"Father!"
The panicked shout startled the doctor from thought work. Turning around he saw that his son was running down to the workshop, holding something big and black. A falcon. An injured one in fact.
"Oh dear... Zane what happened?"
"I..." He paused for a moment: "I found it injured and had to get it somewhere safe." The young android set the bird down on the wooden table, refusing to meet his father's questioning eye.
"Zane, what aren't you telling me?" the doctor said starting to check the bird's wing.
Zane didn't answer.
"If you can tell me what kind of injury it has I can help it heal better." His voice softened.
Zane's eyes darkened.
"H-He was shot..." He barely whispered, somehow his voice got even quieter when he continued: "I couldn't let them get him..."
Just then did the doctor finish the bandages and turned to his son.
"I'm so sorry you had to see that..." he was furious, bird hunting was illegal in the Birchwood forest! But he couldn't let his son see the anger. He slipped off the bloody gloves he had and threw them to the trash bin. He hugged Zane who quietly sobbed to his lab coat.
They stood in silence for a moment, before furious banging rang from above. The doctor pulled away and gently rubbed Zane's shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll handle it." He walked up to the door and opened it.
Before him stood a man with snow camouflage and a bow.
"Greetings." The doctor greeted politely.
"Where's my catch?" The man grunted, clearly annoyed.
"I'm sorry, I don't think understand."
"Don't play dumb. I saw someone take my catch and run here."
"You know bird hunting is illegal around here right?"
"I don't care. All birds are only good for hunting anyway."
His fists clenched. He just wanted to punch this man's stupid hunting gear off, but he knew better than to start a hopeless fistfight with someone twice his size.
"Please leave."
"Not before I get what I want."
"I will not ask again. Leave." He was already gritting his teeth.
"And what will you do If I don't? Talk me to death?" The man sneered.
"Not exactly..."
.
.
.
From that day on everyone in the village knew not to bother the doctor or his son.