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Description
The family was very excited to watch the small owlet hatch from his egg, even Vito. The young male was announced Ugo the youngest of the Moon-eye family. He was shy around the other newborns but loves his sister and brother. Vito hadn't told his parents about saving Ugo's life yet, not after overhearing how he might be unnatural in any way, but however Vito was able to tell Ugo about his daring rescue and pleaded that neither Ugo or Sumitra breathe a word to the elders or mother and father.
"What happens if they do find out, brother?" Ugo asked after Vito had told him his story one night.
"If they do find out, then they know I'm different and will leave me here during the winter with no food or warmth. I would die alone without I owl to care. My spirit would wonder the forest forever alone and frightened and hungry."
"That's horrible, brother. I promise I won't tell a soul." He crossed his heart with a wing and yawned.
"How about we go to sleep, huh Ugo?"
"Okay and thank you." He yawned.
"Thank you?"
"Yeah, for saving my life, I love you, Vito." He said in between yawns before drifting off to sleep under his wing.
Vito closed his eyes and said, "I love you, too Ugo." And fell fast asleep.

***
The next morning, Vito opened his eyes to see Ugo looking at him strangely. It was as if Ugo was watching an owl eating a smaller owl, as though Vito had done something unbelievably horrifying, but Vito didn't, or did he? He ruffled his feathers that seemed thinner and even a tiny bit lighter. He was confused by this and cocked his head to see something shockingly strange yet he was proud at what he saw too. From his neck down, all his chick fluff had been molted and a thick layer of mature, speckled white and silver feathers replaced the owlet feathers that circled him. He rounded his head to see his newly fledged tail feathers that were long, slim and unmistakably perfect for flying through the crisp autumn nights.
"Vito, you're… you're… you're Pa. You look so different. Is it really you, could it be you, Vito?" Ugo said sort of scared and excited at the same time. He reached out with a wing and stroke Vito's right foot and felt a strange lump where a tiny sliver was imbedded. Vito and Ugo found after a week when Vito walked on the wound causing extreme pain. But luckily, Mama and Papa weren't around. Pa was teaching Sumitra how to fly and Mama was out catching their dinner. Soon it would be Vito and Ugo's turn to learn the art of flying from their father later in life. None of the owlets knew what to do about the cut they had to tell mother and father about it soon and maybe tonight is the night. After all, Vito can't hide his new, mature feathers from his Ma and Pa. "How can we keep this a secret, Vito?" Ugo asked as if reading his older brother's mind.
"We don't, we have to tell Mama and Pa."
"Just about the molting though right, Vito?"
"No Ugo, about everything."

Description
The family was very excited to watch the small owlet hatch from his egg, even Vito. The young male was announced Ugo the youngest of the Moon-eye family. He was shy around the other newborns but loves his sister and brother. Vito hadn't told his parents about saving Ugo's life yet, not after overhearing how he might be unnatural in any way, but however Vito was able to tell Ugo about his daring rescue and pleaded that neither Ugo or Sumitra breathe a word to the elders or mother and father.
"What happens if they do find out, brother?" Ugo asked after Vito had told him his story one night.
"If they do find out, then they know I'm different and will leave me here during the winter with no food or warmth. I would die alone without I owl to care. My spirit would wonder the forest forever alone and frightened and hungry."
"That's horrible, brother. I promise I won't tell a soul." He crossed his heart with a wing and yawned.
"How about we go to sleep, huh Ugo?"
"Okay and thank you." He yawned.
"Thank you?"
"Yeah, for saving my life, I love you, Vito." He said in between yawns before drifting off to sleep under his wing.
Vito closed his eyes and said, "I love you, too Ugo." And fell fast asleep.

***
The next morning, Vito opened his eyes to see Ugo looking at him strangely. It was as if Ugo was watching an owl eating a smaller owl, as though Vito had done something unbelievably horrifying, but Vito didn't, or did he? He ruffled his feathers that seemed thinner and even a tiny bit lighter. He was confused by this and cocked his head to see something shockingly strange yet he was proud at what he saw too. From his neck down, all his chick fluff had been molted and a thick layer of mature, speckled white and silver feathers replaced the owlet feathers that circled him. He rounded his head to see his newly fledged tail feathers that were long, slim and unmistakably perfect for flying through the crisp autumn nights.
"Vito, you're… you're… you're Pa. You look so different. Is it really you, could it be you, Vito?" Ugo said sort of scared and excited at the same time. He reached out with a wing and stroke Vito's right foot and felt a strange lump where a tiny sliver was imbedded. Vito and Ugo found after a week when Vito walked on the wound causing extreme pain. But luckily, Mama and Papa weren't around. Pa was teaching Sumitra how to fly and Mama was out catching their dinner. Soon it would be Vito and Ugo's turn to learn the art of flying from their father later in life. None of the owlets knew what to do about the cut they had to tell mother and father about it soon and maybe tonight is the night. After all, Vito can't hide his new, mature feathers from his Ma and Pa. "How can we keep this a secret, Vito?" Ugo asked as if reading his older brother's mind.
"We don't, we have to tell Mama and Pa."
"Just about the molting though right, Vito?"
"No Ugo, about everything."