The Story of Tiberius

Chapter 82

The voice was that of a high pitched young female. Tiberius sniffed the air, trying to catch a scent of what animal she was. Unfortunately, the old red tailed hawk could not get one because the wind was blowing away from the shed entrance, not towards it. With the hood obscurring his vision, he could only rely upon his sense of hearing. Perched on the branch without moving a muscle like a stone statue, the hawk made no sounds as he listened quietly. He could tell that this female stranger was four legged due to the sound of her footsteps as she ran around on the rooftop which was later followed by her jumping in the same spot over and over again.

While she was jumping in place, she cried out repeatedly, "MAX! Max! Max! Max! Max! Max!"

"Somebody hear me and shove a field mouse down this person's throat please!" Tiberius muttered very quietly under his breath, adding silently, "Or better yet strike her with a lightning bolt. Just get her to shut up!" Luckily, the stranger outside had stopped crying out Max's name before the hawk could get a headache from her cries. Huffing, the red tail continued to listen as he heard something scraping along the rooftop. Tilting his head to hear it better, he realized that it was one of the flowerpots that were laid out here and there and everywhere along the roof. He guessed that she must have been at the edge of the rooftop but couldn't see anything so she was grabbing something to help her see better. Recalling how the stranger had called out the name Max seven times, the old red tailed hawk guessed she was looking for him. Rolling his eyes, he mumbled, "Who comes to a roof to look for someone?"

"Where are you Max?" the female stranger asked to herself, her voice almost coming out as a whimper. There was a hint of sadness to it. Tiberius couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the rooftop intruder as he heard her let out an exasperated sigh. Carefully scratching himself behind the neck with the talons on his left foot, the hawk also felt hungry at the moment. A lightbulb went off in his head. "I suppose I can put her out of her misery and I'll get a meal. Everyone wins," he told himself as a cunning plan formed in his mind.

Clearing his throat, Tiberius made himself known, "Looks like you could use a little help."