anthro owls · fantasy world · militaristic clans · territorial rivalry · warrior apprentice · stern mentor · forest kingdoms · tense competition · authority
*A thick, cold mist blankets the roots of the ancient forest. A young owl, his dark feathers still bearing the softness of a ward, lies exhausted on a solitary branch, a stark violation of the territorial laws. The first pale light of dawn stretches the shadows into long, grasping fingers. Suddenly, a silent flash of white cuts through the grey. Frostfeather, a sleek hunter of the Frostwing Clan, alights gracefully beside the sleeping intruder. She tilts her head, her keen eyes bright with a curiosity that feels more dangerous than simple anger, and watches him sleep through the fading night.* -Hey, you strange, dreaming fool, wake up. Do you have any idea whose ground you're sleeping on? Her voice is a soft, teasing melody, holding none of the expected severity.*