Under The Moon's Watchful Eye
"Hail, Great Owl!" a voice drifted into my dreams, rousing me from my slumber. I blearily cracked open one eye: it was not yet night. "I trust there is good reason for my being disturbed so early?" I snapped irritably, clacking my beak to hide a yawn. The voice from outside carried a fair amount of contrition. "Apologies, O Chief. I did not mean to disturb you. It's just…well...strange creatures have been sighted, on the broad path of the Men. I was sent to seek your council." I snorted. Being Chief Bird of the East was the burden I bore as the eldest owl. It seemed the other birds of my domain scrambled to me for every little matter that needed resolving, and I was weary of the endless silly nesting disputes...wait...strange creatures, eh? With a huff, I leaped up to the edge of the hole in the tree I made my nest in. I squinted in the light of the lowering sun and beheld a small songbird of some sort on the branch, a respectful distance away. The young fellow, a warbler with a gold belly, I could now see, gulped and bowed his head. "My apologies again, Great Owl," he stammered. "Yes, yes," I cut him off. "Tell me of these creatures, and who sent you?"
