From the Ashes: Ch 8

Instructions

Chapter Eight Owls are everywhere, filling the space with noise. It’s bigger than I thought-fenced in by an enormous canopy of green. On the highest perch is seven owls, their feathers gray with age. Those must be the council. “Hello, Gisele.” A slim, brown-feathered owl with a round white face flutters down. “How’s your spawn? I heard it’s a born killer.” Lina’s eyes blaze and she takes a step forward, but Gisele holds out a wing to stop her. “My chick is none of your business, Vole. Besides, I heard your chick picked a fight with a badger. Did it leave scars?” Vole hmmphs as she flies away. “Barn owls,” Sage mutters. “Prissy little brats, thinking they’re better than everybody else. “SILENCE!” The biggest owl of the council-a huge gray owl with big yellow eyes calls out. “It is now dawn. The council will commence.” “Honored Councilor Thunder!” Gisele calls out. “I have a matter of the utmost importance to discuss!” “Ugh,” Lina mutters under her breath. “All the flowery language is making me sick.” “You may continue, Gisele,” The oldest of the owls - a great horned owl with violet eyes says. “It concerns the phoenix,” Gisele beckons to me. “Mother Owl’s chick?” a younger, tiny female owl calls out. Her voice is higher than the others, and she is smaller than one of the wraiths. “Where is Mother Owl?” “Not here,” Sage says nervously. “Mo-that is, Mother Owl-was attacked by wraiths. She and her chicks were separated. But we found Ash. And Wisdom.” Surrounded by prying eyes, I start flaring nervously. The owls gasp, covering their eyes as the flames fill the canopy with eerie orange light. “The firebird!” Councilor Thunder murmurs. “You were the one Mother Owl was always talking about.” “Could you stop burning, please? We’re in the WOODS.” the tiny owl chirps. I stop flaring as quickly as possible. “Sorry!” “Councilor Sprite has spoken the truth,” screeches a tall, thin owl with large ear-tufts and beady eyes. “The firebird may be dangerous.” “But we need her,” Councilor Thunder says. “What?” Wisdom yelps before I can tell her to keep her beak shut. “How is SHE important? Because she’s a phoenix?” “Don’t you know, young one?” Councilor Thunder says sternly. “Ash is very important. We have been watching her ever since she was born.”