Mother and Lover

It was a cold and bleak evening as she left the warmth of her lover in the comfort of his home. The Santa Ana wind was strong and forceful. She braced herself for it the way a sailor braces himself for a gale. The city was mostly quiet save for a few stragglers here and there. She was headed towards a familiar place, a place she held in her mind's eye like a jewel. So She continued to beat her wings gracefully against the wind and underneath her the entire city with lights twinkling like stars in the night sky. She wondered of the creatures nestled in their homes with their families. She longed for hearth and home, to be nestled with her own family, and so she beat her wings harder hoping to reach her destination. This was the same path that her mother had shown her through the city when she was a child and she was meticulous in her teachings.

Holding a vision of her mother briefly kept her warm against the cold and brutal wind until a strong gust brought her back from the ether of her memories. She was almost at her destination no time for distractions she told herself. It was there upon the Crest of a hill and her pupils dilated as she caught sight of it, the lonely fortress on the hill. She remembered the day she found it and knew instantly that was home. The sun was starting to rise and golden ribbons of light we're starting to peek through the curtain of night. No time to waste, those creatures would be stirring soon and she was tired from her long night. Her dive was methodical, slow, and beautiful. She took great care not to make too much noise as she landed. The cries of her young babies could be heard and it warmed her heart to know they were safe. There she was in all her glory, the barn owl nestled with her family in her hearth and home.

She slept peacefully throughout the day as those strange creatures labored beneath her. She had always felt such pity for them, as they could not fly and feel the wind. They seemed to waste so much energy in pursuit of frivolous tasks. Dreams came and went until she was startled by the sound of something loud. It was one of those creatures holding a branch that made wind. It was so loud, she watched him for a bit as he used it to push the leaves around. How bizarre she thought, this however did not trouble her for long and she was able to find sleep again. Day slips into night and the golden ribbons of light are subdued once more. Occasionally she would wake early to watch this magic hour but she needed the rest. Tonight was a night of hunting and her babies would once again wake her with the music of their hunger pangs.

Slowly her eyes opened from slumber and she quickly took inventory of her young. She marveled at their beauty, that came from me? she asked herself. They where so small, and their eyes pleaded with her for nourishment as they always did. She took great care to caress each one of them with her beak. Stretching her wings, she took flight into the dark of the night. Her eyes were sharp and her talons were ready. She would not fail in her hunt. She circled and banked around the hill, surveying the land. Her prey was cunning and knew the hunt was coming. Her mother was a great hunter, and those lessons were imparted into her daughter as well. She meticulously studied her prey night after night, watched their patterns and knew the right moment to strike. The city was a dangerous place to hunt but it was also the best place to hunt. Those strange creatures always left so much waste for her prey to eat.

The city rat had always feasted well, and it lived the best life it could. In an instant darkness had taken its sight and it was gone from this world. The Barn Owl was a magnificent hunter, and she did not toy with her prey nor did she want it to suffer; so she dove with speed and silence. Digging her sharp talons into the neck of her prey she knew it's end would be quick. The Santa Ana wind was back again, and her prey was heavy, but she would not falter on her journey back to the lonely fortress on the hill. She landed with elegance and grace. The hunger pangs of her babies would be quieted for the night and they all enjoyed the catch of the evening. She decided to stay up a little later this morning, and watch as the ribbons of light as they began to creep through the night. Her eyes became heavy and slowly sleep started to take her. Tomorrow would be another night of hunting, and watching the strange creatures fret about. For tonight however, her Journey was over and she could finally rest.