The Story of Tiberius

Chapter 38

A small little chipmunk nibbled out a nut it had found on the ground. Its tiny paws were wrapped around its prize like it was afraid that it was going to lose it to another hungry chipmunk. Black and white stripes ran down from its face to its twitching tail. Small ears were trying to pick up any sound while its beady black eyes scanned the area frantically. Hearing a twig snap, it knew instantly that it was in trouble. Letting out a squeak of terror, it dropped its food and ran just as a red tailed hawk came flying after it, missing it by a hair. Another swooped down and caught the rodent.

"Looks like you still need to work on your hunting technique," Tiberius murmured as he carried the dead chipmunk over to Rosa, who was sprawled on the green grass. He gently placed the rodent that originally would've been her catch beside her. Looking at the small chipmunk, Rosa turned her head away when she saw the blood coming forth from the wound in its skull. The wound that had ended the creature's innocent life. Shuddering a little, she mumbled quietly, "You have it Tiberius, I'm not hungry." Hesitating a little, her big brother swallowed the rodent whole.

Four months had passed since the hawks first started living in the shed on the rooftop. Both hated it with every fiber of their beings. It was often cold at night and wasn't exactly the best kind of shelter in the world. If the wind would blow a certain way, rain could still get inside through the front half of the shed, which wasn't covered in wood like the other walls but rather wire in a lattice pattern. That wasn't even the worse part of it, nor was it the chains that had to be clasped to their feet every night. The worse thing about living in the shed was the fact that the siblings couldn't be with their beloved owner Alfred as much as they used to. He came up everyday to see them. In the morning, he would give them their breakfast. A little before noon, he would give them lunch and let them fly around the city while he worked on the small garden that he had started on the rooftop. The two hawks had to come back soon though because the old man had to leave to check on his granchildren Emma, Connor and young Sandy. He would then return later that day when the sun was beginning to go down and feed them their dinner before he headed down for the night. When it was raining, he wouldn't be able to come out at noon but he always showed up morning and night to feed them. Every time he stopped by, he would keep reminding the pair how sweet they were.

"Rosa, you really need to learn how to hunt for yourself," Tiberius informed his little sister. Looking up at her big brother, Rosa murmured, "Tiberius, what if I don't want to hunt?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't like hurting others."

"All's fair when it comes to food."

"Do you ever think of anything other than your stomach?"

"Uh, yeah. You and Alfred."

"I'm sorry but I don't want to hunt."

"It's a start to learning how to defend for yourself."

"I don't need to learn how to fight."

"Sure, and I'm a blind hedgehog."

"I don't think it's necessary."

"I think it is."

"And I think you two are intruding on someone else's territory!" a strange voice hissed a moment before Tiberius was tackled to the ground.