This print features in the Highland Knights 2024 calendar available here.
 
The Knight Owl

Once upon a moonlit night in the heart of the Scottish woodlands, there lived a tawny owl named Ealdred. Unlike his feathered companions, Ealdred was not content with the natural protection of his thick plumage. Instead, he yearned for something more, something that would make him stand out as the guardian of the ancient forest.
Ealdred sought the guidance of the wise old stag, Caledon, who had roamed the woodlands for centuries. Caledon listened to Ealdred's desire and nodded sagely. "If you wish to be a guardian, young owl, you must embrace the strength of the earth. Seek the blacksmith Badenoch at the edge of the woods; he may forge something to suit your needs."
With a sense of purpose, Ealdred spread his wings and glided through the shadowy canopy until he reached Badenoch's humble forge. The blacksmith, a grizzled badger, greeted Ealdred with a nod and a twinkle in his eye. "A steel suit for an owl? Now that's a curious request! But if Caledon sent you, I shall craft something worthy of the woods."
Days turned into nights as Badenoch worked tirelessly, shaping steel into a suit of armour that would protect Ealdred from the dangers that lurked in the dark. The final piece, a crest inspired by the ancient symbols of the woodland, adorned the breastplate with intricate details of intertwining branches and crescent moons.
Ealdred felt a surge of pride as he donned the steel suit. The weight of the armour was unfamiliar, but he stood tall, ready to defend his home. His wings rustled against the polished metal, making a sound that echoed through the silent forest.
Word of the armoured owl spread through the woodlands, and the creatures, both big and small, came to witness Ealdred's transformation. The wise old stag, Caledon, approached with a twinkle in his eye. "You wear the armour of a guardian, Ealdred. May you protect these woodlands with courage and wisdom."
Ealdred's first test came sooner than expected. A band of mischievous foxes, emboldened by the cover of darkness, sought to cause chaos among the creatures of the woods. Ealdred, with his steel armour glinting in the moonlight, soared through the trees, a silent and imposing figure.
The foxes, caught off guard by the unexpected guardian, scattered into the shadows. Ealdred's armour clanged as he landed on a moss-covered stone, his eyes stern and unyielding. "These woodlands are under my watch," he declared, his voice echoing through the trees.
From that night onward, Ealdred patrolled the Scottish woodlands, his steel armour glinting like a beacon of protection. The creatures of the forest slept more soundly, knowing that their guardian owl was ever watchful. And as the moon continued to cast its silvery glow, Ealdred, the tawny owl in steel armour, stood as a symbol of strength and unity in the heart of the ancient woods.