The Owl Collective

If one was to cross Mellowdene bridge and walk a short distance into the woodland overlooking the river, one could find a path that led to the main residence of Professor Aristotle Treefellow and his family. Although this isn't strictly part of Mellowdene County, the family is most definitely counted as part of our village's population. They do have a small treehouse discretely situated in a small copse within the village, but that is inhabited infrequently purely to meet their needs.

Treefellow owls are well known throughout Sylvania as being the backbone of our education system. There is even a rumour that the owls within many towns and villages adopt the same names, but I haven't verified this.

These days the family isn't seen much within the village but their influence has earned them huge respect from the community.

 

As such, it was unexpected when three of the professor's six children called to see me.

 

 

I was further surprised to be given an invitation to visit them. As soon as possible.

"Father needs to speak with you at our home," said Winky.

"He says it's important," said Blinky.

"So when are you coming?" said Grumpy.

Although small in size, these owlets were mature in their manner. With Aristotle as their father, one wouldn't expect anything else. In any case, the age bands of Sylvanian birds are limited; they may be physically small but cover a wide age range. One need only look at the Webster brothers - these ducks are tiny but strong - otherwise they would hardly be in the jobs they were - a sturdy sailor and an active member of the Sheriff's Department. 

"Well, Mr Butterglove?" pressed Grumpy.

Fortunately I had planned to take a lengthy walk that morning and knew no reason why my route couldn't change to visit the Treefellow home. I had even chosen to wear my woolly jumper and hat - a Christmas present from one of our Purrchester friends, Florence Holiday - so I was ideally prepared for the trek.

"Now, if you like. I'll just have to let Cecile know where I'm going. What does your father want?"

 

"He needs to speak with you," said Winky, his orange eyes fixed upon me.

"And it's important," said Blinky.

It was clear I wasn't going to get much information from these three.

"Okay," I said, "I'm coming."

Within five minutes I was on my way. The three owls walked rapidly, hopped enthusiastically and periodically flew short distances ensuring that I didn't have to dawdle to match their speed. They spoke sparingly and I suspect they avoided conversation on purpose, spending part of the time singing together in their rough, high-pitched voices. Their harmonies weren't offensive despite their vocal inadequacies.  

In this manner I accompanied Winky, Blinky and Grumpy to their home - although to be accurate it was in a clearing near their home. I was pleased about this as I wasn't relishing climbing a long ladder to the treetop complex in which they lived. Aristotle Treefellow must have seen our approach as he was waiting to greet me. His other children - Fussy, Sniffy and Grizzly - were watching us.

 

 

o 0 O 0 o

 

"Ah, Jackson Butterglove. Glad you accepted my invitation. I must admit that, of the three Butterglove brothers, I didn't expect I'd ever need to have this conversation with you."

"I don't understand..."

"Forgive me. I should explain. You're aware that I've been Newton's teacher so our association is long standing. With Merlin's voracious reading I was prepared that I might need to speak with him one day. Your career path and domestic life didn't suggest there would ever be a need... but events conspired to change that."

 

 
Grumpy, Winky and Blinky disappeared into the foliage, and the other three small owls started to move, slowly walking around me, regarding me from different angles.

 

"Oh, and don't be disconcerted by these three. We don't get many visitors here and they tend to be a little curious. Pay them no attention. Now... where was I? Oh yes. Events conspiring."

I waited for the professor to get to the point. He seemed to sense my unspoken words, giving a little nod of his head. 

"I'm speaking as the local representative of the Owl Collective."

"The what?"

"I'm not surprised you haven't heard of it. The term isn't used much within the general population these days. It is an ancient organisation founded in the earliest days of Sylvania. We still have the same objectives but we don't need to be as proactive these days."

"And yet you're speaking to me."

"Yes. I will crave your patience whilst I provide some context. It may aid you. The Collective goes back many years. Long before Mellowdene or any other village was established."

He began to explain.

"Owls were amongst the first critters to appear in Sylvania. A wonderous land, according to our ancestors. A place of crystal waters, verdant fields, vast swathes of woodlands and forests. The owls became as one with the land - knowing its needs, what it could provide - and that understanding was essential as other critters appeared.

 

"We owls were to become the teachers. Dispel confusion. Foster the desire to adopt the Sylvanian values we take for granted these days. Protect the newcomers from those parts of the land that were still unstable - primarily the higher slopes of mountains that were alight with energies still in the process of binding Sylvania to the larger world. This would settle in time - but we somehow knew that this... magic - for want of a better word - would need to embed itself into Sylvania. By this, I meant not only the rocks, watercourses and plants, but all those that lived there.

"After many years had passed, villages were established, populations grew and the owls continued to be teachers. Values became second nature to Sylvanians and the teaching was supplemented by academic and practical subjects. Our initial objectives remained but we became more custodians than moulders of behaviour. Other critters became teachers, not supplanting us but broadening education."

He paused. "You might wonder why I'm telling you all this, but I think it's important you appreciate the role of the Owl Collective within Sylvania. We may be more passive these days but that's only because of the work done by our predecessors in creating the Sylvanian social structure we now enjoy."

"It's an extraordinary tale," I commented.

"But credible, I hope," said Aristotle. "To an extent, we have withdrawn from the role of instilling values, but we still keep watch."

I frowned. "This watching - is that why you invited me here?"

"It is, but please be patient. I will get to that. When I said that we has withdrawn from the role, part of that was practicalities. As I said, I am the Mellowdene representative of the Owl Collective. My family have been here since the founding of the village - initially in the background. It was one of my ancestors that helped guide the four families to Sweetwater Lake."

I remembered something from my school history lessons - a quote from the documents transcripting the journals of our settlers - "...and it was as if the birds of the skies marked our path through the foothills..." and I stared at Aristotle Treefellow. "Your ancestors?"

"Indeed. We were the teachers in your first schools and maintained a presence over succeeding years. I taught your grandfather, your father and your uncle. It was only in the years following the Hawkshade disaster when the population of Mellowdene County grew, it reached the extent that I knew I couldn't teach everyone."

It was true that Mellowdene had grown significantly during my lifetime. The cats alone numbered over a hundred - there were none prior to the fall of Hawkshade, but some migrants from Catsholme came afterwards and then we had an influx from other places. This thought left my mind when the rest of Aristotle's words sunk in. He had taught my grandfather? How old was he?

"You were teaching for quite a number of years, then," I commented. 

Aristotle gave a little squark that I concluded was an involuntary laugh.

"Tactful. You could say that, young Jackson," - (young?) - "but you're obviously unaware that we owls can delay our ageing if we choose. It's similar to the current anomaly you call the Pause but it's fully under our control. I believe many owls don't do this - either from choice or because they've forgotten they can - but I have projects that cover years and need to... no, that is not your concern. The point is that I didn't have time to teach everyone. Now I only teach particular students that warrant my attention."

"Like Newton?"

"Like your brother, yes. It was clear that his brilliance would need some direction. His subsequent success in the Sylvanian Research Group is a matter of pride to me." 

 

He paused and fixed me with a stare. "Which is why I'm surprised that he didn't inform me of your adventures."

I stopped breathing for a moment. "Adventures?"

"Your journeys in the tunnels below. I'm aware Tara Lapine-Frost tends to be a law unto herself but she does that within acceptable guidelines. That she said nothing doesn't surprise me. I heard of your involvement by a chance remark from Marenna, the Felista of the Mist Cat tribe. She had spoken with Newton and she had assumed that he would pass on the details to me. I can only put his neglect down to brotherly loyalty."

I didn't know what to say. Newton - never one to speak much about his work - hadn't brought up the subject of my time spent travelling the routes of Sylvania and as such we hadn't discussed my experiences within the speed tunnels. I had concluded that - by not discussing it - the subject was closed. 

"Nothing to say, Jackson?"

"Er... what do you want to know, Professor Treefellow?"

"Well, first of all, who have you told about the tunnels? I assume Darcy Fielding because of your writing project. Your wife I would imagine. Who else?"

"It's not something I'd particularly want to share, and even then certainly not without thought. Tara made that point that I should be... circumspect in revealing things. Cecile & Darcy - yes. Merlin and his wife Eliza know a little because it affected their ward Orton. And I told Chris Snow-Warren some details. He had been worried about my absence and he deserved to know. I trust him implicitly." 

"I hope they are worthy of your trust. There are places down there that are dangerous to wanderers."

"So Felixor told me."

 

He sighed. "I hope you've taken that to heart. The Owl Collective recommended certain security measures down there, and the Sylvanian Research Group constructed  crystal locking mechanisms to our specifications."

I nodded. "I saw the crystals."

The professor ruffled his feathers. "I know you did. That brings me to my second and more important question. How did you bypass the security on those crystal locks?"

"Tara had a key..."

"And?"

"She used it on one of the crystal pairs and I listened to the harmonics on the other and twisted it accordingly."

A notable silence and I saw the redoubtable owl gently shudder. The silence ended with a more extended exhibition of squawking laughter.

"Of course! I'm a stupid old bird. You're a musician. Obviously with a fine sense of hearing. And of course this would have been Tara's idea. But how would she have known of your skill?"

I considered briefly. "Perhaps Cecile mentioned that I tune my own piano."

"I see. That would make sense. Nevertheless it would take particular skill to adjust the crystals by sound. That allays my main worries. The tunnels should remain secure from the vast majority of chance incursions."

"Is that why you wanted to see me?"

"It was. Perhaps I was unwise to discount your abilities. You are Newton's twin after all. I could undoubtedly make use of your skill. Maybe I should pay more attention to your elder brother too."

He shifted position and from his body language I had the impression our discussion was at an end. Unbidden, Winky, Blinky and Grumpy re-appeared in readiness to escort me away. 

 

Aristotle continued to talk to himself as the children gathered.

"It seems all of Hansel and Dorothea's children are worthy of my time. And the other Buttergloves - who else, I wonder?"

"We're a big family," I said. although he wasn't listening. It didn't matter. I took that as my cue to leave, accompanied by Grumpy, Winky and Blinky.

 

I didn't need to go into details. If the long-living Treefellows were watching over the village, they would know. I couldn't help wondering about Beverley, Brendan and Russell. In the years to come, would any of their abilities bring them to the attention of the Owl Collective?

 

It wasn't until after I'd left that I remembered the professor's words - that he could make use of my skill. I wondered what he had in mind...

o 0 O 0 o

Editor's Note:

This is intriguing. I remember some years ago when some families possessed statues of owls and displayed them in their houses. In fact, when I visited Mulder Honey-Fox a few months ago, he still had one in his office. I wouldn't be surprised if Mulder is aware of the history of Sylvanian owls. Maybe of the Owl Collective too.

Darcy Fielding