Landing in a tree overlooking the drive-in, we get a feel for it. There is a couple of buildings, one that is near the screen that looks like a storage unit, and one further back near the entrance that looks like a snack bar. Looking around, I see all the posts for the speakers and glance at Shiners. <So, how best should we handle this situation? We need some way to hear, food, and a place to watch.>
Giving a look around, Shiners responds, <Well, this is an okay spot, but probably can’t hear much. On the ground would work, but I doubt people miss a big eagle standing around.> He says as we continue to look. Come on, has to be a good place, or a way to hear without being in a dangerous spot.
Looking around, I spot the roof closer to the movie screen. I think, <That roof is closer and should be a good spot to watch, just how do we hear anything?> I add, <No one is here yet, movie probably won’t start for a few hours, let’s go look.>
Shiners gives a small wing shrug. <Makes sense, the people operating this place should be here in a bit, but the actual people are usually a while after dark.> I nod toward the building we picked out and fly down toward it, feeling a moment of excitement.
Carefully and gracefully, I land on the roof, sliding for a second as it was a bit icy, but still usable, as I grumble and settle down. Looking around, I think, <This isn’t a bad spot, maybe we should get us a blanket or something to lie down to make it a little bit more comfortable.> Not adding and safe to land on.
Unlike me, Shiners actually lands gracefully without the sliding, making me grumble even more as he responds, <Well, let’s make a list of what we will need. Some way to listen to the movie, a blanket or something to stay warm, and food for each of us. Though your bag should help you, and once people arrive, there will be lots of spilled buckets of popcorn and such.>
I click a talon on the roof, mentally thinking about that. <Well, we should look for the blanket first, I imagine that will take the most amount of time… but at the same time. If we’re staying up here, we should find out if a speaker will reach here, it’s the best choice to listen to the movie, and can’t exactly do it when the workers arrive.>
I drop down to the ground next to the closest speaker and look up at it, thinking, for one of the first times, man, everything is so much bigger. I see a cord wrapped around the hook that looks like it can go a few feet if needed.
Shiners lands upon the post, pecking at the speaker curiously. <So your plan… is to carry this up to the roof and hope no one notices?> He asks curiously as I groan. He’s probably right, but it’s the easiest thing to do as I walk around it, trying to get a good view.
Thinking about it for a few seconds, <Well… I have one dumb idea… would certainly let us know if it will reach.> I think as I take to the air, quickly gaining some height, angling to come back around at the post so the roof is in front.
Shiners stares at me, getting out of the way as he seems to know what’s about to happen. <Oh… no no no, don’t do it, that can’t end well.> He says as I come in, talons outstretched at the speaker like it was a rabbit.
Staring intently at the speaker, <Look, I got this, nothing can possibly go wrong.> I think as I grab it with my talons, catching it and manage to lift it off the post, and it worked, I had it, nothing could go wrong!
I can almost hear the mental wince from Shiners as he responds, <Fine… don’t listen to me.> He says as I see him circling me while watching what I’m doing.
Ughhh, he’s just a stupid raven, what does he know abURK!!!! as the cord attached to the box suddenly goes taut and I tip forward, forced to drop the box, starting to somersault, making me feel weirdly dizzy.
I manage to right myself and get a flap of my wings before I land on the ground, wincing. My nares burning as I shake my head, trying to get rid of the disorientation as I hear a laugh from Shiners. <You’ve really got to stop these crash landings.>
A moment later, I turn around to look at the speaker, wincing as I see it’s broken with the speaker cover off, and look toward Shiners. <You think they will notice?> I ask, suddenly self-conscious about it. How am I going to pay for this? I doubt my parents left me money.
Shiners looks at the speaker. <Dude, they have to be blind not to notice it. Least it’s near the building, and remember you’re an eagle, what they going to do, put cuffs around your feet or wings?> He says, as I still feel embarrassed and bad.
Taking a deep breath, I check the mental list. <Well… we can’t worry about hearing for now, maybe the speakers are close enough we can still hear, but we will need a blanket or something to stay warm, and some food.>
Looking around, Shiners nods. <Well, I usually just grab popcorn and stuff the people drop or… accidentally leave lying around. You will probably want some mice. We could split up and hunt for blankets and mice.> I lick my beak, thinking, when did the concept of mice become more exciting than a good cheeseburger?
I give a nod. <I’m going to see if any places to hunt mice near here and look out for a blanket. If you see anything, let me know.> I say, finally recovering. With a quick run, I flap my wings and take to the air, heading away.
Shiners follows me. <I will head the other way and keep an eye out and come to you if I see anything.> He says, and soon he’s gone. I miss him already. He’s been a great companion and someone to help me with things so far.
I still had to get used to the weird way that my eyes worked. I was high up, but could so easily see everything that I was looking at. A week later, it still amazed me as I begin looking for any blankets or similar. There wasn’t really anything, making me wish it was summer when people might be putting blankets and stuff out to dry.
I wasn’t even letting what was coming up in a week into my mind, the grandparents’ Christmas was going to be a nightmare, and I knew it. Though a small part of me was curious. Thankfully, I’m soon distracted by a fort in the woods with what looked like a blanket of some kind in it.
Circling a few times, making sure there was no one around, I land on the edge of the fort and look in, seeing some kids’ stuff and a blanket. YES!!! and move over to grab it to see if I can pick it up and… it moves as a solid piece, frozen. I sigh. Okay, how do I get this thing to the drive-in, and even if I can, will it be usable?
First, I grab it with my beak, seeing if it will move at all, and it sorta does, but holds its position as I do now, looking more like a mountain. Moving around it, I check different spots and find similar results, with it being too cold to stand on easily. I quickly sigh, okay, maybe I can come back to this one if I can’t find a better one.
It was as I was getting ready to leave I hear voices coming from outside, and sounds like they were heading this way. Sticking my head out of the door, I notice a couple of kids with some books. I could barely hear what they were saying, but it was something about the fort they found, making me wince slightly.
Least the kids don’t seem to be a threat, but that means I won’t likely be able to get the blanket later if I need to. Leaning over and making a quick decision, I grab the blanket and try to take off with it in my talons, except the blanket is partly frozen to the floor, making me grunt.
I hear the startled noise from outside as the kids start to exclaim, “Hey, there is someone in the fort, I bet he’s stealing our treasure!!!.” making me wince, as the one thing I want is NOT a treasure, and probably something they would throw out or at least take home to warm up.
Grunting hard, I finally manage to tug really hard, and with a ripping sound, it comes free as I leap out, taking to the air, smacking a kid lightly with the blanket as it leaves the fort, causing them to yell startled, “MONSTER!!.”
I fight a laugh despite my embarrassment and feeling bad stealing from them, the fact they think I’m a monster is silly. Finally, I hear one of them yell, “IDIOT!! It’s just an eagle, probably looking for something for its nest.” I have a hard time gaining height as the blanket was a bit heavy, but with effort, manage to.
Gaining height, I keep hearing the kids talking, “It was an old blanket anyway, and in this cold, maybe it needs it far more than we do.” Another one says, “I guess, but now what will we sit on when we read?” making me feel a bit better as I finally turn toward the drive-in, staying above the trees just barely.
It takes me a few minutes to get back, and my wings were already getting tired as I near the drive-in and I see Shiners standing there watching me as he calls out, <I see you found… a blanket of some kind.>
I landish with the blanket, last foot was more of a drop as I was getting exhausted. Least the snow and the blanket cushioned me. <Yeah, wasn’t going to take this one… but kids showed up and made a quick move to just grab it. It’s a bit cold, but hopefully we will warm it up by the time the movie starts.>
He gives a small nod. <Well, I found you a field nearby with some mice and a rabbit if you’re looking for food before the movie. The workers started arriving a few minutes ago, so far, they haven’t noticed the speaker.> He says, motioning to a guy setting up the snack bar.
I glance over as he looks bored, just cleaning the counter and popping the corn as I wonder if it’s a fun job getting to see movies all the time, or would it get quickly boring. I give a nod. <We still don’t know what to do with the sound issue, but I will go grab the rabbit if I can.> I think, giving my wings a small flap to see if they are feeling better.
I fly off and about ten minutes return with a rabbit in my talons as I bring it to the roof and drop it. <That went better than I thought. I think I’m actually getting the hang of hunting.> I think, as I notice it’s getting dark and the drive-in should be opening soon.
