Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Journey
Encyclopedia
The Journey is the second book in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole
series. It is written by Kathryn Lasky
, and was published by Scholastic on September 1, 2003. In this book, Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, Digger, and Mrs. Plithiver continue their journey to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, where they will be tested beyond anything they have ever faced.
Guardians of Ga'Hoole
Guardians of Ga’Hoole is a fantasy book series written by Kathryn Lasky and published by Scholastic. The series, which ended in 2008 with the publication of The War of the Ember, has a total of fifteen books. Apart from the main series there are a few more books and spin offs set in the same universe...
series. It is written by Kathryn Lasky
Kathryn Lasky
Kathryn Lasky is an American author whose work includes several Dear America books, The Royal Diaries books, Sugaring Time, The Night Journey, and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series.-Biography:...
, and was published by Scholastic on September 1, 2003. In this book, Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, Digger, and Mrs. Plithiver continue their journey to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, where they will be tested beyond anything they have ever faced.
Plot
On their way towards the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, "The Band" (Soren, Gylfie, Twilight and Digger) and Mrs. Plithiver are mobbed by crows when they risked flying in daylight. The Band managed to fend off the crows but at the cost of Digger being injured. After landing in a spruce tree for shelter, a neighbouring family of Masked Owls came to visit after hearing of "The Band's" feat. Before leaving, the female Masked Owl became skeptical when she heard that "The Band" was on the way to find the Guardians of Gahoole. Mrs. Plithiver retorted by saying that she was a fool for not believing that Hoolemere did not exist. Later after their departure from the spruce tree, they stayed in a sycamore with a couple of Sooty Owls named Sweetums and Swatums who supported The Band in their quest to find Ga'Hoole. In the Beaks, a barren and desolate area, "The Band" ventured into a dark cave where they were attacked by a bobcat. Together, "The Band" managed to kill the bobcat and upon further investigation they found a dying Barred Owl. When they asked if St.Aggie's had attacked him, his last words were, "Oh! You only wish!" After hearing this disturbing news, The Band burned the body of the Barred Owl and continued on their quest. However, their progress would be dangerously hindered because of the Mirror Lakes. Their gleaming surfaces hypnotized The Band and made them content to stay and put off their quest. Eventually Mrs. Plithiver recognized the danger and stirred The Band into remembrance of their quest. When they left, they were blown off course straight into the Ice Narrows in the Northern Kingdoms where they were taken in by a family of puffins: the oddest creatures "The Band" had ever seen. Despite all difficulties, "The Band" were escorted to the Island of Hoole by the Snowy Owl monarchs of the tree, Boron and Barran. Upon their arrival to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, a stuck-up Spotted Owl named Otulissa escorted "The Band" to their new hollow. They learned from her that they could not just go into a battle but that skills must be learned by becoming members of chaws: specialized groups of owls that dedicate themselves to a certain skill. Despite finding Ga'Hoole, "The Band" sought a meeting with the parliament because they felt that their knowledge of St. Aggie's would be valuable to the Guardians. However, Boron informed "The Band" that they needed to wait a bit longer and that nobility wasn't garnered instantly but through unwavering resolution and stalwartness. He also informed them that their journey had not ended when they arrived at the tree but it had only just begun and that they would begin their training the next day. During the day, Soren found Twilight thinking about leaving the Guardians because "The Band" would be broken up because they would be separated into chaws. Soren reassured Twilight that no matter what happened that they would always be a band. Upon hearing these words, Twilight decided to stay. As time passed, "The Band" learned many skills and became more accustomed to life at the tree. However, Soren was still haunted by the thought of his sister Eglantine and her well-being. Eventually, The Band were placed into their respective chaws; Soren was placed into the colliering and weather chaws. This was a disaster for Soren because of the Whiskered Screech Owl Ezylryb's intimidating missing talon and because he was double chawed with Otulissa whose talkative attitude proved to be hard to bear. However, the blacksmith of the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, Bubo (a Great Horned Owl) was confident that Soren would be all that he could be because Ezylryb had recognized Soren's potential. Later, "The Band" discovered that the roots under the parliament chamber were prone to transmitting any sound created in the chamber. This allowed them to discover that the Guardians were addressing the topic concerning the dead Barred Owl. They found out that he was a slipgizzle: an owl spy that worked for the Guardians. Eventually Soren's fears and problems began to subside. Ezylryb proved to be much more than every owl in his weather chaw ever thought him to be. Soren was even able to help Mrs. Plithiver get a spot in the harp guild with Madame Plonke, the tree's beloved snowy owl singer. Soren also managed to catch a burning coal in his beak and earned Ezylryb's rare approval. Owlets of the Tyto species were found dropped all over babbling nonsense about owl purity. Digger and Twilight, who were part of the search and rescue chaw, found Eglantine who was one of the owlets dropped in the event that came to be known as the Great Downing. Soren was shocked when he was shown Eglantine but disappointed that she wasn't her true self. Eventually, Trader Mags came to trade goods at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree and Eglantine went into a panic when shown a piece of isinglass. This panic, however, proved to be effective because Eglantine broke out of her strange condition and became normal once again. For now, Soren felt content but only to an extent since Ezylryb, the ryb Soren had come to truly cherish, had not yet returned from his investigations of the Great Downing.Characters
- Soren, Barn OwlBarn OwlThe Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
, TytoTytoThe genus Tyto includes all barn owls except for the bay owls - that is, the true barn owls, the grass owls and the masked owls collectively making up the subfamily Tytoninae...
alba, from the kingdom of Tyto, snatched when he was 3 weeks old by St. Aegolius patrols, escaped from St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls. - Kludd, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, Soren's older brother.
- Eglantine, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, Soren's younger sister.
- Noctus, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, Soren's father.
- Marella, Barn Owl, Tyto alba, Soren's mother.
- Mrs. Plithiver, Blind Snake, Soren's family's nest-maid.
- Gylfie, Elf OwlElf OwlThe Elf Owl is a member of the owl family Strigidae that breeds in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the world's lightest owl, although the Long-whiskered Owlet and the Tamaulipas Pygmy Owl are of a similarly diminutive length. The mean body weight of this species is 40 grams...
, Micrathene whitneyi, from the Desert of Kuneer, snatched when he was 3 weeks old by St. Aegolius patrols; escaped from St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls, Soren's best friend. - Twilight, Great Gray Owl, StrixStrix (genus)Strix is a genus of owls. They belong to the typical owl family Strigidae, one of the two generally accepted living families of owls, with the other being the barn-owls . Common names are earless owls or wood owls though they are not the only owls without ear tufts, and "wood owl" is also used as a...
nebulosa, free flyer, orphaned within hours of hatching. - Digger, Burrowing OwlBurrowing OwlThe Burrowing Owl is a tiny but long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing Owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated...
, AtheneAthene (owl)Athene is a genus of owls, containing two to four living species, depending on classification. These birds are small, with brown and white speckles, yellow eyes, and white eyebrows...
cunicularia, from the Desert of Kuneer; lost in desert after attack in which his brother was killed and eaten by Owls from St. Aegolius. - Boron, Snowy OwlSnowy OwlThe Snowy Owl is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. The Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organize plants and animals. The bird is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl, Great...
, BuboBuboBubo may refer to:* A bubo, a rounded swelling on the skin of a person afflicted by the bubonic plague.* Bubo, the horned owl and eagle-owl genus.* Bubo, a mechanical owl in the 1981 film Clash of the Titans...
scandiacus, the King of Hoole. - Barran, Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus, the Queen of Hoole.
- Matron, Short-eared OwlShort-eared OwlThe Short-eared Owl is a species of typical owl . In Scotland this species of owl is often referred to as a cataface, grass owl or short-horned hootlet. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may...
, AsioAsioAsio is a genus of typical owls, or true owls, in family Strigidae. The genus Asio contains the eared owls, which are characterised by feather tufts on the head which have the appearance of ears...
flammeus, the motherly caretaker at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree. - Strix Struma, Spotted OwlSpotted OwlThe Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis, is a species of true owl. It is a resident species of forests in western North America, where it nests in tree holes, old bird of prey nests, or rock crevices. Nests can be between 13 and 66 yards high and usually contain two eggs...
, Strix occidentalis, the dignified navigation ryb at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree. Killed by Nyra in the Siege. - Elvan, Great Gray Owl, Strix nebulosa, the colliering ryb at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.
- Ezylryb, Whiskered Screech OwlWhiskered Screech OwlThe Whiskered Screech Owl or Whiskered Screech-Owl , is a small scops owl found in North and Central America.-Description:...
, Megascops trichopsis, the wise weather-interpretation ryb at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree; Soren's mentor. - Poot, Boreal Owl, AegoliusAegoliusAegolius is a small genus of owls. Three of the species are restricted to the New World, but th Boreal Owl has a circumpolar range through North America, Eurasia, the Alps and the Rockies.The species are:...
funerus, Ezylryb's assistant. - Bubo, Great Horned OwlGreat Horned OwlThe Great Horned Owl, , also known as the Tiger Owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.-Description:...
, Bubo virginianus, the blacksmith of the Great Ga'Hoole Tree. - Madame Plonk, Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus, the elegant singer of the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.
- Octavia, Kielian Snake, Madame Plonk's nest-maid snakeSnakeSnakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
. - Trader Mags, MagpieMagpieMagpies are passerine birds of the crow family, Corvidae.In Europe, "magpie" is often used by English speakers as a synonym for the European Magpie, as there are no other magpies in Europe outside Iberia...
, a traveling merchant. - Otulissa, Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis, a student of prestigious lining at the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.
- Primrose, Northern Pygmy OwlNorthern Pygmy OwlThe Northern Pygmy Owl , is a small owl native to North and Central America.-Taxonomy:Some experts consider this bird a superspecies with the Mountain Pygmy Owl. The American Ornithologists' Union, the authority for the North American region, does not recognize this split, so the populations are...
, Glaucidium gnoma, rescued from a forest fire and bought to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree the night of The Band's arrival. - Martin, Northern Saw-whet OwlNorthern Saw-whet OwlThe Northern Saw-whet Owl is a small owl native to North America.-Description:The scientific description of one of the sub-species of this owl is attributed to the Rev. John Henry Keen who was a missionary in Canada in 1896. Adults are long with a wingspan. They can weigh from with an average...
, Aegolius acadicus, rescued and bought to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree the same night Primrose came. - Ruby, Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, lost her family under mysterious conditions and was bought to the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.