"You want to... leave?"
Bee's eyes blinked back at me in surprise. She quickly checked on Pretzel who was doing her usual routine below of charming her way to a full stomach.
"This is no place to have a family" I replied "and look, they are about to fledge anyway. We can take them somewhere better and safer."
Bee followed my gaze down to the feathered babies flopping around below her. They were ready to explore, and clambered over each other for the side of the nest she gently pushed them back from.
She knew what it meant if we did leave. She would have to stop holding them back and accept the hard truth of losing what she had worked so hard for again.
She looked up to me with dread. Her eyes said what her voice couldn't.
"You can't hold them back forever" I nudged her wing that blocked the path again "they want to see the world."
"And I know what will happen if they do."
I couldn't push her on that. I had only known her for seven months now.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6jvcQesmY
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB62MYhcnl
I knew that ordinary birds left the nest only weeks after hatching, but these were not ordinary birds. These were demons bred from ones that had lost themselves to the darkeness.
Seven months was a long time to raise three creatures that had no shred of humanity in them. They were as wild as thier mother who would never turn back. Her time was up for that hope.
There had to be some way to make her understand. I wanted them to succeed as much as she did, but her years of heartbreak made her scared to even take chances now.
"Stay here" I smiled to her when the idea snapped to my mind "I've got it."
Bee watched me soar over our crowd and into the trees where I rushed for my old cave.
It had been abandoned since I started enjoying the comforts of the nest with everyone. The warmth from thier bodies snuggled against mine beat any blanket I had piled up to try and replicate the same feeling.
I snatched up my crushed lining of blankets, making sure to grab the human's as well. Her scent had been smudged from it with dirt and blood long ago, but the sight of it still sparked something in me that was comforting.
I didn't even know who I was missing, but this blanket held a special place in my heart for them.
I rushed back through the clearing and flung myself at the concrete block to dump them down over it. It created a soft buffer to break the fall below.
Bee smiled down at my excitment and waited for me to scuttle back up to her side triumphantly.
"Such a good idea" she praised me, making my feathers fluff up at her kindness "do you think it'll work?"
"There's no way they are touching anything other than those blankets" I nudged her back so I could lean my head against hers "how about it? Will you let them try?"
We both gazed at her arm blocking the path to the edge as she hesitated. Then, slowly, she moved it away and tensed next to me.
The chicks scrambled for the edge and the arm swiftly moved towards the edge. But it hovered in the air instead, returning.
The first chick flapped it's tiny wings and tumbled over the edge. Bee bolted to the side with me, peering down.
We saw the chick on its back, peddling it's little legs to try and get itself back upright.
I saw the relief in Bee's face at the success of the blanket buffer. She watched the other two barely get further than the first and admired thier enthusiasm now that fear wasn't holding her back.
I saw that we also had an audience from below. The humans and demons with thier pets reigned in nearby watched the chicks descent with enthusiasm. There were even shouts of encouragement when they started flapping thier way for the edge of the toilet block.
The edge. I hadn't padded below that.
Immediently, I dove down, but the first already made its leap. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3WWWKAEdI
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1bAoIpp68
My feet hit the ground when it's body did; the little legs flailing again in desperation.
The other two followed. The second only got a little further before landing in its stomach and chirping loudly. The third had some momentum but tumbled down to hit the ground beside the first.
They showed promise. Perhaps, these ones would fly and earn thier names after all?
I tipped each one back onto its feet as Pretzel rushed over to help. She was already infatuated with the little demons who scurried off now that they had thier feet.
She followed them, laughing and mimicking thier continuous chirps in thier battle to be airborne.
I sat there to admire the sight. Bee fluttered down beside me so she could do the same.
"So, where were you thinking?"
I was astonished at her opening up to my idea. She waited for my answer while I recollected my thoughts.
"I have no place in mind" I admitted "but we can keep going until we decide on one, anywhere we want. It'll be like a big adventure for them. Somewhere nice and breezy."
"Somewhere with lots of flowers" Bee added cheerfully, to make my gut stab at the recognition.
Where had I heard that before?
I liked the idea though. Although there was something familiar about it, it felt right.
"Flowers" I agreed and marveled at how the chicks bodies barely came past the grass and flowers here "and water. Pretzel needs a bath, badly."
Bee laughed and nodded. Pretzel kept steering the chicks in the right direction if they ventured too close to the humans or thier pets. She was a good girl with a kind heart, it was just a shame her humans had abused that trust.
"What happened to her? Obviously she's had humans because of her name, but where are they?"
"Pretzel?" Bee frowned to my agreeance "she came to me years ago, running and crying so loudly through here. It was night, so I was asleep before she woke me up with the noise. She would have just kept running if my old mate didn't go and check it out. I think we scared her back then. She didn't know what to do with either of us."
"She was running? That must mean she came from somewhere around here."
"I thought so too" Bee sighed, watching her daughter with a smile "but no-one came looking for a lost little girl. I even went past the houses nearby on my hunts just to make sure. One of them had to be it, they just didn't care anymore."
Poor Pretzel. While she was dancing around happily, we were sadly reflecting on her bleek past.
"She understands you so well too" I marveled "I didn't know demons could do that with ones like you. I only heard noises when I first came here."
"She understand noises too" Bee smiled sadly "she's very good at guessing what I'm saying to her, but she truly doesn't know. A little girl like her can't possibly understand without being as mutated as I am. And with you like I am now, she's possibly been guessing to avoid hurting your feelings. She's sweet like that."
She.... Couldn't understand me?
So, our last real interaction had been when she had stole the clothes she was wearing now. After that, I had slipped, and she had instantly lost all communication between us.
"You can give it a go" Bee nudged me gently "it's all in the tone of your voice. She's going near some dogs I don't want her to; tell her to leave them alone."
I found Pretzel excitedly advancing towards a straining puppy on its leash. The chicks were jumping about nearby, still testing thier flapping wings.
"Pretzel!" I called.
Her head turned, and her hand immediently dropped.
I paused. I was scared that it would all be confirmed with only a few words.
"Go on" Bee urged "don't keep her waiting; you'll confuse her."
I could already see it on her face as she stood there and waited for my next order. She pointed to the puppy with a smile.
"I want to pat it, Papa! It's tiny and really fluffy! It's name is Noodles"
"I want you to get away from it."
Her face soured and she let out a groan but didn't move.
"It's just a puppy, Papa!" she grumbled back "pleeeeease?"
"Get her to repeat back what you said" Bee whispered to me.
I could feel the dread mounting inside me when I turned to her.
She really had no clue, did she?
"What did I just say?" I spoke firmly, wanting her to understand each word.
Pretzel stood there. She remained silent while I waited for those few words to prove me wrong.
Please. You had to still understand me. I was still here. I havent given up on you.
Pretzel groaned and started to shuffle her way back to me. I felt my whole stomach fall at the realization, and felt the pain of it swim in my eyes.
"She still understands, just in her own way" Bee rested her head on me in comfort "she's a special girl. She's not going to give up on you just because she doesn't understand you anymore."
"I just feel like it's my fault" I whimpered "I could talk to her just fine when things were different. But now that I've slipped, she can't hear me anymore. I don't want her to think I've chosen you over her. I love her just as much as i did before."
Bee nipped my chin to divert my attention to her and chuckled when it worked.
"I think it's the best decision you could have made" she murmered up to me "and she doesn't love you any less because of it. I think it's adorable you are worried about that. Most others wouldnt care about what isn't thier own blood."
"She's... like a daughter to me" I smiled down at her grumpy figure sitting down at my feet to watch the puppy run around its family "I couldn't have children with the human I loved because of what I was. This is the closest I've got to being a father. It's a nice feeling."
I hated admitting all of it to Bee herself. Claiming her daughter was also like my own could backfire so badly. Would it sound like I was trying to take her child for myself? Maybe she would hate that I felt like that towards her?
But, she didnt. Bee's head slipped under mine and she made a low crooning noise as he feathers lifted to make contact with my own.
"If you wanted to, you could have the real thing?" she purred, to make my heart pound.
"Mama!" Pretzel groaned out and clapped her hands over her ears "I'm right here!"
Bee giggled with me and tapped Pretzel's back before pointing to the puppy she was longing to play with.
"You two are gross" Pretzel scowled when she got to her feet and watched Bee roll her head under mine to rub it in. She was quick to rush off and distract herself with the puppy while my mind melted from the affection being smothered into me.
I hadn't felt this spark in my stomach for a long time. My tail curled at the sweet scent of Bee basking in the sun, while the jolting electricity worked its way through my bones.
I thought this feeling of wanting had died with my old self. It was different now; demanding and as feral as myself. It ran with my blood still pouring over my body in its display of power.
I checked on Pretzel still engrossed in the tiny brown dog. Others barked nearby as my eyes wandered in the hunt for the chicks.
I found them trying to best themselves against one of the dogs reeled in by the owners too afraid to try and move them with us so close.
The bubbles burst instantly and my senses made me alert to the danger only moments away from those tiny bodies. The teeth snapped and flung spit at the chicks who tried to clap thier little beaks back at it.
"Dogs" I breathed, pulling from Bee who scanned the area frantically "dogs!"
I let the anger and frustration flow through me when I charged around the other blankets on my way to the pouncing chicks.
The humans saw me barrelling towards them and yanked thier dog into thier laps as I screamed out at its snapping jaws and threw my wings out to shield the chicks now behind me.
"Go to your mother" I gently pushed them towards Bee who watched from a distance as they stumbled back towards her.
As soon as they were a safe distance away, I snapped at the barking dog and quickly left the frightened family so I could usher my own back to safety.
Pretzel was already with her mother when I ushered them to the other side of the toilet block that was clear of any threats.
Bee settled down with her family quietly. I glared my silent warning to the watching eyes, then tucked myself beside Bee who was comforting Pretzel.
"That's was too close" I growled at how blindsided I had been "are you OK?"
Bee nodded and snuggled her chicks who were still too keen to explore. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFqcqEG3cz
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPgP3U3thK
Danger didn't scare them. They had no idea what it was.
"Are you OK?" I focused on Pretzel now who had a handful of Bee's shoulder feathers in her grasp, and an apprehensive look peering out around us.
"You scared me" she tried to smile "I've never heard you make that noise before."
"Sorry if I scared you" I murmered in shame at how aggressive I had been in my snap decision. It had made Pretzel abandon everything just to rush in fear to where she was safest.
"Can... Can i keep playing with Noodle?"
I sighed at myself and nodded. Pretzel carefully slid past us to take off again while I tried to recollect my thoughts and emotions.
"We need to move."
Bee actually agreed with me. She settled herself down over the chicks so they couldn't run off again. They protested but gave up after a moment in dark warmth.
"Once they can fly, we will go" I continued "we can't risk anything. That slab of concrete and all these dogs are just the start of it."
"Are you going to baby-proof the world?" Bee teased.
"If I have to!" I let out an exhausted breath and laid down beside her "first day and already I've almost lost them."
I felt Bee's head on mine again and gave into its caress. It was nice just to lay here without worries.
Once they could fly, I could rest easy. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WH5dgmvi3
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznMtJMDOiN
But until then, I needed to be alert and ready for anything.
People started to be cautious of arriving at the clearing for thier gatherings.
Even though it was publically marked as an area for relaxation, they started to see it was anything but with the babies now involved.
Dogs were kept on very short leashes or left at home. Pets that used to run free were now only allowed as far as the tether went.
My outburst stirred something in the air. Word got out, and the number of people arriving dwindled.
It was still too many for my liking.
With the dogs gone, the unruly kids showed up.
Some were easy for the parents to round up once they strayed too far. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f1aZU4iQU
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rjLrQaIJF
Now that our resting area had been moved from the toilet block and towards the treeline, there was no reason for anyone to be venturing out way.
But there still was. Testing the waters, and seeing how close they could get before one of us let them know what they were messing with.
When the kids realised they couldn't pass a certain point, they improvised. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwIsvdv4vM
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47rxk09wHX
They threw sticks and stones at us to try and play some sick game of provoking us into hurting them. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHzPFSBJxB
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe5M67JkaO
They knew we were only for show. And they knew we didn't pass too far from our area into the clearing while people were gathered.
And when we didn't give them what they wanted, they turned on the nest; tossing sticks and pulling at the blankets hanging there before we turned on them.
Others were always keeping a close eye on anything out of the ordinary and quickly intervenes before we had to. I was grateful for that.
Any time children turned up, we kept Pretzel and the chicks close while we assessed how they were going to handle our presence. If they were good, she got to play with them. If they reacted, it was going to be a long day of wearing our patience and temperaments thin.
It was all just a waiting game.
The chicks were still trying to leave the nest any opportunity they got. And the only way we could get them back into it was by snatching them up in our claws and placing them back in the nest. Otherwise, it was a game of trying to hound them into the resting place while the other hunted for food.
The eyes watching over the properties were unrelenting. There was no hunting in such a hostile area.
Any pets roaming the streets had been locked indoors too. Posters plastered poles to warn of the danger searching for an easy meal above.
Sparrows, as tiny as they were, were far too quick and cunning to catch. They wedged themselves into thick tangles of brambles, or disappeared into shadows like they never existed.
We had to turn our attention to the only other option we had; seabirds.
Pretzel hated the idea of feeding from something she had grown so fond of, but she didn't have a choice.
Seabirds were plentiful and stupid. They didn't migrate to safer areas like other animals did, and soared laziliy along the ocean waters. They were easy to find, but forced us to adopt new manouvers to kill them that didn't land us in the water.
Once we were at the mercy of the ocean waves, we were gone. Drowned feathers and towering cliffs made sure nothing would escape the clutches of the thrashing depths.
Gulls could only sate the growing chicks for so long. They grew more demanding as the days flew by and they still didn't take to the skies.
We lost the first to starvation after three more weeks from first leaving the nest.
It was cruel to prioritse feedings, but food was already spread thin enough between six hungry mouths before it passed.
Bee was already starving herself just to try and trickle more into her children. I was doing the same, and used the same method of filling my stomach with water to feel full. Bee taught me that by mixing grass with the water, it would stop the pains because it was something heavier.
She tried so hard to be brave and fight through it, but I could tell she wanted nothing more than to completely devour the gull meat she bought back without fail.
We had to strip anything that could feed us. It was a dark time indeed.
The second chick we lost only one week from the last. Bee found it dead on the concrete below the nest we were resting in. The kids had tugged on the blankets to shift them further over the edge, leaving the soft landing completely exposed where it was found.
There was no escaping what had to be done to survive.
We were really struggling with nothing to fuel us. With only four mouths to feed, it didn't become easier. Pretzel and the chick were prioritsed while Bee and I gouged ourselves on grass and water.
When I saw Pretzel doing the same to give her morsel straight to the chick, I knew what had to be done.
We were all starving ourselves to keep this hope alive that hopped and bumbled its way along the ground every day. It was leeching us of energy and food that we desperately needed. With Bee and Pretzel already so weak, we would never make the trip to more promising grounds if we kept waiting.
So, five weeks after the death of the second chick, we had no choice but to leave the third in the nest.
It was heartbreaking to hear its hopeful chirps when I comforted it for the last time and heaved myself into the sky.
Bee and Pretzel didn't even have the strength to cry. Bee just struggled beside me as she carried her daughter who hung onto her back and tried to keep her dead eyes open.
Her miserable eyes had lost that spark of life and happiness in them. They belonged to a girl who could barely even hold onto her mother's back she slumped on.
Her skin looked tacky and dry. Her lips were so dry they had cracked and blistered. Even some of her unruley hair had started to fall out when her body shriveled into a bony shell of what it used to be.
Bee hadn't faired much better. I could see the frame of bones that edged each shaking wing. Her ribcage protruded since the rest of he body had wasted away around it. Her eyes were sunken near the cheekbones, and her beak looked like it was becoming detached from her deathly face. She was as fragile as a leaf being blown in the wind that pummeled her flakey, notched feathers.
We flew with no purpose, only stopping to scrounge through trash to snap up the scraps and lap up the garbage juice inside.
It was the lowest I had ever been. I never wanted to put Pretzel or Bee through something that made them into pityful scavengers.
Splitting open black bags to spill out the stained packets and chewed up food was a far cry from the hefty beasts innards I used to take for granted.
But with each torn bag and discarded meal, we could continue on borrowed energy. Pretzel even mustered up enough to shed silent tears when her fingers desperately clawed for someone's dumped drink that she sucked up through the dirty straw.
At night, I could hear her sobbing in her sleep when we huddled on the side of a road or along the fence line of someone's property. Bee and I would stay awake, shielding her while trying to figure out what we were going to do.
Anywhere had to better than what we had come from. There had to be somewhere with fatty beasts and serene landscapes where we could start over. Somewhere where Pretzel could thrive and grow with more than the clothes she was wearing and the feathers of her dead silblings stuck in her hair.
The aimless journey suddenly turned into one of familiarity when we sailed our way over a tunnel of trees that lined a long road running beside a beautiful beach spotted with basking people. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcEXGy8JjE
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxWzd3pWlF
The seasalt stirred up forgotten and crushed emotions in a hope to make me remember what I had forgotten long ago.
I knew this road. I knew those trees and this warm, rich scent.
"I know where we are going" I uttered to Bee and Pretzel, before peeling ahead.
The road led away from the crowds to snake into more quieter lands. A few more branched into properties. Along the way that were filled with livestock and fruit trees.
I could see the sights of prosperous lands had caught Pretzel's attention. She sat up to take in the beauty of it all as I led them further.
I knew where I was going. A force within me tugged me along the road and over a little bridge with a babbling creek. It keep going until the grass exploded with colour and the road stopped at a fenceline surrounding the field of wildflowers. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKAiptw2t6
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwDIbzM5eX
On the other side, several kilometers away, there was a twisting river surrounded by rocks and trees. The light dance on its surface and sparkled like jewels.
The scents swirling in the sunshine filled me with longing. Sharp, snappy aromas brushed with soft, smoother ones from the swaying flowers painting the ground with its own kaleidoscope.
I knew this place from a distant memory. I knew that large house overlooking the field itself, and that veranda with its spacious hideaways around the pillars underneath. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMOhpHgYOo
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAqIPWkMAY
I knew that fenceline and the way I had squeezed under it in panic as the sky exploded above me.
My feet touched the ground and I took in the beauty of it all. It looked the same as I remembered it. It was all still here.
Bee landed beside me but stumbled, lowering herself down in exhaustion.
"This is where I was born" I smiled at the flowers, then the sky, before caressing Bee herself "I fell here. This was my home."
Pretzel's face formed a weak smile.
"Really?" Bee's face lit up now.
"That was a very long time ago" I nodded back "when I had a human. Oh! And she gave me a name too!"
"And what was her name?"
My mind went blank. She had a name, I know it; but what was it? 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAQVpspJHs
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zseUg1DAx
Humans had names. I know she smelled like spicy cinnamon and sweet oranges once too, but that sparked nothing in my memory.
"Uh..." I frowned, searching the outside of the quiet house for a clue ".... I'm... not sure."
"I'm sure it'll come to you" she smiled again as her eyes began to close "it's a beautiful spot."
"I like it, Papa" Pretzel added while she slid down and stumbled into my side "it's bigger than the last one."
I was glad of the approval it was already getting. The surrounding area was peaceful and wasn't swarming with threats. The overlooking home offered shade beneath it, and the trees to our left were teaming with calling birds around the lush foliage.
It was plentiful here. It was quiet and perfect to serve as a new home.
I was going to get started on scouting out the area for food right away. Finding the best sources would make it easier to track them back in the future. It was already looking promising.
Everywhere I looked, life was flourishing. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL5GZy7VRN
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGTbWDNCdF
The trees I sailed over beside our new home exploded with birds trying to flee my shadow. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc04opFFvq
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jbucOIa3M
I could see a forestry boardwalk twisting in the trees that led towards the river where an outlook was planted.
Fish flipped from the clear waters I took the time to wash the grime from myself in. The black blood washed down the river and lured hungry mouths that nibbled at the twisting darkness steadily disappearing as it was diluted.
Around the river and trees were sprinting rabbits and thier massive families. And with the rabbits darting wildly in thier zigzagged paths, deer bounded after them.
There were so many opportunities here. It looked like the rabbits alone could sustain us here in such an abundance.
My starving family needed something more than measly rabbits right now. The deer would do.
The way they crushed so easily under my claws felt so right. They were nowhere as hefty as a cow, and broke at the pressure snapping through them.
They were such dainty looking creatures. Thier short fur wasn't soaked with urine and didn't reek. It smelled like the earthy forestry and fresh grass. The warmth of the sun baked it when I tore into the side of a female who was dragged down so fluidly. There was no fight like a bellowing cow gave. The deer did struggle a little and warble out a call for its fleeing herd, but my savage hunger cut that short immediently.
I tore it apart and found the smooth flesh almost instantly along the stomach. It wasn't as juicy as a cow's was, but exploded with earthy flavour that seared through every inch of the toughness I snapped down greedily.
It was like eating a wet slab of rubber. The meat was tough, but not impenetrable. It would be good to take back to Bee and Pretzel.
I wonder if they had eaten deer before? It was a first for me, and I was already hooked. It had such a strong flavour that burned down the back of my throat, but also one that was kind of familiar in its own weird way.
Deer didn't look like the smartest of creatures either. The ones that had run off were still close enough to hear them tearing up the grass and see them flick thier heads up to check on thier dead comrade I was mutilating nearby.
I thanked the spirits again for creating something so delicate that had no self-preservation skills. They had more life behind thier eyes than a cow did, but something within just didn't click to make the connection that could save them.
I tore my way through two of the herd before downing two more to take back while the rest fled.
My clean body was now dripping with fresh blood when I dropped the bodies down and landed beside them.
Bee woke instantly and tore into one deer she dragged over to claim for herself. Her claws gripped it possessively and she kept her eyes on the surroundings as she ate.
Pretzel did the same when she chomped her way through the side of her deer. She practically disappeared inside it trying to fish out her favourite parts.
Her nose scrunched up and she looked up at me with both hands full of slopping innards.
"This tastes funny, Papa" she nibbled "it's different."
"Different is good, isn't it?" I smiled back and came over to pull open the deer further for you "it's fresh."
She forced a smile but didn't dive back in. She even rubbed her hands clean onto the grass and sat there awkwardly.
Bee gave her a look, then continued to strip hers hungrily.
"Don't be rude" she spoke to Pretzel "your Papa caught that j...."
A noise from the house cut Bee's words short. Her head snapped up to the verandah, and her body lowered over the meal protectively.
Pretzel's head turned too before she quickly got up to grab onto my side and hide behind my arm.
I saw two human boys standing on the verandah, watching us. One was older than the other who moved out of the way to let the father through. The mother slid in beside them, just watching.
"What are they going to do?" Bee whispered to me.
I scowled at the humans who just seemed content in the show they were being provided. Bee slowly continued her feast while keeping an eye on the humans above. They weren't close enough to be of any threat, but they were now aware of us being here in thier property. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4crIG7F88
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl9ZSIOtX6
This was our area now too, and they had to understand that.
"There's a girl down there!" the younger one pointed out when Pretzel peered around me "HEY! GIRL!"
"Papa" she breathed in astonishment, clinging to me "I can understand him."
I didn't like that. The temptation was too much.
I shook Pretzel from me then marched my way up through the flower field.
All was silent when I reached the halfway mark between our area and thier verandah. Then, I opened my beak and let the blood splatter out of it like black vomit.
I heard the disgust from above and smiled at it as I walked along with my sludge line splattering behind me.
When I got to the fence line, I admired my work and turned to my family proudly.
"Our side" I pressed a nail to the ground "thier side."
I saw the humans recognizing the boundaries I had created. Whether or not they would respect them was another thing.
"No stepping over the line!" I snapped up at them "no coming near my daughter or my mate. This" I gestured to the line furioisly "is your only warning with me."
"Papa" Pretzel groaned in defeat.
"No 'Papa's' about it" I turned back towards her "You aren't going near humans. They are horrible, mean creatures. You can talk to each other on your own sides, and that's it."
Pretzel gazed out at the line and huffed. Her eyes wee filled with hurt when they found mine.
"You treat me like a kid" she mumbled.
"Because I'm trying to keep you safe" I lifted her face up with a claw "I'm sorry, but I'm not letting you get hurt by humans again. Please don't fight me on this."
I saw Pretzel's shoulders slump as her head turned back to the boundary.
"Looks like I'm not crossing the line" she sighed.
I left her to sit there so I could join Bee. She watched her daughter pull up the flowers around her and throw them pitifully back onto the ground.
"It's tough, but this fair" she agreed "they don't even know her, and they are already interested in her."
I saw the older boy smiling down at Pretzel while his family discussed thier new rules. The younger one was more unruly, hanging out between the wood planks to try and gesture for Pretzel to come closer like she was a pet.
Lo, and behold, they had thier own. A dopey looking dog with thick brown and white fur tugging down its features came bounding out of the door to the house. I could see the skin on it was so heavy and dropped, that the pinks of its eyes hung with it. 95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7F4AunzN1
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCfJ9EGR9J
It made the creature look like it was in a constant state of exhaustion.
Physically, I felt that.
"WHAT IS YOUR DOG'S NAME?" Pretzel suddenly called out through her cupped hands to make the humans stop thier conversation.
They looked to each other.
"YOUR DOG?" Pretzel pointed to the slobbering thing sitting there as she got to her feet.
She looked back at us with confusion.
"Maybe they can't understand me?" she uttered, just as the oldest cupped his hands to his mouth in the same way she had.
"SHE'S BUTTER!"
"Butter!" Pretzel's face lit up when she smiled at us. Her feet stamped the ground in excitement.
"BE-BECAUSE SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S ALWAYS MELTING!" the boy added in embarrassment.
Pretzel burst out laughing. I let out a snort with Bee who grinned around the hunk of meat she had.
"AND WHAT IS YOUR NAME?" she blurted out as she cheekily checked on me.
"That's enough of that, Miss" I smirked at her, and approached "I know exactly what you are doing."
Sly little devil. She could get all the information she wanted without crossing any lines. She found a loophole already, and slipped through it.
"CONNER!"
"AND I'M BEAU" the younger added.
"WHAT ABOUT YOU?" Conner pried.
"Say goodbye. You are coming with me" I blocked Pretzels view to the verandah so I could nudge her back to her mother. Pretzel laughed and jumped up to try and see around me.
"I'M PRETZEL!" she called with a laugh when I nipped her arm "HOW OLD ARE YOU!"
Pretzel was laughing cheekily as she jumped around me to get her glimpses of the boys that she was ushered further from.
"SEVENTEEN!" Conner called.
"NINE!" Beau added.
Pretzel grinned up at me as she slipped around Bee who went to pull her close.
"I'M ALMOST TWENTY!" she announced proudly to thier dumbfounded faces, grinning at ours "he's only three years younger than me."
"And he's most likely taken" I added "no ideas, Miss."
"Whatever you say, Papa" she giggled.
Pretzel was in lifted spirits, even when the sky darkened and her new neighbour's headed inside for thier own hot meal that wafted through the air around us.
And when the spirits glistened above us, and we had settled in for the night, I saw Pretzel sitting at the line I had created, just watching the lit window the older boy had opened to write little messages to her on paper he lit with his phone.
Despite my initial threat about the humans, seeing her so giddy with happiness warmed my heart and bought a smile to my own face.
She had found true happiness after so long. Her future was looking brighter already, as was mine with Bee.
It was good to be home, where it all began.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
