All About Perspective

There was a general sense of terror permeating throughout the group. They knew what was outside. Which is why they chose to stay inside. Where it was safe. As soon as the sun kissed the horizon and the air dropped its warmth, everything was dangerous.

But especially the great beast. That which came out of nowhere, never to be seen, but always precise. They huddled close, so as not to stray or make any unnecessary noise.

They made subtle talk, so as to pass the night away, but never once did they let their guard down. It was hard enough as it was, survival, without having to worry every minute about a future attack.

“It wasn’t very fair, was it?” They all thought. Tomorrow they would move to a different location, hopefully one outside of the roaming territory of… “it.”

One thing was strange however. They couldn’t hear the normal sounds of its cry echoing through the forest. That shrill sound that froze the blood was dead upon the night. One of them, bolstered by the lack of sound, decided to look outside.

Glancing around, he saw nothing. He poked his head back inside for a moment, telling the others, and then bolted out into the open. It was getting close to morning, and there was much to do. Tentatively, the rest of the group followed suit and left their safety behind.

It was time to move. On high alert the group traveled towards their next destination in the hazy dusk of morning. However, they were unaware of what sat right above them.

***

Sova, the great Barn Owl, sat atop her perch observing everything there was to see in the world. She ruffled her feathers against the chill of the morning, although she did not feel much of it. It was beneath her to be affected by such inconsequential things.

She was beginning to think that the prey she was waiting for, the mice in their den, were not going to make an appearance before the blinding light of day. She turned her head in the direction of the soon to be rising sun, twisting all the way around her body. She wished it would just stay hidden, so that she would forever be the queen of the forest.

Getting annoyed, she shifted her feet and glared down at the ground, willing the little things to come out. She had passed up several opportunities at a couple rabbits because she had already done her work in scouting these morsels out. She would follow her plan through, although a rabbit DID sound delightful at the moment.

Nothing moved in the forest under her watchful gaze. She didn’t blame them though. They were clearly outmatched by her. But their purpose in life was to feed her, and that is what they would do.

Finally, just as she was about to try and find something else (and quickly, for it was almost daylight), her eye immediately picked up movement from out of a hole in the ground. One of the mice had finally come out to play.

She froze, letting her natural beautiful camouflage hide her in the surrounding canopy. Oh yes, they were all coming out now. Six of them, to be precise. She could practically taste them already.

They scurried under her, oblivious, acting like they had somewhere to be. She almost hooted out of laughter. Where could they be going, nothing was as important as feeding herself. With an air of triumph, she let herself glide off of the branch.

The wind guided her towards her target, her predatory body aligned for the kill. She swept in, claws extended, and landed on the small animals. Two of them, one for each claw. They held no power against her, and there was little to no struggle.

She had held back long enough. Now, prey within her grasp, she let loose several cries that rang across the forest floor. She knew it would mark the territory for her own, and warn all those other little creatures of her presence.

Content, she turned to her meal. The sun was about to emerge, meaning her roost was calling her name. Another successful hunt. Of course it was, had anyone expected anything different?