Bird Island: The Original Script

Chapter One: Meeting - Speedy

The day began like any other— the radiant sun casting its golden rays across the sky, a gentle wind sweeping the dust off the branches, and the distant hum of birds awakening to their routine chorus of songs.

Except for one particular crow.

Speedy Pulsé, a sleek corvus known for his charm and mystery, was still lost in the depths of sleep. A stray breeze sent a leaf swirling toward him, brushing against his feathers. The subtle contact stirred him slightly, but it wasn't enough to wake him—until his subconscious whispered a single, startling word:

Speedy.

His mind jolted. It's Sunday.

In an instant, Speedy's eyes flew open, the sudden realization hitting him like a gust of wind. Sunday! he thought, sitting upright in a frenzy. He glanced around, expecting to find whoever had called his name, but the only company was the vacant sky and the trees swaying silently.

Confused and disoriented, he suddenly remembered where he was—or rather, where he wasn't. He had fallen asleep in an abandoned nest. "IT'S SUNDAY!" he shouted to no one in particular, startling himself with the volume of his voice.

Before he could make sense of things, something small and hard collided with his head. He recoiled, wings flaring instinctively. "Who's there?" he demanded, his voice sharp, though his nerves were already calming. Speedy was a master of keeping his cool.

A soft, nervous voice answered from above. "I-I'm sorry, was that me?"

Speedy's sharp eyes scanned the branches, searching for the source. "And why would you hit me—" he inspected the culprit, a small acorn—"with this?"

"You startled me," the voice replied, more quietly this time. "I had an acorn on my branch and... well, it slipped."

The situation now made sense, at least somewhat. Speedy's eyes darted upward, locking onto a white bird perched on a nearby branch. She fluttered down to his level—a finch, pure white with striking deep-blue eyes, sparkling like stars against the morning light. Her beak was sharp and steady, and her feathers, still damp with the sheen of morning dew, glistened like freshly fallen snow.

"So, uh... I'm Lucky," she said, her tone uncertain yet somehow confident. "I guess the name fits. Not to brag or anything, but... I'm usually pretty fortunate. Although, lately... not so much."

Speedy tilted his head, intrigued. "Name's Speedy. You can probably figure out why." He gestured to the abandoned nest. "Sorry about waking you. I'm not exactly home right now. Long story."

"Wait, so you're lost?" Lucky asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Speedy chuckled softly. "Not quite. It's... complicated. Maybe I'll explain it to you someday."

Lucky's expression softened. "Well, I am lost. So is my friend... Brownie."

Speedy blinked, his curiosity piqued. "Your friend? Brownie, you said?"

She nodded, her eyes reflecting both worry and hope. "Yes, he's a zebra finch. I'm sure you know what those look like. Taller than me, quick, brave... but not easy to spot."

Speedy recalled a small group of zebra finches he'd seen not too long ago. "Where was the last place you saw him?"

Lucky's gaze drifted toward the north. "See that forest, the one with hardly any leaves left? That's where I saw him last, a couple of weeks ago. It was... a pretty frightening place."

Speedy's stomach dropped. Not the Woodland Forest, he thought grimly. That place was a labyrinth of danger. The idea of anyone being lost there sent a shiver down his spine.

"I should check with my parents before heading that way," Speedy said. "They tend to worry."

Lucky's wings fluttered in frustration. "It's not far, I promise. It'll only take a few minutes. And don't worry, I have an excellent memory."

"Oh really?" Speedy grinned, playfully testing her claim. "Alright then, what's the value of pi?"

Lucky's expression brightened, catching the challenge. "Three point one four one five nine two six five three..."

"Okay, okay, you win," Speedy laughed, genuinely impressed. "Let's get going."

~         ~         ~

It wasn't long before Speedy and Lucky reached the edges of the ominous Woodland Forest. Shadows danced between the trees, and a sense of foreboding hung thick in the air. They scoured the area, inspecting the ground for any sign of Brownie's presence. After what felt like hours, they finally stumbled upon something.

Talon prints. Speedy crouched to inspect them closely. They matched Lucky's description of Brownie perfectly. But there was a problem—another set of tracks crossed over them.

Falcon prints.

"No..." Lucky's voice trembled, her eyes wide with fear. "No, it can't be."

Speedy's heart sank. It might be, he thought darkly. The falcon tracks were unmistakable. He wrapped a comforting wing around Lucky, trying to steady her. "It's going to be okay. We just need to follow these tracks. Brownie's still out there, I'm sure."

Lucky only nodded, her face pale but determined. Silently, they continued to follow the trail, weaving through the thick underbrush as night began to creep in.

"I'm exhausted," Speedy gasped after hours of walking. Flying was his specialty, not trekking. His brother Shadow had always teased him about it. Shadow was a master flier, preparing for a major race, though Speedy couldn't help but remember how Shadow's rival, Slow, had outsmarted him once.

But it wasn't just racing that made Shadow stand out. His past was tangled in mystery. Kicked out of the Civilization years ago, Shadow now lived in isolation, far beyond the empire's walls. His home was a hidden hut deep in the forest, filled with strange artifacts, from herbs to mysterious vials. Speedy visited him often—well, at least until a few weeks ago.

Lately, Shadow had disappeared. No one knew why, not even Speedy or their cousin Slow. The thought of something happening to him gnawed at Speedy's mind constantly.

Distracted, Speedy didn't notice the tree directly in his path until he slammed into it. He stumbled back, dazed. Lucky looked at him with a mixture of concern and amusement.

"You okay?" she asked, raising a brow.

"Yeah, just... got lost in thought," Speedy muttered, shaking it off. "Nothing important."

Lucky smiled softly, her earlier worry momentarily fading. "I'm always interested in interesting things."

Speedy opened his beak to respond when the ground suddenly rumbled beneath their feet. The trees around them trembled as if the earth itself was shaking.

"Speedy?" Lucky's voice wavered, her gaze fixed upward. "You might want to look at that."

Speedy followed her gaze. In the darkening sky, a brilliant star was descending, growing brighter and hotter with every passing second. It wasn't a star at all—it was a burning object, hurtling toward the forest. The heat radiating from it was so intense, Speedy could feel it from where he stood. The clouds around it evaporated into mist as it plummeted toward the trees.

His heart raced as awe gave way to fear.