Of Chicks and Owlets [1/2]

[honou_no_izumi]

Title: Of Chicks and Owlets
Characters: Otulissa, Cleve, Soren, Pellimore
Fandom: Guardians of Ga'Hoole
Rating: G
Summary: Post series. What a half-blind owl got to do now with the arrival of three eggs of her own?

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"Oh dear! Oh dear! By Glaux what should I do!"

Soren and Pelli frowned as they lighted in front of the hollow where Cleve and Otulissa lived in before walking in to find Cleve staring at them in a bewildered state. Somewhere nearby, a small mound of feathers that was Otulissa continued to moan as the pair noticed the newly laid eggs sat neatly in a nest of downs. Pelli gasped in wonder as Soren hopped to Cleve's side to ask what was wrong. Normally, to have new eggs welcomed into the world is a cause to be celebrated, not to be woed at!

Otulissa answered his concerns right away. "But oh Soren... Cleve dear! Three eggs, and you know of my duties in this tree! How should I care for them. My very own chicks!"

Soren stared at her in amazement over the outburst. Of all things that this dear old friend was worrying...

"But Otulissa dear, you're not going to be the only one to care for the chick alone. There's me... Audrey, I think Pelli won't mind helping out, as well as many other owls that could help you. Don't fret..." coaxed Cleve gently as Otulissa continued to cry.

"What help? Even Soren last time left Pelli to fend for herself for their chicks while he went frolicking away with the Band! I'm not as good as Pelli in these things... and I've only got one eye! What'd I do!" she moaned again as Soren became flustered.

Pelli hastily tried to calm her mate down before turning towards her. "But that was different, dear. Soren had been worried about Coryn that time who seemed so depressed himself. He knew that I'd be able to care for the chicks while he be away, so was not worried too much about it," Soren beamed to his mate as Pelli winked at him. "I'm sure Cleve would help the best he could with the chicks and Audrey would certainly help too, just as we had Mrs. P to help us."

"Besides, that time I was really glad Soren did what he did. Or else he'd be even more depressed than Coryn could have been and I would have to handle that along with the chicks!" Pelli churred as Soren stared at her in alarm over what she said.

"I di—" Soren tried to argue as Peli continued to speak.

"And Otulissa dear, it doesn't matter if you had perfect eyesight or not. I'm sure you'd be able to become a good mother for your chicks as well as I have. And I know despite what you said, you liked taking care of young'uns... didn't you?"

Soren glanced towards Cleve in exasperation as he muttered softly. "Females..." he said as Cleve churred.

Otulissa seemed to have calmed down a little to Cleve's relief. "Also Otulissa, as for many of your duties you don't think that we could have helped lighten the load? I could always help handle the colliering and weather interpretation chaw, Fritha could take care of the press, Pelli, the Band, everyone could always help out with the other tasks. You could even have your classes here instead! You've worried too much, dear friend," said Soren again.

"You'll do fine, dear," Cleve said as he wrapped one wing around his mate. "We'll manage. You've done many things in the past, this shouldn't be any different. We can manage it."

Otulissa covered her face underneath Cleve's feathers as she sobbed still. "I'm a pathetic owl..."

Soren churred. "Why Otulissa, it wasn't that bad! Get a grip of yourself! I'm sure that the moment the chicks are hatched all your worries would be gone! You'd do fine."

The sobbing finally stopped but Otulissa still hid her face under her feathers.

"This is so embarrassing..." she moaned as Pelli tapped her gently with her wing.

"Everything's going to be fine."

"And aside from us, I'm sure there would be some books you could read to learn to take care of your chicks better."

Cleve smiled as Otulissa finally cheered up. "Oh my, I never thought of that!" she exclaimed as Soren saw the old Otulissa returning to everyone's relief.

"All will be fine!" said Cleve again as Otulissa stopped worrying.

xxx

"You're saying that I'm such a worrier, aren't you dear?"

Pelli's eyes twinkled as she glanced to her mate.

"Aren't you? And you had always worried about Coryn as much as you did for the three Bs. I was glad you manage to handle it well and not falter as well."

Soren churred. "So you never thought I'd be a good father?" he asked as Pelli giggled.

"I feared you might have been too good a father actually. I worry if you'd try to become everyone's father at this rate!"

Soren exclaimed in amusement as he saw that Pelli was just jesting. They heard Bell calling after them as she asked to be allowed to fly the highwind that had started to blow towards the tree. Soren smiled.

"Ah well, concerns aside I have more than I could have handle with my own three chicks. No need to worry about me dear."

Pelli saw him off as father and daughter flew into the wind and surfed the gutters, scuppers, swillage and baggywrinkles as any Guardians of Ga'Hoole could fly. She smiled to herself as she watched them from afar. It was indeed peaceful times now, thankfully, if the only few concerns that arose were that of worries of a seasoned warrior owl over taking care of her future owlets.

My, what a cherished peaceful times this is...