Lupus Rex

Lupus Rex by John Carter Cash Page B

Book: Lupus Rex by John Carter Cash Read Free Book Online
Authors: John Carter Cash
Tags: Childrens
Ads: Link
could mean only one thing: an owl.
    They all huddled still. Had the bird heard them talking? It could have been nesting in a nearby tree and they would never have known. Then the rush sounded again and they knew the bird was falling down toward them. With a great final flurry of wings, the great bird settled upon the fallen tree inches above their nest.
    “Who?” called a voice deep and grand. “Who, my little morsels, are you?”
     
     
    “I THINK WE are far enough away now to bed down,” said Monroth.
    “We should go farther,” said Ysil. “With the chaos of the day, some crows may have ventured out of the field to make nest. May even be some nesting across the ridge we just descended.” He trudged on through the relative darkness. Monroth huffed but followed.
    Then from ahead they heard the unquestionable sound of voices.
    “Wake up!” came a familiar voice from the wooded brushy area just beyond the bend. Gomor! Ysil wanted to call out but was nervous in the dark. Instinct kept them quiet.
    Then, “What is it, Gomor?” Ysil’s heart leaped. It was Cormo!
    They moved on silently for a few paces then heard the swoop of wings. There was not even a thought of what it might be. It was the owl.
    Ysil saw it beat its wings and dive to the ground. Close, dreadfully close. Then he heard the voice of the owl, sounding dark and hungry. “Who? Who, my little morsels, are you?”
    A stark terror settled in Ysil’s belly like an eagle’s talon. But it was not a terror that froze him in place. Ysil was suddenly thinking of nothing but the fact his dearest friends were certainly beneath the talons of the owl. He thrashed his wings and flew at the sound of the voice with all he had.
    “Scatter!” Ysil screamed with all his might, flushing feverously toward the sound of the voices.
    Two birds flew at his command. The second was Harlequin. The rabbit jumped also. They instinctively went in three different directions. Ysil felt relief in the fact that his friends had fled, but the owl was still sitting there. It had hardly moved a feather when Ysil screamed. Then he saw two great orbs that were the eyes of the owl staring directly at him, watching the fast-approaching form of a small quail dive-bombing him in crazed suicidal flight. Looking up to an easy meal. It was only then that Ysil realized the folly in his flight of rescue. He had not thought; he had just reacted.
    Ysil swerved drastically in his approach, to alter his perceived attack to an escape. Below, the owl raised its great wings and made preparations, opening its pointed beak, the red tongue extending to taste the air. When the owl perceived that Ysil was off course from his original approach, it took to wing in pursuit. Ysil heard a flurry to his tail and realized that Monroth was behind. The other bird must have reacted quickly when Ysil flew. Perhaps he saw Harlequin , thought Ysil. He had barely enough time to feel a slight surprise before they both crashed noisily into the brush. Then the great form of the owl was at the brush right behind them. Ysil and Monroth froze still on the ground. The owl poked its beak in and glared into the dark of the brush, staring directly at the quail. But it did not try to push its huge body within the thorny brambles. Ysil and Monroth were motionless.
    There was a flutter of great wings and then the owl was gone. As it flew, it let out a great laugh. Ysil would have thought the laugh to say, I will get you soon , but there was something different in it. There was something that said, What a joy! Or even, That was fantastically funny! This tone of the owl’s laughter confused and bewildered Ysil, who realized this was entertaining to the owl.
    Beside him, Monroth huddled in fear. They were as still as possible. In a few minutes the excitement abated and the night took over, both around them and within their bodies. And within the hovel of the bush the quail closed their eyes, exhaustion overtaking them. Before long the

Similar Books

Random Harvest

James Hilton

Flavors

Emily Sue Harvey

The God Machine

J. G. SANDOM