Scientific Fantasies (Wattys2015)

Chapter Ten

The younger male seemed to be as curious as the female had been, slowly edging closer to the other two. Natalia held her breath when her male specimen noticed the intruder, but he didn't move for a long moment, just watching the little parrot.

"They were fine together?" she asked Linda quietly, keeping her gaze trained on them. Her assistant nodded.

"Yes, they were fine. She's very curious once she gets over her fear. He was curious about her, as well. They seemed to get along quite well."

"Good." Natalia narrowed her eyes at her male specimen when he shifted slightly, suspicious. "He's going to be trouble when I separate them. He ripped my chair and the paperwork apart while I was here - it was all of five minutes, and only because I took the female without him."

Linda nodded. "She was anxious for a few minutes, but the parrot made her forget. She was curious about him to begin with anyway."

"But she still came straight for the falcon when we entered." Natalia took a small step forward, but hesitated. The falcon had shifted in place again, keeping his back to the wall, keeping his wings hidden. She couldn't understand why he was doing that, though. She pushed aside her indecision, and pulled on the chain, taking the risk of letting him loose. She coiled the chain neatly after tugging it off her wrists, keeping it in view so that he understood. "Linda, why do you think he's hiding his wings?"

Her assistant only shrugged. "There could be many reasons. He could want to keep the injuries hidden so he doesn't look weak in front of a rival male, or it could be that it hurts to extend them."

"I suppose." Natalia stayed quiet after retreating again, giving the specimens space so that they could interact with each other without her influence. The female was curled on the falcon's lap again, pressing herself as close as she could get as if to make up for the five or ten minutes they'd spent apart. He wasn't pushing her away, either. Instead, he seemed to be holding her close, continually keeping a close eye on the younger male, who was ever so slowly creeping closer. The female pressed back against the falcon, and he leaned back, only for his wings to come into contact with the wall. He jerked in pain, sending the female scrambling off him as his wings half opened. Sam's experiment recoiled at the sight, hiding his face. Natalia held her breath again, tense. She had no idea what they would do now.

For a long minute, no one moved. Then as last, the little male peeked over his arms with wide eyes still filled with horror and a little bit of fear. Natalia licked her lips, unsure how to react.

"Linda?" she whispered.

"Let them be," came the quiet answer. "They'll work themselves out."

Although she feared that it would end badly, the young scientist didn't move to interfere, hoping that Linda would be right.

The falcon was refusing to let the female return to her place, so instead she was curled against the wall as close as he would let her be. His wings were still half open, clearly showing the raw edges of his wings. Natalia could see thoughts going through the younger male's eyes, and wondered what he was thinking. It shocked her to the core when he turned his head to glare at her, his gaze strong enough that she took a tiny step backwards.

"Linda," she said again. "What now?"

"I believe that's your call. You're the scientist here."

"But..."

A tiny chirp interrupted her, and she fell silent, watching them. Sam's experiment was sitting right at the feet of her male, chirping at him questioningly. It seemed like the falcon wouldn't make a response, but when the parrot chirped again, it was clear that he had. Natalia had no idea what the sounds meant, but she didn't dare interrupt. She didn't know what it would make them do.