Brave or Alive

“Did you see it Randy, did you see that winged ghost swooping down? You’d think It nearly took off Marco’s head the way it was flying so low! Was that a Hawk? Or a Falcon?”

Randy ripped his eyes away from his friend Marco who appeared to be dodging for dear life, evading the feathers and unforgiving talons to look at his younger brother. Bobby was only three years his junior, with small innocent brown eyes which were currently in a mix of panic and awe. Between the two-- Bobby was the one still small who hasn’t shed all his baby fat while Randy was already twice his size and very lithe and lean. His hair the color of ash, a trait he takes after their mother, while Bobby was raven haired like father. A very stark contrast between the duo.

“That isn’t some Hawk, It’s one of those Owls me and Marco were talking about. Hawks don’t come out at night like the Owls do.” Randy replied in almost a hushed whisper, careful not to give away their position or else the Barn owl became aware of their presence and unleased its wrath on them instead.

Owls, nocturnal creatures of the night and cunning hunters. Very eerie and almost alien looking compared to any other bird Randy had the unfortunate luck of coming across. This barn owl’s face wasn’t built like any bird he’s known before; it was entirely round with and far too large BLACK eyes that seemed soulless enough to suck the life force out of anyone. It’s stare alone could lock someone in a state of fear.

But its beak was the most peculiar thing about it, normal birds had LONG beaks that protrude, sharp as knives, that rival the talons they had. While the Barn Owl’s beak seemed nonexistent. Like it’s face was caved in on itself. Randy would almost pity the bird’s genetic makeup as if the creator decided to make some mutant bird for sick kicks, but Randy couldn’t spare pity. In this moment Randy could only hide along with his younger brother bobby, silently fearful of the flying menace. He could feel his sibling trembling next to him, holding him for comfort as they continue to watch Marco desperately try to shake off the Owl.

“Hey! Hey—guys! Where are you? I could really, really use your help about now!” Marco screeched as he dove off to the side in the wide open grass clearing in the forest, barely missing the relentless dive attacks from the bird. It was no secret that poor Marco’s stamina was being whittled away like a rock upon ocean waves.

How disturbing to see his friend, who was known as the rascal of the group, the energetic ball of energy seemingly tireless-- now reduced to a wheezing--crawling mess.

Randy wanted to curse Marco, he couldn’t believe he went along with Marco’s plan, to sneak past the creature in order to meet up with some friends they got separated from. They had been traveling looking for shelter, but the cover of night fell faster than their tiny feet could carry them, and now they were stuck camping under trees and bushes on the warm summer night.

Everything would have been perfect had Marco not urged them on, to continue forward in order to make it to their destination before the next day arrived. Marco had always been persuasive in his persistence; his single minded determination knew no bounds. He had always been a risk taker as long as Randy could remember him, it was as if his friend knew no fear and laughed at consequence. The bravado of Marco was infectious to the point where he would pull Randy and his brother Bobby into his pranks, and games.

And it was all fun and games with Marco, until the games weren’t fun anymore. Until his stubborn arrogance got them all into trouble, like this clever idea. The plan seemed fool-proof in theory until one of them stepped on a twig alerting the Barn Owl that uninvited guests were trespassing on its territory.

Nothing in life ever went EXACTLY according to plan. That much was certain, but that didn’t stop them from testing their luck, hoping the universe would bend the laws of nature, and be kind to them.

How foolish they were to believe they had a chance while wandering about in the bird’s domain. Thinking if they made themselves small enough, and quiet enough they’d be in the clear. But they sorely underestimated the keen sense of this monster that was about six times their size, body built for catching prey like themselves.

Now they were rendered helpless to reality that they too will soon be like Marco. Scrambling to evade their natural enemy. Randy and Bobby had no way to defend themselves from this massive predator, they were prey animals, at the bottom of the food chain. All the brothers could do was wordlessly offer Marco as a sacrifice, and cowardly use their friend as a decoy to bait the Owl away from them.

Surely their friend would understand this tense situation he had gotten them all into. He’d do the same if the roles were reversed right? They were small mice after all, RODENTS, they couldn’t survive a head to head confrontation with an OWL of all things!

Mice like them being BRAVE? In the face of being scooped up by the talons as large as they were? In the face of being eaten?

No-- there was no such thing of a little mouse being brave. Randy would rather have him and his little brother survive to see another sunrise. They would solemnly and regretfully abandon their friend if it meant that they could make it out ALIVE.

And the moment the barn owl had snatched up foolishly brave Marco and departed back to its nest. The mouse brothers made a run for it, and swore to NEVER travel through a forest at night again.