A Guide Book to the Great Tree (2 page)

Something struck me the last time I taught my black fire lesson to my chaw. I have looked at Isolde's diagrams again and again. Only this time I noticed the location of the affected areas of the roots. The black fire started at the northeast side of the tree and burrowed inward. Why, it must have passed right under the parliamentary hollow. Is it possible that a case of black fire several hundred years ago allowed certain owls, who will remain unnamed, to overhear what was being said in the parliamentary hollow? Oh, to think of it!

It might seem improper to have such information in a book of this nature. But our little listening station is a feature of the tree, and it must be recorded for posterity.

Even though the Great Ga'Hoole Tree has lived about a thousand years, it continues to grow and change. We understand now that we must care for the great tree, as it cares for us. We tend to its needs as it tends to ours. It is my job as the Ga'Hoolology ryb to teach all the young owls the importance of tending to our living home.

I should mention that although I was never in the Ga'Hoolology chaw, I am, in fact, the current
Ga'Hoolology ryb. After the, well—how shall I put it?—less-than-voluntary departure of Dewlap, the tree was in dire need of a new Ga'Hoolology ryb. Thanks to that boring old Burrowing Owl, the subject was seen by all students as the most tedious of the whole tree. As much as I hated the endless hours of pellet-burying as a young owl, I knew the importance of caring for our home. I saw an opportunity for a change. So, I volunteered to fill the post of Ga'Hoolology ryb, determined to ignite a passion for learning about our beloved tree in my young charges. It's true that I was double-chawed in weather interpretation and colliering; nevertheless, I had always made it a point to be proficient in all subjects. I am still learning about the subject, of course. But I hope that I have made Ga'Hoolology a more exciting subject for young students.

With that, I will end my treatise on the natural history of the Great Ga'Hoole Tree. According to the legends, the awesome powers of the Ember of Hoole remained on the island while Hoole ruled here. Some believed it was the ember that made the tree great. But King Hoole knew better. He realized that, although the great tree had magical beginnings, the power of the tree was rooted in the collective spirit of the Guardians. It is the principles of honor, virtue, and the pursuit of knowledge that give the great tree its power. So, since the time of Hoole, those principles have guided us. The tree and the Guardians have needed no magic to thrive.

May both flourish for ages to come.

H
onor, virtue, kindness, purity of heart…of course, these are all ingredients that go into the making of a Guardian of Ga'Hoole. But becoming a Guardian requires, beyond all the intangible qualities, a proper education.

When Hoole founded our great tree, he realized that there was an infinite number of things to be taught and learned, and that this learning, beyond all the magen in the world, would make the tree great. And so, he introduced unto owlkind the “chaw” as we know it. During King H'rathmore's reign in ancient times, owls came together for sport, to practice their fighting skills, and for general learning, in small groups called chaws. The chaws of today come together in much the same way, to hone skills and pass on knowledge to any owl who wishes to learn, regardless of species or background, but today the scope of our teaching is much broader. For those of you
not yet fortunate to be in study at the great tree, I have listed some of the courses now taught here.

CHAW FUNDAMENTALS

All young owls of the tree begin their education with Chaw Fundamentals. These classes are required, and must be completed before owls are chosen for a chaw. The material taught in these classes is general, but of utmost importance; it is knowledge that every chaw member should have. Plus, owls are introduced to a wealth of tools that become indispensable later in their lives. In fact, it was in Chaw Fundamentals that I first encountered a book by my illustrious ancestor, the renowned weathertrix Strix Emerilla.

Now that I am a ryb (even though I have chosen to dispense with the title in day-to-day life, like many others before me), I get such joy from seeing owlets learn new skills for the first time. Oh, to be young again…to be so open to possibilities. In these pre-chaw assignment classes, young owls get a chance to figure out which chaws they might like best and in which chaw their own unique talents best fit, while the rybs scout out those who
show special talent for their own chaws. Sometimes, an owl knows right away in her gizzard which chaw is right for her. Other times, an owl's calling takes him by surprise. I remember when I, along with the Band, was about to be chaw tapped. Twilight knew from the start that he was perfect for search-and-rescue, and sure enough, that's the chaw that he was tapped for. I, on the other hand, thought for sure that I would be tapped for the Navigation Chaw. Oh, how I absolutely, positively, categorically adored my navigation classes with Strix Struma. Instead, I was double chawed in colliering and weather interpretation. It was a disappointment. To be perfectly frank, I was frinked off for quite a while about that one. But, it all worked out for the best in the end. I know now that I was meant for those chaws, and I couldn't have made a better choice myself.

(For Weak Fliers Only)

Taught by the distinguished ryb Poot

All newly arrived young owls to the great tree must be evaluated by a team of rybs for flight proficiency. Those deemed weak fliers will be required to attend remedial flight lab. This course teaches the fundamentals of sound flight, basic flapping, upstrokes, downstrokes, power liftoff, wing control, air carving, basic steering, and flying
information. After three sessions, owls are reevaluated for fitness to move on to other coursework.

Taught by the distinguished ryb Twilight

Strong flight skills are crucial to search-and-rescue efforts. This course will teach advanced flying skills, including effective high-altitude and low-altitude circling, diving, emergency landings, and in-flight object retrieval. Owls will go on real reconnaissance missions and deliver oral and written reports to their classmates. Partner work will also be covered, as all search-and-rescue operations require owls to work in pairs. With the ryb's approval, some owls will be introduced to battle claws, and be taught how to fly with them.

Taught by the distinguished ryb Ruby

Wind and flight are intricately linked. Knowing how to fly in different types of wind and how to use wind to one's advantage are two things that set the owls of the Great Ga'Hoole Tree apart from other owls. In this class, owls will be taught to fly in turbulent winds and harsh weather conditions. The structure of a storm, including thermals (warm updrafts), gutters (the main trough of air in a strong
wind), scuppers (where the edge of the winds of gutters spill over), swillages (where scuppers meet still air), and baggywrinkles (the shredded air currents that lie between the scuppers and the gutter) will be covered. Everyone in this class will be required to fly in at least one small storm.

Taught by the distinguished ryb Gylfie

In this class, owls will be taught to look to the sky to plot their course of travel. Students will be asked to recognize key stars and constellations in the Hoolemere region, and how they relate to landmass locations at different times of the year. The course will present opportunities to go on as many night flights as possible. Owls will also fly with the navigation chaw for observation and to participate in simple tracing exercises.

Taught by the distinguished ryb Otulissa

The Great Ga'Hoole Tree has been home to hundreds of thousands of owls during the last millennium. It is our duty as Guardians to make sure it continues to thrive. In this course, owls will learn how to maintain a symbiotic relationship with the tree. A significant part of the course
will be devoted to practical exercises, including pellet-burying, vine-trimming, and pruning. Each owl will also be required to write two essays, and pop quizzes will be given at the ryb's discretion.

Taught by the distinguished ryb Bubo

The Guardians depend on various types of metals in their day-to-day activities. This course will introduce young owls to the metals that can easily be found on or near the Island of Hoole. Books used in this course will include:
How to Identify Metals
;
Elemental Metals in the Southern Kingdoms; Mu Metal and Its Implications for Magnetics
; and
Metal-Shaping with Fire.
Owls will also be introduced to the forge. There, they will be asked to identify the basic tools used by blacksmiths. At the end of the course, owls will take the F.A.S.T. (Forge Acumen and Safety Test). Those who pass will receive their Forge Safety Certificate and be allowed to begin work at the forge.

Taught by the distinguished ryb Sylvanna

All animals, including owls, leave tracks. Events are almost always recorded in the tracks of an animal. Tracks can tell you a lot about an animal: where it was headed, its speed of
travel, even its size, health, and age. This course will teach owls how to identify the tracks of birds and small land animals, and how to piece together clues that tell us about an event that occurred in the past. Owls in this class will work with the tracking chaw on tactical tracking operations to develop proper groundwork skills.

Taught by the distinguished ryb Elvan

Once categorically feared by creatures of the forest, wildfires are now considered both friend and foe to owlkind. Studying forest fires is crucial to harnessing their power. In this class, owls will take the first step in the study of colliering. We will learn about the elements of a fire, how forest fires start, the properties of thermal drafts, coal types and their formation, and fuel ladders. Different types of fires—crawling, crown, jumping, and smoldering—will be covered and observed, opportunities permitting, of course. At the end of the course, all owls will be ready for fire penetration and coal retrieval.

ADVANCED CHAW PRACTICE

Once an owl is tapped for a chaw, his or her study intensifies. It then becomes the owl's mission to master the chosen field. Those of us who have a proclivity for hard work and scholarship (I shall name no names) may even choose to branch out and master other fields as well. I cannot imagine a better place to pursue an education than at the great tree. Here is just a small sampling of the subjects that can be studied.

(Open to All Chaws)

Taught by the distinguished ryb Soren

“The gizzard is a marvelous organ…” So begins the classic volume
Tempers of the Gizzard: An Interpretative Physiology of This Vital Organ in Strigiformes.
Never have truer words been written. We owls attribute our most profound feelings to the gizzard. Therefore, it makes a fascinating subject of study. In this course, we will take an abstract approach beyond physical processes in studying the nature of the gizzard and how it guides us. We will attempt to answer the question—what can we feel with our gizzards? How do we use our gizzards in various decision-making
processes? Can gizzards be more reliable than logic? And, how can we further develop our gizzuition? We will also cover disorders of the gizzard and the effects of flecks, moon blinking, moon scalding, and shattering.

(Ga'Hoolology Chaw)

Taught by the distinguished ryb Otulissa

The Great Ga'Hoole Tree is a most unusual tree. Beyond its immense size and extraordinary longevity, its natural history is full of fascinating facts and phenomena. By learning about its intriguing past we can ensure that it will have a healthy future. In this course, we will study the growth patterns of the tree, the various blights and tree diseases that it has suffered, and how the actions of its inhabitants have affected it.

(Search-and-Rescue Chaw)

Taught by the distinguished ryb Twilight

Once owls can comfortably and reliably fly while wearing battle claws, they can go on to learn more advanced fighting techniques. The art of the battle claw is highly intuitive, but there is much that can be learned and perfected. We will cover all defensive and offensive maneuvers including slashing, blocking, diving thrusts, reverse shears, and
two-footed attacks. The drawbacks of fighting with battle claws will be covered in depth, as will methods of clawless defense against a battle-clawed opponent.

(Open to All Chaws)

Taught by the distinguished ryb Otulissa

This course traces Ga'Hoole's social, political, and cultural development from the founding of the tree through the arrival of the new king. Key topics include the rise of Hoole, the effects of the ember at the great tree, the Gray Ages, the Northern Alliance, the War of the Ice Claws, the Battle of Little Hoole, and the rise and fall of the Pure Ones. Among other texts, the Legends of Ga'Hoole will be closely studied.

(Open to All Chaws)

Taught by the distinguished rybs Twilight and Ruby

Ice weapons have been used by owls since before the time of the legends. Fire weapons were recently developed in battle by the Guardians of Ga'Hoole. Used in conjunction with battle claws, fire and ice weapons present a most lethal combination. However, both require intensive training to master. In this course, owls who have proven their
proficiency in fighting with battle claws will learn to wield the ice weapon and fire weapon appropriate for their size and skill level. For the ice weapons portion of the course, smaller owls will be taught the deadly art of the ice splinter—a weapon that requires blistering speed and pinpoint precision. Larger owls will be taught to use ice swords and ice scimitars. All owls will be required to learn the procedures of ice harvesting, blade honing, and proper weapons storage and preservation. For the fire weapons portion of the course, owls will be required to study thermal disturbances, efficient branch ignition, and how wind patterns affect combustion. Owls will also be taught group attack strategies when flying with flaming branches.

(Open to All Chaws)

Taught by the distinguished ryb Westley

From the founding of the great tree, the Guardians of Ga'Hoole have been committed to helping the sick and injured. This course will introduce owls to the healing
arts that have been practiced here for centuries. Topics covered include owl physiology, the proper use of worms and leeches, the history of major owl plagues in the Northern and Southern kingdoms, and the preparation of potions and poultices. After four lectures, owls will work as interns in the infirmary hollow, in close conjunction with nest-maid snakes.

(Metals Chaw, Also Open to Colliering Chaw)

Taught by the distinguished ryb Bubo

Owls who have received their Forge Safety Certificate can formally begin their study in the art of blacksmithing. At the forge, students will be referred to as apprentices. This is not one of those bookish courses; all learning here is talons-on. Apprentices will learn to identify bonk coals, build and maintain forge fires, and correctly use hammer and tongs. At the end of the course, students should be able to make simple objects such as buckets and bowls.