Post by Fin on Dec 12, 2010 22:49:26 GMT
[/size][/font]
MILKBERRY HARVEST
Emerging from the calm waves came the sun in all of it's glory. As it rose, light began to fall on the water and over an island, the huge tree in the centre casting a long shadow across the water. Minimal clouds barred the majority of the light, causing a wonderful, broken effect on the sunlight. Upon the island, the grass swayed gently, the tide lapping the shores. Around the tree, birds began to emerge, roosting on the long branches and roots or flying around in a slow, lazy movement. One or two small clusters of owls landed on the island, either heading straight for the main part or for their hollows. Though most were only just waking or returning after a night out, many owls were already bustling about in the Great Hollow, for today was an important day.
The hollow was situated above the dining hollow, where some were eating their first meal of the day, close to the Ryb's hollows. It was the largest place in the whole tree, and served a purpose that required such a size. It was where meetings were called, speeches made and celebrations conducted - all owls could come here for each of those reasons. It is a rectangular shape that is mostly even, with a few candles lit around the room for extra light. A balcony of sorts is where an owl can perch to speak, usually a member of parliament, with a large, round window behind it. Made by a blacksmith of the tree many years ago, it has a coloured-glass window that sheds purple and red light when the sun is at the right position. It somewhat resembles a half moon.
Outside, from a high point in the tree, a loud hoot called out belonging to the Ryb Leonidas. The great grey was usually given the job to call all owls to the Great Hollow as he had one of the loudest hoots in all of Hoole, as some say. The large owl dived from his perch, flying off towards the hollow, his long grey wings angled. The hoot still echoed around the tree, and by the time he had arrived at the hollow, many others had gotten there before him. Not wasting time, he flew over to where the other Rybs had gathered at the back of the hollow, on a carved perch long enough for all of them. Nodding to the others, he got himself comfortable.
A small Southern White-Faced owl urgently flew into the hollow, thinking he was late, and landed heavily through the entrance, hurrying over to where the co-rybs were sitting. It was Kall, co-ryb of the Ga'hoology chaw. Looking around, you could see the relief in the little owls face as he settled beside another, trying to preen his feathers from being ruffled. Before he could speak a word, silence consumed the hollow, few voices still audible.
All eyes were pointed up to the balcony, where a figure was sat proudly. Beside him sat a helmet - elegant enough to be described as a crown, but still capable of it's job. He was tall, his ear tufts raised high and his amber eyes shining. It was none other than King Arctus, noble leader of the tree.
"Greetings, to all." He hooted, his voice bounding through the hollow, reaching all ears. "Today marks the beginning of a festival, but for a festival to happen, you must prepare. In exactly eight days time, the Milkberry Festival shall begin, and in that time between, all owls will spend their time helping the great harvest of the berries around the tree. As some of you already know, this requires some chaw classes to be held off. Call it a break of sorts, if you will." The great-horned owl paused, before adding, "This does not mean our duties will go undone. Search-and-rescue, Tracking and Colliering will still go ahead on their expeditions out."
The owls below him began to murmur hastily between themselves about what had been said. Arctus cleared his throat, beginning again, "In this time of great celebration, we must nurture the tree too, making sure that future generations can enjoy all our home has to offer as we do. The Ga'hoology students will already know how to treat the tree, and so they will be helping all those not in the chaw. On a more serious note, any owl caught helping himself to a berry or two before the festival begins will be dealt with very harshly - it is not unheard of for a young owl to get a chaw-chop for doing so. But don't let that scare you off! Before we start, I advise you to visit the dining hollow so you are not tempted, but if you have already eaten find a Ryb or a Ga'hoology student to group up."
"If there is nothing else to say, then let us begin!" He hooted finally, putting his helmet on with his talons and spreading his long wings wide, throwing himself sideways off the balcony into a spiral folding his wings as he did before opening them again flying out of the hollow, leading the large group of owls.
The little Ga'hoology co-ryb flapped after them, heading straight for a nearby branch when he was outside. Scanning the area, he located a small group of owls clustering around the blacksmith. It was his chaw, all waiting to be given a metal bucket made by the forger. It was with these they would collect the berries given to them by their group of owls.
[/blockquote]
[/td][/tr][/table][/center]