The Capture

had something to do with being a broody.

    "Think of all we've learned, Soren," Gylfie said one day, after having served in the battle claws chamber.
    She seemed blithely confident that when the time came for them to fly they would, and that it was much more important to survey the entire range of canyons and gulches that composed St. Aggies, so that when they were ready they could escape, never be caught again, and warn others. "Let me tell you what I've learned today in the battle claws chamber...."

    Soren indulged Gylfie and let her run on. "Well," she began, "they have the battle claws that fit over their talons but they don't make them themselves. They can sort of repair them but basically they have to scavenge them from other places, other battlefields."

    "But what other battlefields? Look, Gylfie, I didn't live long in Tyto but I never saw or heard my parents talk about any battles. Did you ever hear your parents talk of any?

    Gylfie thought hard. "No. No, I didn't," she said slowly. "And when we were snatched they weren't wearing them."

    "They would hardly need them for us. We were nestlings. Our own talons were not even hardened off"
    Gylfie blinked at Soren as if he had just said something astonishing. She remained silent for a moment.

    "That's just it, isn't it, Soren? They didn't need them for us. No. But they needed us and these battle claws for something bigger ... much bigger. Remember in the third legend of the Ga'Hoolian cycle when the sea serpents that could walk upon the land and swim in the sea started to form their plan? Remember how they wanted to drag the entire world of owls and birds into the sea, so that they could reign on both land and sea?"

    "Yes," Soren said quietly.

    "I think they are planning something big like that."

    Soren started to say that the story of the serpents was just a legend and not true, that such sea creatures did not exist. But then he realized deep within himself it didn't really matter. These owls did exist and maybe they wanted just what the imaginary creatures of the legends wanted. Soren had a horrible vision of the entire forest kingdom of Tyto and the desert kingdom of Kuneer and all the owl kingdoms being swirled into this stone world of St. Aggie's.

    "So," Gylfie continued, "when we do escape, Soren, we must know as much as we can. We must know about flecks and why they are more precious than gold, and what they plan to do to the kingdoms of owls. It is going to be our duty to warn the rest of the owl kingdoms. Don't worry about flying now.
    Think about how much we are
    learning. Look, we know the pelletorium inside out, we've been on cricket detail, now battle claws; the last area we have to crack -- pardon the pun -- is the eggorium and that broody place."

    "Top secret. Remember."

    "As if 12-8 would ever let us forget. Oh, Glaux, here she comes now. Hang on, Soren, I'm going to try some of my charm." Gylfie winked and then the dull light of a moon- blinked owl stole into her eyes.

    Soren watched as Gylfie, in the semblance of the perfectly moon-blinked owl, trotted up to Hortense.
    "12-8, you appear calm and satisfied from the perfection of performing your duty well. I cannot imagine that your Specialness ceremony is far off"

    "I do not need a ceremony to feel special. For you see, 25-2,I am entrusted with the most sacred and vital of tasks for our beloved St. Aggie's community."

    "Yes, that must be so. 12-1 and I would feel it an honor to serve in such a manner. But then again we do not have the qualifications, the obvious talents of you, 12-8. Ah, to be the vessel of such trust."

    12-8 seemed to swell with pride before their eyes. A pit monitor suddenly swooped down. "Humbleness correction, humility check, dear." It was a smallish, whiskered Screech Owl. Her amber eyes blinked a warning out of her bristly face. 12-8 seemed to shrink to half her size instantly. "Oh, I beg your pardon. It is pride in my work, not pride in myself. I remain a humble servant to a great

    cause.

    "Yes, a great cause." Gylfie repeated the words, and although it was a statement, Soren really heard a question at the center. What was this great cause?

    "Yes, that's better, dear." The whiskered Screech Owl nodded and floated off to a higher perch in the stone pit.

    Gylfie felt that the moment was right. "You are the last owl in the world that I would ever say lacked humility, 12-8. You are for my friend and myself a perfect example of humility You are beyond