159. Snow Falcon

As usual Leo was at the practice field trying to complete his new technique. The air around him was filled with sword rays, each of them moved swiftly and formed a torrent encasing him.

After Garp left Leo found a few books on the couch the next morning. It was notes from sword grandmasters.

He didn't expect the shameless old man to give him something like that. Going through the notes Leo was able to correct a lot of mistakes in his technique.

He also learnt some basic techniques for swordsman. It helped him further improve his sword realm.

Right now he was trying to increase his mastery over sword intent. By condensing his intent into sword rays he made them move incredibly fast within a circle he drew around him.

Phew!

Letting out a breath he dispersed the sword rays. He took out a few notes and went through them.

That shameless old man really helped me this time. My technique is getting close to perfection.

Finishing his routine he went back inside the house and washed up. When he came out he saw Shinobu placing a basket down.

"Hm, what's that?"

Leo's spiritual sense picked a living presence inside the basket.

Shinobu showed him what was inside the basket. It was a snow white egg with blue patterns on it.

"What is it?"

Leo was curious. He had never seen such an egg before.

Shinobu shook her head and said, "I don't know. You know the cliff out back, there is a peculiar plant that grows on it's edge. When I got down to pick some I saw this."

Leo frowned, "Why did you take it?"

"I initially didn't plan to but when I saw the condition the nest was in I decided to take it back."

Hm?

Leo looked at her in confusion.

"The nest was mostly filled with the plant I wanted to pick. Considering how the plant was almost filling the nest, I can say for sure that no birds have been there for months."

Leo understood. He then asked, "What are we gonna do with it?"

Shinobu said, "I am gonna try hatching it."

Leo also agreed.

Knock. Knock.

Just then a knock was heard.

"Come in, Mace."

"Excuse me."

Mace walked in. He saw Leo and Shinobu standing beside a basket. He was curious and looked inside. Then a stunned look came over his face.

Leo noticed his expression and asked, "You know what this is?"

Mace nodded with excitement, "Yes. I like birds and can be considered as an ornithologist."

Leo was surprised. He never expected Mace to be an ornithologist.

"Which species does this egg belong to?"

Shinobu asked.

Mace walked around the egg and nodded to himself before saying, "This egg is from an extremely rare species, a snow falcon."

Leo asked, "Rare species?"

Mace nodded and explained, "Male and female snow falcons mate for life. They lay one egg every three year and this cycle repeats three times. So in their lifetime a snow falcon pair will only lay three eggs."

"However once the egg are laid the parents will leave the nest and the egg. Because of this the number of snow falcons got reduced over the years. The last one was sighted over thirty years ago."

Shinobu was surprised and asked, "If the adult snow falcons leave how does the young survive after they hatch?"

Mace said, "Snow falcons are herbivores. They only eat leaves and fruits. Once the adults find a place filled with a certain type of plant they will make their nest and lay eggs."

Leo was fascinated by what he heard. Suddenly he realised something and asked.

"What's the incubation period for a snow falcon egg?"

Mace answered, "Five months."

Leo nodded. This was in line with what Shinobu said. If that was true then this was about to hatch.

"How long before this one hatch?"

Mace carefully checked the egg and said, "According to documents, snow falcon eggs will have blue patterns appear on it's shell two days before hatching."

Leo and Shinobu were stunned.

"That is to say, this one may hatch at any moment."

Mace nodded, "Yes and it's said that snow falcons are absolutely loyal creatures. They have high intelligence and takes whoever it first sees as it's closest kin."

Just as he finished speaking Mace felt two pairs of eyes staring at him.

"Wha-what?"

Leo smiled and said, "Get out."

Before he could react Leo picked him by his collar and threw him out.

"Sir, can I watch from the side. I absolutely won't come near it before you say so."

He begged from outside the house but Leo and Shinobu didn't bother to reply. Both of them sat around the egg and waited.

Second turned to minutes, minutes turned to hours. The sun slowly sunk into the horizon and the stars lit up the sky.

Night slowly passed.

Leo and Shinobu sat like statues and stared at the egg. They weren't the least bit sleepy.

Mace was also staring from the corner of a window with bloodshot eyes. His eyelids were heavy but he didn't dare close it.

When the sun's first ray of sun broke through the air a cracking sound was heard.

Leo and Shinobu's eyes lit up.

Faint cracks appeared on the white shell with blue patterns.

Crack. Crack.

The cracks started to spread. Soon a big piece of it was broken and a tiny head peeked out.

Two crystal clear clue eyes full of innocence looked at Leo and Shinobu.

Shinobu couldn't help but trace it's tiny little head. The little snow falcon was happy and rubbed it's featherless head against her finger.

It tried to move but the egg shell restricted it's movements. Before Shinobu could help, it used it's tiny beak and broke the remaining shell.

Freeing itself from the egg the little snow falcon tried to stand up but it's tiny little legs failed to give strength.

It tried a few more times before finally succeeding.

Leo chuckled and rubbed it's head. The little guy seems to have liked it and closed it's eyes in bliss.

"Should we give it a name?"

Shinobu asked.

Leo agreed, "Sure."

Shinobu thought for a moment and said, "Let's call it Snow since it's feathers are as pure as snow."