Guardians of Ga'Hoole 10 - The Coming of Hoole

he is here! Great Glaux!” Grank exclaimed. “But what possible interest would it be to the wolves? Who would betray us?”
    Fengo was silent. Then stood up. “You go to sleep now, Grank. I’ll wake you when I find out more.”
    Grank, of course, did not sleep and a short time later,Fengo burst into the cave that he shared with Hoole, Theo, and Phineas.
    “I’m sorry to disturb you.”
    “I wasn’t sleeping and I was already disturbed,” Grank replied drily. Theo and Phineas, however, had been sleeping. They stirred and blinked. Hoole slept on peacefully, most likely dreaming of bonk coals.
    “What’s going on?” Phineas asked
    “There’s a traitor—or two traitors—I should say,” Fengo replied gravely. “They are both gone. They are the ones headed toward Broken Talon Point.”
    “Who?” asked Hoole, who had suddenly awakened.
    “MacHeath and Hordweard!” Fengo snarled. “I knew she’d go back to him. I knew she would spy.” Fengo was absolutely fuming.
    “What’s there to spy about?” Hoole asked. Grank and Fengo exchanged nervous looks.
    Grank thought quickly. “Well, you know, Hoole—it is rather unusual, owls in the Beyond. And, of course, look at all we are doing here, catching coals, building fires and all sorts of wonderful tools—tongs, containers of all sizes, and that new metal sling that Theo invented. There is much that other owls, particularly those warring in the N’yrthghar, would want to know.”
    “You mean the bad owls, Lord Arrin’s owls?” Hooleasked. “Not the good owls of the late King H’rath and Queen Siv.”
    “Yes, precisely, lad,” Grank replied.
    “And we feel that these two wolves have turned traitor on us. They have learned much and there is always a price for good information,” Fengo added.
    “Not Hordweard,” Hoole said emphatically.
    Fengo took a step closer. “What do you mean, ‘not Hordweard’?”
    “I mean, she’s no traitor,” Hoole replied in an even voice.
    “How would you know this?” Fengo pressed.
    “I just know it. I can’t explain.”
    “If you can’t explain it, then you shouldn’t say it. Nor should we believe it,” Fengo said contentiously with a patronizing tone that riled Hoole greatly.
    Hoole puffed up his feathers. If he had had ear tufts they would have been sticking straight up. “I know this in the same way that I knew how to hunt caribou like a wolf when I traveled with you. I know this in the way I felt my wings become legs although I still flew. I know this, Fengo. Do not doubt me!”
    Grank burned with pride as he listened to Hoole. This was not the whine of a bratty young’un, nor was it theuppity posturing of an ignorant fool. This was an owl whose seeds of Ga’ were beginning to stir. There was not a trace of rudeness in his voice. Nor arrogance. This was an owl who knew the truth and felt compelled to speak it regardless of age or rank. This was a prince.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
On the Island of Dark Fowl
    S iv had flown out of the Bitter Sea direct to Dark Fowl Island. She and Svenka had planned to meet there. It was, at this time of summer, one of the most ice-free places in the N’yrthghar. And therefore safe from hagsfiends. Miraculously, she had not been hurt in the encounter on the island and she could only pray that Hoole had gotten away safely. She was sure they had all escaped because Grank had arrived with two other owls, and both he and the Great Horned Owl were wearing strange-looking claws that appeared as deadly as any ice weapon. But she had seen her son! She had talked to her son!
    Svenka’s cubs, Anka and Rolf, had grown huge over the summer. They were now as tall as Svenka’s belly when she stood up. But they still tumbled about like little cubs. Siv loved watching and playing with them. Berries grew all over the island and they often went berry picking together. They swam beautifully now, like their mother, and were becoming very good at fishing. Siv’s gizzard gavea sharp little twinge when she recalled the image of Hoole diving so beautifully into the cove’s waters and coming back with a fish, time after time. It was really quite amazing. She had never seen an owl, save for a Fish Owl, dive with such grace and accuracy. He seemed to sense exactly where a fish was going to swim.
    She heard frightened yelps from the cubs now.
    “What is it?”
    “Auntie!” they screeched. Svenka, off seal hunting, was nowhere around.
    Siv immediately flew to the nearby point where they