I stared at the note and the plate of meat, feeling a little nervous. The faint scent rising from it was strange. It smelled good, but not as strong as it would to a human. It’s raw… but somehow it looks like the tastiest thing ever, like my favorite ice cream with sprinkles. Next to it, something was giving off warmth, a blanket and what looked like a couple of pocket warmers. I move over and nudge them. The heat feels wonderful compared to the cold I’ve felt so far.

  I give Shiners a questioning look. My head is too rattled and I ramble questions in mild panic, though a hint of hope creeps in. If Charlie knows, then I’m not fully alone. I look around for answers, but there aren’t any. Only the lingering scent of food and the faint trace that someone had been here. I can’t tell who, since the things I expect to smell are missing, but it still feels somehow familiar.

  Shiners gives the plate an inquisitive look. I wince at this. I’m glad I was aware, but he’s right.

   I eye the food and give it a cautious sniff, then glance toward Shiners.

  And… I’m too hungry. I would eat a dead mou... okay, maybe I will eventually have to, I think nervously, feeling my stomach complain about no food.

  Shiners chuckles a bit. Part of me wants to spread my wings and hiss, MINE!, but I quickly tamp that down. There’s plenty of meat, and he helped me.

  I laugh. Now that I’ve said I’m going to, I realize it’s harder than I expect. My beak is designed to tear food, not grab something soft. I lean down and try to pick up the meat with the hook of my beak. I could really use an avian knife and fork here. I tilt my head and scoop some into my beak instead, and that works a little better.

  From there, I finally taste it. I notice more of the subtle flavours, but it isn’t sharp or strong. It’s a strange mix of sensations. I eye the food cautiously. I lick the inside of my beak, trying to figure out the sensation. There’s something missing, and it isn’t herbs or spices like I’d want from a burger. Something simpler.

  Shiners moves over and gracefully grabs some of the meat in his beak, eating alongside me. I nod, thinking the last thing I want is to show Shiners how terrible I am at hunting. Heck, can I even hunt? I know instincts exist, but would they actually work?

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  I give a nervous nod, more than a little concerned about how that conversation will go. Let’s hope he doesn’t show up with a net… or a straight jacket, if I’ve gone completely bonkers. The thought of being captured makes me shiver. Would they figure out I was human, or worse, send me to a zoo, or back to wherever I’m from?

  Shiners gives a nod and finishes up.

   Taking a breath, something finally hits me that I hadn’t had time to think about. I’m glad he’s here, but still curious.

  He shrugs.

   I could’ve tried talking to my parents or Charlie, but it wouldn’t have worked. They’d probably just treat me like a pet. Even if my family doesn’t accept me, it’s great having you here to teach me and help me. But I really hope I’ll be able to go home. The idea of how I’d be now without Shiners hits me. Would I have flown into a tree, or still be flapping about trying to get off the ground?

  With a bit of difficulty, I place my wing over his back as a sign of friendship. It feels good, the first contact since this crazy day started. I hope nothing crazy, but I’ll have to wait and see.

  Shiners gives a nod and looks around.

  I glance at the hand warmers and the blanket, nudging them and lifting the blanket to be sure nothing else is there. Giving my feathers a quick fluff and shake, I suddenly feel a little better, not quite as cold as I’d expected.

  My brain keeps telling me to crawl under the blanket, but my body says it isn’t needed. It’s something I’ll have to think about later. I think, for now, I’ll use the blanket. If it gets much colder, that might be dangerous, and it’s probably safer to test my limits when I have somewhere warm to retreat to.

   I hesitate for a moment, wondering if Shiners would even notice the cold, being a raven.

  Shiners gives a raspy chuckle and looks at me. He moves over and nestles against the blankets beside me. The extra closeness helps as I relax a little.

  I nod and move to the blanket, grabbing it in my beak and shaping it into a half nest around myself to block any wind that might sneak in. I yawn. It’s been a crazy long day. Well, weekend.

  There are still so many things I don’t understand, not the least of which is that I’m now an eagle. Being human again feels like something far off in the future. I glance at Shiners as he settles beside me, giving me what must have been a smile before closing his eyes. The cold still bothers me a little, but not enough to keep me awake.

  I close my eyes, settling in for the first night of my new life. I don’t know what will come next, but for the first time, I feel ready for it.