The Story of Tiberius

Chapter 40

Both Tiberius and Rosa watched as the other birds of prey in the area froze up at the sound of the voice. Everyone turned around and looked up to see another bald eagle. Not as large as Eddie was, she was very ancient. Her yellow eyes were slowly turning pale from age and her feathers, though still clean and shiny, were starting to fall out of her shoulders. She already had a small patch missing. Her body was marked with scars from long ago battles. Yet it appeared she held power amongst the others as they all had bowed to her, Striker being hesitant about it. He did it nonetheless.

Seeing her friends bow to her like that, the bald eagle sighed heavily as she mumbled, "I told you guys, you don't need to do that." Tiberius and Rosa were deeply confused by what was happening as the ancient bald eagle landed on the ground. Behind her, another osprey, a couple of great horned owls, a turkey vulture and a red tailed hawk perched on branches of the trees all around them. The ones on the ground joined their companions up in the trees while the bald eagle quietly approached the two hawks.

Trembling all over in a matter of seconds, Rosa put herself behind her big brother. Tiberius, however, held his head high, showing no fear as the bald eagle stopped in front of him. Though he was large amongst his species, the hawk was nowhere close to the size of the eagle. She was twice his size. He had to tip his head back to look up into her pale yellow eyes. Though he couldn't remember, the young hawk could've sworn that he had seen this eagle somewhere before. He just couldn't put his talon on it. Meanwhile, the bald eagle was examining him like he was food. He narrowed his eyes at that. Growling slightly, he muttered threateningly, "Ya wanna back off a little before I start clawing you to shreds like I did to your pal over there?" Rosa glared at her big brother to keep his beak shut.

However, there appeared to be nothing to worry about as the bald eagle chuckled softly. "I still see that fighting spirit in you Thunder," she remarked. Remembering his old name, Tiberius knew instantly that he had seen this eagle somewhere before. His memory went back to when he was still young and innocent. There had been a visitor to the nest. Gazing up at the eagle before him, the red tailed hawk mumbled, "Are you Sleet?"

Smiling softly, Sleet replied quietly, "Yes I am."