The Story of Tiberius

Prologue

Lightning flashed across the stormy night sky, soon followed by a roar of thunder. Rain fell from the heavens above towards the earth. Barely anything was left dry in the dense forest a few miles away from Albany. The thunderstorm raged on through the night, frightening many of the forest creatures with its lightning and thunder. A few animals weren't bothered much by the storm, though it was a bit of a concern with the ferocity. One red tailed hawk was worried for one other reason.

Watching as the fierce storm raged on all around the dead oak tree she was in, Ellie tried to keep calm as lightning flashed and thunder growled. She wasn't staying calm just for herself though. Shaking her head to rid herself of some water droplets running towards her light brown eyes, the hawk glanced down at the two eggs she was laying on and keeping warm. She smiled softly as she thought about her young and innocent children. She couldn't wait to see them.

Gazing back up at the sky, Ellie breathed a sigh of relief when she saw a familiar dark figure flying towards the nest, a squirrel clasped securely in his talons. Landing beside her, the male hawk pushed the squirrel towards her as he commented, "Dinner is served, my lady." Laughing softly, Ellie nuzzled her mate as she purred, "Austin, you big goofball." The pair nuzzled each other a little more before glancing down at the two eggs nestled beside Ellie.

"Anything happen while I was out?" Austin asked quietly, shaking himself as the rain drenched his feathers. Hanging her head silently, Ellie mumbled, "Nothing. I thought they would've hatched by now." Gently nuzzling his mate's cheek, Austin whispered, "Just give them some time. Didn't you tell me that your brother was a late one too?"

"Marlin is eight minutes older than me. And it was my cousin, not my brother," Ellie corrected her mate's error.

"Oh... wrong family member."

"Don't worry about it, happens all the time," Ellie reassured Austin, nuzzling him lovingly. Her mate purred happily as he laid down beside her. While they both dined on the squirrel though, Ellie couldn't help but sadly glance at the two eggs. They should've hatched that morning but it was now night. Sighing, she continued eating the rodent. However, before she and Austin could fall asleep, Ellie felt one of them move. Looking down, she saw a crack forming on the egg's shell.

"Austin," Ellie whispered urgently, shaking her mate awake, "It's happening!"