A Guide Book to the Great Tree Read Online Free PDF Page A

a folded piece of parchment. I began to read…
At twilight, you came
    so fragile so slight
    I gave you your name
    Your song I shall write
    My heart you have won
    from the moment you hatched
    My precious new son
    your worth is unmatched
    Now it’s for you that I sing
    my soul filled with pride
    To me you can cling
    till you can fly alongside
    I offer you this, my melodic phrase
    For you are my most beloved of Grays
    I looked at the title again. My gizzard leaped. I was off at once to gather the Band.
    The four of us took shallow, guarded breaths, and watched intently as Twilight read the poem for the fifth, and then sixth time. Bit by bit, it sank in.
    â€œMy mum? You mean, this was written by my mum?” He asked all of us and none of us. “This was written by my mum. ” He read the title of the poem aloud one more time, “Ode to My Son Cassius at Twilight.”
    â€œDon’t you see? The scroom you saw, it was your mum! And she was…”
    â€œAnd she was calling my name,” Twilight finished the sentence for Digger. “Cassius. My mum named me Cassius.”
    I couldn’t tell exactly what the Great Gray was feeling at that moment. In his eyes, I saw contentment, confusion, surprise, and a little sadness.
    â€œThis must be why I was so drawn to twilight. I think she sang this to me just as I hatched, and all I remembered was the first line. Remember, Soren, when I told you that I knew I was hatched at the edges of time? Well, I think I know now why that was my very first memory.
    â€œIt was a family of Pygmy Owls who first took me in as a tiny owlet. Bluebell and Dahlia, mother and daughter. At least, I think Bluebell was the mother, and Dahlia was the daughter. But it could have been the other way aroundbecause they only ever referred to each other as ‘Big Pyggy’ and ‘Lil Pyggy.’” Twilight let out a small churr. “They told me that I kept saying the word ‘twilight’ in my dreams, so they assumed it must have been my name. I quickly outgrew their hollow and moved on. This whole time, I thought it was that silvery border of time between day and night that gave me my name. Cassius. Son of the poet, Skye. Well, go figure.”
    Twilight had always thought of himself as a plain, down-to-earth sort of owl because he had no proper upbringing. Now, an illustrious heritage was suddenly thrust upon him. Not only was Skye a preeminent poet, but she also had numerous relatives who were well-known writers and artists.
    â€œI don’t know…I wonder what my mother would have thought of me, if she were alive, I mean. And my aunts and uncles…I bet it’s not every day they meet a graduate from the Orphan School of Tough Learning. Still, it’s as if my gizzard is more whole somehow.”
    â€œYour mum loved you, Twi,” Digger said softly. “That much is clear.”
    Twilight acknowledged this with a barely visible nod.
    Gylfie finally asked the question that had been on all our minds. “So, what do you want us to call you now? I mean, are you Cassius now?”
    The Great Gray who had hatched as Cassius thought for a moment. “My name is Twilight. Now that I know how I got it, it fits me even better. My mum named me Cassius, but in a way, she also named me Twilight. And I think she would be proud of what I’ve become.”
    That, no one could disagree with.
    Twilight’s chest swelled. “I am proud to be the son of Skye, but the world is still my family. You guys are still my family.” And with that, he went to the skyport and lifted into the air with one smooth power stroke. Shaking off the malaise of the last days, he raised his voice.
We met before moonrise
    And then you left, without good-byes
    To my rhymes you did give rise
    Your name I chanced upon
    Now you are with me, though you are gone
    Our verses shall fly on
    â€œIt’s good to have you back, Twilight!” Soren called out.
    And