Glaukopis

I ran. Everything in me was shaking. There’s no telling what could happen if I stayed. So, I ran. My body started to run out of steam once I reached the small opening. My haven, their haven.

I caressed the small bump and whispered, “We will be safe soon enough.”

I eyed the small opening, sighed, and got on all fours. I checked my companion one more time. I can feel her shift around. She was ok. I made my way into the crumbling entrance. Turned around and pulled down a few branches and hanging vines to cover the entrance. Then started to make my way down the tunnel. I winced as my head bumped the rocks above me a few times. The deeper I went, the darker it became. My hands were hurting from the jagged rocks underneath. And a few drops of blood were slithering down from the top of my head.

In my rush to get out I forgot to get my gloves and helmet with the light. No worries. I can make another later. I just need to make it home. My hand bumped into the rock shaped like a cross. I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally. I laid on my back carefully and reached above me through the wedge. I searched until I released the rope with knots and pulled out the hoodie with a makeshift metal plate sewn into the back. I patted my chest softly. She moved but remained quiet. I maneuvered the hoodie with the metal plate on, took a deep breath and began to pull on the rope slowly. My body sliding across the bottom of the tunnel. I was going to have to suffer another headache after this. My body bounced and moved roughly through the tunnel, up and down, this way and that. Until I could feel the soft wind kiss my cheeks.

“Almost there little one,” I whispered and tugged a few more times until my head reached the end of the tunnel. I smiled instantly and my body became less tense. I pulled a few more times until my half my body was out of the tunnel. As soon as I made it out of the tunnel, I felt the warmth and saw the cave start to glow. I sat up and pulled myself up, rolled up the rope and placed it on the hook above the tunnel.

I turned and smiled wider, “We are home little one.” I reached into my pouch and pulled her out. She was beautiful. She stretched out her wings and gave a little shriek. The glow in the cave became distinctly colorful.

I giggled, “Yes. Yes.”

I turned and held out my palm. I looked up and around. Hundreds of eyes peeked out and then one by one, the owls started to come down. They perched themselves on the branches of the willow tree in the middle of the cave. All glowing different hues of color. The little one stretched out it’s wing and turned her head to face me, then turned back to look at all the other owls. That was when her glow started to sparkle like twinkling stars. I stood amazed. I have never seen one that could do that. She flapped a few more times until she took flight toward the tree, landing on one of the branches just above all the rest of the owls. The others flocked a little closer to her. All their colors synching up. It was so beautiful and mesmerizing.

I sighed. It was hard to believe that these creatures were almost extinct. Even harder to believe that one day these creatures were going to save us all.