Ughhhh, I want to sleep, but all I hear is a bunch of birds making noises as I shake my feathers out, trying to ignore them and keep my head under my wing.
Soon Shiners' thoughts intrude upon my own, <Mike, you might want to wake up, my family showed up....> he says. He seems to be avoiding mentioning something, making me nervous.
A few moments later, I finally pull my head from my wing, yawning and looking around, grumbling, <Ughhhh, why are birds so noisy in the morning, can't a poor eagle get some sleep?> And what I see makes me almost jump, and all instincts are screaming, 'ughhh pests.' As all around us were a large group of ravens kawing and calling out, some swooping by and all looking annoyed as best as I can tell. They are fun to watch, but not when they are all looking at you like you're about to attack them all.
Shiners is a few feet away from me, giving what looks like an apologetic look, <Sorry...apparently they think you're harassing me, or maybe trying to eat, they aren't exactly clear, just upset.> I fluff my feathers up indigantly at this. I can tell they are upset.
I look at them as I duck when one gets a little closer, <Well, can't you tell them I'm a friend? Or how much do they understand?> I ask. Yeah, ravens were smart, but i doubted they had a dictionary or much of in the way of things they can communicate with much precision.
Giving a laugh, Shiners shakes his head, <Dude, they are ravens, we're smart, but it's not like I can have a long, important, and detailed conversation. Remember, it's part of why I left. I love my family, but they can't exactly understand me the same way you can. I can try, though.>
Ducking down, I give an annoyed squawk as a raven gets a little close, HEY thats too close. I wish I could yell, <Good, I've always wanted to meet your family, but not sure this is the best way.> I say sarcastically, trying to look like a normal, unthreatening eagle I've seen harassed by eagles in the past. Look, I'm a nice, friendly eagle, wouldn't eat a raven!
This seemed to only annoy the ravens more as a couple more swooped in close, making me frustrated. I thought about flying off, but I hardly wanted to anger or run from Shiners' family if I could. It would be cool to know them better.
Shiners takes to the air, making sharp kaws followed by light kaws that seem not threatening as I try to figure out what he says. He attempts to fly interception for me to keep the other ravens away. I'm thankful for this, but I really hope he doesn't get himself injured doing so.
Getting too distracted with one raven flying at me, that Shiners stops that I don't notice another one sneaking up until with a SKREE!! OW!!! I feel one of my tail feathers pulled on making me turn and glare as it flew off. Thankfully, it doesn't look like it was hurt or damaged.
Shiners gives a visible wince, one even noticeable at a distance at the feather pull, <Sorry Mike, but these guys are almost as stubborn as you are.> He says.
I give him my best birdish glare, I'm not THAT stubborn...okay, maybe a little. My thoughts stop as another raven gets a little too close for comfort. He was going for one of my wing feathers this time, and before I can stop myself, my foot reaches out and grabs him mid-flight as everything seems to stop for a second.
The raven and I just stare at each other for a few moments in equal shock, the calling from around me even stops. It takes me a few moments to register what happened as it starts to squirm as I franticly let go panicing. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, so much for being friendly.
The raven quickly flies off kawing loudly, but the others seem to have stopped and were just circling above in confusion as Shiners gives a nervous laugh, <Umm....well that worked, thanks for not eating my cousin. Didn't even know that you could do that.> he admits.
I nod my head slowly, staring at my talons, <I...I don't know what happened. He came at me ,and in annoyance, I just stuck my foot out to grab at him. Wasn't intentional, just instinctive to the situation.> I think both disturbed and amazed by it.
Shiners just nods, <It's okay, no harm, no foul. Remember, it's still you in there, but you have animal instincts and reflexes. It's kind of like how you humans will grab something out of the air if thrown at you, except here it's a really feathery loud dart.>
Giving my head a shake, I nod, <Maybe I should just go, I don't want to cause any strain between you and your family.> I think. This was turning into a disaster, and while I wouldn't intend to, I wasn't sure how long it would be before I might accidentally hurt someone.
Shiners shakes his head, <Nahhh, we should both go, this just highlights how different I am from them.> I can hear a bit of sadness in his voice, and was about to spread my wings when a smaller raven suddenly lands on the branch I'm perched on. He's a few feet away but eyeing me curiously.
I stare at him nervously, not wanting to scare him, the other ravens still circling but waiting for something to happen, probably expecting me to attack him. Instead, I just stare in his direction as I turn to face him, just in case he was going to grab another feather. No harm here, just a small accident earlier.
The young raven just slowly walks down the branch, looking nervous but also obviously trying to be brave as he gets closer and then stops just staring up at me, almost as if in awe. He only gives a small light kaw that comes off as questioning.
Seeing this, I can't help but smile inwardly as Shiners watches now landing on a branch nearby, <Of course it's the dumb young ones that are curious. But you seem to have gained his interest, just don't move much and let him get closer.
I lower my head a little, trying to look less threatening, as it makes the young raven stiffen for a second before he continues to move closer, eyeing me, still giving a small chirping raven sound. I tilt my head. Okay, what exactly does that mean? Good thing or bad thing?
Suddenly, I hear noises behind me, and not turning my head to see whats going on, I get the impression that the other ravens have landed near me, probably ready to mob me if something happens, as the raven finally stops a safe distance from me. He turns his head to the side, giving me a quick once-over.
I gulp a little bit as it feels like being judged by a billion eyes, and well, they are called a murder for a rea...oh wait thats crows, but does still apply to this situation.
Looking around, I frown wish I still had some of the rabbit or mouse from earlier. Even a chicken that I could give the raven, a sign of peace. Looking to Shiners, <Anything else left down at the drive-in that I could give him?>
Shiners looks down and shakes his head, <I don't see anything, but I think you're fine for now at least.> he says as the young raven moves closer again and stops close enough that he could hurt me, or I could hurt him, before gently poking me with his beak, then running backwards.
I give a small nod over to Shiners while I fluff my feathers out slightly, but otherwise don't react to the poke by the young raven, as that seems to be enough for the rest to relax a little bit and fly over to kaw at Shiners. Well, that....went okayish, I think, relaxing a little.
In particular, two ravens come over and look me over curiously as Shiners gives a mental laugh, <Mike this...is my mom and dad, not sure how much they understand about whats going on, but they seem to have at the least accepted you for now.>
Okay...I hope I don't mess this up as I give a dip of my head to show reverence, I hope, and not OHH DINNER, it's like trying to speak japanese from only context clues. They give a small nod of their heads. One of them gives a sharp kaw and nudges its beak towards Shiners in what I think means, 'hurt him and you die,' though can't be 100% sure.
Looking towards Shiners, I think, <So am I on their good side? Or they thinking, this eagles too stupid to let live, let's eat?> I half joke as I can really only guess what they are thinking.
Shiners tilts his head towards his parents, giving a light caw as they fly off, and I watch them as the flock leaves. He soon turns his gaze back to me. <They seem to have accepted you. If they were really out to get you, you either be flying off or pecked a ton, though, to be safe, we should probably start heading back.> He says.
I give a nod, <Yeah lets head back, though we still have to stop off at that camp, I want to play some minigolf.> as I take to the air, flying back north with Shiners following me.
