Defy Convention

Have you ever seen an owlican?

I’m pretty sure this video below was created with AI, but it factually depicts as I imagined an owlican in the Return to Merth, the third and final novel in the Tales of Merth Trilogy. I found it on Instagram, and it is identified by the Instagram digital creator as therealnaturelove.

Take a look and then enjoy the sneak peek at the High Fantasy epic, Return to Merth.

Jaxyl unbridles Flodynhelm and lets him graze after taking out some of the food prepared for her. As she munches on the creamy cholasch cheese and dark lotzl bread with some very tart flotsal jam, she hears the peculiar oily screech of an owlican. Shading her eyes with her hand, she watches the silhouette of a bird in flight from a great distance above. Wondering if it is her friend, she notices it circling and descending gradually, and soon hears the massive raptor noisily approaching with wings flapping and its beak arcing menacingly. On his shoulder is one of his peepers. Flodynhelm meanders toward them, curious to greet the great winged animal.

HELLO, MY FRIEND! Jaxyl attempts to communicate as Yez has advised her she could do.

YES, WELL, I THOUGHT I WOULD BRING OSLATOLE OUT TO SURVEY THE VIEW. HE IS THE LAST OF THE BROOD TO LEAVE THE NEST, OR I SHOULD SAY HE HASN’T LEFT YET. HE WAS THE ONE THAT FELL WHEN YOU AND YOUR FELLOW CONSPIRATOR DECIDED TO INVADE OUR HOME, AND HE’S BEEN TERRIFIED OF FLIGHT EVER SINCE. AT LEAST HE WILL RIDE WITH ME.

Jaxyl is a little surprised at her ability to communicate with the great owlican being, as she and Flodynhelm don’t even seem to have the same level of communication.

IT’S BECAUSE I AM AN OWLICAN. NOT ALL ANIMALS HAVE SUCH A HIGH CAPACITY FOR COMMUNICATION. WE WERE GIVEN THIS AS FAR BACK AS THE TIME OF ANCIENT THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS TO HELP THE OLD ONES COMMUNICATE ACROSS VAST DISTANCES. WE CARRY THE NEWS BACK AND FORTH.

BUT YOU EVEN READ MY THOUGHTS. The great owlican blinks slowly and deliberately at her.

DID YOU SEE WHERE YEZ AND XYANTULI ARE?

YES, I SAW THEM HEADING THIS WAY. THEY WILL BE HERE SHORTLY.

Jaxyl looks at the little peeper perched and wobbling, too big to be on his father’s shoulder. She is oddly drawn to it and wants to touch its soft fur.

I WOULDN’T HE HAS A SHARP LITTLE BEAK. The owlican warns. The fuzzling raises its wings instinctively and squawks a shrill warning. Flodynhelm nickers and approaches as well. The baby owlican lets him get close enough to nuzzle him, but snaps at Jaxyl when she offers the back of her hand to sniff. “Okay, little one, I get it. You don’t like me,” she grins.