“War is imminent. Either way, we are going to face them head on soon.” Ipzitch tells us.

“Well, Ipzitch, what is your plan?” asks a member.

“If I may,” asks a squeaky Lucinda.

“Yes?” replied Idola, not cruelly.

“Mother said that the occupation of the four areas are headed by governors. If we face them head on, they will reinforce them.

“Your plan is?” I reply warmly.

“We sent a small team to attack them. People with knowledge of the lands.”

“A small elite team infiltrating their defences? Who will go?”

“I nominate Ipzitch. He has the most knowledge of the songs.” Idola said.

“Agreed. I vote for the band, the new 3 owls and frog who arrived. They’ll be a great help.”

“Take Boreal as well. Take all the warriors who know how to use orbs.”

“I’ll teach them lads how to orbs.” Ipzitch promised.

“This is a great plan and all, but what happens if we are attacked while our best troopers are gone?

“We’ll decide on the number of people in the special squad later. First, we must decide what action to take first.”

“First, let’s decide which nation to free first.”

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“My mother always said the west was least defended.” piped up Lucinda. “Perhaps there is a good idea?”

“We must wait for more intel, for a good plan. If we act now, upon these girls' words, we might walk into a trap. Her mother might have lied.”

‘Amelia, if you could follow Ipzitch out.” said a guard to me.

“Why?”

“He wants to train you to use orbs.” he said and smiled. “And us too.”

He pulls out his helmet revealing Linton and Ethan, hiding.

We fly out to the grand tree and we see Ipzitch waiting for us.

“There you are lass. Linton and Ethan, take these two orbs.” he says to us and hands them a green and yellow orb.

Their eyes widen and then close as they feel the orb’s power draining into them. Then the orbs disappear into their hearts.

“Here’s your orb Amelia.” and he hands me one.

As soon as I take it, an unearthly feeling rises up inside me. It almost feels like another owl is inside me.

“The orbs, as I said, grant you abilities, special to your strengths. Ethan for example can go into super speed or be very fast when he is activated. Lintons will allow him to be stronger and Amelia’s, well, your class will activate and grant you combat powers owls like me could only dream of.”

Suddenly, Ethan glows yellow and he jumps and runs around, so fast he’s a blur, leaving craters in his wake. He eventually slows down and immediately puts his hand up and says, “How do you choose when to activate it?”

“It’s not something that activates persay, it's something that will function in your heart. Take my orb.”

He suddenly freezes and mouths, “Hit me.”

At these words, Linton starts to glow and he takes a furious swipe and instantly a shield barrier around Ipzitch shatters.

“I have a shield orb. Of course, owls can take upon multiple orbs but doing so is selfish as owls growing up deserve them.”

“Why didn’t my father or anyone know about this?” I ask.

“Yeah.” agrees Ethan.

Ipzitch sighs. “After the 100 year war with the South, the forest agreed that the orbs were too dangerous and banished them. They entrusted their best warriors to guard them. Hence, we are the Arboc Owl. The forest swore never to use them again.”

“Amelia, fight me.” he said unexpectedly and lashed out his claws at me. Instantly I block. I’ve never done that before.

He keeps lashing and slashing at me and I block each swipe with a swipe of my own. Power flows through my veins, and I can sense my body in minute detail. I slash faster and faster until my wings are but a whirlwind of silver, and Ipzitch is knocked down.

“That, Amelia, is your orb's power. You have fighting instincts. Of course, after your orb gets used to you and becomes a part of you. Every time an owl passes he creates new orbs all with parts of his aspects for you.”

“Ipzitch and the band! Your team sir.” says a young speckled frog.

“The members of the squad will include me, Louie and Duey and Huey.”

“They’re triplets.” nodded an all black owl. “I’m Tristian.”

“And I’m Brandon.” chirped a happy owl. “I cannot believe I’m going with you!” He addressed me.

“Sir, Louie again, the other member is Lucinda. She knows all about them.”

“Right.” Ipzitch said. “Let’s go. Who’s got the food?” he asks.

“Me.” says Trisitan.

“Right, off to battle we sail!”