Chapter 15: Wings and Claws

Suddenly, with a flutter of Bravo’s wings, August looked up, and Rita quickly wriggled free from August’s claws.

 The hens clucked triumphantly, and the rooster flapped his wings in approval. The cows, standing a bit farther away, swung their tails in the air.

Bravo perched on a low tree branch and said, “What’s going on here?”

Max replied, “We came to watch the race between August and you, but it’s clear who the winner is… Just the sound of Bravo’s wings is enough to distract August.”

Turning to the farm animals, Max said, “Let’s head back.” The animals started heading home. 

As they moved away, August grumbled, “Someone must have told them we were having a race.”

Bravo said, “There’s no race. It’s clear who the winner is.” His rare, gentle smile only served to further irritate August.

August: “I can’t believe you avoid eating that chatty rat! I guess you want to have chick too.”

Bravo: “To be honest, I prefer cub.”

August hid her smile.

The sun slowly dipped behind the mountain, and Bravo thought back to the first time he had seen August. As he soared across the sky, a swift movement on the ground caught his attention. He lowered his altitude to get a better look at his nimble rival.

Bravo’s shadow on the ground captured August’s attention. August looked up and observed Bravo circling above. A connection between sky and earth. Sharp-eyed eagle and swift cheetah.

On the way home, Max said: “Are you happy now? Because of your big mouth, I lost face in front of all the animals! Did you see how she threw me to the side?”

Rita: “She called me a rat! Do I look like a rat? Maybe I should’ve called her a silly human instead!”

Max: “But you live with a human… Don’t you love Mama Mari?”

Rita: “I love Mama Mari … but I don’t wanna be a human!”