《Harry Potter and the Wise Owl》


 Harry Potter and the Wise Owl: Prologue

    I was staring out at the endless brown and yellow grassy plains before me, feeling a bit chilly without my mother and only my brothers and sisters around in the nest. I was in a nice indented spot on the edge of the nest, my favorite spot when I could get it. My other four brothers and sisters were crazy though, and they didn''t seem to understand personal space at all. That was fine though. They were too adorable to be mad at.


    I was the oldest of the family, besides mother and father obviously. By quite a lot! Almost a week!


    I remember looking up at the sky and rolling in the nest when I broke through my shell, trying to get all the hot wet sticky fluid along with the remnants of my egg off of me while I tried to excitedly look around at everything. Everything was so bright! New! I could still see that in the world around me. I couldn''t help even now but look out at the sky or over the edge of the nest and wonder what was out there. But I couldn''t ever climb out, and mother would always push me back in.


    I was stuck looking out at the grass and trees around the area, my head wobbling as I looked at everything, with a small hoot of happiness before I scratched at myself with my beak to get a small piece of loose fluff off and onto the ground where I let it be.


    With another low hoot of satisfaction, I turned my head around behind me to look out at my siblings. They were giving me some space today it seemed, all climbing on top of each other and being wild. It was kind of cute.


    But it was weird and I couldn''t understand why they were doing it. I couldn''t understand a lot, but I also understood a lot. I was different from my family, I just didn¡¯t understand why. I couldn''t understand them, and them me as far as I could tell. Sometimes I wondered if they could think at all, when I looked into their eyes. Couldn''t they hear the words? Look at the sun and realize that it must be big. Look at the stars and wonder what was out there.


    I tried to ask, but my beak wouldn''t listen to what I told it to do. The words in my head were not something I could say, only think. It was weird, you would think that I would hear my hoots in my head like I say to the air. It was like I was trapped, almost. Strange knowledge sometimes came and went too. Things like, did you know something called snow existed? It was like water, another thing I hadn''t seen besides in the red of the food mother brings back home after she hunts. But they were different things, which was interesting. I wanted to see water. And snow! It was supposed to be white, like dad or mom!


    I was only dark brown, like my siblings. I couldn''t wait until I was white like mom!


    I could fly like they do, and I could see the world! I think of such weird things that I think are supposed to be out in the world sometimes, and I want to see them all!


    I stretch out my wings as much as I can, but I can only unfold it a bit. They are very weak and not big enough to carry my weight at all, but I try anyway. I wonder how long I would have to wait¡­


    One week later


    I crouched down among the dry leaves and the tall yellow grass, careful not to shift enough to crunch them under my weight or with my talons. Me and the rest of the family had grown enough that we had all walked up the side of the nest a few days prior, and I am happy to say that I was the very first. The world didn''t look that different, but I was happy anyways and I would have hooted a storm of happiness if I didn''t think about the things that I had knowledge about. Foxes mainly. Sharp teeth, much bigger than me right now, as tall as and way longer than father is tall!


    I hadn''t seen one, but I knew better now then to shout out my location to all the scary red thingies. Stealth birb is me. I am the sneakiest of them all!


    And I proved that, because as soon as me and my weird little fluff ball family left the nest, they started racing off and hiding around all over the place and I was delighted to take part! Nobody could find me! Only mother sometimes. But that was alright! The other little owlets that were my brothers and sisters were really bad though! I could hear them hiding and hooting, and sometimes even see them! Lazy. They wouldn''t let me teach them either and pecked at me sometimes! Rude. But still cute.


    I looked around, peeking my head up and looked through the grass. I could see¡­ two of my siblings already¡­ make that three. Four. That''s all of them. Two seconds


    I sighed with a little sad hoot and shook my head, looking down again. They never learn¡­


    But I did! A lot. I learned a lot of new things. Things like¡­ Animals. It was one of the strangest words, and it meant a lot. Animals, something less than people. I wondered what people were, and I didn''t quite understand what my mind was trying to tell me. Something to do with the mind? Some connection to thoughts and understanding. But weirdly, while I saw myself as a people my mind started putting doubts in my mind that everyone else was. I knew I was different. But was I something completely different from them? Did they really not have thoughts? Were they animals?


    It couldn''t be.


    But on a happier note! I learned names! It was my new obsession! I named the nest the Burrow! And the land around, the Alia Plains! And my favorite rock, that I named¡­ Rocky!! I thought that last one was very smart sounding. It has a ¡®y¡¯ at the end! I liked how I could almost hoot it if I tried for a while. My mom and dad apparently were already named Mom and Dad, which was something I didn''t quite get. But I named the four fur balls! Alice, the youngest girl. Fredy, the youngest boy. Kelly, the second oldest girl if you included me. And Geo, the oldest boy. But I could barely tell the boys apart, so sometimes I mixed them up which was annoying.


    I had thought about naming myself as well, but I couldn''t think of something quite right yet. Names were important, so I was taking my time.


    I wanted something that meant something, even if only I could know it. I stretched out my wings carefully as I thought, looking up dramatically. Something that means¡­ what I want. I want to know a lot. I want to leave things behind as I go, to show others what I am.


    Another week later


    I looked carefully out at the stretch of grassland in front of the edge of the nest that I had parched myself on under mothers watchful gaze. I could feel her gaze on me as I stretched my wings out, looking forwards and up as I flapped like mother always did when she started to fly off the ground. I had watched carefully a lot!


    ¡­This isn¡¯t working.


    Come on¡­ I need to flap harder!


    I thought as I could feel my weight sometimes start to rise under the flaps, but not enough to even leave the ground a centimeter. I started hopping hopefully too, just to get more off the ground, and I could feel my fall slow as I spread my wings and pushed on the air quickly in bursts.


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    Then I jumped forwards, tucking my legs in behind me as I spread my wings wide, pushing down as I flung myself forwards and up off the small ledge of the nest.


    I- I am flying! I am free! See you later, suckers!!! OW! NOOOOO! My legs caught me before I could smash headfirst into the ground a few feet from the nest. I looked back, disappointed and then at my mother. She looked the same as ever, unreactive. I sighed with a deep hoot and I waddled my way back to the nest to try again with my head down low.


    Mom makes this look way too easy.


    Three days later


    I paced around on top of Rocky, watched by a curious Alice that looked up at me with a tilted head. She liked to watch me for some reason, and it was cute so I let her. I was thinking though, so I didn''t notice.


    Practicing to fly did something unexpected to me, and I was trying to think about stuff.


    I got a lot of new knowledge, all about the air and flying. Some useless numbers, but there was a lot of cool stuff. Like¡­ metal things with wings that managed to go fast enough to fly like a bird with heavy metal wings that didn¡¯t move! Lift, drag, air resistance, friction, how gravity works. But the most important thing was that I had done something to get it! I could learn the things I didn''t know about and get more knowledge!


    But I don''t even know what I don''t know. I thought to myself, mildly annoyed. The only thing I can do¡­ is try things that I didn''t before? Explore? But I already knew that. I hooted in amusement, turning around and nearly stumbling when I saw Alice below me wobbling around and pacing, trying to imitate me and looking at her talons before looking up to me with those cute adorable golden eyes and her tiny beak. I laughed a hooting laugh as I watched, happy that the little fluff ball pulled me from my thoughts and rubbed her head with an outstretched wing.


    Exploring was something that I wasn''t quite ready for. Back to practicing trying to fly!


    I started with a running start off the edge of the rock after the new knowledge about flight, aiming myself away from the little owlet looking up at me, and stretching my wings and giving an almighty flap downwards, sending me a foot off the ground. The highest I had ever gone! I kept at it, faster this time, and I slowly found myself in the air, circling a few feet off the ground over the nest.


    I love flying practice¡­ I gave a hoot of happiness as I flew, softly as I concentrated on my breathing and the beat of my wings as they pushed the air around me down with a soft thumping sound as my feathers caught the air under them in a flurry of white lines on the tips of my wings mixed into browny black of my body. I could hear the russell of the grassland and feel the chill of the air against my beak and I closed my eyes for an instant, taking it all in for those precious seconds of flight until I got too tired to fly any more.


    When I opened my eyes, I looked over where I heard the rustling of a mouse in the dirt a little ways away and I looked at the spot I knew where it would be curiously. Dad was lissining as well, and I could see him flying down, flapping with a quiet that I could only achieve when hiding on the ground or gliding high in the sky away from the easily moved golden grass.


    I watched as he came in low, in a glide before he stretched out his talons and gripped the surprised mouse with his talons as he flapped into the air once more with the meal. I tilted my head in the air, wondering when I would be able to fly like father or mother, to be able to catch prey like that.


    One week later


    I looked out over the Alia Plains and the nest a dozen or so feet away, looked up at by my siblings who were looking excited and energetic and getting the occasional look from mother and perched on a high branch on the barren tree that overlooked the area around the nest beside father. I was being quiet as I looked and listened for prey. Stealth birb! Stalker of mice and men! Wait, what''s a men? Oh, that''s the weird featherless thingy that I know is a person too¡­ Maybe stalking person¡¯s isn''t something I want to do? That sounds mean¡­ Actually that sounds hilarious, nevermind. Stalker of mice and men!


    Then my head swivels as I hear a crunch of leaves and the russell of grass a little ways away behind me. I shuffle around to face it, and I push myself forwards into the air towards it, coming in slowly and quietly like father showed me like the swift blade in the darkness of night, gliding almost level with the ground.


    I was rapidly gliding in, locking my eyes and ears onto the spot where I had heard the movement coming from with my talons outstretched and ready to grab. Then through the leaves and grasses, I spotted what was hidden there. SNEK! I panicked a bit as I saw its gleaming scales and bared teeth as it looked up at me from its coiled position, but it was too late! It was in my talons! ACH! I gave a hoot of horror as my body''s instincts took over and I flew up into the air, the snake still coiling around my talons weakly. It was small, but I shivered with horror at the sight of it. I was scared of snakes! They terrified me as soon as I got the knowledge of their existence from spotting it from a distance when I was younger¡­ A.K.A. a week ago.


    I gave a screech as it coiled around more, its head rising up before I forced myself to let it go in the air and send it up and up in front of me, twisting in fear as it seemed to look me right in the eye with a look of murder and tiny fanged bared. Too close! Kill it! Too- GULP.


    I bit into the snake''s body with my beak without a thought besides ¡®Kill it!¡¯


    I was prepared to shiver in horror, but when the snake gave a last thrash in my beak¡¯s grip and I tasted its blood. Oh¡­ Snek¡­ Tastes good?


    Then what I had just done hit me and I nearly faltered in the air as I gave a hoot of challenge into the air through the body of the snake. HELL YES, YOU CAN''T SCARE ME YOU STUPID COLD BLOODED SCALED ROPE! I AM THE KILLER OF SNAKES! STALKER OF MICE AND MEN AND EATER OF FINE SNAKES! I AM THE HUNTER!


    The high of my first hunt carried me right back to the barren tree as I slurped the snake down my beak energetically like spaghetti. Spaghetti? What''s- Huh, I like the sound of that. Nice!


    I settled down on the branch with my father, looking at him with a proud smile on my beaked and feathered face, but he didn''t seem to notice besides sending a look over at me for a moment. I gave a sigh hoot. Fine, I can be proud enough for the both of us! I hooted dully and looked out over the Alia Plains for something else. The snake got me hungry¡­ For blood.


    Five weeks later


    I had spent days and days and days practicing my flying, hunting and walking until I could provide for myself in its entirety. I felt myself grow, in both skill and height and size and I could feel my mind growing sharper than ever as some pieces of information streamed into my brain from time to time. Me, my brothers and sisters had grown a lot and the white on their and my feathers grew more and more as time dragged on, overtaking the brown and black. If I compare myself to the age groups of the illusive humans that I found myself more and more interested in lately as information about the world appears in my mind, I would say I was in my late teens¡­ and my siblings early teens.


    I¡­ was delaying my leaving if I was being honest with myself. I couldn''t help but keep on snuggling with the little furballs of owlets that were my siblings. Though I know they aren''t¡­ people, I can''t help it. I learned a thing, personification and I think that describes everything. Sometimes, I see people in the eyes of my family¡­ they just look so similar to me, yet I also know that they don''t think the way I do¡­


    I was resting on Rocky when I was thinking everything over. I am going to leave. Today. No¡­ I would lose my nerve. Right now. But¡­ It''s getting close to sunset. I wared with myself, growing frustrated and throwing myself off the large rock into the air to think. I always thought better while flying.


    I rose into the air, looking down at the grassland below in the afternoon air. I watched my siblings perched on the tree of our land, looking for prey. Mother and father alongside them. God¡­ Why is this so difficult? Sometimes¡­ I wish I was an animal. I wouldn''t have to think so hard about stupid things like this¡­


    I flew over to my feathered family, and I settled on a branch looking at them all. I gave a hoot sigh. Mom¡­ Dad¡­ I know you can''t hear me, or understand me if you could¡­ But I am leaving. I want to explore the world! I am going to learn so many things, things you couldn''t dream of in those bird brains of yours¡­


    Geo, Fredy you were always little menaces of energy, always annoying me¡­ But I am going to miss you little tykes.


    Kelly¡­ You never did like me, but I hope that you find yourself a good life and good huntings.


    And Alice¡­ I love you, you little cutie you. I loved when you started mimicking your weird older sister, I loved your curious expressions and cute hoots of confusion when I did something you didn''t understand. I love you, you little fuzz brain.


    I will remember you¡­ All of you. Maybe I will see you again someday?


    My loving family gave me blank looks, staring at me until Geo regurgitated a pellet and spat it on the ground, making everyone turn back to the fields. Except for Alice, who looked at me with that cute confused tilted head. I gave her a pat on the head, shuffling down the branch with short hops and spread out wings.


    Someday¡­ In the wild, wild world¡­ I would look back and feel some regret, maybe, that I didn''t stay longer. But¡­ I was too excited to be sad, so I took flight, spreading my wings out wide and taking to the sky¡¯s, heading into the unknown world for the very first time. What would I learn? What would I leave behind?


    At that moment I named myself after a word that I found suddenly connected with my mind.


    Legacy. My name is Legacy, and I will leave my legacy in the world with all that I learn and do in this wild, wild world.

 Chapter 1: Fishing

    It was days and days since I started my journey. I had went to the end of the tundra that I was born in, and then through a forest where I found a bunch of interesting little creatures, some that I had seen and recognized from the knowledge that settled into my mind through my mind since I had been born. And some that I knew from my home as well, but those clearly weren''t as interesting as the little white foxes that loved to chase me around! Or the big four legged things with trees coming from their head that I knew were called deer! I loved when they gave me a ride through the forest.


    But most of the time, I flew over the trees ever closer to the horizon. I didn''t know where I was going, but it felt right to me. But today, as I was flying over the treetops I saw a line of trees before the rows and rows of the brown and yellow leaved trees suddenly ended. I was flying low over the branches, so I couldn''t see much at first.


    Then at the spotting of this oddity, I pushed my wings and the air underneath them down, launching myself up like a needle. I pulled in my wings, closing my eyes for a second to build up the suspense and to allow me to enjoy the feeling of the air rush past my beak and under my wings as I barreled upwards. Then I had a moment where I had no weight, and I was frozen in the warm morning air of today.


    Then I was falling and my little heart gave me a big thrum as I gave a hoot of joy as I spread my wings out and opened my eyes to look out at what I had found.


    The trees ended, and another thing began to fill my sight as I peered down from the sky.


    An eternity of blue and the white curls of waves rising and falling out of sight behind large cliff faces that I was a long ways above. The trees opened directly into the cliffs, where it stretched out just a little before falling away into sheer lines of grey rock unlike the bright orange and yellows of the small plants and the trees directly before that.


    The ocean¡­ I always wanted to see the ocean. I thought to myself with a satisfied hoot as I looked at the picturesque landscape from my distant position.


    Then I dived, picking up speed as I fell with my wings propelling me down and forwards, always careful that the speed did not become too much as I extended my wings to slow my fall to a more gradual glide towards the cliffs. I had just eaten a few hours ago, a rather decently sized squirrel, so I was full of energy and I had a long time before my next meal time came around. Plenty of time to take a look around!


    Plus! I thought giddily, I am fast enough I could get there in seconds! OH! I need to try now! That overhanging cliff! I looked towards a particular outcropping of rock that looked like the perfect perch to overlook the ocean from and with a cry of challenge, I raced towards it like a bullet.


    Despite the distance between me and it, I was very fast when I wanted to be and so it only took a few seconds of my dive flying technique before I pulled into a glide and landed smoothly just a foot or so away from the edge of the rock and I took a few steps and hops towards the edge, where I rested my wings for a few seconds while I looked down over the edge.


    There was a wealth of things that I could hear, smell, but most of all see! I could hear the crashing sound of waves smashing against the rocks below and I could see how strong those rocks withstood the battering. The smells were new to me however, and I could only place their names after a moment of thought. Sea salt, which was a really refreshing smell, and¡­ fish of some kind? That kind of stank. But the smell of sea salt was interesting. Why is the water full of salt? What is salt? A¡­ type of rock? And it can turn into tinier rocks in water that you can''t see. Weird. And things live in the water, even though it''s full of tiny tiny rocks? Weirdos. I wonder how they taste? I should try to find out.


    I looked around and watched everything move around, even seeing a few fish and a few birds that left me well alone from their perches on the cliff. Then I looked out and something bobbing on the waves caught my eye. I readjusted on my perch, leaning forwards a bit as I squinted to try to make it out from the blue of the ocean.


    It was dirty white with brown in places, and a big sheet of something white sticking up from it, with some blobs moving across its surface. I looked at the oddity for a good few seconds before I realized what it must be and I gave a shiver of excitement. A boat! It was a small boat! With person¡¯s on it! Real live persons! Like me! I need to see!


    I thought giddily, before stopping myself on the verge of jumping off at once. Wait, I don''t want them to think I am desperate¡­ That would be embarrassing. Oh! I know what to do!


    Then I spread my wings and started gliding towards where the boat would be when I reached it. I came in slow, gliding to manage the great distance between me and it without putting in too much effort. Getting back would be a pain¡­ Though, if there are more persons other than these guys, maybe I can just follow them and live around there for a little bit? It wouldn''t hurt¡­ I decided as I flew, the ship becoming bigger and bigger as the occasional draft tried unsuccessfully to throw me off course.


    The ship was a magnificent thing in my eyes as I came closer, listening to the shouts and laughter from the humans on the deck and the thumps of others out of sight. It was painted white, but with black chips. A bit like my feathers, but I supposed because I was still young I was more black then white. And I took particular interest in the brown spots of sea animals living on the hull like stubborn freeloaders. The sail was massive, bigger than the ship even! I circled above the ship, and I noticed some of the humans below pointing up at me to the others before returning to their work. Or sitting and watching the sea and the coast in the distance.


    I dove down and then glided over to the front of the ship where I perched on the railing at the very front of the boat, a few feet away from a guy that was sitting with his legs sticking off the boat. I looked out at the sea, feeling the boat rock and the rise and fall caused by the moving water below us, feeling a bit of calm as the wind pushed us forwards together. It''s not as cool as flying¡­ I pondered as I relaxed on the boat. But it''s less tiring. I gave a hoot of amusement at the thought.


    ¡°Hey there little dude, what you doing out here?¡± I heard the guy to my right say a bit softly with an accent that I thought dully was Scottish, and I turned my head to look at him. He looked back with a little tilt of his head and a bit of a smile. I gave him a hoot. He gave a snort and reached over to rub my head. I didn''t quite know what to do when he did that, so I just kind of let it happen while I looked at him weirdly. He gave a chuckle before he turned back to look at the direction we were headed in. I looked with him, So they do speak like the thoughts. Why can''t I? I thought to myself, getting a bit sad before I realized what had just happened.


    I raised my head up and looked at the guy in indignation, giving him a hoot of irritation and indignation. No! I thought in indignation, You do not pat me on the head like some cute animal! ¡­I kind of liked it¡­ But NO!


    The human beside me on the boat looked over at me before he chuckled.


    No! Bad human! I gave him another hoot of pure irritation before I spread my right wing and smacked his arm before flying away to the top of the ship, satisfied with my revenge. With my retreat, I looked imperviously out at the skyline while the persons on the deck started laughing at me and the guy at the front of the boat, having seen the whole thing.


    ¡°HA! Even the lady birds are giving you attitude Zane!¡± One of the bigger guys crowed out with laughter as he clutched his stomach, his face looking like it was splitting open with a grin that the rest of the crew joined in on. ¡°Even birds have better standards than your girl!¡± Another joined in, causing another wave of laughter as the man''s ears turned red. Except for the man standing at the wheel, an eyepatch on his left eye as he gave a slight grin, glancing up at me with curiosity before turning back to the crew.


    ¡°OI! Back to work, you sorry lot! Unless you want to find yourself up on the mast with the lady bird, MacKinnon? We¡¯ll see you laughing when the lady bird gives you some attitude with her talons when she gets enough of you!¡± He yelled out in his deep booming voice and his heavy Scottish accent emphasizing every word and a hearty laugh that everyone felt themselves laughing along with after a round of ¡°Yes captain¡¯s¡± from the crew, some joking and giving the big guy, MacKinnon, some joking shoves as they laughed at him.


    I joined in with a hooting laugh of my own too, which made them laugh even harder as the captain looked up at me with a grin. I looked back with my beak slightly open with my own version of a beaked grin. He shook his head as he turned back to the wheel with a grin and a soft chuckle. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    As I settled on the top of the pole that I remembered was called a mast, I gave a hoot of amusement yet again. I like these guys, they are smart and funny. And that eyepatch is cool. I thought to myself as I looked down at the humans below. I think¡­ I will stay for a while. Just a little while. A few days.


    I didn''t spend very long idle on the boat though, as the captain started calling out for people to do things. The sail came down, and I noticed how smooth the water became in this part of the ocean and how close to the coast we had become. I looked around, and I saw that we had sailed quite a ways from where we started in the few minutes I was on board.


    The ocean was calm and smooth, the waves breaking on rocks that I didn''t see a ways away, and I looked back to the sea behind us and I noticed only a particular path clear of rocks into the calm waters by this part of the coast. I tilted my head as I looked around, then back at the captain, nodding appreciatively. He seemed to notice and he tilted his head curiously before smiling and shaking his head. If we had veered off a little on the path, we would have hit the rocks and hurt the boat. These guys are good! I wonder if I could do something like that while I was flying¡­ That sounds awesome. I spread my wings and launched myself into the air, flying above the ship with restless energy as I watched the crew from above.


    The crew seemed to be moving about in no particular hurry as they all grabbed a box and some kind of stick of different colors. I watched them curiously as they fiddled with them both, opening up the box and sticking things to a part of the rod. Then, as the human that I sat beside when I first landed on the ship, Zane I believe he was called, finished messing with his thing, he held it in his hand and flicked it out into the water, sending a fine string that seemed almost invisible to my eyes into the water a little ways away from the ship.


    Strange, I thought to myself as I watched him sit down and seem to wait for something. Then in a flash, the sight of the stick with the string seemed to spark something and I had the knowledge about what it was and what it was for, making me tilt my head. Fishing Rod, made to trick fish into biting the metal thing on the end of the string and getting caught before getting dragged from the water and back to the human. That is genius! You don''t have to go to the prey and risk it being scared off, and you can bring the prey to you instead! Could I do something like that? How would that even work without hands like the humans have? I pondered wonderingly as I watched the humans all start casting their hooks into the water as well.


    Eventually I settled down on the mast again, watching to see what would happen when a fish was brought in. I saw and barely heard the splashes and swimming of fish in the water around us, but curiously I noticed that they all were a little ways away from the fishing persons. They are waiting in the wrong spot¡­ I noted idly.


    Time passed, and the humans seemed to be growing a bit restless as they started playing games instead of waiting with their rods like before. I was getting bored as well, and I wondered what I could do. I stretched out my wings and neck, gliding around to the dry tip of a larger rock that stuck up from the water around the barrier and I looked out at the small ship and the fish. Maybe I could¡­ do it for them? I wondered as I looked out at the fish again, I am getting a little hungry, so maybe I can catch a fish? But how can I catch a fish anyways? I don''t have a rod or a string like the humans. Or hands to use them like the humans. But maybe¡­ I didn''t have to use them like the humans after all?


    Along that trail of thought I flew back to the ship and started inspecting the fishing rod of Z. If I can hold the handle with my talons¡­ and the spinny thing with my beak¡­ Maybe I could drop the string into the water from above, and then fly over to wait on a dry rock?


    ¡°Hey, look at the owl!¡± I heard a call from behind me, and I looked around to see the humans looking towards me curiously. ¡°What do you think it-¡± One of the guys started asking as all the people stared at me, only for me to suddenly move and make him stop. I hopped up and onto the handle of the resting rod, gripping it with my talons and twisting the spinny thing just above the handle with my beak, being careful and quick to avoid damaging anything, to bring the string back in again.


    ¡°Hey, look at it!¡± One guy laughed out as everyone looked on either laughing or looking confused. I even saw a flash out of the corner of my eye that made me turn to it curiously, noticing it was coming from a big black thing and I wasn''t sure what it was. I didn''t get any knowledge on what it was either, so I decided to ignore it. What I did notice that I had to act on however, was Zane running with a look of panic in his face to the increased laughter of the crew.


    I gave a hoot of panic and stretched my wings out before starting to flap, feeling the odd weight of the rod throwing me off and slowing me down. Zane was coming closer faster, shouting something over the laughter of the crew, but then I was out of reach and flying away up in the air. I took a look back to see Zane with his hands on his head, looking dejected as he looked back at me and still being laughed at by the crew. The captain even threw in a few laughs as he held the large black thing to his eye with a few more flashes as I flew up, pointing it towards me.


    I looked back down at the rod, noticing that the string was now completely out of the water, so I shoved my head downwards while trying to still keep myself in the air and started winding it back up. The crew of the ship below to my left seemed to still be watching as I could hear their voices, but I focused on the rod until I looked up and noticed that the string was all the way up and I could see the tiny hook swaying on the end of the rope.


    I hooted in satisfaction before I glided forwards, letting the string start to fall back into the water. I flew quickly so it would land in the right spot, and eventually it landed in the water with a barely audible plop and I started gliding downwards, keeping it trailing out behind me while keeping track of how much longer the string would go.


    Then I landed on the rock and I looked out at my work. The string trailed up to me through the mirror-like coastal section of the ocean, from the direct center of where the fishes swarmed in the water. The cool breeze blew the occasional drop of water onto me and I could smell the strong scent of the salty water around me on the dry rock, with the crashing waves just a few meters behind me as they broke on the other rocks of the ring.


    I gave another hoot in satisfaction and hopped on the rock, holding the rod in place with a claw as I looked down at it, wondering how I could better reel in the fish once it got caught. From this position, I think I could grab the spinny part with my talons and spin the string back faster than with my beak without losing my grip.


    Then I felt a particular yank on the rod, and I looked up to see and hear the string moving as something struggled against it. I gave a hoot of panic as I leaped for the spinny thing and grabbed it with my right talon, and started to spin it around and around in circles quickly, pulling against the fish¡¯s attempts to get away and pulling it closer. I felt a nudge in my mind just then, causing me to slow my pace down just a bit. I need to pull it in slower so it doesnt get away? How does that work? I wondered as the new knowledge clicked into place, but I didn''t get any answers so I gave a mental shrug. I could figure it out after I caught this fish!


    As I wrestled with the fish through the rod, I could hear the shouts and laughter from the boat. I looked up, to see all the humans pointing and talking on the side of the ship that was closest to me. They are looking at me! I realized and I puffed myself up as I saw another flash from the captain, then focused back on pulling the fish to me. I was hungry! Come to momma! I thought excitedly with another hoot to punctuate my thoughts, recalling the phrase that I learned when I was hunting as I gave a hoot of excitement.


    It took a few seconds of pulling with my talons in this circular way for almost a whole minute as the fish came closer and closer. I could see it clearly now, just a little bit away in the water. It wasn''t all that big for a fish, but I could see that it would clearly make for a good full meal! A good lunch.


    It came closer, and closer¡­ Then with a quick yank, I lifted it up out of the water and onto the rock beside me where it flopped around, trying to escape. I instantly let out a hoot of success and let go of the fishing rod to clamp my talons on the fish to prevent its escape, holding it tighter then I think I have ever done before except that one time I had to hold onto a branch upside down to prevent me from falling. It was slippery, but I managed to hold it long enough to bite down into the fish''s head and tear it off, killing it instantly and then proceeding to stuff the rest of it down my throat.


    Well¡­ It''s not bad. A bit too salty, but that''s what you get with the weirdos that live in the salt water. I commented to myself, giving a hoot of appreciation.


    My rod still firmly in place and waiting for me to get another, I looked back to the ship where I noticed a lot of talking and pointing to me. ¡°The lady owl is better at fishing than you, Zane!¡± I heard the big guy call out, only to receive a laugh from Zane in return. ¡°Hey! You can''t talk, you big lump! I don''t see you with a fish either! That lady owl is better at fishing than everyone on this damn boat!¡± He laughed out in response.


    I could see the captain put down his flashing thing, and I could see a smirk on his face even from here. ¡°ALRIGHT YOU LAZY DOGS!¡± I heard him shout out, and I tilted my head at the tone of excitement. ¡°LET''S GET THE SHIP OVER TO YOUR OWL, ZERO! WE CAN TURN THIS DAY AROUND YET!¡± I heard him shout and I stood up straighter as I saw him heading back to the wheel, and the others start to raise the sails a bit as they started coming closer to where we both knew the fishes were now.


    Hum¡­ I kind of like helping out the humans. They are so helpless, and then I can show them where the fish is, eat one, and everyone is happy. It''s a good feeling. I like it. I decided as they drifted over closer to my position. I grabbed the rod I was borrowing with my talons as I hopped over to it and lifted off the rock, flying over the water and circling the spot where all the fishes were swimming around, pointing it out to the joy of the ship of other persons.


    This is a very good day. I think I am going to stick around¡­ For a while. I like humans.

 Chapter 2: The humans

    The morning went by rather quickly, and went a lot like I thought it would thankfully. It was great! The humans, or as I have started jokingly called them, hootmans because of how similar we were on the inside unlike animals, spent the time fishing. They were putting fish after fish into boxes with ice and water inside with lots of talking and comparing sizes and making fun of each other for hours! I even caught and ate another fish to show I was able to keep up just like them, just because of how insatiable these¡­ insatiable hootmans seemed to be. I am just as good as them! I thought with pride, even as they laughed at Zane again as he watched me fishing with his pole, forlornly. Or was his name Zero? I remember them calling him both. Hootmans. He is now Z. I decided with a shake of my head.


    The sheer amount that they were catching and packing away, made me think that they are storing them to eat later or for more hootmans.


    Though, I wondered where the others were. I had learned the idea of cities and towns and other places humans made to live in bunches, but I didn''t see anything like that around when and where I found these persons. Maybe all the hootman family''s all lived on the water! On one GIANT boat on the ocean, with houses on top! Hootmans are the coolest. I wondered to myself, imagining all the things that persons with hands, like the humans, could make and do. Lucky featherless blokes. Blokes? Huh, neat word.


    I heard the captain of the boat shout something, and a few groans from the boat in the distance. I couldn¡¯t hear what was said, but it was clear that something was happening. I turned my head away from the fishes in the water, to the boat positioned beside where the fishes gathered. The persons seemed to be reeling in their lines, and putting away their poles! Are they finished? I wondered, shuffling my legs and spreading my wings as a little bit of stretching.


    It looked like they were, so I gave a hoot and grabbed my pole with my talons before lifting off into the air with a big push of my wings and flapping into the air a bit to the point where I could glide over to the front of the boat without any issue.


    The hootman who I had taken my pole from, Z-something I think was his name, seemed to be watching me as I came closer¡­ This guy is acting suspiciously¡­ I thought to myself as I watched him with narrowed eyes, even as I glided closer still to the boat with my fishing pole in my talons. Z¡¯s eyes seemed to be darting from me to the pole.


    I gave a hoot of annoyance. You want to take the pole? I thought to the weird human with realization and the annoyance that I had expressed with my hoot. No! This is mine! I told Z rebelliously, with a hoot punctuateing my thoughts. He looked concerned¡­ Oh¡­ He¡¯s sad¡­ I thought as I looked at the guy''s face, his frown and wide sad eyes clear even from here.


    Well¡­ You know, honestly, I think that it''s a bit cumbersome to fly around with it anyways. Fine! You can have my pole, silly hootman! But only because I am feeling generous! I finally broke, and with a final hoot I flapped my wings down hard and rose into the air, flying over Z. He looked up, trying to watch me but I could see from his squinting that the sun was getting in his eyes. I felt a grin take hold of my beaked face and I opened my talons, dropping the pole right on his head as he was blinded by the sun. Ha! That''s what you get, for pressuring me with those big helpless eyes! I thought with a hooting laugh as I watched Z get smacked and recoil in confusion, to the laughter of the men once again.


    I landed on the mast of the ship, looking down on all the humans that were getting to work below me and hoping on the pole to watch everything unfolding below as the captain directed Z to get to work, putting away his gear and helping move the coolers. I wondered what a cooler was, but Z answered that question soon enough as he picked up one of the boxes with ice and water and the fish inside and started moving it somewhere to get put away. I gave a nod of satisfaction as I watched everything below. Good job, hootmans!


    Soon enough, everything seemed to be packed away until the top of the boat didn''t look any different from when I found it sailing to the spot where we went fishing in the first place. Then the sail was raised again and we started moving away and following the path that we took to get here. And soon enough, we were out in the open ocean waters by the coast. I looked around at the open ocean, hoping to spot where we were going, but we stayed near the coastal cliffs as we sailed.


    I wonder where the humans are going? I thought curiously as I settled in on the top of the mast and looked around at everything while the ship and I bobbed up and down in the waves with the wind filling the sails. I don''t particularly mind waiting and following the persons around for a while, it''s already been interesting and the amount of new things that I have seen is really high for a day¡¯s traveling!


    And the food was really easy to get. On an unlucky day, I could be waiting on a tree perfectly still for over an hour before I catch anything. But there was enough fish that I could catch one in minutes, on demand! The human fishing poles were mainly the reason why it was so easy, but I was the one using it so it counted!


    And now I could move far without needing to push myself as much as when I fly. Not that flying isn''t good, but it is a nice change of pace for a little while. In a lot of ways, flying is much better actually. It feels nicer with the wind slipping underneath me and bringing a much needed chill, and I go way faster than this human ship even when I am gliding.


    I rustled my wings a bit at the reminder of the temperature. Now that my feathers are coming in thicker, I have also started to feel quite hot during the days and sometimes even during the nights. It is supposed to be a chillier time of the year according to my knowledge, but that just makes me a bit nervous about the hot part of the year. But luckily, I am sure that the cold season is coming here soon so I am happy about that. The way that seasons work seems weird to me though, and I don''t know anything about it besides it happens. Maybe I would find out eventually?


    But I was getting distracted, so I pulled back in my attention and looked over the ocean and the coast while we sailed. The water seemed to stretch on forever, rippling and swaying on its own like it was alive until it met the blue sky and the white fluffy clouds in it and it seemed to end.


    It all seems so big¡­ Yet so small? Why is that? I thought to myself, but no answers came to me. It seemed that answers very rarely did nowadays. It was only at rare times like when I saw the fishing pole that my strange source of thoughts seemed to bring me information and knowledge about the world around me. I wonder why? Why, why, why?


    I seemed to do that a lot¡­ I was on a mission to find out why, I suppose. Enforced and caused by nothing but my curiosity, but that was more than enough and it was already killing me to have such thoughts come without answers.


    I swiveled my head around away from the ever churning sea, and I looked at the land to the other side of the boat. The walls of rock that seemed to be at the edge of the water everywhere around here seemed to be a bit smaller than back when I had found this boat, or when I was fishing with the humans for that matter, but they were still very tall. They seemed a bit more lively as well, even around the top that was covered with plants. Maybe it was less steep, but here there were lots and lots of small plants along the cliff and even a tree or two that leaned out from the grey stone.


    I thought that plants grew in dirt, not rock? I thought curiously as I looked at one particular shelf of rock with a large wizened tree that grew like a hand sticking up from the rock. It was one of the only green plants I had seen, and it even had some nice looking white and purple parts that could be flowers or vines with flowers on its surface. It looked rather out of place. Though maybe because of how beautiful it looked on that little outcropping of rock, everything around it seemed out of place.


    I glanced down at the hootmans below me, and I saw a few of them looking out at the little life filled tree as well. One of them did a strange gesture, though I couldn''t tell what it was supposed to mean or why they were doing it to the nice tree. He placed his hands together on his heart, bowed his head a bit and then pushed them out like he was giving something to the air. Some of them laughed at the guy for it, but they got scolded by the captain and a few more did it as well.


    Why are they- Oh? Religion? That''s¡­ interesting. Complicated as well¡­ I like it. Something to do with what a person believes, like in a power greater than themselves or the world around them. But not only that, it can mean a lot of things? Humans are weird sometimes. But this is a cool weird. I thought as a new piece of knowledge clicked into place in my mind. So the tree is important to them for some reason? Nice. I like it too, it''s a very good tree. Very¡­ alive and green. Yes.


    I bobbed my head a bit awkwardly as I let my eyes travel along the coastline.


    After the tree, nothing in particular seemed to stick out as important in my sight. Just rock and sky. And¡­ What''s that blue and white thingy? I thought, straightening up as I spotted the bright color on the cliff face. Then I noticed just what was ahead of us on the coast. The cliff face vanished a ways away, and it seemed like a section of it was striped away. I could see on the opposite side of this oddity in the land that it seemed to curve in and then, but it was really large. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Cove? I like that word. Cove. It''s a cove. I recognized, my memory flashing as I recalled a particular piece of knowledge about the coast. It''s like a circle of land just sinks into the sea, and it''s usually an area where the land meets the sea on an even level, unlike the cliffs.


    But the blue I saw inside of it was on a structure. It was wooden, and there were a few boats tied to it. A bit of a raggedy old pier, with the blue and white thing flapping in the wind on the end of it. A diagonal white cross on a blue backdrop, painted on some kind of fabric. I recognized it as a flag. Scotland? A name occurred to me out of the blue while I looked at it and the boat headed closer to it. I like it. So the land I have been on is called Scotland by the hootmans¡­ I like the name I gave my home land better to be honest. Alia Plains versus Scotland. But I guess they can keep it. The Alia Plains is only my nest home''s name I suppose. My names are better.


    But with that little revelation aside and a country''s name vilified, I started to watch out for where we were going as what was beyond the end of the pier was slowly revealed and the crew of the ship started to get to work on getting ready to dock at this place once they reached it.


    I watched, my body still on the mast as my head swiveled this way and that to see where we were going. The pier was revealed inch by inch as we sailed closer at first, and it seemed nothing particularly interesting was on it besides the three ships docked at it as well and a few people who looked like they were hanging out by the ships or maybe working. But then we reached the edge of the cliff he had been sailing beside the entire time, and I gave a hoot of surprise and excitement at the sight arrayed before me.


    Inside this cove were houses. Dozens of them, although old and old fashioned. This¡­ was a village. It seemed rather large to me, but humans are bigger than they should be as well so I suppose it comes with the territory? My nest land, the Alia Plains, was bigger than one of these bigger houses, including the tree and the hunting grounds, about the size of two houses put together! Though¡­ My nest was like my house in the larger land and it''s smaller than a human, so I suppose that they are just as good? If I was as big as a hootman, my village would be bigger. I thought to myself as I puffed myself up with a little pride as I looked at the coastal village.


    The houses seemed to all be close together and arranged like a wall in front of the water, with pathways and a few larger roads that seemed to lead to other places within the village that I couldn''t see from the boat on the sea. But I could see trees larger than any of these houses surrounding the edges of the cliffs and the village, like it was holding both in its grip, or shielding it. And as I looked up at the top of a cliff, I spotted an odd red and white building sticking up like a pillar from the ground somewhere deep in the forest. Lighthouse! A building that shoots light at the sea for people on the sea to see¡­ Humans do such weird things. I love it. I thought, admiring the old spearlike structure sticking up from the forest in the distance. I saw a glint from something reflecting the sun, and I noticed it came from a smaller figure that seemed to watch us.


    Then I turned back to where we were heading as I heard several shouts coming from the pier and the village, some excited and happy and some confused. One angry high voice seemed to come loudest though and carried clearly even across the distance to the pier.


    ¡°GRAVEN THEODOR HOOKE!¡± One woman who had a basket at her side in her hands, who had apparently come running from whatever she was doing to get to the end of the pier. Her face was red, and she seemed livid for some reason as she stared down the ship as it came closer with a slight wind buffeting in her face. But she did not blink, as she locked eyes with someone on the ship. Who is Graven? I wondered, looking down at the ship.


    The people below me however, already knew and were shying away from the person that the woman was glaring at. It was the captain, who was looking a bit pale¡­ And not just a little scared and nervous. But if the woman did not let up with her glare.


    Hey, what is going on with that? I wondered with curiosity and a mild sense of anger and protectiveness at seeing them scared, Why is the scary woman angry? I just helped these poor hootmans, and she is going to be angry at them?! Not my hootmans, you crazy woman!


    I let out a loud hoot of defiance and spread my wings, glaring at the woman right back. Then I got an idea¡­


    I pushed off the mast of the ship and I circled around it in the air for a second before I spotted what I was looking for. Z¡¯s fishing rod. HA! I love this pole! It''s been so useful! I thought with glee as I dived down quickly. Nobody on the ship seemed to be paying much mind to me, so I managed to scoop it up and fly back into the air with a cackling hoot.


    ¡°NOT AGAIN!¡± I heard Z shout exasperatedly, forgetting about the silence that had been brought upon the crew after the woman shouted and causing more then a few people to look up at me with his pole once again. I think I might have seen the captain move subtly towards his camera as I caused my distraction. But I was focused now¡­


    Focused on flying up and towards the pier. Once I was high enough I started to glide with the pole held sideways with my talons and keeping it from sliding out of my grip, almost to the pier before the ship was. I could see a small crowd forming on the pier, children, older persons, all looking up at me. Even the sharp red face of the red haired woman that was yelling at my hootman just a moment ago.


    So it was that much more devastating when I flew up so my form was covered by the sun, and dropped my pole on her face with a righteous hoot as I passed over her head! HA! That will teach you! I am the fist of righteousness! The wielder of the pole of judgement! I thought with satisfaction as I watched it impact her face from above and sending her stumbling back in surprise, knocking into a younger looking woman before she managed to regain her balance. Her face was a hilarious mix of furious and confused as she held the pole in her hands before looking back to me, and then at the ship of the fishermen. I let out another cackling hoot of delighted laughter as I landed on the front of a smaller boat tied up to the pier and looked out at everything that''s happening now, everyone either laughing or trying to make sure that the evil woman was ok¡­ I immediately liked the people that were laughing.


    I looked back at the fishing boat of the fishermen who I had hitched a ride with, a proud puff to my chest and my wings spread just a little. Most of them were laughing, Z and the captain however were exchanging looks of exasperation with a hint of amusement. Z patted the captain on the back with a solemn look¡­ Why are they acting like that? I wondered, finding it strange.


    Then I looked back at the people arrayed to meet the ship and I realized why. The evil red haired woman was looking angrier than ever, the rod still clenched in her grip. Oh no¡­ I did a bad thing! I gave her a weapon! NOOOO! I realized with horror, but there was nothing to do now as the ship came to a rest at the pier and was tied up quickly, preventing any escape for them.


    I took off into the air, flying to rescue the good man before the evil woman hurt him!


    The very first thing that happened was the woman storming onto the ship. She pushed men aside, not that they were trying to get into her way in the first place. She paused and handed Z the pole without a word before looking back to the captain. I flapped into the air and went into a steeper and faster flight towards the captain.


    ¡°Well? Care to explain why you are here four hours early?! You were supposed to get a week''s worth of fish so you could be home during the wedding! What in god¡¯s name are you thinking?!¡± She shouted with a loud voice amplified by her high, angry tone as she looked the captain dead in the eye with her hands on her hips.


    With one final flap in reverse, I landed on the captain''s head lightly and I stared down at the woman as I sat on his head defensively, my wings spread just a bit as I glared. No talking like that to the captain! He is good! And you are evil, it''s the red hair and your angry face that shows it! People with red hair always are! You have no soul, vile woman! You very large¡­ Angry woman¡­


    The woman didn''t seem impressed, and the captain stiffened as I sat on his head with my talons lightly balancing my body on his head steadily.


    ¡°AND WHAT IS WITH THIS BLOODY BIRD!¡± She yelled out, looking right at the captain, fury in her eyes. I glared back at her.


    ¡°Sue, this bloody bird showed us how to get all the fish we need in only a few hours!¡± He defended me quickly, raising his arms to his head and plucking me off his head and into his arms. I was too surprised to react, looking up at the captain with shock.


    ¡°...What?¡± The woman asked with a look of absolute confusion as she looked down at me and the captain with suspicious eyes.


    The captain moved his hand onto my head and gave me a little pet as he held me, making me shiver. That.., That feels good¡­ Hey! NO PETTING! Not-not even if it feels¡­ HOOT! I complained with a hoot, unfolding my wings and trying to straighten up and out of his arms. He held out his arm cooperatively, and I flapped into the air with a final hoot of dignity as I found my place on the mast again. All the hootmans were looking up at me now¡­


    I heard some chuckles among the people, and in the group of smaller hootmans I could see bright eyes and open mouths as they looked up at me in awe. That''s cute¡­ I noted the little one''s reaction, preening a little under the attention. Maybe I should stick around for a while¡­ Find out more about the hootmans. ¡­And look at the adorable little humanet¡­ Wait, no they are called children. They are too adorable for their own good.


    I looked out at the village, wondering how life with humans would be. It can''t be too bad¡­ Today was a good day.

 ANNOUNCEMENT!

    This isnt something that I want to do, but things are happening that happen to be very freetime consuming in my life as of right now, likely until late April. So I am taking a break from writing during that time, but I will be coming back at that time when I settle things down to the point where it is an option again. I am doing this for all my storys. Sorry about this, anyone who was waiting for a chapter!


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.