The First Time

Warning: Contains references to things that happen in nature.

This is a fantasy, based on a fallacy. (More after the story.)

The air was crisp and tinged with the promise of a cool evening. Wings spread fully, he soared effortlessly, keen eyes scanning the ground below for any hint of danger. There was no urge to hunt; the evening meal had been plentiful, freshly killed and warm. His hunger sated, he now ranged out slowly, deliberately, in a widening circle from the nest, instinct driving him to ensure the safety of himself and his new companion.

He could see her standing, tall and vigilant at the massive nest situated among the uppermost branches of a towering pine tree. She had remained behind after their shared meal, her gaze fixed intently on him. Like his own, her newly-white head plumage reflected all of the slowly fading light. Patiently, she waited for his signal. Given a warning cry from him, she would instinctively bolt from her perch and join him to defend their territory or abandon it, depending on the seriousness of the threat.

He turned in one last wide, slow arc, and satisfied there was no imminent danger, dropped lower to better feel the air currents with his sensitive flight feathers. Gliding just above the treetops, he quickly located a warm updraft and banked tightly, feeling the lift and quickly mapping the boundaries of the thermal column. Starting his low, upward spiral, he called to her, voicing an invitation.

The answering cry came immediately, and in an instant, he felt the rush of wind from her wings as she halted her stoop directly over his head. Undaunted by her considerable size advantage, he gracefully rolled as she passed over and established her spot at the opposite edge of the warm column. Dipping one enormous wing, she joined him in the slowly rising spiral, conserving their energy as the trees below grew smaller, melding into a carpet of mottled green.

The dizzying dance came as naturally to the pair as flight itself. There was no conscious effort, simply the response to the gentle nudges of Nature as she attended to the natural order. This was the way, as it had been from the beginning, and the senses of the magnificent raptors heightened as they approached the apogee of their flight.

Sensing the gradual cooling of the supporting air, the new couple flattened their climb and abandoned the collapsing pillar. Simultaneous, powerful wingbeats closed the distance between them. This time, it was she who rolled, reaching for him as their outstretched talons locked. Surrendering themselves to their coupling, they joined, wings folded.

Seemingly suspended for the briefest of moments, they fell, lost in the second half of the dance. This half, wild and reckless, saw them cling to each other as they dropped, slowly at first, then with increasing speed as another force of nature strove to return them to the earth. This was the way.

Oblivious to the danger, unaware of all but their mutual need, they tumbled toward the ground and the upright lances of the forest waiting below. The mass of feathers spun out of control, streaking downward in flashes of brown and white. The air rushed by, disarranging plumage, stealing the breath from their lungs. Still, they clung, locked in a fervent, unbreakable embrace.

Suddenly, the climax of the death-defying dance reached, the young lovers disengaged, spreading their wings just above the pines, flight feathers grasping at the air and pulling them upward. Gaining altitude, their flight paths joined and they turned homeward, side by side in the golden glow of the sunset.

The light faded, giving way to night. Later, the rising moon cast its glow on two great birds, nestled high in the tallest pine tree in the forest. Bodies huddled against the cool of the evening, their majestic heads rested together. Nature smiled as the curtain of stars sparkled overhead.

This was the way.

***

NOTE: I'm aware that the idea that bald eagles mate in flight isn't quite accurate, but since I'm writing this, I get to have the say. It's a work of fiction, but fantasy is fun, no?

This was written for the Vocal "Sky's the Limit" Challenge.

I hope you enjoyed the flight!