CHAPTER FIVE: RESCUED


Margalo felt herself be seized in the firm, but, oddly gentle, grip of the falcon. She could feel the sticky blood of the vulture touch her as he grabbed her. He took to the air, carrying her. Of course, she wasn't expecting anything but death. Perhaps he was going to eat her in the air and was just doing this to reduce any way she could fight back. Perhaps he had plans to drop her, like she'd heard of birds doing with clam shells. Perhaps, worst of all, she was being kept merely to be a snack later on, once the bird had digested some of the vulture.

Her fears getting the better of her, she bit into the falcon's talons. He released her, crying out in pain. Margalo felt that it was better to die this way than possibly be torn to bits by the falcon later. The falcon would, no doubt, just let her fall to her death, and then eat her corpse.

Or that's what she thought. She was surprised when the bird made a quick dive, grabbing ahold of her before she hit the ground. "Could you not do that again?" he said, finally speaking to her.

Margalo was taken aback by him talking to her. She had felt that she would only be viewed as food in his eyes. "Why not? I'm going to die anyway. You're going to kill me just like you killed that vulture. It's a bird-eat-bird world and I know my place in it."

"What's your name?"

"Excuse me?" Margalo asked, not sure if she'd heard right. Why would a vicious predator care to know her name?

"Your name. I would like to know it."

"Margalo. What's it to you?"

"You look like you're starving."

"I am. But I can see that you're not. You had a nice big vulture to feast on and now you have me as a treat."

The falcon said nothing to her for a while, but continued to fly with her in his grasp. Finally, she felt herself moving downward as the falcon began to circle over something. She felt that maybe he'd reached his nest. Maybe he had a mate and children there and she was about to be fed to them. Soon, the two landed, and the falcon released her. Margalo was so curious as to what was going on that she dared to open her eyes. She saw that the two were at outdoor tables at a restaurant. There were some leftover biscuits on a table that had just been vacated. So, Margalo thought, perhaps he's found some bread to make a sandwich out of me with.

"Eat, please," the falcon said, noticing her just laying there.

"You want me to eat?" Margalo asked, wondering if she'd heard right. Falcons ate little birds like her. They surely wouldn't be feeding them.

"Yes, you look very thin. I can see your ribcage you're so thin. I do not believe you will last the night without food."

Margalo knew he was right. She needed to eat now or else she would die of starvation. "Why are you doing this? I'm just a little bird. Your natural prey. Why are you giving me food?"

"Because you're starving. Is that not a good enough reason?"

Margalo didn't know what to say. Maybe the falcon did have some trick planned. Still, she needed to eat, trick or not. She hungrily devoured all the biscuits. The falcon took her to another empty table, opening crackers with his talons and feeding them to her. Now, she was no longer in danger of starving. Still, she didn't know what would happen to her now. As the vulture had said, one meal wouldn't make much difference for her in the long run. She was clearly bad at getting food for herself on her own at her young age. If the falcon left her now, assuming he still didn't have plans to eat her, she'd die of hunger in a few days anyway. Finally, she spoke to the falcon again. "I'm afraid that I'm bad at getting food for myself. I am grateful that you've fed me, but I think it best that you eat me now. I'll just be in the same spot I was when you found me in a few days."

"Eat you?"

"Yes, you're a bird eater. It shouldn't be too hard for you to do it, to make sure I don't have to die of hunger. At least this way, I can die with my stomach full."

"I don't kill little birds, not unless I am the one starving and they are the only food I can catch."

"I already told you, I can't make it on my own. It would be best if you-"

"That is why I am going to take you with me. I will ensure that you are always fed."

"Why? You're a falcon. I thought that falcons didn't have hearts."

"Some don't, sadly. But I do."

Margalo felt hope rising within her for the first time since her family had been killed. It seemed that she'd reached the light at the end of a long dark tunnel. She wouldn't be dying after all. She had a chance to live! "Thank you! You are so kind! What is your name?"

"My name is Falcon. I will be taking you with me."

"Thank you, Falcon."