We follow Charlie to the school. He looks up every so often, smiling at us as he waves. I hear the school bell ring in the distance. It sounds like lunch has just started, just in time for Charlie to make it. I give one last skree as I see him head into the school, and he gives a final thumbs-up. I fluff my feathers while watching him go in, thinking again about how I am no longer part of that world. I still am not fully sure what I am, but I am getting closer to understanding.

  Shiners looks over me as we circle one last time. He then suggests,

  I give my head a small shake as if to get rid of the cobwebs.

  Shiners looks back one last time before he nods. he says. He gives a little wing waggle, I remember from first seeing him.

  We fly back toward the island and soon are circling above it as he points down. he says with a chuckle.

  I give a nod and look down at the island. At first, I don’t see much, and then everything zooms in closer as I give a small head shake. I spot a couple of small things.

  Shiners tilts his head as he glides down to land in a tree. he asks curiously.

  I give a small shrug as I try to explain. I say, thinking of an explanation.

  I give a small nod and look back down. I say with a gulp.

  I hear a mental chuckle from Shiners.

  I watch the mice until I spot one out in the open, away from the others. I give in to the instinct and dive straight down, talons outstretched. Okay, you got this. Just grab it, and it’s yours. Just dive down. I hear and feel the wind against me as the mouse starts to run away. I twist to grab it, but I am too slow and miss completely, landing in the dirt awkwardly and losing my balance in a beak plant.

  I give out a grunt and a puff of dirt as I manage to right myself. I say, as that hurt, especially my pride.

  Shiners laughs. he says, pointing a wing in the direction of where I can see one far on the shore watching me.

  I give a small moan as I stand up, shaking myself and giving a full-body fluff. I half-joke as I take back to the air and circle again, trying to be careful not to let my shadow go over the field. As I spot another mouse, I say.

  He chuckles, giving a small groan.

  I look back again toward the shore and see the hiker watching me; he has a pair of binoculars in his hands. I shake my head, embarrassed, my nares reddening as I hope he isn’t close enough to see that.

  Shiners laughs as he claws at the branch, shaking his feathers out.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  I groan at that.

  I hear the laughter coming through Shiners as he says,

  I give my wings a few more strong flaps, trying to shake off the pain and embarrassment and get my head back in the game. I gaze down, looking for any sign of a good mouse, and then I see it.

  A tiny movement in the grass. A head pops up. I bank and circle harder, and once I am sure it is time, I dive, the wind blotting out everything else except me and the mouse. This time, I get closer before it sees me, and then it bolts. But I do not rely entirely on instinct. I let my body move too and swerve at the last second, grabbing it as I pass. I tumble, landing on my back, but I keep my grip. I rest there a second, still feeling the slight movement as I hold my foot up in victory with the mouse in it.

  I hear Shiners’ laughter in my ears as I feel a little dizzy; the movement in my foot has stopped. Shiners finally gets his amusement under control.

  I struggle to get to my feet, with one of them still clenched around the mouse, not wanting to take any chances, it is only stunned or playing dead. I look in the direction of the hiker. I ask, more concerned that he does not think I am a complete failure than the implications of being spotted.

  I hear cheering and clapping from the shore as the hiker seems to be rather excited, if looking a little concerned. Shiners gives a mental chuckle. he says.

  I nod my head and quickly check on the mouse. He is definitely either dead or an Oscar-winning actor. I stare for a few moments at the strange glow from where I cut, trying to give my head a shake. I ask, as much to myself as to Shiners.

  Shiners shakes his head in confusion. he asks, completely baffled by such an idea.

  I shrug a bit. I say as I eye the mouse, and then suddenly realize, Eating a leg whole, while weird, was one thing, but a whole mouse?

  Shiners gives out a small laugh that sounds strangely like a cough.

  I eye the mouse. I feel a tiny bit uncomfortable about the idea. Oh, I want to eat it, but eating it whole goes against most things I’ve been taught.

  Shiners gives a strange kaw at that.

  My nares redden a bit, but I can’t help but snark. I say. I have never had any wine, but it always seems to be the way in movies.

  I draw a deep breath and take one last look around. I do not see the hiker, so it is probably safe to look like an undignified eagle as I eat. I lift the mouse up to my beak as if it were asparagus, and Mom was saying, “No dessert unless you eat it.”

  I sigh and grab the mouse carefully with my beak as it feels so weird, the wiggling of my beak and foot almost making it seem alive. I quickly get it into my beak, and it tastes better than I want to admit, as I quickly gulp it down as I was told earlier to.

  Shiners shakes his head, laughing so hard some snow falls down on me. he says.

  I feel it slide all the way into me as I lick my beak.

  Shiners looks at me while practically upside down. he asks.

  I think about it, and then a brilliant idea hits me, something that feels instinctive and something to be proud of.

  Shiners just stares at me, perplexed, shaking his head. he says sarcastically.

  I just smile as I take back to the air once I feel the mouse settle and begin circling again.

  I give Shiners a small head bob, showing my confidence as I circle again, looking down at the mice below for the tastiest, plumpest one, and soon I spot it. I lick my beak and circle once more before I dive down toward it. This is for my family, to prove myself.

  Once again, I let my instincts guide me, but I stay in control. I see the mouse flee to the side, so I bank hard and reach out with my feet, catching it. This time, I manage to land on both feet, the mouse slightly squished between them. I give a mental cheer, feeling so excited and proud.

  I smile at this, so proud of myself.

  Shiners shakes his head with amusement.

  I take to the air as we start to fly back. I say, genuinely proud about it.