Two Birds of a Feather

Prologue

"It's okay little one, you're gonna be okay," a woman's voice spoke softly to the month old red tailed hawk she cradled in her arms. The young bird trembled uncontrollably, her yellow eyes wide open with terror. She let out tiny, panicked squeaks. All she wanted was to go home and cuddle up with her family consisting of herself and her parents. But it didn't look like that was going to happen anytime soon. Whimpering, she buried her face into the towel she was wrapped up in.

"Dr. Green? He's here," a newly hired nurse opened the door slightly to peek her head into the room where the experienced veterinarian was sitting with the young animal. Nodding her head, Dr. Laura Green replied, "Please bring him in." The nurse left, coming back a few minutes later with an old man walking with a cane. Breathing a sigh of relief, Laura spoke first, "Thank you so much for coming Mr. Jones."

"Alfred please. I came as fast as I could. What's the problem?" the old man replied, taking a seat next to the veterinarian. Looking down at the bundle in her arms, Laura gingerly pulled back part of the towel to reveal the month old red tailed hawk. Shivering fearfully, the little bird cried out for her parents. "Some teenagers found her just north of the Bronx after that terrible series of storms we had all week," the veterinarian explained.

"Poor thing, she's traumatized," Alfred commented quietly, slowly extending his hand towards the young bird. Letting her sniff it first, he gently stroked her head. Startled by the touch, the little hawk squeaked. But after a few more strokes, she calmed down somewhat and closed her eyes, a tiny purr rumbling in her throat. The humans talked quietly to each other.

"What do you plan on doing with her?" Alfred asked.

"Usually, we would keep them for a bit and then release them back in the wild but she's too young for that," Laura answered.

"Very true on that."

"We thought about putting her in a nest of two parenting red tails but I'm not sure how they'll take to her."

"I definitely don't think that's a good plan with her being this small for her age."

"We also don't have room for a red tail here."

"I also noticed you have a handful of trainees and new employees."

"What are we going to do?"

"Well..." Alfred mumbled, biting his lip. An idea had popped into his head but he wasn't sure if it would work or not. Rocking the young hawk in her arms gently, Laura guessed what he had been thinking as she asked, "Do you think he'll take to her?"

"I don't know. He's nice around my grandkids but I never seen him among his own species."

"You don't think he'll eat her, do you?"

"Oh no, he wouldn't do that... hopefully..."

"I don't think we have much of a choice. He might be her only chance if she's gonna make it in this world."

"I agree. I just hope he cooperates."

"Here," Laura spoke softly, carefully handing over the young red tailed hawk over to Alfred. Petting the bird's head gently, she added, "Take good care of her, alright."

"Don't worry, I will," Alfred promised. Looking down at the little hawk in his arms, he asked, "What's her name?"

"Her name is Wendy."