For The Birds

It happened so fast! Pain pulsed through my body before I could even react, as though I’ve flown full speed straight into a mountain side. Gasping for air, the earth swirled around me as I fell closer and closer to death. Helplessly fighting to lift my wings, time was running out. Was this it? Was this how it was all going to end? What would become of my babies. As, I plunged towards the ground a thermal updraft caught my wings and I managed to glide out of the blast zone. 100yrs later and still the effects of the humans linger. We surveyed this area countless times before the last move, how could I have missed this one. I must warn the others.

Nearing the nest, I couldn’t escape the anxious look on their faces, the littlest one nearly falling out in shock from the sight of my singed feathers “mama, mama what happened”. He noticed everything. “Just a run in with a forest fire.” I fibbed, not wanting to worry them with how close a run in with death I had and hoped they didn’t see the purple haze of radiation off in the distance. Flushed with panic and dreading the conversation I clacked my beak alerting the cohort to gather.

Pacing on the spindly branch waiting for the elders, heart pounding in my ears, I took a deep breath and gazed out over the horizon, there was enough light coming from the purple haze to see how much of the forage habitat was destroyed. The entire hillside occupied by the cats was almost gone, but the cats were clever. Forming an alliance with the moles really did pay off, I just hope they are able to reach the underground tunnel network fast enough to flee the spread of radiation. Murmurs in the background quieted as the elders approached, my throat puffed as I stared into the crowd “Weeee” I wheezed, “we missed a nuclear reactor in our scan and there could be more.” The tree shook as the cohort flapped in shock sending leaves everywhere. “There’s a new blast zone from the South, the radiation fallout will soon be upon us.” Silence now filled the air for everyone knew what this would mean for the roost. The chief elder motioned for the scouts to head out in search of new land “Gather your clutches and ready them for relocation” he spoke to the rest of us “we have very little time”.

Back at the nest the chicks were restless and sensed something was up, pestering me with questions. I fluffed the nest and busied myself clearing out the dead leaves trying to deflect, but the little one was relentless. Curious about the purple haze he wanted to know if it was the same as the purple death from our stories. Rattled and exhausted by what lay ahead I knew it was only a matter of time before I would have to tell them the truth of this world. They were still so young so innocent. They will have to grow up fast now if we are to have any hopes of survival. “My dears, you are right, that is the purple death from our stories about the great extinction and you are never to go near it.” “But what is it mama” he chirped, “where does it come from.” “It’s called radiation, we raven are one of the few species that can see its light, it’s one of the reasons our species were able to survive the great extinction. It comes from the humans.” He tilted his head curiously “What were the humans like mama, why would they make purple death?” With heavy eyelids, I could feel the weight of my body aching for rest “Ahh my dear that’s a story for another day.” Extending my tattered wing “Come tuck under, it’s time for bed.” They squirmed under my wing and nestled in for the night. As I closed my eyes my mind raced with trepidation, tomorrow we would have to leave our home, oh I have grown to like this place.

K-R-A, K-R-A, K-R-A, Startled from my sleep the ruckus was defining, what was going on. The scouts were sounding an alarm, and everyone was in a panic. A new migration was underway, and the predators were nearing our roost. First the eagles and then the falcons but I wasn’t worried about them, they wouldn’t risk breaking the treaty, but the hawks, we would have to watch out for the hawks. The scouts brought back news from their mission, finding a tract of forage habitat 3 days north of here but the hawks were already on their way and the owls would not make it there until days later. We relied on the owls for protection against the hawks, forming a foraging partnership when we first moved to this place. Without the owls our chicks would be vulnerable to the hawks and believe me they will take every advantage they can with the disruption.

The chicks were still so wobbly, barely able to stand on their own, and my heart sank as I ushered them out of the comfort of the nest. Why couldn’t this have happened after fledging. I tried to explain to them the adventure we were going on, but I was never very good at hiding my feelings, which were always written all over my face. “We must leave our home little ones and make our way to a new land. The journey will be long and dangerous, and I need you to be very brave. “Can you be strong and brave for me?” looking at each other and back to me they nodded their heads “yes mama.” My daughter from a clutch two years passed flew over and perched above the nest. She would be helping to carry the chicks. “Go with your older sister little one, she will carry you until we can stop for rest, I’ll be right behind with your brother.” “But I’m scared mama” he said with tears in his eyes “What if I fall, I can’t fly.” I reached into the nest and plucked out a tiny silver heart shaped locket. It had been a family heir loom for generations found by my great, great ancestors while scavenging for shiny adornments for their nest. I wrapped the chain around the little one’s wings “Here my love, this will give you strength and courage for your journey, hold it close.” With wide eyes he ecstatically tucked the locket underneath his feathers, “Don’t worry mama I’ll take good care of it.”, and they were off.

After a long day’s travel, exhausted and in need of sleep we found a place to overnight with the rest of the cohort. The scouts took shifts patrolling the roost for hawks and rodents so that we could rest. Wrapping my wings around the little ones I drew them near feeling their warmth against my body. Restless, the little one was squirming, pecking at the locket enamored with its shiny finish, “What’s this mama?” He managed to get the locket open displaying the photos within. “Those are humans dear,” “Tell me about the humans mama.” I cringed at the thought of diving into this but it was time, “A long time ago the humans ruled the world, you see the relationship between animal species was very different than it is now, intelligent species like the humans, dominated leaving little room for other species. Driven by greed, they created a virus for increasing intelligence but in so doing, unleashed a global disaster causing the end of the human race.” “But aren’t we intelligent too mama?” “Yes, little one but it didn’t use to be like that, our intelligence came after the great extinction. The loss of the human race was devastating for the planet, but it also brought about a new beginning for the great awareness. It is why we are able to communicate with the other species like the owls.” Curious and full of so many questions the chicks wanted to learn everything they could about the humans, but now was time for rest.

Two days had passed, and we were nearing the end of our journey. Relieved to be on the home stretch to our new land, I worried about what lay ahead. I was traveling high in the air today, it was easier soaring on the thermals, I didn’t have to work so hard to gain flight. Somehow we became separated from the group and I could see a figure approach. I couldn’t quite tell what it was, but I had my suspicions, so I dropped off the thermal making my way back down. Sure enough it was a hawk and it was gunning for us, I knew he was after the little one in my talons. Screeching to a halt I dove into a free fall trying to gain speed and distance from the hawk, but carrying the little one was slowing me down. Whoosh the hawk swooped above me attempting to knock me out of flight, but I was able to maneuver quickly dodging the blow, then bam! A second attempt send me spiraling towards the treetops, trying to correct myself and hang onto the little one another blew knocked him straight out of my talons. The hawk let out a blood curdling scream redirecting his focus now on the little one. Adrenalin surged through my body without thinking I adjusted my flight dropping straight towards the hawk, talons unimpeded I gained enough speed to smash into its body grabbing at whatever I could I wasn’t letting go until we hit the ground. Smashing through the trees, I now lay on the ground, I felt as though my wing was broken, not knowing where the hawk landed I quickly got up to assess the damage. Good it still moves and my flight feathers are still intact. Splashes came from the nearby stream nearby, the hawk did not make out as well. Its wing lifeless as it desperately tried to stay afloat screaming for help. Serves you right. “LITTLE ONE, LITTLE ONE” no response, I started panicking thinking the worst, he fell from so much higher he could be anywhere, how will I ever find him before nightfall. And then I heard it a faint cry for help high up in the canopy. He was alive! I rushed into the air scanning the treetops. A glint of light hit my eye blinding me, there he in the branches and tangled around him was the locket! It had saved his life.