering who I am, I'm not someone you would know, rather a

messenger to whoever is reading this. This is about the historic

momment in history that was so ground shaking it was rule never to

speak of it again. Ha, you can not stop the young'ns from knowing this.


Otulissa quickly looked at the front for a written date on this book with

no avail. It probably was more then hundreds or even thousands of years

before anyone in the tree was born. She keep reading.


This was Civil War between North and Southern Kingdoms. I played no

major part in this war, but certainly saw the worst of it. This is my

personal view of the Civil War. My name is Pacel.


Chapter 2

This day like any other was suppose to be something that fits the small

easy agenda of any common Barn Owl; today was something else. This

was the first year leaving my mother and father and living a new life

under another tree, so I rarely left my hallow unless it was for food. I

left and started to find a vole using my ears as a guide. There! With a

quick and silent bank to the left I had a vole right under me. The vole

was small, but I did need anything other then that since I was hunting for

myself. As soon as a snatched the vole, I heard some screech, "Nooo!"

and quickly stopped in place. Suddenly an owl crashed and smacked on

the floor around fifty meters away from me, I quickly came and look.

She looked dazed and she had her wing over her face so I couldn't tell

what kind of owl she was. She was huffing and saying pieces of a

sentence like, "I was...so...close...and it disappeared!" She looked so

dazed that she did not notice me still and kept muttering words. "Tracking

that vole....Good Glaux, help me...find that frinking vole!"

"Looking for this?" I said

She came alive instantly and looked at me with confusion. She seemed to

be a Spotted Owl.

"I sorta got this without knowing you wanted it."

"Oh, thats ok. But..." She paused, "..did you hear a thing I said?" she

said little embarassed.

"Everything," I churred. "It seems you grew attached to that vole."

"I was hungry, OK? I haven't ate in..." She looked at my talons witch still

had the vole. "Hay, um, you gonna eat that?"

"Go for it." I said as I threw the vole to her.

I swore from that day, I had never saw anyone eat that eagerly and

quickly.

As soon as she finished I asked, "Whats your name?"

"Downy. Yours?"

"Pacel."

There was an awkward silence until she, I mean Downy, asked,

"Have you seen my botkin?"

"Your what?"

"It is a small carrier that goes around my wings. I use it too hold coals."

"Coals? Why do you have coals with you?"

"For smithing, ofcourse!" she said as if I was the only person who didn't

know that; and for all I knew at the time, I might have been.

"Um..." I said dumbly.

"You don't know much do you little boy?" she was the one churring.

I retorted back, "You don't look that old either!"

She looked at me for a momment and turned away saying, "Yeah but I

do know somethings that you don't."

I had nothing else to say. She was right after all.
_________________
And we were winning winning the war with a lighter and a peace pipe.
~Plushgun

[Almasy]

Chapter 3

"Have you ever been to a Rouge Smith Underground?"

"What?"

I had been flying with Downy for several hours and I learned more then I

can count. Indeed, I now know all about The Beyond, coals, and Rouge

Smiths from the conversations.

"Its a place where most Rouges learn about new things by socializing."

"I thought you guys were usually by yourself."

"Yes, but we got to get our news somewhere."

Both owls landed lightly on a nearby branch.

"Come along, it won't hurt."

"Well..." I said with a tinge of doubt.

"Think about it."

And with that she lifted off and started flying north.


Ugh, I thought. I've never been out of the Forest of Tyto since...ever!

But then again, I never met someone as, how do I say it? Interesting as

this owl. Shes right, it couldn't hurt to leave this boring life I have.


"I'm gonna hate myself for doing this." I said as I threw myself out into

the air and started flapping my wings.
_________________
And we were winning winning the war with a lighter and a peace pipe.
~Plushgun

[Almasy]

Chapter 4

Downy dove quickly downwards and landed softly on a oak nearby the

Rouges Underground. She look left and right in case some slipgizzle was

looking around. In the Forest of Almbala, you should always be careful.

Close is clear, she thought. She looked at the large church where the

Rouges meet. It still had some white on it, while most of the paint chipped

off. It was mostly empty, except in the winery where they met. She

opened the hatch and made sure she closed it carefully. Now a short hike

into a room full of noisy owls, tipsy owls, or even more likely the

combination of both.

"One milkberry tea please, hold on sugar." Downy told a Short Eared Owl

who was somehow able to shake and mix drinks while serving these

rouges.

"Make that two."

Downy turned to her side to see a white heart shaped face.

"So you decided to come? How did you find this though?"

"Easy, I saw you open the hatch."

"What? I thought I looked high and low for anyone spying one me!" she

shrieked.

"You must of done a crummy job then."

"Look, Pacel, I would like to do a better job then."

"I would glad-"

"Let go of me!" shrieked a Burrowing Owl who seemed to be in the

clutches of a much larger Great Gray.

"No can do sir, your disturbing the peace here."

"Yeah," said another Great Gray "its not personal, its just our job."

"Ha! Thats a churr, peace? Here?" said the Burrowing Owl with a slight

slurr in his voice.

The Great Grays carried the Burrowing Owl all the way outside and pined

him to nearby tree.



"What was that?" Pacel whispered to Downy.

"Bouncers, don't mess around here or you might end up like that poor
fella."

"Lets follow him."

Downy looked around for the second time too see if its clear and both owls

calmly walked out without being noticed.



"Lets not try to make it hard, mister."

"Don't mister me! I know all about your plans you rogues!" he spat and

with that the Burrowing started to kick around.

"This owl won't shut his frinking beak." shouted the other Great Gray as he

cuffed the Burrowing Owl repeatedly until he was still and bruised. Then

both Great Grays dropped him.
_________________
And we were winning winning the war with a lighter and a peace pipe.
~Plushgun