Rufus is a male Spotted Owl, or Strix occidentalis. He was a navigator belonging to the Kielian League and a friend of Lyze and Octavia from their military days.
History[]
The Rise of a Legend[]
Rufus is a navigator in the strike force of Glauxspeed Division fighters sent to assassinate Bylyric in the Orphan Maker's territory and throw the League of the Ice Talons into chaos. He plays a minor role in the Battle of the Ice Talons, flying on the fringes of the battle, carrying Octavia on his back while Lyze fought deeper within as the partner to Albimore. In the chaos, Rufus and Octavia were attacked by enemy troops and in the process, Octavia is injured and loses her eyes, and thus her sight, to a billy hook. Despite these injuries, Rufus and Octavia were both able to survive.
Rufus is mentioned by Lyze to be one of the Kielian League fighters who occasional visits the Whiskered Screech Owl at the Glauxian Brothers Retreat years later along with Blix. Lyze mentions that he turned down Rufus and Blix's offer to become a teacher or trainer at the Military Academy.
Trivia[]
- In The Rescue, Octavia mentions being assigned to a Spotted Owl. This might have been Rufus, though she never names him.
- Octavia, however, refers to the Spotted Owl as being female. However, given how so many of her statements contradict the events that occurred in The Rise of a Legend, it is uncertain whether any reliability can be given to this identification of gender.