Ch4 :

To adapt

means to survive (3)

 “ ……….. “ the nest’s owner arrived. 

Mirak has already been hiding at this point, away from the prying eyes of the only one he won’t let his presence be known to. Unsurprisingly the monster started furiously looking up for the intruder. Mirak felt like he wasn’t much of an unasked for guest, instead, he was to be a welcomed feast within the clutches of this first-class predator if he was to ever be caught. The words weren't easily found describe his emotions right now, hopefully, it would be his hardest ordeal ever in this world.

He kept eying a pair of mandibles so huge and sharp it could either gobble him up or cut him to shreds. At this point, it must be said that his opponent had the build of a huge falcon, accompanied with all the perks.

Now that Mirak had a closer look he was sure there would be no coming back if he was to be found. It would mean instant death. One peck from those mandibles and a goner he will be.  

'it will soon start scrutinizing its surroundings'

 And that's what happened, yet it seemed like he still underestimated it.

Two flaps from its wings and three steps with its talons were all it took the monster falcon to circle the cave on its entirety and determine the lack of any outside presence within his home, at least not within view. As if thinking similarily the bird started leaning closer and closer until it inched in front of what it ought to consider it’s excretion. 

‘I'm nervous and my heart was pounding too hard I might as well pluck it out !!‘ 

The situation would have been the same for anyone not to mention a 14 years old boy facing up such a colossal creature, it was his first. Mirak was sure he could have gone for better a plan but the suddenness of this forced him into hasty decision making and no time to assess his available options, not that he had any. 

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

To Mirak, potentially, this can still be a mere dream  ‘ despite the fine-tuned attention to details, the realism behind that voice which brought him here and what came with it from pain ‘ 

if this was any other dream he would have already been awake with all the cold sweat.

Preying his mind out of deep thoughts, Mirak’s eyes were still on the presence ahead.

All this while the falcon only kept still and staring, while all Mirak wished for was to ‘ hope nothing unexpected happens ‘.

It was then that it tilted its huge head, and decided to drop the issue. Sighing with relief, Mirak felt like a prisoner freed of his shackles. The burden of trying your best by not imagining the scene of your death demanded greater will.

He was still hiding.

and the bird's actions were thoughtful ones. The current spot he was in left him the option to descend the cliff crossed off, that small show of analytical thinking raised the danger with his other plan  ‘if I am planning to stay here for a prolonged period then wits are my only weapon, however that depends in whether my friend here would stop displaying an intelligence beyond the scope of what a bird’s instincts would allow ‘  

By now the bird was away from his big load of a birdshit and nearing its nest.

Then it stopped.

 The falcon caught glimpse of what seemed to be dirt thrown on the fringes, plus the insides of its nest. And he lost it all.

‘Damn! ..’

 Wings were being flapped which led to wind slashes being thrown left and right rendering everything within the cave a big mess. The occasional mind-numbing screeches were a problem for Mirak who had just recovered of an erupted eardrums from when he had wrapped here at the onset.

‘I can't .... suppress my groans’.

Dust covered the cave. For the amount of 10 breaths, nothing could be seen.

At this situation, the only way for me to survive is living within the falcon’s blind spot, a creature known for their keen sight 

‘What scared me previously when I tried to look around after waking up was the remains of broken bones stuck out of the bird's droppings, one of which was popping out a now smashed half skull ‘  looking back at it. That skull was very less scary comparing it to the monster trashing in front of me. All of that movement and wind gusts affected the cave in more than I've expected.

As if its current ferociousness wasn't enough the world decided to prompt for more.

* clank * 

The previously mentioned skull came loose after not being able to endure the wind gusts.

All I could register as a sound was just that of something making a very sudden turn out of utter stillness.

The dust still made me only see the outline. 

A pair of wings unfolding on their full length.

A BOOMING sound.

and I couldn’t hear anything anymore.

I was so disoriented that I quite didn't know when everything came to an end, I was startled and soon starting to blackout.

If I hadn't been already laying on the ground I would have fallen and everything I did would have been for naught. I just lay there, with no sound at all. 

I could've sworn I've felt vibrations through the ground, like something or someone was stomping, fast, constant and violent, then so overly fading little by little. There was a throbbing in my head but I heeded it no thought as I soon drifted into a dark slumber. 

'I guess ... I've managed to survive'

‘My plan of hiding beneath the monster’s nest wouldn't have seen light without the idea of smearing myself with its excretion to mask my smell up. That wouldn't have been enough either that's why I messed up with the nest so it will mistake the smell with it thinking it was coming from there’