Follow The Mysterious Owl

It was a big celebration for a New Year's week. It was quite exciting the entire week but it was also exhausting. An exciting celebration for all families and children from their special holidays, including Christmas, day after day, night after night. My holiday week was a blast. It wasn't a big party. My parents and I have a family reunion for the very late Christmas/New year’s dinner feast that my mother prepared. My family members and relatives included my five aunts(my mother’s sisters), my cousin Ceres, my uncle(my father’s brother), my other uncles(my aunts’ husbands), and other five little cousins. We served each of us with pumpkin squash stew, sweet potatoes, bread, salads, and our special treat- an organic honey-pumpkin pie-around the table. We made some jokes and shared our laughs. After that, we were very tired from all the food in our stomachs.

The next day, it was beautiful day in the winter season at the village. It was quite beautiful with all the crystal snow on the ground and icicles like diamonds around the branches from the trees. In the village, there are lots of children giggling, playing, making more of their snowmen, and throwing snowballs at each other. While the children were playing, I was walking down the snowy trail to meet up with Ceres. Suddenly, there is a mysterious shadow appearing out of nowhere. It just passed me through. I did not see that coming. It went too fast. It was like a kite.

I was curious what it was. It looks like a featured creature. Then, it disappeared. I was speechless. “Okay.”

So, I have to keep walking. Maybe it was just some imagination. Or, so I thought.

Another day, it was quite a sunny day, but still cold. Ceres and I are wearing our warm winter outfits. I was practicing with Ceres while we were training a few of our icy spells including one of the main spells called the ‘Ray Of Frost'. I cast at the empty, but rustic cans and jars as my target practice before her future quest or a new adventure. But not yet. It takes some time, I thought. It took me at least an hour to train my spells. I was about to get myself some hot cocoa for a break. Then, it came out of nowhere. There is a mysterious barn owl that just flew above me. It was like a giant paper plane. “Ceres, Did you see that?” I asked.

“No, I thought I did,'' Ceres replied. “Maybe we should take a look and follow them.” Ceres and I just enter the woods and follow the owl. We are walking and keep searching for it. We have been walking for 15 minutes. And there it is, we finally found the owl. It was on top of the thick branch. We saw an owl grabbing, picking, and peaking some berries from the bushes. The barn owl looks glorious! It's the most mystical creature I have ever seen. And then, I tripped. “Oh no!” It scared an owl away. “Shoot! We can't let it get away!” We ended up chasing it. That bird is so fast. The barn owl is now leading us and wants us to follow. We have to follow the barn owl as best as we can. We have to be careful to not let the cold chill our breath. Our lungs are beginning to feel cold inside.

Then, we stop. The owl was gone. We have been blocked and distracted by the icy willow trees. It's beautiful. Our eyes were wide open. Until we found an owl that had already passed through the willows. We were walking through these icicles of willow vines that look like dangling wind chimes around the garden. It glances like diamonds. When I look at them, they look like the crystal-silver necklaces that I saw in the market. “Cassie! Look!” Ceres found something. It was an old, abandoned chapel. The owl has entered the chapel. We are now in the chapel. It had been covered with big roots and vines for years. Then, we see something it's glowing, very bright like the sun, at the stand. Once we come closer, the glowing stop. It turned out that it was a treasure. But, it was a present for both of us. We opening it. There were two golden heart-floral lockets with key charms. And then, there was a letter- “Dear Cassie and Ceres, I'm glad I got to meet you from last summer. Thank you again for being so wonderful. Happy late Christmas and a happy new year. Love, Diana.” It was from Diana. “Surprise!” She pops out and appears. “Hey, guys!” We were so happy to see her again. We were hugging together. We were wondering why Diana set it up. It turns out that Diana changed herself as a barn owl using her wild shape spell for a surprise.

We were laughing and giggling. It's now getting dark and it's almost dinner time. Without a doubt, I'm starving. Diana is escorting us home with our light spell without fear of walking in the dark.