Guardians of Ga'Hoole 10 - The Coming of Hoole

asked.
    “I don’t think so.”
    “No,” Hoole said firmly. “I do think so.”
    “You have? Where? When?”
    “I can’t explain it. But I have.” Hoole thought of the image in the flames. “I have met her, and I think she might be near.”
    She, her? How did he even know these terms? Berwyck wondered. And then it just slipped out of Berwyck’s beak. He had not meant to say it at all. “I think maybe your mum is dead and you’re an orphan.”
    Hoole’s eyes blazed. “Dead like that fish! No, NEVER! She is not dead. I have a mum. Somewhere, someplace. I HAVE A MUM!”
    Oh, Great Glaux, what have I started? thought Berwyck. Hoole was almost reeling. He staggered a bit and began to tip over, then pulled himself up tall and straight and, in aquavering voice, now said, “I have a mum and I love her, Berwyck.” He blinked. “I mean, I love Uncle Grank. And I love Theo. But I really love my mum. Don’t tell them. Please, please, don’t tell them that I might love her more.”
    “Of course, lad, of course. And, Hoole…” He paused and fixed him in his amber gaze before continuing. “The world is big enough for all of your love, Hoole. All your love.”
    Hoole would say nothing of any of this to Grank or Theo. And Berwyck said nothing, either. He had often wondered about Hoole’s origins but had never dared to ask. He had, however, assumed that Hoole was of very high birth; one could tell that by his bearing, the way he flew, something in his eyes. But Hoole was profoundly changed from that day on. He became quieter, reflective but not morose. Grank and Theo noticed this but they did not pry. Grank had planned to leave before the end of summer for the Beyond. It would be an ideal time to fly—between the time the katabats finished blowing and before the N’yrthnookah would begin. And Hoole would then be strong enough.
    Hoole continued his fishing lessons with Berwyck and even started to acquire a taste for fish. Anchovies were hisfavorite. But they were very easy to catch as they swam close to the surface and hardly presented a sporting challenge.
    One day as they were fishing, Berwyck seemed unusually quiet.
    “Anything wrong, Berwyck?”
    “No, not really. But I do need to tell you something. Something that might be a little difficult for you to understand.”
    “Like the male-female thing?”
    Berwyck churred. “No, and I think you understood that pretty quickly, lad.”
    “Sort of,” Hoole said. He still had a lot of questions.
    “Hoole, I have to go away for a while.”
    “Where to? Why?”
    “It is part of my duty as a Glauxian Brother. We all do this at some time and often more than once. We make what is called a ‘pilgrimage.’ We become pilgrims.”
    “Is that like being male or female?”
    “Oh, great Glaux in glaumora, no. It is one who takes a journey. When Glauxian Brothers go on a pilgrimage it is to help others.”
    “Who needs help?”
    “I’m not sure right now. But I am certain I shall find someone, some creature.”
    “Oh.” Hoole was confused. “But will you come back? Will I ever see you again?”
    “Oh, yes, I’ll come back. And yes, if you’re still here, I shall see you again.”
    “I shall miss you terribly, Brother Berwyck. Whom will I fish with?”
    “You could teach Theo.”
    “Yes, but it won’t be the same.”
    “Nothing is ever the same, Hoole. That’s what makes life life.”

CHAPTER TEN
A Distressed Pygmy
    T heo took a pointy stick in his talon and scratched a somewhat lopsided circle in the dirt near his forge. “This is where we are,” he said to Hoole. “An island in the middle of this small sea called the Bitter Sea.”
    “Doesn’t the island have a name? If the sea has one, why doesn’t the island?”
    “I don’t know. Interesting question. Would you like to name it?”
    “Me?”
    Theo wanted to answer: because you are a prince and will be a king and kings of the N’yrthghar have that privilege. But he didn’t.
    “Yes, you.”
    “I’ll try and think of something.” Hoole bent closer to the ground. “So what does this sea flow into?”
    “The Everwinter Sea,” Theo replied.
    The lad was naturally curious. An apt pupil, he learned quickly the lessons of geography and of N’yrthgharhistory. He knew of the great exploits and triumphs of King H’rath, who was killed by Lord Arrin; of H’rath’s father, King H’rathmore; of how his forebears had learned to make from ice things that no one had ever dreamed; of how