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Owls collided in the sky in a grand, violent explosion. Metal clanged against metal as battle claws and weapons came together. Feathers were flung, screeching echoes tearing through the yellow-hued horizon.
Streaks of wings and talons swirled and twisted around the Great Ga'hoole Tree. The Pure Ones kept trying to break out of the Guardians' surrounding forces, flying in streams like airborne snakes attempting to escape their glass bowl prison. The few who did get past it were soon pushed back in, by the Guardians who were assigned to keep their formation unbreeched.
Time they know what it's like to be trapped, Gylfie thought, as she forced back a rather large Tyto.
The tables were indeed turned from their last battle. The Guardians, having eaten their first full meals in a week and taken much-needed rest before launching the attack, were able to maintain their pre-planned, coordinated positions, all while the Pure Ones were forced into the same sloppy, improvised strategies they had once trapped their enemies into. Wortmore desperately tried to get his soldiers in line, but there was no time nor space to do so.
Twilight sported a massive grin on his beak as he plowed into a Pure One. The born fighter that he was, to be back on the battlefield defending his friends and allies once more felt like a blessed family member returning to him after years apart ... or a week that felt like years. This was where he belonged, and he made sure everyone who crossed him knew it. He was at the top of the highest wave of Guardians, a wave that converged from the two sides of the battlefield. He plummeted down with great velocity to strike whichever unlucky Tyto was in his path. He then swooped back up, similarly taking out more along the way. And so the process repeated.
Gylfie and Digger joined forces throughout, either leading Pure One soldiers into less advantageous positions or taking them on themselves. Digger stayed low while Gylfie went high, though their paths often intersected as they herded their foes deeper within the Guardians' pincer movement.
Just as Digger was leading a sizeable Pure One, he abruptly found himself trapped in a cluster of combat that forced him off his intended path. It was a small setback, but just enough for his pursuer to catch up and wrap his talons around the smaller Burrowing Owl's middle.
Digger cried out as he was taken down and plowed into the island surface. The Tyto holding him repeatedly pounded him against the ground, one after another, knocking the wind out of the smaller bird and spreading aches and bruises throughout his talon-encased body.
"This is what filth like you deserve!" the evil bird shouted as he continued his torture. "You and the rest of your-"
His exclamation was reduced to a blood-curdling scream, and Digger suddenly found himself released. Looking up, he saw Gylfie's armed claws plunged into the Pure One's head and eyes, sending them both flapping around haphazardly. Once they smacked down on the surface, Gylfie speedily dove in to finish the Barn Owl off with a crossed slash of both her talons across his throat.
The Elf Owl immediately went to help her friend back on his feet, checking to make sure he wasn't beaten too badly.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yeah, thanks," Digger responded with a violent cough. He huffed in and out to regain his bearings, a little dazed but gratefully not terribly worse for wear.
When she saw he wasn't too badly injured, Gylfie couldn't help but shoot him a half-smirk. She recalled his past implicit insinuations that she was the most vulnerable fighter of their four-owl band.
What a way to prove him wrong.
"... Rrrngh ..."
Soren groggily came to, his mind simultaneously spinning and groggy. His head lulled back, before hitting some hard floor surface, cushioned by the knot of the gag still tight in his dried up beak.
As he gradually managed to blink himself awake, he slowly took in his surroundings ... only to find himself no longer in the cell in which he'd been spending his imprisonment.
He did recognize it, however: he was in Nyra and Kludd's hollow.
Turning his attention to himself, Soren saw that he was lying on the hollow floor ... and it didn't appear that that was about to change. His wings had been stretched wide and tied to two heavy nails embedded deep into the hollow. His legs were stretched apart and his feet identically tied.
Soren shuddered and gasped. As relieving as it would have felt to have his wings so spread out after their intensive, constant confinement, this was no less ideal. He gave his limbs a good tug, grunting into the gag as he discovered the utter lack of slack they were tied with.
"Don't fight it," a voice snapped.
Soren recognized it as Kludd's.
He pulled his head forward, and his expression softened from anger to sadness when he saw his sibling. Nyra was by his side, looking just as unhappy as he did. On Kludd's feet were a pair of battle claws ... which Soren grimly recognized as those of the original, deceased Metalbeak. Nyra wore her own battle claws as well. On the wall behind them hung Metalbeak's old mask, staring down the room imposingly despite the lack of eyes behind it.
"Rrrnn," Soren uttered fearfully.
Kludd looked down at his brother helplessly struggling and grunting. He heard and felt the tense breath of Nyra against his neck. He took in the feel of his predecessor's battle claws strapped securely onto his feet. And he looked out to the opening of the hollow, observing the golden sun breaking through amid a small flurry of forming light-grey clouds ... hopefully signifying the dawn of a new era for the young Pure One.
"Now then," Nyra said. "Shall we begin?"
Soren's breathing hitched. "Nnr ..."
The battle raged on, gruesome, bloody, and requiring the utmost prowess on both sides for survival. But the Guardians pushed on. As they always had. They knew that at this point, their primary goal was to lower the Pure Ones' numbers enough for their victory to be impossible. Then, they would be forced to leave this diabolical scheme behind, finally freeing the treasured island once more.
Boron and Barran oversaw it all. They called out orders as the situation changed and evolved. They joined in battle whenever possible, and took great pride and joy at seeing their perimeter surrounding the Pure Ones grow narrower and narrower.
They saw old Ezylryb once again show that he hadn't lost his fighting chops, nor his leadership skills as the legend he was in guiding his younger fellow Guardians through the fight. They saw Twilight slash the throats of two enemy soldiers at once, spinning his way through the air to perform the same action again. They saw Guardians small and large, young and old. Guardians who had just been appointed their titles, and even those who were still in the midst of their training for such titles. Everyone worked together.
It was a testament to how, contrary to the Pure Ones' dogmatic, genocidal ideals, the collaboration of all owls of all types could accomplish nothing short of miraculous feats.
From the safety of their tree, every owl not partaking in the fight observed as well, viewing with intense emotion. Many wished to help their friends and family, but were either too young, old, or inexperienced. The children were forbidden from watching the high-stakes spectacle, but that didn't stop some of them from sneaking into the crowd, looking on with wide eyes of both terror and inspiration.
Eglantine could hardly bear to look at the carnage. Soren and her parents had told her stories of grand, glorious battles, hard fought and hard won by the honor-bound Guardians. But while she knew they did so strictly for good, it still shocked her to see how decidedly inglorious it was when such stories played out before her eyes in reality.
Pelli was similarly appalled, but old enough to know that, in this instance, such violence was a necessary evil. She also knew that, were she to rise in the ranks as a Guardian herself, they were deeds that she would possibly be forced to commit. But it would be worth it. She vowed to herself that someday, she would be among these brave owls. Whether it be engaging in combat, rescuing innocent creatures as she had been rescued, or any other call to action, she would fulfill the role whenever it needed her. Defending the freedom, peace, and happiness of all creatures.
And she hoped a certain Barn Owl would be by her side through it all.
That Barn Owl's wings and legs continued to strain in their ropes, his body still pinned helplessly to the ground as his two captors engaged with one another.
"Kludd ..." Nyra said softly. Her stare lingered on the battle claws of her lost mate, now worn by this young, headstrong owl appearing determined to take his place. It was not her most ideal choice, but it was certainly far from her worst. He would do just fine, she conceded ... for now, at the very least.
"You now wear the battle claws of my dearest Metalbeak. A strong, uncompromising owl he was, Glaux bless his soul. But now ... he leaves them in need of a new owner. One worthy of carrying on his unparalleled legacy."
As the male admired how his talons looked in the polished, deep black weaponry, Nyra brought a wingtip to his face and stroked it as tenderly as possible.
"That owner, my love ... will be you."
Soren kept pulling with all his might, groaning in stifled exertion, clenching his eyes shut as his muscles gave it their all ... but he was fastened down tightly. Worse yet, even if he got his wings free, he would still be held in place with his feet tied down, still stuck gagged and speechless.
"Only one thing remains for you to do, Kludd," Nyra continued. "The final link between you and your past that needs to be severed ... the final deed you must commit to prove your eternal devotion to us ... to me."
"NNRGH!!" Soren screamed, doubling his struggles for release. But he only brought the ropes to pinch deeper into his majestic, outstretched wings and long legs. His talons spread and clenched, unable to reach a rope. His torso twisted and jutted up and down, left and right, as his breathing sped up dramatically.
Please! Glaux, help me!! SOMEONE, HELP ME!!!
"FORMATION DELTA!!" Wortmore yelled out, to any soldier within earshot.
"Sir, they have us surrounded!" a Pure One shouted back.
"THEN WIPE THEM OUT!!" Wortmore ordered.
"THERE'S TOO MANY- AGH!!"
The Tyto was eternally silenced by the lethal claws of Otulissa.
Wortmore's mind was going frantic. For all of the planning he had done to get and keep these Guardians subdued, never could he have anticipated a retaliation like this! What was supposed to be his crowning achievement, his time of glory as a pivotal player in the Guardians' thorough demise, had been swiftly and savagely torn apart, leaving him desperately trying to salvage any way to put it back together.
He flew all around, trying to make any sense of the disaster before him. His eyes darted in every direction, past the bodies flying and slashing at each other that broke up his already-chaotic thoughts even further.
He bitterly watched his brethren be brought to their deaths, every minute a new blow to their ranks. That wretched king and queen alone had slaughtered so many of his dearest friends, and yet it was but a fraction of the losses being incurred. The Guardians started out roughly equal to them in numbers, but their preparation and near-airtight formation was widening the gap between them and turning everything more and more into a hopeless fight.
Otulissa, meanwhile, weaved and spun with the grace and cunning of a seasoned warrior, demonstrating why she was renowned as one of the best fighters of her age. Putting into action the battle tactics and techniques she had read about and been taught, she kept her studious eyes open for any and every weakness in the Pure Ones' defenses. She plunged in to take advantage of them all, further evening the odds in her side's favor.
All while she wielded the battle claws of her passed mentor, vowing to honor her with everything she had within her.
And now, her gaze ended up locked on to Wortmore. With an iridescent passion in her magnificent eyes, she swiftly soared her way en route to the Pure One commander. Wortmore gasped fearfully as he flew away, seeking shelter in reinforcements who could surround and protect him, rather than face the furious female head-on himself.
Coward, Otulissa thought.
"Commander!" one of his troops called to him. "What are your orders?!!"
Wortmore turned in an attempt to address his ally. "I-it, you could, I ... I don't know!" he admitted with a panic, genuinely lost in his growing failure.
"They're winning, we have to do something NOW!!" the Pure One fired back.
"I KNOW DAMN WELL, JUST LET ME-"
In his distraction, Wortmore's speed had dwindled long enough for Otulissa to gain on him. He spun around to counter her, causing their battle claws to interlock tightly together, her spear trapped between the talons.
"SIR!!"
Seeing his leader in distress, the Pure One he'd been addressing, along with four other Tytos, converged on Otulissa and Wortmore. The dueling owls flapped their entwined forms through the sunrise, each trying to throw the other off.
Otulissa grew worried at the soldiers closing their distance from her, but refused to let her foe go free.
That was, until Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger swooped in to intercept the incoming backup.
Otulissa grinned gratefully when Wortmore's face turned apprehensive once again. As her allies dealt with the threat, she spun herself and her enemy around with such power that Wortmore's talons were finally forced unlatch themselves from hers.
As expected, Wortmore's flight path was sloppy from the disorientation, unable to steady himself as his wings tossed him in a sporadic trajectory.
The Short Eared Owl flew herself around, brandished her spear in front of her, and dove straight for the Pure One commander.
This is for you, Struma.
She landed a piercingly painful slash across Wortmore's chest and wing, causing him to scream in agony. He plummeted in a downward spiral, and ultimately crash landed on the island below him.
At the same time, Gylfie and Digger swarmed a Tyto and led him over to Twilight, who ripped through one of his wings and sent him veering down helplessly. He then tossed another foe from behind him over to his smaller friends, who each simultaneously got a critical hit to take her out as well. This back-and-forth combat between the three of them made ample work of their opponents, and it wasn't long before they were able to join up with Otulissa.
As Wortmore writhed on the island surface, hissing at his terrible wounds, he looked up to see the four Guardians coming together. The Short Eared's eyes were narrowed, like a hunter ready for her kill. With them all closing in on him, he backed up feebly on his stomach, completely helpless to fight back. He looked up to the sky, hoping to see any friends who could aid him, but they all had their own overwhelming fights to deal with.
The owls getting closer still, he felt terror forming in his chest. They could all see his fear in the face of such peril, showing his true colors when the veil of power was snatched away from him.
But he tried to hide it. "You think this matters?" he growled to them, in between his pained gasps. "The Pure Ones are not done yet! They will - *hiss* never be done, until your inferior races are expunged from this - agh! - this earth!"
His speech was broken, but his conviction was unwavering. And that was what scared them the most. These terrible owls genuinely believed themselves to be the rightful, dominant breed of raptor, having the right to take and do whatever they desired to whomever they desired, with the lives of all other species nothing more than meaningless and expendable. From how much ridicule she sometimes faced for her size and perceived frailty, Gylfie particularly felt her stomach churn at his proclamation of superiority. Her friends' feelings were not much different.
"This is over ... Commander," Otulissa sharply addressed him. "Call this siege off. And we may show you the mercy that none of your kind deserve."
Wortmore growled at this demand. But he knew he was in no position to properly retaliate.
He took in his surroundings again. In his battered state that urgently needed medical attention, his vision became ever so slightly blurry, but the sight of his forces being further depleted was unmistakable. The sun had fully emerged into the morning, but more clouds were forming to block much of it out, adding to the dark imagery before him.
He could see that there would be no fighting off these four. Nor could he escape with his wounds, nor get additional backup without making his forces even more vulnerable.
It was either give in to defeat and fall back, foregoing his greatest accomplishment ... or die in trying to hold it until the very end.
With a deep, bloodied sigh of self-loathing, the Pure One decided that it was better to live with his shame than not live at all.
Just as the Guardians appeared ready to attack, Wortmore let out a cry that penetrated the chaos of the battle. It was a distinguished screech that every Pure One had learned to recognize in their planning, on the slim chance that their plot resulted in failure.
It turned out that slim chance was realized.
It was his signal to retreat.
Kludd's heart was nearly bursting through his chest, as he exhaled unevenly through the nasal slits on his beak. His eyes, intense and simmering, locked themselves onto Nyra's. He saw her own beautiful, meticulously plotting orbs staring back at him, with a longing for what he could be for her ... but also a tinge of resentment of what she could have had. Well-hidden, but there nonetheless. A reminder of how he knew Nyra truly felt towards him, what he had failed to be in her eyes ...
... No! What she failed to see! he shouted to himself.
What little doubt Kludd was facing up until that moment was cleansed away. His expression turned newly hardened, breathing more steadily as he committed himself to his goal.
"Are you ready to take your place as King of the Pure Ones?" Nyra questioned definitively.
Kludd knew what she wanted from him. He saw what her intentions were. He saw the path he needed to take to what he rightfully deserved.
And he knew what he had to do to reach it.
And so, with a relit gleam in his passionate, storm-plagued eyes, Kludd grimly responded. "Yes, my love."
"HHRRRGGH!!!" Soren screamed.
Ezylryb could hardly believe his eyes.
In the midst of this trying, critical battle, just as everything seemed to be at the height of bloody madness ... the Pure Ones suddenly began letting out some sort of thunderous, high-pitched calls. One by one, large clusters echoed the same call, as if spreading some sort of message across their ranks.
And as they did so, each of these clusters stopped attacking entirely.
They no longer flew to fight the enemy, nor even tried to fly to maneuver around them. Rather, they were now heading away from them. Some went over to grab those who were injured, including Wortmore, but they all were ultimately flying in one general direction.
To the coast.
Then ... it worked.
They won. They were free.
Ezylryb's good eye gradually lit up, widening as the realization dawned on him. So much pain, suffering, work, endurance ... the walls so quickly closing in on them, making even the strongest of wills lose faith ... it was all worth it.
He let out a light chuckle as he watched their victory unfold. It soon rose to a louder series of mirthful hoots, and then finally escalated to a hearty burst of whooping laughter and cheering.
"HAHAHA!!! WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT, LADS?!!" he screamed out, not caring how eccentric he looked in the moment.
Others were quick to join in on the celebration when they reached the same conclusion. Some were as loud about it as the Whiskered Screech, while others could only watch with silent awe. Gylfie kept tense, dearly hoping this wasn't all some sadistic trick. But as the Pure Ones continued retreating, she felt light, airy huffs of relief escaping through her beak. Twilight beamed widely as his head was held high in triumph. Otulissa's expression was more bittersweet, lamenting the losses incurred but still keeping herself grateful that it wasn't all for nothing.
Despite the clouds continuing to overtake the sky, the echoing cheers and airborne flips of ecstatic bliss made it unmistakable: this would go down in history as one of the Great Ga'hoole Tree's proudest days. One to remember, and pass down to future generations.
The remaining owls in the Tree cautiously stepped out upon hearing the happiness in the air. They looked to the shoreline, and when they saw it now completely free of the Pure Ones whose watchful eyes had tortured their spirits, their hearts leapt up. They soon started flying out, joining their Guardians and embracing their loved ones. Some merely took laps around the island, reveling in the bliss that they so profoundly missed experiencing in their home. Parents got their children, letting them see the momentous occasion for themselves.
Boron and Barran felt victorious as well.
However, they knew they weren't quite done yet.
Thanks to Struma's intel from her time stuck on Cape Glaux, they knew the location and even much of the layout of the Pure Ones' base set up there. They also knew that it had barely any more soldiers than those who were part of the siege, meaning even if both groups reconvened, the Guardians still had the upper hand in terms of numbers.
They knew they had to capitalize this. They needed to drive the tyrannical owls away from not just the Great Ga'hoole Tree, but the cape as well. They had to secure it for themselves, choking the Pure Ones out of the territory and giving their enemies one less opportunity to execute another treacherous scheme like this in the future.
"Onward, Guardians!" Barran called out. "Let us show these heathens that we are not to be trifled with! To Cape Glaux, where we shall ensure that they can never set foot on this sacred island ever again!"
An eruption of passionate cheers and battle cries ensued. And with a majority of the Guardians still fit to fight, they took flight once more, departing the tree in pursuit of their fleeing foes. With their now-superior numbers and sturdier units, the battle would be a notably more doable task than the gauntlets they had faced as of late. Those staying behind checked in to make sure the other owls of the tree were okay, and joined them in watching their heroes take off, ready to finish this mission.
They would take the cape, secure it for themselves ... and if their hopes were realized and their prayers were answered, find those who had been lost to them for far too long now.
I believe you're out there, Soren, Gylfie thought as she flew. And I'm coming for you.
Kludd walked slowly, with much anticipation, over to his bound and gagged brother. Soren's chest rose and fell at a lightning-fast pace, his stifled breaths rapid and jagged. He once again strained each limb in its bonds, but the ropes just creaked and stretched, showing no signs of breaking or loosening.
"Nnn. Rrrh," he gravely grunted.
N-no ... th-this can't be how it ends ...
He looked back up at Kludd. Kludd looked back, but his face displayed almost no emotion whatsoever. No joy, no guilt, no smug satisfaction or resentful anger ... just the cementing into stone of what he was about to do.
He brought a battle claw up to Soren's throat.
"NNG!!" Soren cried. The back of his head pressed itself against the floor, unable to escape the jagged edge that Kludd seemed determined to use to end his life.
One more time, as he had done so many times in his captivity, Soren tried to beg, pleading for his life solely through his wide, kind eyes. Pleading for Kludd's soul to find itself again.
"Grrnn ..."
Kludd ... no ... Please don't do this, dear brother ... You know this is wrong!! DON'T LISTEN TO HER!!!
But he couldn't tell him this. Whatever chance any of his words might have had at swaying Kludd, he could not utter them. The only sounds he could make were a weak, pathetic series of little mewls and muffles. As he struggled weakly against the ropes, his beak trembled around the cloth, and his eyes closed shut as they let a single tear fall down his youthful white face.
"I see it!" Digger shouted to his fellow Guardians when he could finally make out Cape Glaux. They were gaining on the Pure Ones, all of whom prepared to scatter and inform their leaders of the impending attack.
The armed and armored Guardians all prepared themselves, wingspans spread to carry them to their final task of this battle ... and, it seemed, the first of many of this war.
"Come closer, dear," Kludd turned to Nyra. "Let us stand together in this act."
Nyra let out perhaps the closest thing to a purr that an owl could perform. She grinned, always enjoying this side of Kludd. The side that learned to truly soak in the wielding of his power, to relish in standing tall over the weak and impure. To see it now, in the ceremonial murder of his own brother, brought her newfound hope that this could be his final stepping stone to becoming the great king that she strived to possess.
Kludd remained stoic, only a trace of his seething desire for purpose bleeding out in his eyes.
"Very nice, love," Nyra crooned. She stood behind him, less than a foot away from his back. "Take in the victim's fear. His anguish. His hopelessness."
She smirked down at the shaking Soren. The female sighed internally at seeing his admirable wingspan once more, with the knowledge that the delectable male would never be hers. Still, she felt that if she couldn't have him, seeing this as a form of revenge could make for a fine enough silver lining. As well as ensuring no other female could capture his elusive heart.
Kludd pressed his claws further into Soren's neck.
"Gmmrm ..."
At that moment, the last of his resistance and defiance finally abandoned the tied up Barn Owl.
He was about to die. Die at the hands of a brother he loved, when all he ever wanted was to bring him back into their family.
... Family ... he would never see them again. He would never find his parents, and they would lose a son. Eglantine would be without a loving, supportive brother to guide her through these challenging times. His band of friends would be forever incomplete ... if they were even still alive in that siege.
He had failed. His dreams, his passions, his duties, everything he had fought for ... it all led him to this failure.
"And now ..." Nyra whispered in Kludd's ear slit. "Finish the deed ..."
Soren squeezed his tear-ridden eyes shut, clenching his beak down tightly on the gag. His wings tensed in the ropes, as he braced himself for the gruesome end.
"... Take what is rightfully yours."
Kludd extended his battle claws and did just that.
Metal viciously sliced through flesh and feathers.
Blood stained his battle claws.
The body of a newly-slain Tyto collapsed, limp and unmoving forever more.
Nyra told him to take what was rightfully his. To wipe out the owl who held him back, who made him feel worthless. To sever the ties that kept him from his destiny.
And now, as he rested his metal-clad talons on her decapitated form, staring up at the hanging mask of Metalbeak, he knew that destiny was finally his. No one could deny him what he was always meant to be.
The one and only High Tyto.
The original Guardians of Ga'hoole series was created by Kathryn Lasky. The film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole and its versions of the characters belong to Warner Bros.
SPOILERS FOR THE GA'HOOLE BOOKS BELOW.
Okay, so ... I'm just gonna cut to the biggie here. Yes, I killed off Nyra. She originally survives the book this is loosely based on, all the way to the end of the series, even outliving Kludd, but I had her killed off here, by Kludd himself. I have ... no idea how those who know the books are going to react to this.
To Kludd, Nyra has become the very thing he gave up everything to escape: someone who sees him as lesser. At this point, he realizes that if he wants to attain his deepest desires, he can't rely on someone else to allow him to do so or deem him worthy; he has to take it himself, in the only way he knows how anymore. I personally love that idea; it takes the best concepts from the books and the movie and blends them together in something that, had it happened in a LOTG sequel, I would've really admired. Nyra is a great villain, but I personally think it's worth losing her to allow Kludd's arc to go down this road. (Especially considering she was a prominent part of the movie when she doesn't even get introduced in the books that movie is based on.) It's something I thought of several years ago, and it feels very surreal to finally have it all written out for others to see.
... And that's just half the chapter! We've got the much-built-up battle and ultimate victory for the Guardians, who I think everyone can agree deeply deserve it after what they went through. They're not finished yet, soon to arrive at Soren's location, where his ordeal with hopefully finally be over!
There will be two chapters of this story left (I thought I'd be able to get away with nine chapters, but at this point I'm realizing that won't work properly). So ... what did everyone think? Was this a great, unexpected (or maybe expected) turn, or a smack in the face to the story? Whatever you think, thank you for making it this far, and as always I appreciate whatever feedback and faves come my way! :D
Streaks of wings and talons swirled and twisted around the Great Ga'hoole Tree. The Pure Ones kept trying to break out of the Guardians' surrounding forces, flying in streams like airborne snakes attempting to escape their glass bowl prison. The few who did get past it were soon pushed back in, by the Guardians who were assigned to keep their formation unbreeched.
Time they know what it's like to be trapped, Gylfie thought, as she forced back a rather large Tyto.
The tables were indeed turned from their last battle. The Guardians, having eaten their first full meals in a week and taken much-needed rest before launching the attack, were able to maintain their pre-planned, coordinated positions, all while the Pure Ones were forced into the same sloppy, improvised strategies they had once trapped their enemies into. Wortmore desperately tried to get his soldiers in line, but there was no time nor space to do so.
Twilight sported a massive grin on his beak as he plowed into a Pure One. The born fighter that he was, to be back on the battlefield defending his friends and allies once more felt like a blessed family member returning to him after years apart ... or a week that felt like years. This was where he belonged, and he made sure everyone who crossed him knew it. He was at the top of the highest wave of Guardians, a wave that converged from the two sides of the battlefield. He plummeted down with great velocity to strike whichever unlucky Tyto was in his path. He then swooped back up, similarly taking out more along the way. And so the process repeated.
Gylfie and Digger joined forces throughout, either leading Pure One soldiers into less advantageous positions or taking them on themselves. Digger stayed low while Gylfie went high, though their paths often intersected as they herded their foes deeper within the Guardians' pincer movement.
Just as Digger was leading a sizeable Pure One, he abruptly found himself trapped in a cluster of combat that forced him off his intended path. It was a small setback, but just enough for his pursuer to catch up and wrap his talons around the smaller Burrowing Owl's middle.
Digger cried out as he was taken down and plowed into the island surface. The Tyto holding him repeatedly pounded him against the ground, one after another, knocking the wind out of the smaller bird and spreading aches and bruises throughout his talon-encased body.
"This is what filth like you deserve!" the evil bird shouted as he continued his torture. "You and the rest of your-"
His exclamation was reduced to a blood-curdling scream, and Digger suddenly found himself released. Looking up, he saw Gylfie's armed claws plunged into the Pure One's head and eyes, sending them both flapping around haphazardly. Once they smacked down on the surface, Gylfie speedily dove in to finish the Barn Owl off with a crossed slash of both her talons across his throat.
The Elf Owl immediately went to help her friend back on his feet, checking to make sure he wasn't beaten too badly.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yeah, thanks," Digger responded with a violent cough. He huffed in and out to regain his bearings, a little dazed but gratefully not terribly worse for wear.
When she saw he wasn't too badly injured, Gylfie couldn't help but shoot him a half-smirk. She recalled his past implicit insinuations that she was the most vulnerable fighter of their four-owl band.
What a way to prove him wrong.
"... Rrrngh ..."
Soren groggily came to, his mind simultaneously spinning and groggy. His head lulled back, before hitting some hard floor surface, cushioned by the knot of the gag still tight in his dried up beak.
As he gradually managed to blink himself awake, he slowly took in his surroundings ... only to find himself no longer in the cell in which he'd been spending his imprisonment.
He did recognize it, however: he was in Nyra and Kludd's hollow.
Turning his attention to himself, Soren saw that he was lying on the hollow floor ... and it didn't appear that that was about to change. His wings had been stretched wide and tied to two heavy nails embedded deep into the hollow. His legs were stretched apart and his feet identically tied.
Soren shuddered and gasped. As relieving as it would have felt to have his wings so spread out after their intensive, constant confinement, this was no less ideal. He gave his limbs a good tug, grunting into the gag as he discovered the utter lack of slack they were tied with.
"Don't fight it," a voice snapped.
Soren recognized it as Kludd's.
He pulled his head forward, and his expression softened from anger to sadness when he saw his sibling. Nyra was by his side, looking just as unhappy as he did. On Kludd's feet were a pair of battle claws ... which Soren grimly recognized as those of the original, deceased Metalbeak. Nyra wore her own battle claws as well. On the wall behind them hung Metalbeak's old mask, staring down the room imposingly despite the lack of eyes behind it.
"Rrrnn," Soren uttered fearfully.
Kludd looked down at his brother helplessly struggling and grunting. He heard and felt the tense breath of Nyra against his neck. He took in the feel of his predecessor's battle claws strapped securely onto his feet. And he looked out to the opening of the hollow, observing the golden sun breaking through amid a small flurry of forming light-grey clouds ... hopefully signifying the dawn of a new era for the young Pure One.
"Now then," Nyra said. "Shall we begin?"
Soren's breathing hitched. "Nnr ..."
The battle raged on, gruesome, bloody, and requiring the utmost prowess on both sides for survival. But the Guardians pushed on. As they always had. They knew that at this point, their primary goal was to lower the Pure Ones' numbers enough for their victory to be impossible. Then, they would be forced to leave this diabolical scheme behind, finally freeing the treasured island once more.
Boron and Barran oversaw it all. They called out orders as the situation changed and evolved. They joined in battle whenever possible, and took great pride and joy at seeing their perimeter surrounding the Pure Ones grow narrower and narrower.
They saw old Ezylryb once again show that he hadn't lost his fighting chops, nor his leadership skills as the legend he was in guiding his younger fellow Guardians through the fight. They saw Twilight slash the throats of two enemy soldiers at once, spinning his way through the air to perform the same action again. They saw Guardians small and large, young and old. Guardians who had just been appointed their titles, and even those who were still in the midst of their training for such titles. Everyone worked together.
It was a testament to how, contrary to the Pure Ones' dogmatic, genocidal ideals, the collaboration of all owls of all types could accomplish nothing short of miraculous feats.
From the safety of their tree, every owl not partaking in the fight observed as well, viewing with intense emotion. Many wished to help their friends and family, but were either too young, old, or inexperienced. The children were forbidden from watching the high-stakes spectacle, but that didn't stop some of them from sneaking into the crowd, looking on with wide eyes of both terror and inspiration.
Eglantine could hardly bear to look at the carnage. Soren and her parents had told her stories of grand, glorious battles, hard fought and hard won by the honor-bound Guardians. But while she knew they did so strictly for good, it still shocked her to see how decidedly inglorious it was when such stories played out before her eyes in reality.
Pelli was similarly appalled, but old enough to know that, in this instance, such violence was a necessary evil. She also knew that, were she to rise in the ranks as a Guardian herself, they were deeds that she would possibly be forced to commit. But it would be worth it. She vowed to herself that someday, she would be among these brave owls. Whether it be engaging in combat, rescuing innocent creatures as she had been rescued, or any other call to action, she would fulfill the role whenever it needed her. Defending the freedom, peace, and happiness of all creatures.
And she hoped a certain Barn Owl would be by her side through it all.
That Barn Owl's wings and legs continued to strain in their ropes, his body still pinned helplessly to the ground as his two captors engaged with one another.
"Kludd ..." Nyra said softly. Her stare lingered on the battle claws of her lost mate, now worn by this young, headstrong owl appearing determined to take his place. It was not her most ideal choice, but it was certainly far from her worst. He would do just fine, she conceded ... for now, at the very least.
"You now wear the battle claws of my dearest Metalbeak. A strong, uncompromising owl he was, Glaux bless his soul. But now ... he leaves them in need of a new owner. One worthy of carrying on his unparalleled legacy."
As the male admired how his talons looked in the polished, deep black weaponry, Nyra brought a wingtip to his face and stroked it as tenderly as possible.
"That owner, my love ... will be you."
Soren kept pulling with all his might, groaning in stifled exertion, clenching his eyes shut as his muscles gave it their all ... but he was fastened down tightly. Worse yet, even if he got his wings free, he would still be held in place with his feet tied down, still stuck gagged and speechless.
"Only one thing remains for you to do, Kludd," Nyra continued. "The final link between you and your past that needs to be severed ... the final deed you must commit to prove your eternal devotion to us ... to me."
"NNRGH!!" Soren screamed, doubling his struggles for release. But he only brought the ropes to pinch deeper into his majestic, outstretched wings and long legs. His talons spread and clenched, unable to reach a rope. His torso twisted and jutted up and down, left and right, as his breathing sped up dramatically.
Please! Glaux, help me!! SOMEONE, HELP ME!!!
"FORMATION DELTA!!" Wortmore yelled out, to any soldier within earshot.
"Sir, they have us surrounded!" a Pure One shouted back.
"THEN WIPE THEM OUT!!" Wortmore ordered.
"THERE'S TOO MANY- AGH!!"
The Tyto was eternally silenced by the lethal claws of Otulissa.
Wortmore's mind was going frantic. For all of the planning he had done to get and keep these Guardians subdued, never could he have anticipated a retaliation like this! What was supposed to be his crowning achievement, his time of glory as a pivotal player in the Guardians' thorough demise, had been swiftly and savagely torn apart, leaving him desperately trying to salvage any way to put it back together.
He flew all around, trying to make any sense of the disaster before him. His eyes darted in every direction, past the bodies flying and slashing at each other that broke up his already-chaotic thoughts even further.
He bitterly watched his brethren be brought to their deaths, every minute a new blow to their ranks. That wretched king and queen alone had slaughtered so many of his dearest friends, and yet it was but a fraction of the losses being incurred. The Guardians started out roughly equal to them in numbers, but their preparation and near-airtight formation was widening the gap between them and turning everything more and more into a hopeless fight.
Otulissa, meanwhile, weaved and spun with the grace and cunning of a seasoned warrior, demonstrating why she was renowned as one of the best fighters of her age. Putting into action the battle tactics and techniques she had read about and been taught, she kept her studious eyes open for any and every weakness in the Pure Ones' defenses. She plunged in to take advantage of them all, further evening the odds in her side's favor.
All while she wielded the battle claws of her passed mentor, vowing to honor her with everything she had within her.
And now, her gaze ended up locked on to Wortmore. With an iridescent passion in her magnificent eyes, she swiftly soared her way en route to the Pure One commander. Wortmore gasped fearfully as he flew away, seeking shelter in reinforcements who could surround and protect him, rather than face the furious female head-on himself.
Coward, Otulissa thought.
"Commander!" one of his troops called to him. "What are your orders?!!"
Wortmore turned in an attempt to address his ally. "I-it, you could, I ... I don't know!" he admitted with a panic, genuinely lost in his growing failure.
"They're winning, we have to do something NOW!!" the Pure One fired back.
"I KNOW DAMN WELL, JUST LET ME-"
In his distraction, Wortmore's speed had dwindled long enough for Otulissa to gain on him. He spun around to counter her, causing their battle claws to interlock tightly together, her spear trapped between the talons.
"SIR!!"
Seeing his leader in distress, the Pure One he'd been addressing, along with four other Tytos, converged on Otulissa and Wortmore. The dueling owls flapped their entwined forms through the sunrise, each trying to throw the other off.
Otulissa grew worried at the soldiers closing their distance from her, but refused to let her foe go free.
That was, until Gylfie, Twilight, and Digger swooped in to intercept the incoming backup.
Otulissa grinned gratefully when Wortmore's face turned apprehensive once again. As her allies dealt with the threat, she spun herself and her enemy around with such power that Wortmore's talons were finally forced unlatch themselves from hers.
As expected, Wortmore's flight path was sloppy from the disorientation, unable to steady himself as his wings tossed him in a sporadic trajectory.
The Short Eared Owl flew herself around, brandished her spear in front of her, and dove straight for the Pure One commander.
This is for you, Struma.
She landed a piercingly painful slash across Wortmore's chest and wing, causing him to scream in agony. He plummeted in a downward spiral, and ultimately crash landed on the island below him.
At the same time, Gylfie and Digger swarmed a Tyto and led him over to Twilight, who ripped through one of his wings and sent him veering down helplessly. He then tossed another foe from behind him over to his smaller friends, who each simultaneously got a critical hit to take her out as well. This back-and-forth combat between the three of them made ample work of their opponents, and it wasn't long before they were able to join up with Otulissa.
As Wortmore writhed on the island surface, hissing at his terrible wounds, he looked up to see the four Guardians coming together. The Short Eared's eyes were narrowed, like a hunter ready for her kill. With them all closing in on him, he backed up feebly on his stomach, completely helpless to fight back. He looked up to the sky, hoping to see any friends who could aid him, but they all had their own overwhelming fights to deal with.
The owls getting closer still, he felt terror forming in his chest. They could all see his fear in the face of such peril, showing his true colors when the veil of power was snatched away from him.
But he tried to hide it. "You think this matters?" he growled to them, in between his pained gasps. "The Pure Ones are not done yet! They will - *hiss* never be done, until your inferior races are expunged from this - agh! - this earth!"
His speech was broken, but his conviction was unwavering. And that was what scared them the most. These terrible owls genuinely believed themselves to be the rightful, dominant breed of raptor, having the right to take and do whatever they desired to whomever they desired, with the lives of all other species nothing more than meaningless and expendable. From how much ridicule she sometimes faced for her size and perceived frailty, Gylfie particularly felt her stomach churn at his proclamation of superiority. Her friends' feelings were not much different.
"This is over ... Commander," Otulissa sharply addressed him. "Call this siege off. And we may show you the mercy that none of your kind deserve."
Wortmore growled at this demand. But he knew he was in no position to properly retaliate.
He took in his surroundings again. In his battered state that urgently needed medical attention, his vision became ever so slightly blurry, but the sight of his forces being further depleted was unmistakable. The sun had fully emerged into the morning, but more clouds were forming to block much of it out, adding to the dark imagery before him.
He could see that there would be no fighting off these four. Nor could he escape with his wounds, nor get additional backup without making his forces even more vulnerable.
It was either give in to defeat and fall back, foregoing his greatest accomplishment ... or die in trying to hold it until the very end.
With a deep, bloodied sigh of self-loathing, the Pure One decided that it was better to live with his shame than not live at all.
Just as the Guardians appeared ready to attack, Wortmore let out a cry that penetrated the chaos of the battle. It was a distinguished screech that every Pure One had learned to recognize in their planning, on the slim chance that their plot resulted in failure.
It turned out that slim chance was realized.
It was his signal to retreat.
Kludd's heart was nearly bursting through his chest, as he exhaled unevenly through the nasal slits on his beak. His eyes, intense and simmering, locked themselves onto Nyra's. He saw her own beautiful, meticulously plotting orbs staring back at him, with a longing for what he could be for her ... but also a tinge of resentment of what she could have had. Well-hidden, but there nonetheless. A reminder of how he knew Nyra truly felt towards him, what he had failed to be in her eyes ...
... No! What she failed to see! he shouted to himself.
What little doubt Kludd was facing up until that moment was cleansed away. His expression turned newly hardened, breathing more steadily as he committed himself to his goal.
"Are you ready to take your place as King of the Pure Ones?" Nyra questioned definitively.
Kludd knew what she wanted from him. He saw what her intentions were. He saw the path he needed to take to what he rightfully deserved.
And he knew what he had to do to reach it.
And so, with a relit gleam in his passionate, storm-plagued eyes, Kludd grimly responded. "Yes, my love."
"HHRRRGGH!!!" Soren screamed.
Ezylryb could hardly believe his eyes.
In the midst of this trying, critical battle, just as everything seemed to be at the height of bloody madness ... the Pure Ones suddenly began letting out some sort of thunderous, high-pitched calls. One by one, large clusters echoed the same call, as if spreading some sort of message across their ranks.
And as they did so, each of these clusters stopped attacking entirely.
They no longer flew to fight the enemy, nor even tried to fly to maneuver around them. Rather, they were now heading away from them. Some went over to grab those who were injured, including Wortmore, but they all were ultimately flying in one general direction.
To the coast.
Then ... it worked.
They won. They were free.
Ezylryb's good eye gradually lit up, widening as the realization dawned on him. So much pain, suffering, work, endurance ... the walls so quickly closing in on them, making even the strongest of wills lose faith ... it was all worth it.
He let out a light chuckle as he watched their victory unfold. It soon rose to a louder series of mirthful hoots, and then finally escalated to a hearty burst of whooping laughter and cheering.
"HAHAHA!!! WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT, LADS?!!" he screamed out, not caring how eccentric he looked in the moment.
Others were quick to join in on the celebration when they reached the same conclusion. Some were as loud about it as the Whiskered Screech, while others could only watch with silent awe. Gylfie kept tense, dearly hoping this wasn't all some sadistic trick. But as the Pure Ones continued retreating, she felt light, airy huffs of relief escaping through her beak. Twilight beamed widely as his head was held high in triumph. Otulissa's expression was more bittersweet, lamenting the losses incurred but still keeping herself grateful that it wasn't all for nothing.
Despite the clouds continuing to overtake the sky, the echoing cheers and airborne flips of ecstatic bliss made it unmistakable: this would go down in history as one of the Great Ga'hoole Tree's proudest days. One to remember, and pass down to future generations.
The remaining owls in the Tree cautiously stepped out upon hearing the happiness in the air. They looked to the shoreline, and when they saw it now completely free of the Pure Ones whose watchful eyes had tortured their spirits, their hearts leapt up. They soon started flying out, joining their Guardians and embracing their loved ones. Some merely took laps around the island, reveling in the bliss that they so profoundly missed experiencing in their home. Parents got their children, letting them see the momentous occasion for themselves.
Boron and Barran felt victorious as well.
However, they knew they weren't quite done yet.
Thanks to Struma's intel from her time stuck on Cape Glaux, they knew the location and even much of the layout of the Pure Ones' base set up there. They also knew that it had barely any more soldiers than those who were part of the siege, meaning even if both groups reconvened, the Guardians still had the upper hand in terms of numbers.
They knew they had to capitalize this. They needed to drive the tyrannical owls away from not just the Great Ga'hoole Tree, but the cape as well. They had to secure it for themselves, choking the Pure Ones out of the territory and giving their enemies one less opportunity to execute another treacherous scheme like this in the future.
"Onward, Guardians!" Barran called out. "Let us show these heathens that we are not to be trifled with! To Cape Glaux, where we shall ensure that they can never set foot on this sacred island ever again!"
An eruption of passionate cheers and battle cries ensued. And with a majority of the Guardians still fit to fight, they took flight once more, departing the tree in pursuit of their fleeing foes. With their now-superior numbers and sturdier units, the battle would be a notably more doable task than the gauntlets they had faced as of late. Those staying behind checked in to make sure the other owls of the tree were okay, and joined them in watching their heroes take off, ready to finish this mission.
They would take the cape, secure it for themselves ... and if their hopes were realized and their prayers were answered, find those who had been lost to them for far too long now.
I believe you're out there, Soren, Gylfie thought as she flew. And I'm coming for you.
Kludd walked slowly, with much anticipation, over to his bound and gagged brother. Soren's chest rose and fell at a lightning-fast pace, his stifled breaths rapid and jagged. He once again strained each limb in its bonds, but the ropes just creaked and stretched, showing no signs of breaking or loosening.
"Nnn. Rrrh," he gravely grunted.
N-no ... th-this can't be how it ends ...
He looked back up at Kludd. Kludd looked back, but his face displayed almost no emotion whatsoever. No joy, no guilt, no smug satisfaction or resentful anger ... just the cementing into stone of what he was about to do.
He brought a battle claw up to Soren's throat.
"NNG!!" Soren cried. The back of his head pressed itself against the floor, unable to escape the jagged edge that Kludd seemed determined to use to end his life.
One more time, as he had done so many times in his captivity, Soren tried to beg, pleading for his life solely through his wide, kind eyes. Pleading for Kludd's soul to find itself again.
"Grrnn ..."
Kludd ... no ... Please don't do this, dear brother ... You know this is wrong!! DON'T LISTEN TO HER!!!
But he couldn't tell him this. Whatever chance any of his words might have had at swaying Kludd, he could not utter them. The only sounds he could make were a weak, pathetic series of little mewls and muffles. As he struggled weakly against the ropes, his beak trembled around the cloth, and his eyes closed shut as they let a single tear fall down his youthful white face.
"I see it!" Digger shouted to his fellow Guardians when he could finally make out Cape Glaux. They were gaining on the Pure Ones, all of whom prepared to scatter and inform their leaders of the impending attack.
The armed and armored Guardians all prepared themselves, wingspans spread to carry them to their final task of this battle ... and, it seemed, the first of many of this war.
"Come closer, dear," Kludd turned to Nyra. "Let us stand together in this act."
Nyra let out perhaps the closest thing to a purr that an owl could perform. She grinned, always enjoying this side of Kludd. The side that learned to truly soak in the wielding of his power, to relish in standing tall over the weak and impure. To see it now, in the ceremonial murder of his own brother, brought her newfound hope that this could be his final stepping stone to becoming the great king that she strived to possess.
Kludd remained stoic, only a trace of his seething desire for purpose bleeding out in his eyes.
"Very nice, love," Nyra crooned. She stood behind him, less than a foot away from his back. "Take in the victim's fear. His anguish. His hopelessness."
She smirked down at the shaking Soren. The female sighed internally at seeing his admirable wingspan once more, with the knowledge that the delectable male would never be hers. Still, she felt that if she couldn't have him, seeing this as a form of revenge could make for a fine enough silver lining. As well as ensuring no other female could capture his elusive heart.
Kludd pressed his claws further into Soren's neck.
"Gmmrm ..."
At that moment, the last of his resistance and defiance finally abandoned the tied up Barn Owl.
He was about to die. Die at the hands of a brother he loved, when all he ever wanted was to bring him back into their family.
... Family ... he would never see them again. He would never find his parents, and they would lose a son. Eglantine would be without a loving, supportive brother to guide her through these challenging times. His band of friends would be forever incomplete ... if they were even still alive in that siege.
He had failed. His dreams, his passions, his duties, everything he had fought for ... it all led him to this failure.
"And now ..." Nyra whispered in Kludd's ear slit. "Finish the deed ..."
Soren squeezed his tear-ridden eyes shut, clenching his beak down tightly on the gag. His wings tensed in the ropes, as he braced himself for the gruesome end.
"... Take what is rightfully yours."
Kludd extended his battle claws and did just that.
Metal viciously sliced through flesh and feathers.
Blood stained his battle claws.
The body of a newly-slain Tyto collapsed, limp and unmoving forever more.
Nyra told him to take what was rightfully his. To wipe out the owl who held him back, who made him feel worthless. To sever the ties that kept him from his destiny.
And now, as he rested his metal-clad talons on her decapitated form, staring up at the hanging mask of Metalbeak, he knew that destiny was finally his. No one could deny him what he was always meant to be.
The one and only High Tyto.
The original Guardians of Ga'hoole series was created by Kathryn Lasky. The film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole and its versions of the characters belong to Warner Bros.
SPOILERS FOR THE GA'HOOLE BOOKS BELOW.
Okay, so ... I'm just gonna cut to the biggie here. Yes, I killed off Nyra. She originally survives the book this is loosely based on, all the way to the end of the series, even outliving Kludd, but I had her killed off here, by Kludd himself. I have ... no idea how those who know the books are going to react to this.
To Kludd, Nyra has become the very thing he gave up everything to escape: someone who sees him as lesser. At this point, he realizes that if he wants to attain his deepest desires, he can't rely on someone else to allow him to do so or deem him worthy; he has to take it himself, in the only way he knows how anymore. I personally love that idea; it takes the best concepts from the books and the movie and blends them together in something that, had it happened in a LOTG sequel, I would've really admired. Nyra is a great villain, but I personally think it's worth losing her to allow Kludd's arc to go down this road. (Especially considering she was a prominent part of the movie when she doesn't even get introduced in the books that movie is based on.) It's something I thought of several years ago, and it feels very surreal to finally have it all written out for others to see.
... And that's just half the chapter! We've got the much-built-up battle and ultimate victory for the Guardians, who I think everyone can agree deeply deserve it after what they went through. They're not finished yet, soon to arrive at Soren's location, where his ordeal with hopefully finally be over!
There will be two chapters of this story left (I thought I'd be able to get away with nine chapters, but at this point I'm realizing that won't work properly). So ... what did everyone think? Was this a great, unexpected (or maybe expected) turn, or a smack in the face to the story? Whatever you think, thank you for making it this far, and as always I appreciate whatever feedback and faves come my way! :D
Category Story / Bondage
Species Owl
Size 707 x 936px
File Size 591.4 kB
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Woah. I was wondering why Kludd seemed to forgive Nyra so easily after she tried to cheat on him. I didn't expect that ending at all! I haven't read the Ga'hoole books, but it's really cool how you like to change up the stories from the originals. It keeps things interesting and new!
It was so satisfying reading about the Pure Ones being defeated. The scenes where Twilight, Digger, Otulissa and the other Guardiand would kill an enemy were really exciting! It was cool to read the different ways that they would do it. Now that they're heading to where Soren is, I wonder if things are going to get even more dangerous for them.
The way you switched between the scenes of the battle and Soren's situation kept me in suspense the whole time XD. As for Soren's situation, I love it! I love how he's tied in a new, spread out position. It's definitely a helpless, terrifying position to be in that matches how he's feeling. Especially now that he saw what Kludd did to Nyra :O
It was so satisfying reading about the Pure Ones being defeated. The scenes where Twilight, Digger, Otulissa and the other Guardiand would kill an enemy were really exciting! It was cool to read the different ways that they would do it. Now that they're heading to where Soren is, I wonder if things are going to get even more dangerous for them.
The way you switched between the scenes of the battle and Soren's situation kept me in suspense the whole time XD. As for Soren's situation, I love it! I love how he's tied in a new, spread out position. It's definitely a helpless, terrifying position to be in that matches how he's feeling. Especially now that he saw what Kludd did to Nyra :O
Awesome that you didn't see it coming! My goal was to state Kludd's intentions and mindset in a way that kept readers thinking he was still loyal to her, but make new sense when going back knowing what he does. I'm glad you found it a good change; the movie already altered a lot, I figured I could add in my own twists!
Thanks, I didn't want to leave anyone short-handed, whether it be a fight scene or character moment. Visualizing these scenes as I thought them out was a lot of fun.
Again, that's great, because it was the goal! :D And I figured it was time for Soren to get a different setup in a story this long, and one that better fits the ceremonial-type situation and his vulnerability in every sense. It'd suck to be him right now ... though I'm sure he's at least grateful to still be alive by the end of the chapter! XD
Thanks for the encouraging feedback, and for following the fic! :)
Thanks, I didn't want to leave anyone short-handed, whether it be a fight scene or character moment. Visualizing these scenes as I thought them out was a lot of fun.
Again, that's great, because it was the goal! :D And I figured it was time for Soren to get a different setup in a story this long, and one that better fits the ceremonial-type situation and his vulnerability in every sense. It'd suck to be him right now ... though I'm sure he's at least grateful to still be alive by the end of the chapter! XD
Thanks for the encouraging feedback, and for following the fic! :)
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