The Story of Tiberius

Chapter 50

"I must say, you have to be the craziest bird to pick a fight with this guy," Mercury murmured as he helped Tiberius get ready for the duel. The hawk had clay plastered on his chest feathers while the bald eagle helped him out with his face. Two lines were smeared on under his light brown eyes while a single one ran between them. It was a tradition that had been passed on for generations to have 'war paint' on, even during a duel. Each species had a different 'war paint' material. For hawks, it was clay. Falcons had silt, ospreys mud, eagles dust and owls pollen. The vultures originally had blood but after some complaints they went with tree sap.

Glancing sideways across the clearing, Tiberius watched as Striker got himself ready for the duel. No one had come over to his aid, fear written in their eyes. Quietly, one elderly turkey vulture stepped forward to lend a talon of assistance but was quickly hissed at angrily. The elder fled while everyone in that area backed away from him. It was obvious that the great horned owl didn't even want anyone's help. Smearing golden pollen on his face around his eyes to form a mask of sorts, Striker noticed that Tiberius was looking over at him. The hawk turned away when the owl narrowed his amber eyes, a rare color for his species.

"Don't worry about him. Don't let him get in your head," Mercury advised, placing some more clay on Tiberius's shoulders and wings. Gazing up at the crowd at Rosa, the hawk mumbled, "That's not what I'm worried about." Looking the large bald eagle in the eye, he pleaded, "Mercury, if anything happens to me... promise me that my little sister will be taken care of."

"She will be," Sleet replied to Tiberius's plea before her son Mercury could. Finished applying the 'war paint' on the hawk and seeing his mother was going to have a private talk, the large bald eagle left to join the crowd. Striker, meanwhile, had finished up as well and was now pacing back and forth in the clearing opposite of the Great Oak and the roots where the Council watched anxiously. Panama and Maggie were practically shaking while Calvin, Pierre and a terrified Flash dug their talons into the roots they were on. Oscar and Juno had sad looks on their faces while Dodger seemed to be praying to the Tribe of the Heavenly Stars. Even the calm Eddie seemed worried. Sighing heavily, Tiberius glanced over at Rosa again. Perched on a branch beside Pietro, she appeared horrified. The hawk was about to head out into the clearing when Sleet stopped him. Looking him in the eye, the eagle whispered, "Remember, your main weapon is your mind and wits, not your strength or talons."

Shaking nervously as Sleet took her place on the highest root of the Great Oak, Tiberius took a deep breath before entering the clearing. The crowd was awfully silent. One could hear a feather drop and hit the ground. Standing a few feet apart from each other, Tiberius and Striker locked eyes while the elderly turkey vulture from earlier stepped forward. Glancing at the two competitors, she rasped loud enough for everyone to hear, "Let the duel... begin."