The flight isn?t a long one, but it feels so good, just being on the wing, only the air holding up my wings. Closing my eyes and letting the world fade for a moment, just feeling every muscle twitch, the way my feathers ruffle against the airflow over them. I live in the moment, not wanting it to end, forgetting everything outside of myself, even as the cold air threatens to fluff my feathers up.
After a while, my mind wanders back to the trip we were about to take in a few hours. I feel my heart race with excitement. Fluffing up my feathers, I try to calm myself. I couldn?t wait for it to begin, heck, I would have gone right now if I wasn?t waiting for my parents.
<Cat got your tongue? You?ve been quiet.> Shiners finally speaks up, interrupting my concentration. He laughs at his own dumb joke, and I groan, but still find myself smiling inwardly.
I watch the world below me pass as I glance back at him, <I?m just thinking as usual, maybe think about it all too much. I can?t wait to be human again someday, but I also love this, the air, the flying, spying on everything. Though I will admit, I doubt my dad would have let me go to a movie in another city with just a friend if I was still a boy.>
Shiners looks to me, <Really, my parents didn?t try to control me too much... then again, probably harder to control young that can literally go anywhere easily.> He says it so casually that I chuckle, realizing he's probably right. Maybe it?s why my parents are less concerned about me.
I nod my head and turn back toward my home, toward the tree we?ve been using. <Well, I wish it was that easy. My parents let me go out to the mall or Charlie's, but they always wanted to know where I was.>
Shiners nods, <I bet, especially with you guys being with your parents so long. You?ve been a kid longer than I?ve been alive.> He adds with a raven chortle.
Finally nearing home, I angle toward the tree near the back of my yard, where I can see everything and enjoy some of the sunlight. <It must feel weird, I guess. So, how do we do this trip? Is it too far to fly at once, or what?>
Shiners smiles, <If you?re like other eagles, you?re going to be a little slower but steadier, while I will need some breaks. I do suggest we make use of the ferry. It will allow us to travel without wasting a ton of energy we might need for the second half.>
I give a nod as I finally alight on a branch and settle down. <That might be a good idea. How long do you think it would take us to get there?> I ask curiously. I know it?s a few hours from Comox, but that was by car, not by flying. Would we get there in time for a movie, or have to stay a night?
Shiners nods, <Well, I think we should make it as long as we take a few small breaks. I believe I remember the general area of the drive-in thing.> He says it as he looks around, and I notice him staring in one direction with a tilt of his head , wearing what could best be described as a concerned look.
I look around, confused, not seeing anything of note, just a few people walking by on the road, until I spot someone staring intently at where Shiners and I were sitting. Sure, we were a few branches over, but it was probably enough to draw the attention of someone curious. <I think someone noticed us.> I say.
Shiners nods his head as he looks down at the person. They are wearing what looks like a conservation officer uniform. <I think... you?ve been spotted. Maybe I should go down and investigate him more.> He says it as I gulp nervously.
I give a nod. <Go ahead...> I say, as part of me wants to fly off, but the other part of me doesn?t want to draw attention or leave just because someone is watching me. It feels like his eyes are burrowing into my soul and know everything about me. Did he know that I didn?t belong? If he did, what would he do? Or would he even care beyond a strange oddity?
I watch as Shiners glides down toward the guy standing there, watching me. My vision of him magnifies slightly as I stare at him. He?s wearing a normal conservation officer uniform and seems perplexed, shaking his head, doing nothing more just yet. Shiners calls up, <He seems to be muttering something about where you came from.>
I tilt my head down and give him a look before trying to act natural. Nothing to see here, just a normal eagle shivering in the cold, trying not to look out of place. Nope, I'm a very, very natural, normal eagle. One that, if I could whistle, would probably be doing that now.
I hear a mental groan from Shiners as I still do my best to look like a normal eagle. <DUDE, you couldn?t look any stranger if you took out reading glasses and a newspaper.> He says it, making me wince.
I sigh and turn away. Maybe if I look like I?m really interested in... the trunk of the tree I?m in... yeah, this isn?t working, as I try to distract myself. <So what is he saying now?>
Okay, just one look back, nothing big, just a quick, is he still looking at me?... yup, he is, and he looks confused. He has a hand on his radio like he?s going to call this in, then decides not to, and I relax a little bit.
Shiners speaks up as he keeps watching. <He seems confused about you, muttering that you don?t belong here and asking if you migrated here accidentally.> He says it, as I?m really curious what's going through his mind.
I listen while keeping an eye on the officer, who pulls out a camera. I can?t hear the click, but I can imagine it as he presses his finger down, making me jump slightly. Thankfully, he soon gets into his car. I don?t relax until I see him driving off, hoping I won?t see him again. Plus, if I do turn into a wolf soon, I won?t have to worry about the guy until after Christmas.
I see him give a final glance in my direction before he drives off, and I finally relax. Whew... that was rough, I think, as I spot Shiners starting to fly back up.
I look down as I hear a whistle from the ground and realize that at some point, my mom and dad have returned. They are waving at me, looking concerned, which makes me wonder, Oh great, how long were they waiting? Did they see anything?
I drop down as Shiners follows, and I glide toward them, my feathers fluffed up a little in nervousness as I land in a tree near them. To my relief, my mom doesn?t seem to know what happened and just asks, "You seemed distracted. We were waiting for you to come down."
I shrug, not wanting to concern them, especially with the trip I?m taking, and just shake my head. <Oh, nothing, I was distracted watching things around and didn?t notice you. I do apologize.> I say as I eye the small bag my mom is holding that looks like something I could easily carry, and lick my beak.
My dad chuckles as he motions to the bag. ``We left you some small treats for the trip. Wasn't sure what to get you two, so we grabbed some pieces of chicken and a couple of feeder mice from the pet store. We wanted to get you some good meat, but there wasn't much choice,'' he says.
Shiners gives a bob of his head as I agree, and he says, ``That should be good. We should be back tomorrow night, if not the day after, if we need to stay an extra day. I'll keep him out of trouble.'' I just roll my eyes, as I wasn't that bad... right? RIGHT?
My mom gives a small laugh and a nod. ``I guess if I gave you a quarter, you wouldn't be able to call home, would you?'' she asks, as I tilt my head, wondering about that. Shiners just shakes his head at this.
I groan as I shake my head. <Yeah... that's going to look normal. Raven hanging off the side of the payphone while I stand nearby, trying to act inconspicuous, hoping no one walks by and notices us.>
My dad nods. ``Well, I think we have everything here. Now be careful, and try not to get hurt. It's a long flight, but we have faith in you, and this is a lot of trust. Don't break it, okay?'' he says.
Taking a deep breath, I drop down to the ground next to them and give them both a hug with my wings. <I'll be safe and be home before you know it.>
My parents both lay their hands on my back and give a small pat before I turn around and fluff my feathers out to relax. <Let's get this show on the road.>
My dad smiles as he takes the bag, "Okay, hold still, this should work, if it?s too hard you can carry it in your feet, we tried to make it light enough," he says as he carefully loops the bag over my neck as it feels a little weird, but I don?t think it be too bad.
I give my body a little wiggle and a few flaps, testing it out and trying to get a feel for it, before I take to the air and fly up to the branch I had been on, and hmm. <It's a little weird, and we might need to think of something better long term, but thanks, it should be good for now.> I say.
Shiners repeats it while adding his own commentary. ``You look a little silly, like you're more a kid going to school than a scourge of the skies going on a migration.''
As I move to land, the bag shifts slightly, throwing me off a little. Not in a big way, but it will take some getting used to, as it sits loosely around my neck and rests against my chest when I'm standing on the branch. <I think we're good to go. See you soon, Mom and Dad.>
Shiners gives a bow to my parents before he takes to the air, and I soon follow him. After a wide circle to gain some height, we start flying off in the direction of the ocean.
