The Story of Tiberius

Chapter 56

"This is probably one of the hottest days I have ever lived through. And it's only the beginning of April," Maggie commented, laying on the ground beside the small pool. Almost the entire Council was inside the hollow of the Great Oak. About a week and a half had passed since the murder of Mumford and the exile of Striker. Luckily for all of them, they still managed to keep the peace between themselves and Rex's Alley Cats. It was now time for everyone to settle down and relax while they could before the next big thing came up. However, it was pretty hard to chill when it was this hot out.

Panting as he laid stretched out in the shadows of the hollow, Tiberius looked around. Eddie and Panama had plunged their heads into the small pool. Nearby, Dodger was giving Maggie her daily medicine. The elderly osprey was getting sicker by the day. Perched way high up, Oscar and Juno were sleeping, hidden from the sun's light. Flash and Calvin were flapping their wings to cool themselves off but it obviously wasn't working for them. If anything, it only made them lose their feathers faster with it being molting season. Pierre and the other vultures had left to a different area of Central Park, claiming they had a way of cooling off. When asked, they wouldn't say a word. Pietro tried to but someone clamped his beak shut and they left.

Hearing quiet footsteps approaching him, Tiberius didn't have to look to see who it was. A moment later, Sleet laid down on his right. "This heat... too much..." she murmured. Nodding his head, Tiberius mumbled, "I don't want to leave this spot but I have to soon. Need to get back home..." There was a bit of reluctance in his voice. Gazing at the red tailed hawk beside her with soft eyes, Sleet reached down and nuzzled him, catching him under the throat. Trying not to burst out laughing with that being his weak spot, the hawk let out a purr. The bald eagle purred with him, a kind smile spreading across her face.

After awhile, it was time for Tiberius to start heading home. "Try not to melt!" Eddie called out to him. Rolling his light brown eyes, the hawk teasingly retorted back, "Come on guys, if I'm fast enough to beat a peregrine falcon I should be able to beat the sun." Everyone snickered at that except for Flash, who fumed at the memory of that humiliating race. Laughing quietly to himself, Tiberius took to the skies. Soaring on the wind, he breathed in the fresh air. It was a glorious thing, being a bird. One felt free when they took flight for the first time. The ones that followed felt like paradise. Gazing down at the busy streets of NYC, the hawk swooped down to catch a pigeon. Eating it on the wing, it wasn't long before he arrived at the apartment building.

"You took your sweet time getting back here, didn't ya?" Alfred remarked, noticing the blood on Tiberius's beak and talons. The hawk smiled sheepishly. However, the old man didn't seem upset as he smiled back. Gripping his cane with his right hand while holding the hawk on his left, he scanned the skies. Following his owner's gaze, Tiberius was surprised that Rosa hadn't come back first. He had been a little late coming home since he had gotten a snack along the way. He tried to reassure himself that she would soon come. However, after fifteen minutes, his little sister still wasn't home. Sighing heavily, Alfred turned to the red tail and spoke softly, "Think you can find her?"

Nuzzling Alfred's head gently first, Tiberius opened his wings and took off.