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     Opal looked around, her dark eyes settling on a hare. She narrowed her eyes as she begun the chase, racing alongside the rabbit until snatching the critter in her strong jaws. She waved her feathered tail as her fangs sank into the small mammals neck.

     The female trotted to a stop as she plucked the fur from her kill. As the raptor ate her kill, she stored some leftover meat in a black pouch around her neck.

        Bumble had woken up late. Usually they woke up early to get their daily chores done, but today the raptor woke and the sun was halfway across the sky. Shrugging, they hopped off their bed and started on making themselves breakfast. They would have to get more carrots... They chomped down a few cucumber slices before going to draw the curtains on the windows and the doorway, and picking up their basket and stepping into the sunny clearing.

     Opal lifted her head as her eyes detected movement. Slowly, she walked on all fours to come face-to-face with another raptor.

     "Oh-!" She said, her feathers rising with surprise. Bumble tilted their head as another raptor nearly bumped into them. They blinked slowly. It had been some time since another raptor had stumbled through here.

      "Sorry! I didn't know anyone lived here. I'm sorry if I spooked you..." she smiled, backing up and resting on her haunches. Bumble nodded and grinned meekly, trying to silently reassure the other raptor. They stood up the rest of they way and grabbed their basket again. Motioning to the other raptor for her to follow them, they started to walk to the side of their den to a vegetable patch. Opal blinked and followed the raptor. She looked down at the vegetables.

       "Would you like any help?" Bumble only needed a few carrots so they smiled in gratitude but shook their head as they pulled three up. Laying them in their basket, they made a chirping noise and continued back to their den, motioning to the other to follow them again. Opal smiled and walked alongside them, looking at the basket and then back at the new raptor. She blinked and looked ahead. Bumble lead her into their den.

       On the right was a curtain that sectioned off their small bedroom. Beyond the curtain was a short counter and a stove of the same height. A table with two chairs sat in the center of that area. There was a window that looked out towards the veggie patch, and lots of plastic plants. There were at least two plastic cacti on each windowsill, along with large fake potted plants in every corner and lots of flowers. Bumble loved fake flowers and they had baskets full of them everywhere. They went to set the basket on the counter near the stove. Opal looked around in awe.

    "Whoa! This place looks really nice. Thanks for letting me come in." She smiled. She cautiously walked around the den, stopping at the fake flowers. She sniffed them.

     "Artificial flowers? That's a smart idea, don't want flowers that can die for decoration." Bumble made another noise that was more one of agreement than anything else. They stored the three carrots in the mini fridge near the counter. They grabbed a plate of sliced veggies out of their fridge and set it down on the table before sitting down and motioning to the other chair. They took a cucumber and crunched it between their teeth. Opal cautiously joined them, clicking as she saw sliced cucumbers. She picked one up and munched on the green vegetable, then picked up a slice of orange pepper and crunched it between her dark teeth. She purred, continuing to munch on the veggies.

        "Thank you for letting me sit down and eat. No one really invites me over anymore... I don't really have many friends, to be honest," she sighed, trying to smile happily. She looked down at the pouch around her neck and took a cube of rabbit meat out and chewed it. She gulped and looked at the window, her dark eyes softening sadly. Bumble frowned, their eyes shining with empathy. Grabbing a green veggie they chomped it in their mouth before pointing to themselves and grinning. Opal looked at Bumble, her feathers rising. She tilted her head and chirped, not underatanding. Bumble chirped again before opening their mouth. Bumble was selectively mute, rarely ever finding a time they were able to speak, or a raptor that they were comfortable to do so around. But now, pointing to themself, then to Opal, they squeaked for the first time in a long while.

        "Friends?" Opal's feathers flattened softly, her eyes grew wide. She grinned.

    "Of course! Thank you...?" Bumble nodded and stood to place the tray to veggies in the fridge once more. Quickly walking over to a basket of flowers, they picked out a yellow rose. Skipping back over to Opal they held it out and smiled, their purple fangs shining in the sun pouring out of the window. Opal giggled, then took the yellow rose, putting it between her feathers.

     "Thank you." She smiled. "My name's Opal, by the way." Bumble waved slightly, acknowledging Opal's name, before pointing to themselves and making a buzzing noise. Opal tilted her head, then blinked.

    "Buzz? Like, a bee?" Bumble nodded, urging her to go on. "Like a... A Bumble bee? Is your name Bumble?" Bumble clapped and nodded. Their feathers sticking straight out then relaxing again.

      "I'm glad I have another friend. I have a feeling we'll be friends for a long time," Opal smiled. She looked at her black pouch, then gasped.

      "I'll be right back!"

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