Kludd didn't know what had happened. One moment, he'd been skimming through the air down carefully to the ground. The next, his wings were folded, and he was clutched in the talons of a much larger owl. Kludd looked up. What! He almost yarped in surprise and shock. It was a Horned Owl. Here? Kludd thought. Why here, in Tyto? And why carry me?!?

"Umm..." Kludd said. "Thanks for catching me... But... Can you put me back in-"

The Horned Owl let out a screech, interrupting him. "No questions! No questions, ever!"

Kludd blinked in surprise. No questions? How was one supposed to learn without questions? He thought quickly. "Well then, in that case..." He took a breath. "I would be ever so grateful if you could put me back in my nest, please."

The Horned Owl laughed. "A quick learner, you are! But, no, no, I can't do that for you. You're an orphan now, and you're coming with me."

Orphan? "I have parents!"

"Not anymore!"

They flew on in silence. Kludd watched as the landscape below them turned to jagged, rocky spikes. More and more owls joined them. Kludd was surprised he felt no fear, or very little, anyways. A song rose up, but Kludd was too distracted to hear the words, and found himself humming the centipede song. How he already missed Soren and Eglantine! Then he was jolted to reality as they began a steep plunge. Before he knew it, they were alighted on the ground and he was free to stretch his wings again. A Great Horned owl turned her gaze to the owlets. Her name was Skench, Ablah General of St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. Kludd was listening intently. They would be guided to their separate Pits, and would be assigned a number. Kludd was led into his Pit, and the pit guardian was a female Snowy, whose name was Lashna, but she insisted they call her Lash. It turned out Kludd's number was to be 14-31. Then, he and the other owlets were led out into what they called a Glaucidium. They were given instructions on how to sleep - How to sleep? Kludd wondered - and what to do when the sleep march came.

Then, they were instructed to begin. Kludd tipped his beak back and closed his eyes, figuring it was better to obey. He soon fell nearly sound asleep.