"I won't be able to carry you around much longer, kiddo." I flew at a strained and slow pace above the trees as the sun rose higher above the horizon. Nix's weight and size seemed to double the past week, and saying so likely wasn't exaggerating. "Are those feathers filling out any? Maybe we ought to try a different diet. I was thinking those critters by the sea might be more rich in protein, a growing owl-"
"-needs to fly." Nix almost whispered, his head hanging low.
"Has that little girl been showing off again?"
I could feel Nix shaking his head before he spoke, "Mabli is on her second day of flight; managed to hover in place for a time. I don't think she's ever eaten anything near the sea."
I chuckled, "Every owl is different, dear Nix. Perhaps, some day, you'll find comfort in that."
Nix tilted his head in thought. Sure enough, every owl was different due to many aspects of physique, personality, ability, and others. Paddock, the small Pigmy Owl, came to mind as Nix remembered his friend's struggle to keep up. Is it possible, Nix thought, that some owl species are better than others overall? He stored the thought as something to ask Mabli later in the day when she snuck over. The plan was to meet outside of Nix's family hollow while the adults were asleep. Being that it was against the council's wishes, the act needed to be a secret. Mabli felt confident and promised that she would carry Nix off to a tree in the outskirts of the community where he could try some real branching.
The air was beginning to cool this time of year as early autumn made its presence more clear with each night. The sun's warmth made for some noticeable moisture in the air as the rest of the world awakened with the light. But for us owls, the light and warmth called for some shelter and sleep.
"I'll let you down at the hollow while I find you a nice juicy centipede, aye?"
Nix smiled and was about to reply before a shrill voice called out to us from a nearby tree. "Zoe! A word please, it's urgent!" It was Gail, the spotted council member.
I circled around to the thick branch where Gail and two Grass Owls were perched, setting Nix down gently before doing so myself. "What's wrong, m'lady?"
The two grass owls were Mabli's parents. Her mother approached Nix, a gleam of panic in her eyes. "Nix, honey," she was trembling, her voice along with. "Where is Mabli? Were you two playing in the old growth?"
Nix felt a certain discomfort, but he nodded his head.
"They were building hideouts along the trees," I confirmed, "Paddock and Mabli were still there when I picked up Nix."
"Thank Glaux," Mabli's father leapt off towards the direction we had come, and her mother was about to do the same before I stopped her.
"Wait, what happened?"
"We came home from hunting to find…" Mabli's mother was straining, "…to find our nest maid snake dead, and our three owlets missing." She leapt off the tree, tears running down her golden face.
Gail seemed eerily still for once. I asked her, "Could it be the raccoons already?"
"Possibly, I feel awful for Mabli. The news she is about to receive? Her brothers and sister…all gone." Gail hung her head low, "That's the first attack within our borders, but our friendly Great Grey neighbors up on the Northern hills have shared other similar stories. Whatever the case, Keep him safe." She nodded towards Nix.
Nix ruffled his feathers a bit "Raccoons got nothing on me. I hope I see one so to dig its eyes out for what it's done!"
"Nonsense, child." Gail extended her wing around Nix in comfort.
"I mean it." Nix stepped away from her, his eyes landing on me as he seemed to shake in anger.
It was mid day and I was fast asleep. But a certain owlet was pacing outside on the branches. Nix was waiting for Mabli to show up, like they planned earlier. Nix hoped that, despite the recent events within her family, Mabli might wish to see him. He desperately wanted to see her; that much was clear. This inability to fly was causing an emotional burn inside his chest, even more so than usual.
With the passage of time, Nix's thoughts began to wander. He imagined a raccoon and how he might go about killing it; with the entire community watching, of course. He'd go for the eyes or…perhaps the throat. Nix examined his talons, flexing the muscles in his legs. Radley's disapproving eyes vanished and he complimented Nix on his strength and skill, calling him a noble warrior.
The daydream vanished as Nix noticed an owl flying towards him. It was Mabli.
"Nix!" she lighted down with continuing speed and almost knocked Nix over as she embraced him. He initially held out his wings to catch her, but returned the gesture as Mabli was hyperventilating under her sobs.
"I can't…they…they're all gone."
Nix tried to find appropriate words to say, "I heard. I'm so sorry, Mabli."
"I was…I had an argument with my parents." Mabli stepped back, "and I left. I don't think I can go back."
"I don't think they-" Nix raised his brow, trying to reassure her. "Well, you are all they have now."
With those words, tears began to swell within Mabli's eyes once more. Perhaps it was a hard thing to hear, but Mabli began to nod her head. "You're right. I shouldn't blame them. I really shouldn't. It just isn't fair!" she spun around and looked towards the sky, "Why couldn't I or someone else have been around to protect them? Not much happens around here without an elder knowing about it; we're probably being watched right now." She pointed off in the distance.
"How could a raccoon simply walk into my hollow, kill the snake, eat my family, then leave without being seen and intervened with?" Her posture returned to a droop.
Nix couldn't come up with an answer. But, he knew what he wanted. "Mabli…" Nix held a talon below her beak and raised her head, "What say you? Shall we hunt some raccoon?"
Mabli gave a breathy sigh, but a mischievous squint was within her eyes as the thought grew inside her mind. "Let us first teach you to fly."