Facing the Scrooms, Strix and her team must face the scrooms

[Strix Moonwing]

Strix was silent as she listened to Flametip's confession of love. What could she say? She had a mate that she loved already. Flametip was her friend, probably one of her best and most closest of friends, but nothing more. They weren't allowed to be anything but nothing more. A twinge of grief and guilt struck her gizzard at these thoughts.

She loved Flametip, but not in the way he wanted. She was only glad that Flametip himself understood. Their relationship could only remain as a close friendship.

A cold breeze blew through the Knowing tree, gently shaking the branches and making the crows huddle next to their closest friend in warmth and comfort. Strix only shivered and thought of her home; never had she wanted or needed to see her friend and family as badly as right now. To hear Strella's laugh, to laugh at Will's latest prank, to be by her dying mate's side, to fly under the branches of the tree she called home. A single tear ran down her face at the thought, but she wiped it away quickly.

Strix sighed and looked Flametip; the scar that ran across his face was white and featherless. Maybe, in time, the feathers would grow back. Time does heal the worst of wounds. As she looked at it, she couldn't help but think that this was all her fault. It was her that the scrooms were after, not Flametip. If she hadn't brought Flametip, they wouldn't have hurt him. This made her close her eyes in pain. She didn't want to hurt Flametip any more than she had already.

"Flametip, everyone has scars." She whispered finally. "Some deeper than others. Not all of them can be seen, but..." Strix's eyes filled with grief. "but they hurt just as much.

Surprising herself, Strix leaned over and hugged Flametip; never had she needed a friend as much as she did now. As she hugged him, she whispered, "Flametip, no matter what, I will also care about you. Please remember that."

[TurquoisePheonix]

"We should get back to the Tree." Flametip mumbled, thankful for Strix's kindness. He was confused, though; nobody had any reason to care about anyone else's pains or suffering, and what he was feeling was wrong. He did not understand that no feeling was wrong. To Flametip, there was absolutely no reason for him to feel this way; she was kind, gentle, but strong, stronger than any owl in the Tree, emotionally; her leadership was unmatched, and, in the eyes of many, the greatest Queen Ga'hoole had ever seen.

"Why? How could I...why...ugh, nevermind. This is too complicated for any of us at the time, and we have to get back to the Tree. Something's...wrong there. It's as if the air around it's different. The whole time we were here, it felt as if we should be at the Tree." Flametip said, putting any emotional insecurities of his into the back of his mind; he had felt this strange distortion since they had gotten here, but he had shaken it off as nothing important. But now, he felt rushed to get back to the Tree. To any other owl, it wouldn't be so bad.

But every time Flametip had this feeling, something always went terribly wrong.

[Strix Moonwing]

"Yes," Strix murmured her gizzard trembling with joy at the thought of returning to the tree. "Let's go to the tree. Let's go home."

The night was at its climax and a full moon was high. As the stars shone their brightest, Strix Moonwing, Queen of Ga' hoole, waved good-bye to the crows of the Knowing Flock and, with her team at her wing, took flight. The dread of the nights before had vanished into a distant memory in the owl's minds at the prospect of returning to their beloved tree. Back to their friends and family.

If only they knew of the nightmare that awaited them.

OCC: Do you mind with we barge in on the battle at the tree? Nothing like a surprise attack to win a battle.