Oh, yeah. There is a little left to my story.
So, then... I come home. Jay accompanies me, of course. I fly up to my nest, and mom sees me. She comes over and says,
"Oh, honey!" She puts her wings on my shoulders and hugs me. She lets go and looks me in the eyes. "I am so, so, so, sorry! I should never have banished you. And you are?" She asks Jay.
"Jay Blue. Nice to meet you Mrs Black."
"Nice to meet you too. Oh honey," She turns back to me. "And you can fly?"
"Yeah, mom." There was a tension between us that wasn't broken until I ask the question I am bursting to ask. "While I was traveling, I met someone named Starr Ling."
"Ling? Oh, I bet it was her mother I was best friends with!"
"Yeah, about that... Wait, that you were friends with? So... You are my real mom?"
"Of course, honey!" She looks at me for a moment and then a look of realization dawns on her face. "Oh, Starr must have told you that rumor that Sander and I came up with."
"Sander? Rumor?"
"Sander Ling, yes. Rumor, yes." She says as she sits me and Jay down in the nest. "Sander and I always would make up rumors about ourselves and spread them until someone debunks them. But, one day, we went too far. Sand said that I was rude to her, and that she killed me. Three days later, Sander died." She is teary eyed when she looks at me. "No one had debunked it. All my friends were sobbing when I went to see them. I decided that it should stay that way. Starr always made sure she gave the okay before they were debunked. Since she hadn't given the okay, I never told anyone the real truth. People still think I'm dead and gone." She chuckles. She is talking more to herself than to me.
"Where is everyone else?" I ask, looking around.
"They all fledged. You are my last baby left."
"Mom, I'm not a baby."
"I know you aren't." She looks at me and wipes a feather from my eye. "But you will always be my little bird."
"I love you mom."
"I love you, too, sweetie."
And that is how it was ever since.
Jay comes over to visit, of course. She is over at our nest so much, it is like she lives there! Mom and I get along fine. Starr met my mom and was in complete shock, mom had to nurse her back to health for a while. I think Jay is all right friend-wise. Not sure. Jay? Oh, she doesn't want to tell you. Sorry. Guess not...
Well, our story has come to an end. We have been through so much together, you and I. I feel like I have lost my companion now that we are finished here.
But I am never by myself. Not really. I will always have my hope. It is always with me.
Signed, your friend,
Raven Black
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Saving Raven
Ya, Raven. Yep. This is MY point of veiw:
I was flying. I had to go meet Georgie Puss. She needed to have help with those eggs. I saw a flock of hawks. I usually avoid them at all costs, but I saw something that made me turn around. Was that a RAVEN? Oh, no. That has happened to me. I was lucky to live. I still had that scar. I swooped down to save her, not really getting that I was about to die AGAIN. She was cut across the face, then went limp. Oh, no, no, no! She can't have died.
"Leave her alone! She isn't from around here! You're all murderers! Almost killed me you did! Don't tramatize her, too!" I shouted, again without thinking.
"Oh, lookies whos here!" said a giant hawk "Yous reminds me of that little girk whos been here before. We hads to teach hers a lesson. Shes dead and gone by now. Y'd be--"
"Just leave her alone! And by the way, I AM that little girl! I am not dead! Now, shut up, and leave her alone!" THAT was the last straw for them. I didn't know a hawk could get red in the face at all, let alone as red in the face as that(rather stupid and big) hawk did.
"NOW THAT'S IS IT! WES GONNA FINISH UNFINISH BUSY-NESS! WITH YOUS AND HERS!" He shouted, not letting one bit of his anger hide. Talk about anger issuses! He let go of the limp raven, and I, again without thinking, swooped down, and saved her. As romance stories sometimes end, we "rode" off into the sunset, with her perched on my "steed" after I saved her life. Or in this case, we flew off into the sunset, her perched on my back after I just saved her.
She woke up, and in a dazed voice she said "I'm dead, aren't I? They've killed me."
In my softess, and most caring voice I whispered "No. You're alive. I'll explain everything later, but now, just rest. I know how this feels. It's tramatizing, I know, but me and Georgie will take care of you. By the way, I'm Jay. Jay Blue."
Isn't that what I said, Raven? I think so.
Love + Birdseeds,
Jay Blue
I was flying. I had to go meet Georgie Puss. She needed to have help with those eggs. I saw a flock of hawks. I usually avoid them at all costs, but I saw something that made me turn around. Was that a RAVEN? Oh, no. That has happened to me. I was lucky to live. I still had that scar. I swooped down to save her, not really getting that I was about to die AGAIN. She was cut across the face, then went limp. Oh, no, no, no! She can't have died.
"Leave her alone! She isn't from around here! You're all murderers! Almost killed me you did! Don't tramatize her, too!" I shouted, again without thinking.
"Oh, lookies whos here!" said a giant hawk "Yous reminds me of that little girk whos been here before. We hads to teach hers a lesson. Shes dead and gone by now. Y'd be--"
"Just leave her alone! And by the way, I AM that little girl! I am not dead! Now, shut up, and leave her alone!" THAT was the last straw for them. I didn't know a hawk could get red in the face at all, let alone as red in the face as that(rather stupid and big) hawk did.
"NOW THAT'S IS IT! WES GONNA FINISH UNFINISH BUSY-NESS! WITH YOUS AND HERS!" He shouted, not letting one bit of his anger hide. Talk about anger issuses! He let go of the limp raven, and I, again without thinking, swooped down, and saved her. As romance stories sometimes end, we "rode" off into the sunset, with her perched on my "steed" after I saved her life. Or in this case, we flew off into the sunset, her perched on my back after I just saved her.
She woke up, and in a dazed voice she said "I'm dead, aren't I? They've killed me."
In my softess, and most caring voice I whispered "No. You're alive. I'll explain everything later, but now, just rest. I know how this feels. It's tramatizing, I know, but me and Georgie will take care of you. By the way, I'm Jay. Jay Blue."
Isn't that what I said, Raven? I think so.
Love + Birdseeds,
Jay Blue
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Hawks, Jays, and Scratches
I fly up to the group to find I am completely wrong. There are around fifty birds, and there are all hawks. They are flying towards a panicked flock of mourning doves, and do not notice me. I fly to the middle of the group to see if I can get out of the flock without being noticed. What they taught us in school about escaping a flock of haws, is to fly to the middle and out the side, so you are not noticed by any of the hawks for being alone and flying away backwards. I am in the middle of the flock. I always pictured this day as something to be proud of, something I had done in a courageous feat. But I never knew it would be so scary. There I am, in the middle of fifty birds that could kill me with one swipe of there ferocious, gleaming talons. But I am not backing down yet.
"I have to get out!" I think.
No, you have to stay and prove you are courageous. The other side of me says.
"No, I have to get out before someone kills me!"
All the more to be proud of.
"I am too young to die!"
They will talk about you forever. Picture it now, 'The bird who was more courageous then any of us.'
"I can be courageous without dying!"
Really?
"Yes!"
But I thought you always got yourself to sleep at night thinking about how your mother would miss you when you died. How she would long to have kept you in her nest? How she would have so much wanted a bird to have done something like that, and have been proud of her even before you died? I thought --
"That's enough! Sure I wish my mother had loved me, but my real mother is dead! You, I mean, I heard Starr say it! So did you, I mean, I."
How do you know Starr wasn't lying? How do you know she wasn't just wanting to make you feel bad? How do you know that --
"Stop! I am in the middle of the darned hawks! Do I really have to have a fight with myself about whether I should die or not?" I end the argument.
Wait, who is that? Circling above me? Something blue streaks across the sky and is lost form view in the sea of red-browns and whites.
"Who is this?" The largest hawk I have seen says to me. He leers over me like a stork over a sparrow. "I saids, who is this?"
"I- I- I'm... Starr Ling?"
"Buck up there, Starr. We ain't gonnas kill yous yet!"
"But I-"
"But yous what?" He says, his beak curling and his eyes flashing. "There ain't nos buts here, Starr."
"Where am I?" I ask.
"Yous in our part o' the sky." He says. "The part little birdies likes yo'self shouldn't come roamin' bys yo'selves."
"But, where are we?"
"I said there ain't nos buts here!" He says. "And we's in the Southern parts o' the sky, the place where little birdies lik yo'self --"
"I know! You said that already!" I say, before I can stop it.
"What did yous say?" He says, coming closer and getting madder every second I don't answer. "Yous gonnas pay for that, little pretty."
"Oh, a fight breaking out!" A screechy voice says behind me. Many hawks turn to watch.
"No, no fight!" I say sweetly to them all.
"Yes theres is a fight!" The big hawk says. He sticks his talon into his beak to sharpen it. I do the same. He cracks his neck. So do I. He pulls back his claws into a ready position. So do I. He calls, "FIGHT!" I do not. I fly as fast as I can out of the circle but another large hawk catches me and restrains me.
"Get her now!" He says to my opponent. The big hawk comes over and scratches my face. It stings so much I believe I pass out. Was that right, Blue? Yes, I pass out and go limp. The very last thing I remember is something blue streaking towards me...
To Be Continued...
Signed (For Now),
Raven
"I have to get out!" I think.
No, you have to stay and prove you are courageous. The other side of me says.
"No, I have to get out before someone kills me!"
All the more to be proud of.
"I am too young to die!"
They will talk about you forever. Picture it now, 'The bird who was more courageous then any of us.'
"I can be courageous without dying!"
Really?
"Yes!"
But I thought you always got yourself to sleep at night thinking about how your mother would miss you when you died. How she would long to have kept you in her nest? How she would have so much wanted a bird to have done something like that, and have been proud of her even before you died? I thought --
"That's enough! Sure I wish my mother had loved me, but my real mother is dead! You, I mean, I heard Starr say it! So did you, I mean, I."
How do you know Starr wasn't lying? How do you know she wasn't just wanting to make you feel bad? How do you know that --
"Stop! I am in the middle of the darned hawks! Do I really have to have a fight with myself about whether I should die or not?" I end the argument.
Wait, who is that? Circling above me? Something blue streaks across the sky and is lost form view in the sea of red-browns and whites.
"Who is this?" The largest hawk I have seen says to me. He leers over me like a stork over a sparrow. "I saids, who is this?"
"I- I- I'm... Starr Ling?"
"Buck up there, Starr. We ain't gonnas kill yous yet!"
"But I-"
"But yous what?" He says, his beak curling and his eyes flashing. "There ain't nos buts here, Starr."
"Where am I?" I ask.
"Yous in our part o' the sky." He says. "The part little birdies likes yo'self shouldn't come roamin' bys yo'selves."
"But, where are we?"
"I said there ain't nos buts here!" He says. "And we's in the Southern parts o' the sky, the place where little birdies lik yo'self --"
"I know! You said that already!" I say, before I can stop it.
"What did yous say?" He says, coming closer and getting madder every second I don't answer. "Yous gonnas pay for that, little pretty."
"Oh, a fight breaking out!" A screechy voice says behind me. Many hawks turn to watch.
"No, no fight!" I say sweetly to them all.
"Yes theres is a fight!" The big hawk says. He sticks his talon into his beak to sharpen it. I do the same. He cracks his neck. So do I. He pulls back his claws into a ready position. So do I. He calls, "FIGHT!" I do not. I fly as fast as I can out of the circle but another large hawk catches me and restrains me.
"Get her now!" He says to my opponent. The big hawk comes over and scratches my face. It stings so much I believe I pass out. Was that right, Blue? Yes, I pass out and go limp. The very last thing I remember is something blue streaking towards me...
To Be Continued...
Signed (For Now),
Raven
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Oaken Square
Piney brings me into the forest, and immediately I know what beauty waits for me inside. The bottom of the trees are all hollowed out, and there are friendly faces peeking out of them, or outside of them.
"G'day, mate!" One says.
"Top o' the mornin', to you." Another says.
"Bonjour, Mon ami!" A positively exuberant face cries.
"All of these animals come from different places." Piney explains. "Ms. Jenavive there comes from France, Mr. O'Haley comes from Ireland, and Mrs. Ganalia comes form Australia."
I nod at each of them in turn as they acknowledge their existence as Piney says their names.
"Please," Ms. Jenavive says to me, "Stay in my cabin. It is a three-'undred and forty-two year old Oak, one of ze first in ze forest. You are very welcome to stay with moi! Zat means 'me' in Francais!"
Piney leads me away form her and whispers, "Don't stay with her. She is too clean to live in a forest. She's a wonderful lady, though, wonderful.
"And here," He continues, "It Cypress Boulevard." I look around as he points to various houses, flowers, trees, and people. I love this neighborhood. It is full of shining faces and beautiful people.
All except one. His name is Alvin. He is a raccoon. He doesn't look up at me. He only steels loathing glances every so often.
"Hello." I say, trying to be friendly and I put on my best smile. It is pretty hard for a bird, seeing as you have no lips. "I am Raven. Pleased to meet you. And you are?" I ask. I ask his name because it is polite, even thought Piney told me who he is. Alvin doesn't acknowledge my existence. I try saying it again, but still, no answer. I walk away. I can almost swear I see him look up with a worried expression, but the flicker of emotion soon passes. He looks back down at his fingers.
"Come back." He says so quietly I almost ask for him to repeat himself. But I hear him just fine. I walk back to him. "Sorry." He says. He looks up. His eyes are both milky white and he stares into the distance with a searching unmoving stare. "I can't look up because I can't see very well. I don't like other animals to see."
"Oh. Well, that's okay." I say with a comforting, understanding voice. "When I was small, I knew a bird that was deaf. She was banished form her nest, jus like I was."
"Why is that?" He asks.
"Mutated wing. My mother didn't want to bother with me so she tried to kill me by pushing me out of the nest." I answer, a bit coldly. He drops his gaze uncomfortably.
"I am sorry." He says, barely more than a whisper. "I shouldn't have asked. It was tactless."
"No, I am sorry. You didn't know."
"I was banished from my litter because I couldn't see where to get milk from Mother. I wandered and Piney took me in. I have lived here my whole life."
"I'm sorry." I finally met someone who understands my pain. I feel hurt for being abandoned, but free at the same time. Though I have never said it, I long for adventure, for a reason to be alive. And I have finally found it. But I miss home. I miss mother and father. I miss little Tommy, and Jessica, and Alex, and Veronica, and Sammy. I miss home. I miss the food from my mother.
I miss home.
I miss home.
I miss home.
I miss home.
The tears well up in my eyes and they almost spill over, but I stop them. I turn and leave. I say good bye to everyone. I say thank you to Piney. I must find a friend, someone to be with, to lean on. I need a friend so bad.
I walk and I walk. I run and I run. I start to catch the wind, and soar up. I see small specks in the distance and I fly toward them, thinking they are other Ravens.
Boy, was I wrong.
Signed,
Raven Black
"G'day, mate!" One says.
"Top o' the mornin', to you." Another says.
"Bonjour, Mon ami!" A positively exuberant face cries.
"All of these animals come from different places." Piney explains. "Ms. Jenavive there comes from France, Mr. O'Haley comes from Ireland, and Mrs. Ganalia comes form Australia."
I nod at each of them in turn as they acknowledge their existence as Piney says their names.
"Please," Ms. Jenavive says to me, "Stay in my cabin. It is a three-'undred and forty-two year old Oak, one of ze first in ze forest. You are very welcome to stay with moi! Zat means 'me' in Francais!"
Piney leads me away form her and whispers, "Don't stay with her. She is too clean to live in a forest. She's a wonderful lady, though, wonderful.
"And here," He continues, "It Cypress Boulevard." I look around as he points to various houses, flowers, trees, and people. I love this neighborhood. It is full of shining faces and beautiful people.
All except one. His name is Alvin. He is a raccoon. He doesn't look up at me. He only steels loathing glances every so often.
"Hello." I say, trying to be friendly and I put on my best smile. It is pretty hard for a bird, seeing as you have no lips. "I am Raven. Pleased to meet you. And you are?" I ask. I ask his name because it is polite, even thought Piney told me who he is. Alvin doesn't acknowledge my existence. I try saying it again, but still, no answer. I walk away. I can almost swear I see him look up with a worried expression, but the flicker of emotion soon passes. He looks back down at his fingers.
"Come back." He says so quietly I almost ask for him to repeat himself. But I hear him just fine. I walk back to him. "Sorry." He says. He looks up. His eyes are both milky white and he stares into the distance with a searching unmoving stare. "I can't look up because I can't see very well. I don't like other animals to see."
"Oh. Well, that's okay." I say with a comforting, understanding voice. "When I was small, I knew a bird that was deaf. She was banished form her nest, jus like I was."
"Why is that?" He asks.
"Mutated wing. My mother didn't want to bother with me so she tried to kill me by pushing me out of the nest." I answer, a bit coldly. He drops his gaze uncomfortably.
"I am sorry." He says, barely more than a whisper. "I shouldn't have asked. It was tactless."
"No, I am sorry. You didn't know."
"I was banished from my litter because I couldn't see where to get milk from Mother. I wandered and Piney took me in. I have lived here my whole life."
"I'm sorry." I finally met someone who understands my pain. I feel hurt for being abandoned, but free at the same time. Though I have never said it, I long for adventure, for a reason to be alive. And I have finally found it. But I miss home. I miss mother and father. I miss little Tommy, and Jessica, and Alex, and Veronica, and Sammy. I miss home. I miss the food from my mother.
I miss home.
I miss home.
I miss home.
I miss home.
The tears well up in my eyes and they almost spill over, but I stop them. I turn and leave. I say good bye to everyone. I say thank you to Piney. I must find a friend, someone to be with, to lean on. I need a friend so bad.
I walk and I walk. I run and I run. I start to catch the wind, and soar up. I see small specks in the distance and I fly toward them, thinking they are other Ravens.
Boy, was I wrong.
Signed,
Raven Black
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Meeting a...What?
I was walking around in a clearing, when I bumped into someone. "Oh! Sor- Oh." I said. It was Blue. "Sorry. Bye. I didn't mean to. I'll just go now."
That was awkward. Wow! I turned to go, but I felt a wing on my shoulder. "Wait," said a soft voice "Don't go. I know I shouldn't of said that stuff. I'm sorry," Was that blue? It couldn't be. I mean, even if I didn't do anything wrong, I would always end up saying sorry.
"Really? Well, you do have a firm shoulder. And I need one right now," I said in a obviously relieved voice. Embarrassing! "Robin told me what happened, and I thought he was lying. I yelled, and didn't believe him. I blamed him like that, and I was SO wrong to do that. I think I kinda DID start to like him. I just denied it, because he was the guy my parents wanted me to like. So, I'm sorry, too."
"Hello! I am Georgie." What? Was? That? "I am a animal." I looked around. Wow. This thing had a beak, a beaver tail, and just layed an egg! It had fur, too! So it was a mammal! "Oh dear. Little Davie came out soon." She had such a flat, monotone voice. From her expression, Blue didn't know what this was either.
That was the day I met a strange, thing.
Love + Birdseeds,
Jay
That was awkward. Wow! I turned to go, but I felt a wing on my shoulder. "Wait," said a soft voice "Don't go. I know I shouldn't of said that stuff. I'm sorry," Was that blue? It couldn't be. I mean, even if I didn't do anything wrong, I would always end up saying sorry.
"Really? Well, you do have a firm shoulder. And I need one right now," I said in a obviously relieved voice. Embarrassing! "Robin told me what happened, and I thought he was lying. I yelled, and didn't believe him. I blamed him like that, and I was SO wrong to do that. I think I kinda DID start to like him. I just denied it, because he was the guy my parents wanted me to like. So, I'm sorry, too."
"Hello! I am Georgie." What? Was? That? "I am a animal." I looked around. Wow. This thing had a beak, a beaver tail, and just layed an egg! It had fur, too! So it was a mammal! "Oh dear. Little Davie came out soon." She had such a flat, monotone voice. From her expression, Blue didn't know what this was either.
That was the day I met a strange, thing.
Love + Birdseeds,
Jay
Does this look like a blue jay?
Does this look like a blue jay? Go to http://www.birdorable/meet/blue-jay/ And does this look like a raven? Go to http://www.birdorable/meet/common-raven/ These people are so upsetting! Saying we look like this! Ugh!
HATE + Birdseeds,
Jay
Wait! Don't go on it! The links don't work. I thought they would. Oh well! Just type that in the websearch thingy on the top of your screen.
HATE + Birdseeds,
Jay
Wait! Don't go on it! The links don't work. I thought they would. Oh well! Just type that in the websearch thingy on the top of your screen.
The Thing Is...
The thing is, me and Rob(Robin) being friends is a problem. It wasn't, until recentally. See, a few weeks ago I was REALLY sick. Like, if got worse I could've died. When I got better this is what I did:
"Hey! Rob! Are you there?" I said while knocking on Rob's door. We lived in the same birdhouse. What would you humans call it? A condo?
"Hi. So what do you wanna do?" He said. He does that. Just pop out, and say something. I shake my head in surprise so much that I think I have brain damage.
"Let's go get Blue, and celebrate! I'm well again!" I said, the excitement in me trying to burst out through my voice. My eyes were wide, but(if even possible) they just kept widening.
"I can't. You shouldn't either." He said "Blue said, well, she doesn't really like you. Anymore. She told me. She said that we liked each other, and that you have become someone she doesn't know. She doesn't like us being friends. She said it's my fault. That ever since we became friend's, you've just been different. She just thought your parents would ruin her and her family's lives if you said that to you. She told me not to say anything, but I can't let you not know. And if she doesn't want to, she shouldn't be friends with someone she doesn't like. Not just you, I mean I like you, but, she doesn't, and, ya." Smooth, Rob. Smooth.
"Your lying! I hate you! She wouldn't say that! I know she wouldn't! Your lying! I'll mever talk to you again!" I screamed. "Why would you even THINK that? Bye forever!"
It turns out he wasn't lying. But when I apologized, he wouldn't hear it. I don't blame him. Accusing him like that. I have no one. Or at least I thought...
Love + Birdseeds,
Jay
"Hey! Rob! Are you there?" I said while knocking on Rob's door. We lived in the same birdhouse. What would you humans call it? A condo?
"Hi. So what do you wanna do?" He said. He does that. Just pop out, and say something. I shake my head in surprise so much that I think I have brain damage.
"Let's go get Blue, and celebrate! I'm well again!" I said, the excitement in me trying to burst out through my voice. My eyes were wide, but(if even possible) they just kept widening.
"I can't. You shouldn't either." He said "Blue said, well, she doesn't really like you. Anymore. She told me. She said that we liked each other, and that you have become someone she doesn't know. She doesn't like us being friends. She said it's my fault. That ever since we became friend's, you've just been different. She just thought your parents would ruin her and her family's lives if you said that to you. She told me not to say anything, but I can't let you not know. And if she doesn't want to, she shouldn't be friends with someone she doesn't like. Not just you, I mean I like you, but, she doesn't, and, ya." Smooth, Rob. Smooth.
"Your lying! I hate you! She wouldn't say that! I know she wouldn't! Your lying! I'll mever talk to you again!" I screamed. "Why would you even THINK that? Bye forever!"
It turns out he wasn't lying. But when I apologized, he wouldn't hear it. I don't blame him. Accusing him like that. I have no one. Or at least I thought...
Love + Birdseeds,
Jay
What is a Break-Out?
I walk out into the night. I smell the cold, fresh night air. I feel the sand crunch under my talons. I see the world in a whole new light. It isn't as wonderful as it had seemed. My mother had broken her friendship for a boy. It just wasn't fair for Starr's mother. And my mother did get what was coming for her. If she was a traitor, what will happen to-
Starr jumps out in front of me. "Where do you think you're going?" Starr asks.
"Nowhere." I answer. She glares at me with her piercing black eyes. She seems to be staring through me, into these very thoughts.
"Nowhere." She repeats. "A likely story. Now get! I have people to see!" She shoves me unceremoniously back into the nest. I topple backwards and stare up at her.
"People to see?" I ask. "Who?"
"None of your beeswax!" She answers.
"Starry?" A deep cawing voice calls from behind Starr.
Starr tenses. she adds to me in a whisper, "You will say nothing of this to anyone."
I nod. I wait. She does not come back. I hear her footsteps fall away form the nest. I walk cautiously out of the nest. I peek around the corner. She is nowhere in sight. I step onto the ground. I walk a bit faster. I break into a run. I am swallowed by the darkness of the forest. I am free. I race faster than I have ever gone. I feel like I am flying. I stretch my wings. My small wing catches on a leafy branch. The branch tears off of the bush. It sticks to my wing. I am still running. I start to feel taller. My legs have to stretch to stay on the ground. I start to flap my wings. I fly. I soar through the air.
"Woo-hoo!" I holler into the night. I feel weightless. I flap faster. I turn left, I turn right. I fly higher. I swoop and skim the surface of reality. My talon touches the ground and I topple forward and roll a short distance. I stop spinning and sit up. I lay backwards on my back and stare up at the starry sky. I then realize my vision is blocked by a furry face.
"Ah!" I shriek.
"Ah!" The face shrieks back. I back away and look at the creature. It is a Porcupine.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"I am Piney Porque the third of Oaken Square." He proclaims with dignity. "Who are you, might I ask?"
"I am Raven Black, the first, of Birdnooke?" I say, with much less dignity.
"Welcome to the realm of woodland animals." Piney says. He twirls his arm and indicates the woods. "I saw you flying."
"Oh, well... Um, you see-"
"You were very graceful."
"I was?"
"Yes, until you swooped... Here." He hands me the branch that allows me to fly. He fixes it onto my wing.
"Thank you." I say. Our eyes meet and I realize that there are good animals in the world as well as the bad ones. Piney is one of the good. One of the animals that balances out the world.
I realize that good is nothing without bad. I realize that we would not be able to tell good from bad, or bad from good without either of them. I realize that there has to be both of everything, even the things that aren't necessarily enjoyed.
I realize that everyone is needed in the big picture.
Signed,
Raven
Starr jumps out in front of me. "Where do you think you're going?" Starr asks.
"Nowhere." I answer. She glares at me with her piercing black eyes. She seems to be staring through me, into these very thoughts.
"Nowhere." She repeats. "A likely story. Now get! I have people to see!" She shoves me unceremoniously back into the nest. I topple backwards and stare up at her.
"People to see?" I ask. "Who?"
"None of your beeswax!" She answers.
"Starry?" A deep cawing voice calls from behind Starr.
Starr tenses. she adds to me in a whisper, "You will say nothing of this to anyone."
I nod. I wait. She does not come back. I hear her footsteps fall away form the nest. I walk cautiously out of the nest. I peek around the corner. She is nowhere in sight. I step onto the ground. I walk a bit faster. I break into a run. I am swallowed by the darkness of the forest. I am free. I race faster than I have ever gone. I feel like I am flying. I stretch my wings. My small wing catches on a leafy branch. The branch tears off of the bush. It sticks to my wing. I am still running. I start to feel taller. My legs have to stretch to stay on the ground. I start to flap my wings. I fly. I soar through the air.
"Woo-hoo!" I holler into the night. I feel weightless. I flap faster. I turn left, I turn right. I fly higher. I swoop and skim the surface of reality. My talon touches the ground and I topple forward and roll a short distance. I stop spinning and sit up. I lay backwards on my back and stare up at the starry sky. I then realize my vision is blocked by a furry face.
"Ah!" I shriek.
"Ah!" The face shrieks back. I back away and look at the creature. It is a Porcupine.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"I am Piney Porque the third of Oaken Square." He proclaims with dignity. "Who are you, might I ask?"
"I am Raven Black, the first, of Birdnooke?" I say, with much less dignity.
"Welcome to the realm of woodland animals." Piney says. He twirls his arm and indicates the woods. "I saw you flying."
"Oh, well... Um, you see-"
"You were very graceful."
"I was?"
"Yes, until you swooped... Here." He hands me the branch that allows me to fly. He fixes it onto my wing.
"Thank you." I say. Our eyes meet and I realize that there are good animals in the world as well as the bad ones. Piney is one of the good. One of the animals that balances out the world.
I realize that good is nothing without bad. I realize that we would not be able to tell good from bad, or bad from good without either of them. I realize that there has to be both of everything, even the things that aren't necessarily enjoyed.
I realize that everyone is needed in the big picture.
Signed,
Raven
The Hawk
I was walking around with Blue, and then out of nowhere, my parents jumped out. My mom said "Look over there! It's Robin! You're gonna play with him for the rest of day. Sorry, Blue. Bye! Now go." Ugh! My parents. They just HAVE to embarrass me.
"Play?" I said "Really?"
My parents don't take well to back talk. "Yes! Play!" said my dad in a cold voice "What about it? Just go!"
So I said bye to Blue, and went over to Robin. "Hi," I said in a kinda shy voice.
"I know your parents made you come. They kinda went up to me and said that." He said out of nowhere.
"Sorry about that. Some day I'll be outta here, and have a life of flying around the world," I said, rather fast out of surprise. I talk and do things fast when I'm surprised. Maybe it's a bird thing.
"Run!!! Hawk!!!" Robin screamed. "I said run!!!" I ran but looked behind me when I figured out he wasn't following me.
"Come on!!! Run!!!"
He screamed something back. All I heard was "fight him" and "go without" because I was already so far away. I got his message.
"Duck!!! He's behind you!!!" the hawk soared and scratched Robin on the head. He fought the hawk off spectacularally. He is SO brave, you know? Wow.
Well, a little human girl ran into the clearing we were on so the hawk ran away. So did we, but we made sure to fly in the other direction.
Ever since then, we've been great friend. Some things just bring people together. And apparently, facing a hawk is one of them. Comment on whether you think Robin is SO brave, too. He's just awesome. (sigh) But he still is annoying. Ha! Ha ha! Ohhhhh.
Love + Birdseeds,
Jay
"Play?" I said "Really?"
My parents don't take well to back talk. "Yes! Play!" said my dad in a cold voice "What about it? Just go!"
So I said bye to Blue, and went over to Robin. "Hi," I said in a kinda shy voice.
"I know your parents made you come. They kinda went up to me and said that." He said out of nowhere.
"Sorry about that. Some day I'll be outta here, and have a life of flying around the world," I said, rather fast out of surprise. I talk and do things fast when I'm surprised. Maybe it's a bird thing.
"Run!!! Hawk!!!" Robin screamed. "I said run!!!" I ran but looked behind me when I figured out he wasn't following me.
"Come on!!! Run!!!"
He screamed something back. All I heard was "fight him" and "go without" because I was already so far away. I got his message.
"Duck!!! He's behind you!!!" the hawk soared and scratched Robin on the head. He fought the hawk off spectacularally. He is SO brave, you know? Wow.
Well, a little human girl ran into the clearing we were on so the hawk ran away. So did we, but we made sure to fly in the other direction.
Ever since then, we've been great friend. Some things just bring people together. And apparently, facing a hawk is one of them. Comment on whether you think Robin is SO brave, too. He's just awesome. (sigh) But he still is annoying. Ha! Ha ha! Ohhhhh.
Love + Birdseeds,
Jay
What is a Frien-emy?
With my new hope cradled in my arms, I hop into the forest. The forest is dark, cold. The ground is hard beneath my feet. I hear noises, see shadows that are cast by nothing. I hear a crack behind me, see a shadow. I turn. There is a black bird behind me. I cannot see clearly.
"Mother?" I say.
"No." A silky voice replies. "I am not your dirty mother."
"Are you a raven?" I ask.
"No, I am a starling."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Starr Ling." She replies. "Pleased to meet you."
Starr is not pleased to meet me. I can tell. She looks me over and silently assesses me.
"You seem like a clean bird." She says. "Where do you live?"
"Nowhere. I was pushed out of my nest." I answer.
"Why?" She asks.
"I have a miniature wing."
"Oh." She looks at it distastefully. "Poor you." She says, not meaning it. "I guess you could live with me. Only until you find somewhere else to live."
"Yes, ma'am!" She leads me to a large pile of junk. Old twigs, rotten eggs, litter. She takes me around to a hole in a tree right next to it. She shows me inside. I see a nest made out of twigs and someone's sock.
"Why did you call my mother dirty earlier?" I ask.
"Because it is true." She says while hopping to the sock and sitting down. "We all have heard about your mother. She was a traitor among friends. My mother was best friends with yours. They had so many laughs together, shared so many memories. But then, your silly little mother decided she was going to hook up with my mother's cousin. And that ended it. It wasn't until the great landslide that your mother got what was coming for her. She never knew what hit her, the great oaf. It wasn't until she died that we all knew. That we all knew that you would be just like her!"
"Died?" I ask. My mother is alive and well in her nest.
"Yes, died." Starr says. Her beak curls. "She was killed in a landslide, she was. Then your oaf of a father wanted another wife, so what does he do but remarry, the great traitor."
"My mother isn't my real mother?"
"No, of course not. You don't have to sum up my story to get the point. Your mother is dead, finite. No more mummy for Raven."
"How do you know my name?"
"Your famous, for Pete's sake!"
"Famous?"
"Yes, famous! You heard me right well!"
"What did I do?"
"That nest is strawberry if I know."
"You don't know?"
"What do you think I just said, kid? I just said that my nest is a strawberry if I know. Of course I don't know, that was the point of my ruddy metaphor!" She says, standing up. "Go to sleep, you tweet." She hops outside and I hear her picking through the junk.
"Good night." I say quietly to where she was just standing. "Is she my friend, or my enemy?"
Signed,
Raven
"Mother?" I say.
"No." A silky voice replies. "I am not your dirty mother."
"Are you a raven?" I ask.
"No, I am a starling."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Starr Ling." She replies. "Pleased to meet you."
Starr is not pleased to meet me. I can tell. She looks me over and silently assesses me.
"You seem like a clean bird." She says. "Where do you live?"
"Nowhere. I was pushed out of my nest." I answer.
"Why?" She asks.
"I have a miniature wing."
"Oh." She looks at it distastefully. "Poor you." She says, not meaning it. "I guess you could live with me. Only until you find somewhere else to live."
"Yes, ma'am!" She leads me to a large pile of junk. Old twigs, rotten eggs, litter. She takes me around to a hole in a tree right next to it. She shows me inside. I see a nest made out of twigs and someone's sock.
"Why did you call my mother dirty earlier?" I ask.
"Because it is true." She says while hopping to the sock and sitting down. "We all have heard about your mother. She was a traitor among friends. My mother was best friends with yours. They had so many laughs together, shared so many memories. But then, your silly little mother decided she was going to hook up with my mother's cousin. And that ended it. It wasn't until the great landslide that your mother got what was coming for her. She never knew what hit her, the great oaf. It wasn't until she died that we all knew. That we all knew that you would be just like her!"
"Died?" I ask. My mother is alive and well in her nest.
"Yes, died." Starr says. Her beak curls. "She was killed in a landslide, she was. Then your oaf of a father wanted another wife, so what does he do but remarry, the great traitor."
"My mother isn't my real mother?"
"No, of course not. You don't have to sum up my story to get the point. Your mother is dead, finite. No more mummy for Raven."
"How do you know my name?"
"Your famous, for Pete's sake!"
"Famous?"
"Yes, famous! You heard me right well!"
"What did I do?"
"That nest is strawberry if I know."
"You don't know?"
"What do you think I just said, kid? I just said that my nest is a strawberry if I know. Of course I don't know, that was the point of my ruddy metaphor!" She says, standing up. "Go to sleep, you tweet." She hops outside and I hear her picking through the junk.
"Good night." I say quietly to where she was just standing. "Is she my friend, or my enemy?"
Signed,
Raven
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