Talon

Walking the dog has always been a daunting task in our household. Constant lists of reasons why it should be the next kid, excuses piled higher than the excusers themselves.

Our dog Mr, Brown is vocal as always and alerts the house that the time has set upon us. He as always chooses his unwilling victim.

His sharp eyes cut across the room looking for a target to lock on to.

The piercing gaze cuts into the side of my head as I try to ignore the inevitable. The choice was made.

And in Mr.Brown fashion, he will not be kept waiting, he speeds across the room in a burst of desperation.

His front paws fly in the air as he reaches my ever still body on the couch. He lands on my lap and to make his point known throws a little bark to seal the deal.

I weigh the pros and cons of playing dead in hopes he will turn his haunting gaze to another poor soul or The ever present nauseating anxiety of leaving my home.

Our eyes meet.. a rookie mistake there is no turning back.

I loosen my stiff joints and the freezing reality melted away by those beautifully speckled brown eyes. I give in and rise from my perch on the couch.

He has won this war.

I walk over to grab his leash off the table and fasten it to his jittering body. Excitement pouring out of his body with every leap as we walk towards the door. I grab the door knob and thrust the door open with no hesitation cause why slowly peel it off when you can rip it?

We walk down the stairs, heart pumping harder every every step.

I take a big breath as I climb down the last two steps.

“You got this… let’s just hope we don’t run into anyone” the words mumbled into my jacket as if to muffle the anxious reclusion uttered like a prayer.

The thought of unexpected social situations were unnerving at times. Never quite knowing the right words to say and questioning every facial expression made.

A strong gust of wind robs my body of all its warmth. I pull my jacket closer. “Alright! We got this, Let’s make this quick!” I say bouncing in place trying to pump some warmth through my body.

As we start our walk I take some time to take in my surroundings.

It was a noisy type of quiet the noise only the city could omit. The silent roar of the distant highway, the almost twinkling sound of crickets singing a midnight tune, the faint familial laughter carried throughout the apartments echoing sweet memories made in their warm homes.

It’s not like I don’t like people. I love to talk and help people, but it’s just hard to break through that wall of self defense sometimes.

Being vulnerable was not an option. Experiences are lessons we learn from and I plan on learning the first time around. I speed up a little as if to make the distance span out longer than the haunting memories.

Zoned out Mr.Brown has taken the lead in my mental absence. I look around not recognizing this part of the apartment complex.

The songs of life have all fallen, hush this eerie feeling tingles up my spine…something feels off.

Mr Brown steals my attention as he lets out what I assume he assumes is a menacing growl.

Suddenly a shadow-like figure swoops down and scares the living daylights out of me. And I don’t even know what those are.

Mr.Brown goes crazy trying to follow the shadow as it lands on a nearby tree.

While trying to calm Mr.Brown I look up in to the tree only to gaze upon a mystifyingly beautiful view.

Black eyes that bore into your soul, slick white beak that glistens lethally, sharp intimidating black talons that saw through the very tree limbs it rests in. Shrouded from above by ethereal white and golden brown feathers. It’s face concealed in a heart shape but there was no love felt.

It's familiar. A barn owl? I recognize this bird from my zoology class I took last spring. But it’s different, I’ve never seen one look this monstrous before. It's 3x the size it’s species grows to.

“What the hell is your problem! “ I seethe, yelling at the hauntingly beautiful bird waving my hands to get my anger across.

Suddenly then I couldn’t move…the slow glacial feeling of fear stealing my limbs where they lay. As if all my nerves were frozen in an instant.

“Who, who… are you? Skin as pure as the morning dew ; silk tresses that cress your face only the truth will seal your fate.”

The voice was light and airy, leading me to wonder if anything was uttered at all. The words echo in my head. What truth? What is going on?

“High as the mountains, tall as the trees, lies and deceptions will cost you greatly, Heed my warnings this is no jeer, for I will only ask you once… what is your greatest fear”?

A piercing cold rattled me to my core; a feeling my body could never, will never forget.

Whatever this creature was here for it wasn’t good.

Confused and scared my mind runs a million miles a minute. What should I do? None of this makes sense! There is a giant bird monster thing talking to me!

Since I was a child I have always loved stories and fairytales about whimsical creatures taking you on adventures but this doesn’t feel like my character arc.

An invisible grip wraps around my throat. Almost as if compelled, my mouth moves on its own “ my- “ I clamp my hands over my mouth to seal the words from spilling out.

“None of your business “ I choked out, my throat contracting under the invisible pressure. I feel my legs leave the ground and for a split second I think this is it.

Fighting through the numbing fear and crushing weight felt impossible.

A bright light blinds me for a brief second. Then just as quick as the weight came it dispersed giving air access to my lungs once again.

My body crumbles to the ground, my legs giving out without a second thought. Clenching my chest, ragged breaths shake my body. I look over searching for Mr. Brown hoping he’s safe.

Where my eyes landed no longer stood the sweet brown eyed pup I’ve come to love over the years.

In his place a rather frightening wolf-like beast wrapped in long almost glowing white silk fur that made my fingers itch to feel the soft texture.

But that was where the beauty ended. Burning red sharp eyes focused on its prey with intensity. Billowing black smoke pours from the rumbling muzzle of the beast.

His growl was overwhelmingly loud and colored dark with intent. I’ve never heard him sound like this.

The sound was menacing, reverberating through the ground.

I could feel it in my toes.

All in all a unexpected and scary sight. Even more confused, I immediately dropped the leash still strangely connected to the beast. I scramble back across the ground trying to put distance between me and what used to be my dog.

Now with no resistance the Beast lunges forward towards the giant existence in the tree.

The owl lets out a chilling screech launching its form into the night sky. The beast jumps up high, swiping its hulking paws.

I think it’s going to fall, missing its target by miles.

Unexpectedly each paw meets a bright flashing platform seamlessly sprinting through the sky. Now on equal footing the battle begins.

I can do nothing but watch the events unfold in front of me.

In what feels like seconds, the beast catches up to the soaring owl. The bird swiftly turns about, facing the beast. It shoots arrow-like feathers slicing through the air with precision aimed all around the body leaving no room to block.

Before the feathers land they’re blown away with an invisible force. Not stopping the momentum of the beast in the slightest, it reaches the bird and crushes a wing under powerful jaws ripping it from its side.

The creature plummets to the ground landing with an earth shattering boom. The snarling beast dashes after it, racing to finish its kill. The created a deep chasm which hides, what sounds like a gruesome end for the frightening owl.

The silence is deafening, my breathing almost echoing in the void of sound.

Not even noticing my eyes slip close, they burst open at the feeling of warmth near my face. Eye to eye with the beast I am frozen once again but not by fear but in awe of the beautiful brown eyes that hold my gaze.

“M-Mr, Brown?” I asked but no clarification was needed. I knew those eyes anywhere. “What is going on?”I ask, holding my face in exasperation.

Then a honeyed voice fills my head “In time it will all make sense but for now we must head back, I’ll explain what I can”.

“Alright alright I’ve had enough surprises for now so yeah we’ll go with that”. I say trying to wrap my head around everything. It all happens so fast it almost feels like a dream.

I slowly climb to my feet steadying my wobbly limbs. Once righted, I look over and there stood my Mr. brown in all his furry glory.

“This is so weird” I groan but reach down and clip the previously forgotten leash back to his leash. I let him lead the way still feeling the world spinning a bit.

Once we reach the apartment we begin to climb the stairs. As we get to the door I hear unfamiliar voices on the other side. Turning the knob I slowly push open the door hoping not to bring attention to myself.

Telling Mr. Brown to be quiet (because that’s no longer weird?). I inch in with my back to the wall enough to close the door.

I listen and hear a shout and a bang, throwing caution to the wind. I walk into the living room and see three unknown people in tunics. One on the floor obviously having fallen back from an unknown force.

“What is going on?!” I ask loudly, not sure what to expect anymore.

“Yo calm down what is up with you?” “These people came to see you, apparently they’re from a school you visited?” My older sister says jumping up trying to calm me down.

What school? What is happening ? And why me? All these thoughts fly through my head.

The person closest to me, a beautiful women dressed in shinning emerald garments, extended their hands out to me.

“We’ve been waiting for you”

Mr. Brown starts growling, oh boy here we go again.