Large Insect

4th wall break, introduction: My name is Buhrd and I am a falcon. I was mentioned a couple of times in the book, though you might not notice. It was like this, “Birds were…” or “Birds…” Yeah, that was me. I was that bird(s). I’m the only falcon here so you’d notice that, in a flock of birds, one is bigger than the rest, and that one’s me. Anyway, onto the story of my very interesting life!

Life… has been strangely quiet and peaceful on this island… I was born here on a cliff and my earliest memory was my mother… not being there… Well, of course, what do you expect? I’m a bird. My mother was off somewhere, getting food while me and my siblings were screeching our lungs out. They left the island but I didn’t. It’s not always peaceful here… every time I try to hunt, this large, furry creature chases me for no reason, all huffing and puffing. It told me it was a “bore” or something. It’s pretty fat, though, so I don’t know how it manages to come after me. It’s the only source of entertainment here. We talk while I hunt for my prey and then she just starts chasing me all over again.

Today, I decided to just do patrol on a mountain since last time, there was a huge event. There was something in the sky, Bore says it was a ‘metal’ (I’m familiar with this word) insect but it looked pretty large to be an insect, and it dove into the ocean and scattered into pieces. I was kinda worried it would come to my territory, so I’m relieved it died. That just makes me sound mean but it’s the truth. Anyway, I’m on watch for any more large insects in the sky or “surface whales,” the one Bore told me about that spouts steam instead of water out its long nose, to prevent them from entering my territory. It’ll be problematic if they cause trouble (though Bore and all her land friends give me enough trouble).

Gazing over the beautiful land which my territory encompasses, I felt satisfied and nodded to myself. Mhm, this is how it should be, mhm, mhm. Peaceful, beautiful, and magnificent. Just like my beautiful wings, mighty talons, sharp beak, shiny feathers, and me, of course. As usual, after a round of flight along the coast (I found pieces of the metal insect), I went back to hunt for food. I’m usually satisfied with a few bugs and fish and go back up to save the food for the rest of the predators. I’m a leader (scoff) so it’s my responsibility to look over my ecosystem. It has to be balanced. All the time. Every time.

As I swooped down to my nest to make a dramatic entrance, I happened to see little shadows moving past. They were unfamiliar shadows I hadn’t seen before. If they happen to be dangerous, then I don’t know what will happen. Maybe they will chase us away? Eat all our food? I can’t let that happen. I made a detour and skillfully swooped down and followed the shadows a couple of feet from the top of the trees: undetected but still able to follow the shadows.

Finally, I reached the end of the island and, much to my surprise, there were a lot more shadows! No, more like… they looked like… like… like… like… Naked monkeys? I’ve seen them before during the day I flew away from the island and saw a surface whale. There were monkeys on that surface whale and they had weird skin that they could take off. Anyway, I can tell these monkeys are juveniles. They’re small. If I’m not mistaken, these creatures never leave their juveniles behind… Ah, well, perhaps it’s an adaptation method? Ah, can’t blame Mother Nature.

They look like they’re talking… In a tongue I cannot understand. Well, I should ask Bore about this.

I flap my wings and leave the tree I was perched on. It’s a nice tree, I’ll remember it for future uses. My eyes searched for a certain black-coated creature and indeed I saw it and quickly landed on top of it.

My talons sank into its deep hide and Bore shrieked, squealing and shaking me off.

“AH!!! GET OFF ME, IT HUURTSS!!” She exclaimed, shaking her head about.

This fool. Does she not know that my talons have the best grip in the world? No matter how much she shakes me, I will not fall off. I only need to hear but a few words.

“What?” I shout for her brain does not have the capacity to even hear me.

“PLEASE!”

Ah, there it is.

“Very well.” I jump off her back and quick-wittedly land on a branch of a tree instead of the ground for she will surely come after me.

And just as fate said, she ran and rammed her thick skull into the tree but I did not budge.

“What do you want this time?” She asked.

“There are juvenile naked monkeys on the beach.”

“So? Want me to trample you again? I’m going to call Squirrel. Or Snake. I swear I’ll take you down from there.”

“Oh, please. They shall but fall pray under my majestic power.”

“Uhuh. So what about these naked monkeys?”

“You, as much as it pains me to say, are my advisor and you shall be pleased to be.”

“Oh, shall I?” she obviously mocks me, seeing as she munches on berries as she talks to My Majesty.

“Anyway, what shall I do about these?”

“Nothing. You mentioned they were juveniles, right? Leave them be, poor things, without their mother.”

“Where are your children, Bore?” I asked, suddenly realizing it was quiet today.

“With Squirrel, looking for his nuts.”

“Ah, I see- WHAT?”

“The acorns and nuts he stored.”

“Ah, I see…” I nodded.

“Well, Bore, I shall see you again but take note, if these juveniles cause danger to this forest you are to blame!”

I held up my beak high and flapped away.

“How about I don’t see you again?!” she yapped as I flew, the breeze blowing softly on my feathers.

* * *

I have kept watch of those juveniles lately and I’ve noticed that their movements are quite peculiar. Of course, I haven’t punished them, they don't have ill intentions but they are only trying to survive. Ah, but I’ve also talked with Bore and she said that the juveniles have been chasing her, like a game? Or, perhaps… They’re trying to hunt her? I have yet to find out if they are predators or not but I’ve been helping Bore out, warning her if the juveniles are close. Her children are with the Turtle, in her burrow, hiding. But Bore has to go out because her children need to feed.

I told her, once, that I shall scare these juveniles away before they cause trouble but she told me that they have nowhere else to go. Since I, with my infinite mercy, am kind, I shall grant them access to the island.

As is my usual routine, I fly over the island to detect any motions. I looked over the mountains and there was smoke! How could there be smoke? It has been a couple of months since the last thunderstorm, there was no lightning. What could have caused this? As quickly as I could, I flew over to the mountain.

And what do you know! The juveniles! It was the juveniles! They caused fire and devastation! Somehow, I don’t know how they did it! And all this because of Bore’s protection. I knew this would happen sooner or later. They will do much worse as time goes by and time shall show. I need to go.

Swerving around, I tilt my wings to turn and go back to where Bore was. As I swept through the trees, I felt a nauseating sensation in my head. My wings were getting weak and my eyes were hot. It was the smoke. There, Bore was with her children. I quickly land on top of a branch and shout for her to hear.

“YOU! You see this smoke? This is your doing! And to think I was to protect you from these juveniles. From now on, you deal with them, and such, I shall not grant you my protection! This is the consequence of your actions.” My voice was shaking and my airway contracted. Because of the smoke.

Her children hid behind her. I had never seen them so scared and it made me think maybe I hadn’t done the right thing after all but… All of this is for her to learn.

“Huh?” she shook. I never heard her voice shake like that either. It was as if… She was scared. Really scared.

But the fear in her countenance went as quickly as it came, “W-who needs your help!? Surely Squrrel and Snake will help me! And you’re crazy, just so you know! Those children are hunting me. So much for being a leader…” she shouted as she and her children scurried away.

Up on that tree where I was perched, they seemed to be so small, like the ants or bugs I used to hunt. Even with their thick hide, they looked so vulnerable. But all for the best… Right?

A few days later, I figured that Bore and her children hid in their cave. I hadn’t heard a peep from them for 6 days. No, maybe more. But it’s all for the best, all for the best. They need to hide. I made my usual rounds along the shoreline and saw that the children were doing something strange again, gathered around. Well, whatever they might plan on doing, I want no business with it. They look as if they’re planning to do something.

My head hurts just thinking about it. I quickly swerve around and fly toward the mountain. This time, only for this time, I want to rest for a couple of days. There was a hidden place behind the mountain where there was more prey than you could count. I will rest there.

I noticed the bald spot of the mountain where the fire was and my head hurt even more. Upon arriving, I quickly snuggled into a bundle of leaves and closed my eyes. This will all go away…

A few more days later, I came down the mountain. It was quiet. There were no squealing pigs or shouting mothers. They’re still hiding? I flew over the plain to look for the creatures. I saw a shadow running past. It was one of Bore’s children. I pulled my wings back and flew quickly to catch up to it. It was alone. I landed in front of it and whisked a few dried leaves from the ground to spook it.

“Ahh!!” It exclaimed.

After the leaves had settled, its face was shown. It was a face of horror. Why? Where was its mother?

“Bore Number Two,” I called, “Where’s your mother?”

It was shaking as if there was a huge predator in front of it.

“They took her…” Its tiny voice was muffled with its snot.

My head suddenly throbbed and fog of some sort went over my eyes. Ah, this cannot be because of the smoke. There was no smoke.

I zoomed up and I did not know how I flew. My wings felt really heavy and the wind pushed me down continuously. My focus was bad, I didn’t know where I was going. But before I knew it, I was where the juveniles were. There are only a couple of them, separated from the group. They carried a stick and… Bore. BORE, IT WAS BORE!!

I quickly swoop down above them but not enough for them to notice me.

“BORE! HEY, BORE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!! WHY DO THEY HAVE YOU ON THAT BRANCH??? BORE!! HEY, TALK TO ME, ANSWER ME!” I shouted again and again.

Only a few juveniles, only a few. I could fend them off and take Bore, I could save her and then we would go back. And then she would insult me again and she’d call over Snake and Squirrel and her children would be behind her. And then she’d talk, she’d talk and open her mouth. But not like she's opening her mouth now. And she’d open her eyes, too, but in a proper way and not in a way where her eyes would be drooping, not in that way.

I stared hard at her eyes, trying to get her to look at me. And then, as if fate wanted me to know something, her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

Suddenly, there was something on my wings, heavy enough to weigh me down. There was smoke in my eyes, it was the smoke… I fell to the trees.

So that’s it… That’s how it was…

Maybe the next time I’ll see a flying metal insect, I’ll…