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The Origin of Owllock Holmes

Detective Hoot vs Owl Capone

By RJPublished 3 years ago 10 min read
5

The blackness of night engulfed the forest. Before the sun’s golden rays peeked through, rising the forest to life. A little mouse scurried through the underbrush, dodging branches and boulders in his way. A little scarf made from a scrap of red yarn waved behind him.

The mouse was Henry Middleton. He served as the messenger for the village, tonight he was visiting Arthur Hoot, an old barn owl; who kept to himself but had a reputation for solving mysteries.

A branch cracked rattling the sleepy forest; Mr. Middleton trembled and dove into a pile of dead leaves, but a talon caught him mid-air, pinning him to the forest floor. All he could see of his attacker were glowing yellow eyes.

“Henry?” a gravelly voice came from the owl above him. “Is that you? You're beyond peace treaty bounds; you could have been killed!” Arthur released him and leaned down to be at eye level with the creature.

Mr. Middleton gulped loudly. “Dd-d-detective Hoot. The village is under a-a-attack; we've found bodies every night, Mr. H-hoot. The council told me to request your h-h-help.”

Detective hoot adjusted his monocle and drew a pipe from within his feathers, puffing on it gingerly. “Whose bodies Middleton?”

“E-e-everyone's sir, geese, snakes, mice, even o-owls...”

“Owls!” Arthur narrowed his gaze on Middleton. “You should have started there. I'll help Henry. Has there been an attack tonight?”

Middleton adjusted his glasses (which had become foggy in the tussle) and told Arthur to head west. “Follow the river, where the water divides, you'll find the body of an o-ow-owl. Tactical support mice are already on s-s-scene, sir.”

Arthur glided in the air over the trees. Down below, the fellow owls mourned their loss. Candles in their homes twinkled through the trees like lightning bugs in the summer.

When Arthur arrived on the scene, the sheriff rat met him. The end of a white candy stick that he pretended was a cigarette protruded from his mouth. He was wearing cowboy boots, a vest, and a badge that he had stolen off an abandoned Barbie Doll.

The sheriff was the only rat that mice allowed to dwell amongst them. He was small for a rat, and the other rats refused him. He now ran with the mice and protected them. But it was known that deep down, the rejection bothered him.

“Howdy, Detective! nice of you to join us.” The sheriff scoffed. He’d never liked how Arthur could be a detective without also being a member of his force.

“It’s Owleck; he was attacked from the sky, we found talon marks in his back...” the sheriff continued.

Arthur nodded solemnly, approaching the mangled owl, motioning for the body to be turned over.

The crowd that was beginning to develop gasped in horror. On the belly of the fallen owl, carved into the skin, was the letter C. The rust-colored edges of the letter glinted in the night, reflecting in the sheriff's beady black eyes.

“That’s a signature if I’ve ever seen one,” said the sheriff taking a drag from his candy stick.

“It is...” Arthur said but trailed off.

“Probably some outshout from across the river trying to scare us,” said the sheriff confidently.

“Maybe.”

A small animal tugged on Arthur’s feather, and he turned to greet them. It was Owleck's, son. Arthur threw his wing out to shield the child from his father's body. The child was crying, but his chest was puffed and proud. “I want to help you,” he said.

“Little one, I promise I will find who did this; the best way to help is to take care of your mom and sisters. “

“But it’s my fault!” He wailed, now sobbing, his chest caving and his head falling. “I made him go detective; It’s my fault!” The owl cried.

“It’s okay, son, sometimes bad things happen, and there’s no reason,” Arthur said, nuzzling the owl's head.

“Nothing will ever be okay again!” The child said, pushing himself from behind Arthur’s wing, he ran to his father's side, next to his mother, and there, they both sobbed.

Arthur arrived at home when the sun was beginning to rise on the horizon. He found an owl pellet sitting on his doorstep. Arthur approached curiously. It was a mouse, still fully formed in the pellet. Mummified and stiff, but fresh. Arthur knew before he got close, and one tear trailed down his cheek. Around the creature’s, neck was a small scarf made from a scrap of red yarn.

Arthur couldn't move the body. He stepped over it with closed eyes and went inside. When he opened them again he saw another message waiting for him. Along the wall was a message in Henry's blood.

“You’re next.”

He knew this moment would come. Years ago he’d been involved in a case that ended with the death of Owl Capone’s brother. Owl Capone was the most vicious gangster in the forest. He had been kept at bay by the peace treaty. No animal in this village could kill another. But Arthur knew he wouldn’t let his brother's life go unavenged.

Arthur’s stomach turned, he saw the child and his mother weeping, he saw Henry and his family. How would they feel when they heard? All this death in the name of vengeance made him nauseous. If it was him Capone wanted, it was him he would get.

Confronting Capone required traveling outside the village. Capone lived in a village across the river. There murder was encouraged. Owl Capone was a Great Horned Owl he lived in the largest tree, with a view of the entire village.

Arthur, using his large wings to fly silently, crept up to the tree. At the base of the old oak was an armed guard. Arthur, tucked behind a nearby bush, and hooted loudly, doing his best to mimic a female. The guard couldn’t resist a chance to mate and Arthur slipped silently into the door.

He traveled up two floors without being seen. On the third landing, he ran into a snake and goose traveling down in the opposite direction. The snake shot at Arthur, fangs showing, it’s body ridged. Arthur leaned to the side evading the attack before grabbing the goose by the neck and hoisting it into the air.

He flung the goose down the steps and before he could reset, the snake went for a rear attack. Arthur rotated his head a full 270 degrees so he could see what was behind him. He then leaped back into the air and dodged the attack, sending the snake flying down the steps as well.

The altercation alerted the rest of the guards, who were now flooding in from the stairwell on every level. Arthur moved quickly up the flights. But an arrow pierced his wing on the 6th floor sending him crashing down. Two geese grabbed him by the feathers and dragged him the remaining flights to Capone’s office. Capone was waiting for him, his horns sharpened to a deadly point.

“Arthur! I was just talking about you,” Owl Capone said with an evil grin. “Did you get my messages?”

Arthur rose his head to meet Capone's eyes. “Only a coward kills the innocent Capone.”

Capone slammed his hand on the table, feathers flying in all directions. “My brother was innocent!” He roared.

Arthur grimaced at this, “Capone, we wanted to take him into custody. He was trying to fly away, the arrow was never supposed to-“

Capone held up his hand and interrupted “I’m not going to kill you, Arthur. In fact, I need you. I want to expand my territory, the other villagers trust you. I’m going to exploit that,” said Owl Capone, “and then, I’m going to imprison you for the rest of your miserable life.”

Arthur enraged, shook free from one guard and rotated to kick the other in the side, he then lunged at Capone, knocking him off balance. Arthur leaped forward again sinking his claws into Capone's chest and pushing him towards the window with all his power. They both flew out and landed on a platform below. Capone rose shakily and slashed across Arthur’s midsection. But Arthur jumped back to avoid the attack and yanked the arrow from his arm, now using it as a knife.

“Let’s end this Capone.” He said waving it in the air.

Capone who was much larger than Arthur marched toward him. Arthur slashed the air with the arrow. “Come on! Come at me!” He yelled.

Capone lunged and tried to slice Arthur's neck with a right kick.

Arthur rolled and plunged the arrow into the now exposed soft underbelly of a surprised Capone. He stumbled toward the edge of the landing, Arthur rose into the air as much as he could and kicked him in the chest. Capone tumbled over the edge of the platform but Arthur grabbed him before he could fall.

“Just stop Capone! I don’t want to do this, we can get you help for the wound just give it up!” Arthur screamed.

Owl Capone's eyes were glazed and the blood from the stab wound stained his snow-white feathers. He reached up an arm to grab Arthur and uttered two simple words. “I can’t.”

He let Arthur go with that and before Arthur could protest, he fell, flying down hundreds of feet, still looking at Arthur with dull eyes. Arthur watched until he disappeared under the fog, and he wept, even for his enemy.

He buried his face in his feathers, long enough for a small creature to sneak up behind him and plunge a knife into his back. Arthur arched his torso and wailed in pain, falling to his side while he gasped for breath.

In front of him, two tiny boots came into view. The sheriff, now wielding a new candy cigarette and a knife approached him.

“You ruin everything! So much for a detective, I was right under your nose. And I don’t care about Capone, he’s done his part. I’m tired, of being pushed around. I’m tired of you getting the glory for my work.” He shoved a pink finger into Arthur’s face.

"I want the glory. I’ll show that stupid mice council that I’m more than a dog off the leash to do their dirty work. I’m the god damn sheriff!” Spit flew from his lips as he talked, growing angrier by the second. “Owl Capone didn’t want to kill you, but it would be my pleasure,” he snarled inching closer, knife in hand.

Arthur was fading. His breaths were growing shallower and shallower.

At that moment a piercing screech shattered the air and an owl dove down, grabbing the sheriff and tossing him over the side. The sheriff screamed but was caught again by another owl, who wasn’t aware of the situation and carried him off happily for dinner.

Arthur opened his eyes to see Owleck's son tending to wounds. The child was beaming. Arthur smiled back before passing out.

He awoke at home, in bed, with his wing in a cast and stitches in his back. The sun rays danced along the floor. On the nightstand near his bed was an honor for bravery and a note.

“Dear Detective Hoot,

I hope you’re recovering well.

I'm Owllock Holmes, Owleck’s son.

After my dad’s death, I’ve become passionate about fighting crime. I have to feed my family and honor my father the best way I know-how. I saw the way you fought at Owl Capone’s lair and I thought maybe, you could teach me. I hope to be a great detective like you one day.

If you decide to help, I’ll be waiting in the field to the left of the forest every day at noon.

Best wishes from future detective Owllock Holmes. “

Arthur stretched his old joints and rose from the bed.

Maybe it was time to pass the torch.

satire
5

About the Creator

RJ

Find me on Instagram at @awriterwhodraws

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