Kludd's wings ached constantly. Karish was always demanding the most out of them, and Kludd felt as though he were being targeted. But he felt himself getting stronger, too. He even watched as the other owlet's... What was it? Their 'faze', where their gizzards were still... wore off, and saw them become more alert, more attentive. Once or twice a question would slip, and Karish would fix her yellow gaze on whomever had asked. She would give them a punishment- it would almost always be fifty more of something or another, and Karish would always add, in her gruff voice, "This is better than anything they would do in the Pelletorium, or even anywhere else, for that matter. You should all be grateful."

Kludd supposed he was grateful, but he still did think that maybe it was a little harsh. And speaking of thinking, he did still think about Soren and Eglantine. What were they doing? Would Soren be branching by now?

Kludd was pondering all this when 18-36 knocked into him. He let out a small screech, twisting so as not to lose his balance. 18-36 gasped and tried to help pull him back to his talons. "I'm so sorry!" She gasped. "I didn't mean to bump into you. I was just trying to glide on the wind currents, remember, like how Karish told us to on the first day? I mean, oops!"

Kludd blinked and watched as she cringed, probably expecting him to screech at her for asking a question. "No, that's okay. And don't worry, I ask questions, too, sometimes."

"That doesn't mean it's okay-" She replied, trying to recover.

"Yes, it does. Here, how about, 'Do you remember your name?'" Kludd asked gently, quietly.

18-36 ruffled her feathers, her head and facial disk twitching as she listened for anyone. "N-names... Names are not of importance. Only our number designations."

"But you remember it, don't you?"

"I... Yes, I remember it... But you can't tell anyone! We're all supposed to be moon blinked, even if not fully, we're not supposed to remember our names, or who we are. You have to be quiet!"

"M-moon blinked?" Kludd had never heard of this before. "What are you talking about?"

"All these questions!" She puffed a bit, not in frustration at Kludd, but at their situation. "Yes, moon blinked. You know that feeling, when your gizzard is still and strange?"

Kludd nodded, trying to understand.

"That was what they did to make you feel like that. When they made us sleep at night, they were moon blinking us, making us forget who we are. In truth, they know that every owl can fly. They just choose random sections of owlets that aren't 'DNFs' and send them to flight school. We were lucky enough that we got chosen. We actually have a chance at escape."

"Escape? Wait, I don't understand-"

The owl got right in his face, wrapping her wings around his shoulders and gently shaking him. "We have to get out of here! Saint Aggie's, everything here, this is poison! We'll die if we stay here!"

Kludd felt his gizzard twitching and jolting at her proximity to him. He blinked a few times, trying to still his racing thoughts. "Okay, but..."

She let go of him and quickly looked around. "What now?"

"W-what's your name?" He asked, trying to calm himself. He felt incredibly flushed.

She sighed and looked at him. "Lyka. What's yours?"

"Kludd."

Lyka smiled a bit. "It's nice to finally meet you, Kludd." Her head twitched and she glanced up, then back down at him. "Karish is here. Take your position."

Lyka. Kludd tried it out silently, mouthing her name. Lyka. Lyka. You know, I really like that name.