Day Two Dawn

Jar-ed woke up the morning after the twilight party to feel action in the air. The flock was already bustling, and he could see ravens up and talking within the tree in a multitude of spots.

And a raven took off into the air, with a female following him. They flew towards the pines to the west, and landed on a great branch with perfect view of the main landmark tree. Jared hopped to get a look at them over there. They were snuggling, they looked happy.

Jared knew what was happening. This was now a neighborhood, and there were nesting spots available. Suddenly, there was an imperative in the air. Fall in love, quick! One's entire future could be solved, now!

Jar-ed could stay relaxed because he had the prime spot in the main tree, and he knew some other spots would get sorted out today, but he'd be fine.

Four more ravens launched themselves into the air to travel across the way, then another 4 after that, and WHOOSH.

The flock launched itself, and spread out into the surrounding trees like a stone creating waves when thrown into a pond.

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Sarkan stretched and fluttered his wings. He could feel the moment, like all the other birds. The time was now, no time to waste. But... but... but. Without a partner, there was nothing to do.

He felt the pressure of the moment, and began jumping, until he realized that wasn't going to help.

Jane was right there... and he jumped again towards her, without really realizing what he was doing... why stop now, and with one more giant leap touched down right next to her.

She didn't flinch, but didn't speak either.

Sarkan grabbed a small leaf, the beautiful ones that adorned this tree, and offered it to her.

Jane took it for a moment, and played with it before setting it down carefully.

Sarkan dared to speak.

S: It's a big day, important things are happening right now. Prime spots exist for us, if we want them.

J: Yes, I feel it.

Jane was no idiot, as Sarkan had already determined over the past few days.

Jane hopped herself up and down, feeling the feelings that the morning was evoking.

S: We may never have another chance like this one...

Jane hopped some more.

J: You have been persistent, and I have never minded our encounters...

Her sentence hung in the air.

Suddenly Jane hopped closer to him, and dared to snuggle for a moment. Sarkan fluffed a little in excitement, but made sure to make himself maximally available for touch.

Jane hopped back and looked at him. He felt good. Life is simple if you let it be, she thought...

She grabbed the leaf again in her beak, and gestured for Sarkan to hop with her, dodging around a few others trying to squawk at them, to a branch overlooking the whole scene. Ravens were indeed flying around, trying to find partners, trying to make this huge leap in status. There were a couple pairs flying to the far pine trees, one pair looked good and aligned with purpose, and one pair looked unstable.

J(gesturing to that pair): They have no chance, why are they even trying?

S: They are trying because it's that important.

Jane turned and looked at him, with the leaf in her mouth. She snuggled up against him again, then looked at him once more expectantly.

Sarkan knew she was communicating something. What?

Jane ever so slowly let the leaf drop from her mouth, and continued to look at him.

Sarkan didn't hesitate. He dove after the leaf, caught it in mid air, and landed with less than full grace next to her again. She laughed at his stumbling, and took the leaf out of his beak.

She turned and dropped it again.

Sarkan was just grabbing it when he looked, and Jane was flying right next to him.

J: Let's go! Hope you're a good lover!

Sarkan felt a swelling of well being in his chest unlike anything he had ever experienced before. He took off towards the west, leaf in his beak, with Jane expertly staying in touch off of his right shoulder.

He swerved for fun, up, down, then up again, and did a little barrel roll. Jane shot in front of him and pulled off a triple spin.

Sarkan laughed and screamed into the air. Jane's echoing cry was louder than his.

All right then, thought Sarkan. Time to find a spot. He straightened out and flew with purpose.

Jane, needing no cues from him, slotted herself right next to him. Daringly, she grabbed the leaf from him and shot ahead. Sarkan felt good enough to boast about his life into the air, calling a call of well being for all to hear.

And, flying together, they then dared to gaze at the trees which held their future, a future which was only a minute or two away.

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The pine tree wasn't as plush as the main beautiful tree now a few hundred yards away, but it was more than fine, and there was a spot for a nest right here.

Jane dawdled around it some.

J: You'll help me make this a perfect nest?

S: I will perfectly help you make it perfect.

J: You'll protect us?

Before Sarkis even had time to answer, a male rushed their spot and jabbed Sarkis, hard, in the neck.

Sarkis tumbled, and as he righted himself, the male fluffed out fully and screamed:

MR: LEAVE!!! MINE!!!

Jane hopped back. Sarkis did not hesitate, and dove at the intruder. This was the right spot, he had the right woman, and this was not happening.

He latched on to the male's neck and did not let go. The male was very strong, and he thrashed about, trying to dislodge Sarkis, but couldn't. Sarkis held on for his life, and for his future life.

The next minute took forever, with the male becoming ever more desperate, but Sarkis kept clamping. Bam! The two rammed into a small pointy branch, and blood was now visible.

Sarkis managed to get leverage with his feet and launched them out of the tree.

Still holding on, with the other bird now trying to fly, Sarkis watched the ground rush up to meet them.

Beyond the last possible moment, Sarkis let go and tried to buffer his own impact.

THUMP!

Sarkis was stunned, and he didn't know where the other bird was. He heard something, but he was dizzy, and his vision was not working well.

But nothing further happened.

Jane nuzzled him.

J: C'mon! Fly! Others are watching, they won't try anything if you're ok!

Sarkis groaned, shook his head.

J: NOW!!!!

Sarkis jumped a bit, and dragged himself back into the air, and they both went straight back to the spot in the tree.

Jane looked.

J: No one at the moment.

Sarkis was shaking, and hurting, but he stood upright before her.

Jane tenderly nuzzled him, petted him.

J: My man.