Enchanted Kingdom 1:The brightest night

Chapter 8 : The Flesh-Eating Golden Eagle

Sky flew to the palace.

' Frost won't think I'm angry at him will he?' Sky thought, ' Because I'm not angry at him at all. Some things have to be kept private.'

Sky stopped at a nearby stream, and stared at his reflection.

He shook his head solemnly.

' Oh no no... this is not good...' Sky mumbled to himself, ' The emperor will remember me... Uh... I need a disguise...'

Sky wobbled around, looking for a sort of dye.

' I need dye for a disguise... wait. In the book "How To Make Dye With Plants Or Flowers'', I remember a sort of plant that's the most common... What was it again? Bach? No... Bir- um... BIRCH! Yes! Birch!'

Suddenly, something caught his eye.

' Is that what I think it is...' Sky muttered to himself, ' AHA!!! Found exactly what I need! Birch!'

HAM! HAM! HAM! HAM!

A woodpecker was nearby.

It stared at Sky puzzledly, as if to say: What do you mean birch? Isn't birch a sort of wood? I thought you needed dye?

Sky shook his head and replied, ' Just watch and learn.'

He shredded the birch into small pieces and fetched a metal bucket left by the forest workers. Then, he placed the nicely shredded birch in the metal bucket. Then, he made a small fire and placed the metal bucket on top of the fire. After getting a long stick to poke the fire, he sat down and took a rest.

Huh? The woodpecker seemed to say, What? I am puzzled. Am I supposed to help or something?

' Dude. You want to help? Then go fetch me some bird feathers.' Sky said.

Without a word, the woodpecker flew away, in search of some bird feathers.

Suddenly, a vast shadow loomed over Sky.

Sky looked around cautiously.

Trees, Grass, Flowers, Water... Everything was normal. So why was he feeling so uneasy?

' Relax, Sky. It's probably just a big bird or something. Relax.' Sky soothed himself.

Suddenly, a loud thud rang from behind him.

Sky turned around slowly...

What he saw made him cry out in alarm.

A Golden Eagle. As big as an elephant. As strong as a tiger. As murderous as a lion. As mad as a hippo.

The eagle had dark stormy gray eyes, marigold feathers and a firm smile.

' Um... Mister? Are you a mister or a missus? I am-' Sky stuttered.

' I am a missus. Here to defend my territory.' The eagle said.

' Wow. You look fairly strong for a missus. But... uh... let's have manners. Let's introduce ourselves first. I am Sky. And you are?' Sky said, hoping to buy himself some time.

' Hmph. Nobody remembers me. They're all like, "Who are you" " What's your name?'' " Have we met?'' I can't believe they all can't remember the great and mighty Bronze!' Bronze said angrily.

' Oh... so you're bronze... I know you... you're... you're the.... Um...' Sky said randomly, he didn't want to make Bronze mad.

' Uh-huh? Do you know me? Tell me. Do you know me? I'm what?' Bronze was very curious.

' You're... you're the defender of the island and...' Sky said, racking his brain for information on Bronze the Golden Eagle.

He remembered reading about Bronze somewhere... but... where?

' Yes. I am the defender of this island, but... I am more... unless you don't remember, I am also-'

' You are also the uh... the... uh... the only golden eagle in this island!' Sky said, clapping his hands together in delight.

' Yes... but... I am still more.' Bronze said.

' You are the mightiest?' Sky said, pulling out random thoughts.

' Yes... but still more.' Bronze said, a maniacal grin tugging at the corner of her lips.

' You... you... you are strong?' Sky said.

' Still.'

' Um... you like to sleep?'

' Still.'

' You like to eat or something?'

' Close. Close.'

' You like to eat? How's that supposed to be close? Um... you like to eat meat?' Sky said, unsure.

' What kind of meat? Dear?' Bronze had a mad glint in her eyes.

' Oh... uh um... no... y-you like... no... no... no way...'

' Hmm-mmm?'

' You like to eat f-flesh...' Sky said, trembling.

Bronze said, ' Yes dear. I like to eat flesh. Bird ones, perhaps, are my favourite. Come closer dearie, so I can eat you!'