Fight or Leave!

In a fright the harpy eagle cried out, beating its strong gray-blue wings, gusts of wind blew towards Sal, his shaggy coat ruffling from the gust.

With another deep growl, Sal swung again.

His claws are ready to draw blood once more!

But the harpy eagle learned its lesson. Already in the air enough and with a faster reaction time, the harpy eagle screeched, its yellow claw clashed with Sal's claws just in time.

A scream of a sound like swords scraping each other echoed into the dark rainforest.

"GET AWAY!" Sal screamed.

His head was beating, pulsating and pumping blood, like his heart was in his skull rather than his brain.

His body shook violently.

Of fear? Of excitement? Maybe both.

Sal's never felt this way before.

His body didn't seem to listen to him. The uncontrollable shaking, the continuous throbbing, he couldn't control. But he liked the feeling he was in.

Sal was in the moment.

It was the bravest and strongest he had ever felt.

That's why…

"FIGHT ME OR LEAVE! I'M NOT BACKING DOWN!"

Sal gave another slash in the air, a warning.

The harpy eagle's feathers flared, the ombre of black to gray to blue-gray to white feathers puffed out, seemingly doubling the size of the already gigantic harpy eagle.

Its golden eyes flared, its pupils fixated on Sal, a stare so intense it could drill a hole, a stare so intense the choking smell of smoke seemed to be in the air.

Sal didn't even flinch.

He stared directly back, the intensity of his glowering was not inferior to the harpy eagle at all.

Suddenly, the harpy eagle's eyes soften. Its golden eyes were no longer piercing, rather it was a soft, warm glow, like the sun's first rays of the morning.

It looked at Sal, then at Rosa, and then nodded.

Without a word, the harpy eagle fluttered its wings, gaining a bit of air, before smoothly gliding away, like a knife in smooth, warm butter. Slightly weaving between the branches, the harpy eagle soared directly up, momentarily blocking the moon's light, then glided away in the starry night.

Flying away until Sal couldn't see a thing, until Rosa could no longer see a figure.

It was gone.

Gone.

…

Sal suddenly slipped down the tree, almost falling off. He quickly clambered onto the tree and strengthened his grip, but the relief washing over him made him realize just how numb and tired his arms were.

Sheepishly hugging the tree branch, Sal's head wilted, leaning on the tree, a smile blossomed on his face as his eyes folded into a thin line.

"We, we did it!"

Rosa, still a little stunned with the whole ordeal, slowly reacted to Sal's words. Her red eyes unblinkingly peered at Sal's tired yet happy expression.

"Yes, you did it Sal."

A small smile spread across her face as well.