Predatorial Song Bird

2. Free Song Bird

The air was crisp and clean, the scents of spring hovering in the air and filling the forest with the signal of new beginnings.

A gentle breeze flitted past branches filled with buds and over the lurid grass peppered with juvenile plants. The breeze caressed the downy fur of rabbits and mice as they carefully nosed their way from deep within the ground to take in the myriad of springtime scents.

After drifting across the calm and thawing streams, the breeze brushed against dark blue-grey feathers, a soft reactionary rustle following soon thereafter. The gentle rustling successfully coaxed a soft trill from the feather's owner: a small child around nine years of age who sat perched upon a branch. Their blue-grey wings spread behind them to catch the breeze as it passed by.

Spring was always their favorite time of year. After months of scarce food, they could now eat their fill without worry. Due to their territory existing primarily in the treetops, ground-treading predators such as foxes and feral cats evoked little to no danger.

Their territory was relatively small, but the child remained content and unbothered so long as they could hunt without much competition or fear. They like to think that they got along quite well with the foxes and cats, despite the young of their kind existing as their prime food source.

They were well aware that they weren't the same as the other birds flying about; the conversations they had made sure of that. Although their differences served little opposition to their acceptance, they were intriguing nonetheless.

Growing tired of staying in one place, the small child brought their wings close to their body before shifting, facing the thick trunk beside them. They flexed their hands with a self-assured chirp before sinking their talon-like hands into the bark, using the action to haul their small body up the tree with great skill and care.

As they climbed higher and higher, they took note of the minuscule shift in temperate and pressure. Not wanting another mishap, they changed their breathing pattern and fluffed the small feathers that lined their shoulders and sides as they continued their aviary journey.

It wasn't long before they reached their destination. The branches grew smaller around them as the trunk tapering off slightly. Typically, this situation would be considered dangerous for most, but it was more or less ideal in this case.

The young child unfurled their wings, the feathered appendages stretching a bit over twice their height. The large wingspan indeed caused issues now and then, with the tips customarily dragging on the ground as they walked. They also proved a massive pain to clean. However, they wouldn't give them up for anything-- they were more than suitable to carry their small form through the air.

With their wings spread wide and the feathers shifting with the gusts of wind that came with being at one of the forest's highest points, a sense of tranquility washed over them.

With a low rumble making itself known at the back of their throat, they crouched, waiting for the right moment to take off. After a minute or two, a particularly strong blast of wind whipped across the treetops. Taking this as their signal, they pushed off the tree, using their wings to steady themself as they allowed the wind to lift them into the air. Deeming the situation an adequate liftoff, they used their wings to propel into higher altitudes until they finally caught a swiftly moving air current.

With one final beat of their wings, they entered the current.
Humming with delight, they let it carry them for a bit, relishing in the sensation as their wings safely stabilized their body from the throes of gravity. It was exhilarating.

Time seemed to slow as they lackadaisically drifted about, their eyes drooping imperceptibly. As hunger reared its head after a shift in position quiet hums of delight quickly turned to whimpers of displeasure.

Clicking their tongue, they tucked their wings taut to their back, letting themself tilt and plunge from the air current. The gesture resulted in the child to all but free fall before they snapped open their wings to glide the rest of the way to the forest floor.

They landed on a pile of snow that had yet to melt, huffing childishly as a response. Hunger and exhaustion always ruined their fun, much to their chagrin. They already received little sleep, which was typical for an individual dealing with possible predatory threats.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, the child made their way down the small pile of snow, their feet not bothered by the cold and dampness that the melting winter elements brought. They began their hunt for food and a comfortable napping spot, preferably somewhere warm and hidden.

Unbeknownst to the young one, ruined plans were rapidly approaching in their future. Any resulting caveats or possible benefits proved unclear and undecided; only time will tell.