The Court of Owls was a myth, an urban legend to scare children at bedtime, or that's all it was meant to be.

To Dick Grayson he knew they were real, opportunistic and operating within the confines of the shadows of Gotham City. The City he was now sworn to protect.

At first it was owl feathers left at crime scenes. Then, it was letters. Then, an owl mask left on his bed in his home.

This raised alarm bells with both Bruce and Dick, both of them on edge now more than ever. It was all so cryptic to them.

To you, though, it was all a game. In your eyes Robin was a friend. He was a bird like you, birds should fly together, no? You'd see him ponder over the letters you wrote him. The contents were innocent, telling him about your life, your adventures with the other Talons.

Dick viewed them as far from innocent, reading far too much into every word, every smudge, every drop of ink. Truly, all you wanted was to be friends.

Being a Talon was a lonely life, other Talons being harsh on you during training. It was the same boring routine of wake up, eat, train, kill, eat, sleep. Like a bird, the cycle was dull and boring. A life lived by every Talon before you and will be lived by every Talon to come.

Robin was like a breath of fresh air. He was like you! He was your age, he seemed so happy and carefree. You were a bird trapped in a cage and he was free, flapping his wings around where you couldn't.

You wanted to connect so you left calling cards, it was easy enough.

One night, you decided to reveal yourself. Sitting perched on a windowsill as you waited for boy wonder to find you. Wayne Manor was big, you knew you'd have to wait a while. You adjusted your makeshift Talon mask which covered only the top half of your face.

You heard the door of the attic hurriedly be pushed open, Dick standing in the doorway in his pyjamas, the letter of instructions in a loose grip in his hand.

"You!" He exclaimed, "You've been leaving the letters!" His voice was a mixture of disbelief, confusion and something akin to anger.