Chapter 13: First Steps Into Fear

Wednesday, The Trees

6:30 am

Nia wakes to the sound of bird song next to her ear. She rolls onto her side and looks right into the most beautiful bird's golden eyes. It wasn't small like a lot of songbirds, but instead stood the height of a hawk or an eagle. Its feathers are a shiny purple with orange and yellow bands wrapped around its strong neck. The bird's beak is slightly larger than that of an eagle in black with matching talons on its four toes.

The midnight black beak glistens under the early morning glow. Nia watches, mesmerized, as it hops and struts around. Its head barely moves with each step, its eyes still trained on the bright green irises before it. The young woman slowly sits up as she stares into the bird's eyes. When she's resting on her knees, the bird hops forward and climbs on top of her hand. Nia gingerly lifts it and slowly reaches a finger out toward its head.