Fithar and Aurora looked down lovingly at their son. He was tiny, yes, but he was a Tawny owl all the same. Aurora picked him up and cradled him in her wings. He was several times smaller than any of the other newborns, not more than 5cm tall, even too small to be a runt. But that made him all the more cute. His down was already a deep mahogany brown, his eyes looked far too big for his head, and they were gazing up needingly and lovingly at Aurora. He was gently sucking his wing, causing him to be even more adorable.

“Let’s call him… Luco.” Aurora said.

“He may be a runt, but he is my son, and I will protect him.” said Fithar. He always came across as gruff and correct, but inside he was soft and caring.

“Did someone say, “runt”?” said a voice. Aurora turned around. The voice belonged to Crone, the sole owl responsible for the unnatural colony of Tawny owls. Owls aren’t supposed to live in colonies. But that didn’t stop Crone. She forced all Tawny owls to come together into a huge colony under her dominion. The Tawnies hated it. But there was nothing they could do about it. Crone had allies. Important allies. Allies such as Torque, king of the Lanner Falcons. And so the Tawnies gradually came to accept it.

“Don’t you dare touch Luco!” cried Aurora, hiding Luco behind her back. But even in her old age, Crone was fast. She flashed over Aurora and landed right in front of Luco. Of course Luco didn’t understand. He let out a squalk and gave Crone’s leg a big hug. Crone then picked him up by the scruff of the neck and surveyed him. Luco obviously enjoyed it, because he was laughing and clapping his wings.

“He’s not a runt,” Said Crone, “He’s a freak!” and she threw him onto the ground. Luco burst out crying and ran back to his mother, and stared at Crone.

“I hereby banish him from this colony!” Crone shrieked, loud enough for all the other Tawnies to here.

“You can’t do that!” Said Aurora, Putting herself between Luco and Crone.

“O really?” Crone answered.

“I won’t let you.” Said Fithar.

“if you don’t get out of my way, I’ll kill you!” Crone cried.

“Not if I kill you first!” said a voice, and in a blur of feathers, a large male was pinning Crone to the floor. It was Plor, Fithar’s elder brother. All the other Tawnies were watching by now, standing around in a circle, watching in awe as their tyrant leader pinned to the earth by Plor. Plor brought down his beak for the final blow, but again Crone was too quick. She brought up her claw, and ripped down the inside of Plor’s thigh, causing plor to howl in pain. This enbled Crone to flip out from iunder him, and to drive her beak into his neck. Plor emitted a low, stangled gurgleing moan before collapsing onto the floor.

“That’s IT!!” Crone shreiked. Turning to Aurora, Fithar, and Luco, she pointed a shaking wing at them and said:

“I banish you! The lot of you!”