Note : This was a story I wrote in Grade 7. I'm sorry if it sucks. It is written from the viewpoint of a Red Shouldered Hawk, mother of 2 chicks. No characters will be added, because the story has already been completely written. I will be adding a few paragraphs at a time. "Hungry! Food! Want FOOD!" The young ones' scratchy voices broke me from my trance of worrying. "Your father's going to get some mice right now, dear ones." I said reassuringly, although I knew it wouldn't be enough for two growing chicks. Over this past year, our prey had been steadily disappearing, and now there is almost none to find. I thought back to when the forest was lush and beautiful, full of happiness and life, before the Humans had come to destroy anything and everything that stood in their path. Red Shouldered Hawks like me don't like barren lands. No birds do. The snow is already gone, revealing all the litter our forest is home to. Stupid Humans! "Momma, what is Human?" asked Little Beak, our curious but meek little male. I had spoken aloud? Another careless mistake born out of stress, of not knowing what was going to happen, of the hunger causing a numbing drowsiness to follow me everywhere I went. Careless mistakes. I seemed to be making a lot of those lately. "Momma, what stupid?" asked Sleek Feathers, our decidedly conceited female. "Nothing my fears. Now get some sleep." I replied sullenly, my voice devoid of emotion.
"Father, father! Me want mouse! Me want mouse!" My chicks' shrieks were deafening. I could see their father was home, home with one mouse caught in almost a day of hunting. "Sharp Talon! You have been long! Goodness you're back... Here, quick, fees the little ones!" I cried, every ounce of enthusiasm left in my body forced into those words. I had an urge to grab the mouse for myself, tear it out of Sharp Talon's claws, savor every morsel, all for myself. Of course, that could not happen. We must feed the chicks before helping ourselves. And if feeding them meant that we would have to starve, day after day, then so be it. Love is a strong thing. It could really kill you. A sudden flurry of feathers, and high pitched screeching tore me away from my wandering thoughts. The young ones were fighting. "Hey Sleek Feathers, SHARE!" Sharp Talon bellowed. I could tell he was amused, his wiggling tail feathers gave it away. I was slightly irritated that he would find our chicks fighting funny, but didn't say a word. Little Beak was struggling to rip a chunk of meat from the mouse in Sleek Feathers' strong hold. A foot was raised. Sleek Feathers' talons came slicing down upon Little Beak, raking him across the chest. I scrambled up in astonishment. Before I could do anything, Sharp Talons burst out into a booming laughter that could be heard five miles away. Our son was bleeding, and he was laughing. The red hot rage clouded my vision, seeped through my feathers, and intertwined with my very soul. The stress, the hunger, the anxiety, all of it finally caught up to me. I snapped. "Sharp Talon! Come here. RIGHT. NOW." I said to him in what I hoped was the angriest, coldest voice I could muster. He seemed confused. "Yes hun? Something wrong..?" "Why. The. Fuck. Are. You. Laughing." I spat, almost hissing in fury. "Err... Well, you see, when Sleek Feathers kind of scratched Little Beak, well she actually cut off a piece of the mouse for him... And... She lost her balance after? I sort of thought maybe it was a little bit... funny? " he said unsurely, his voice fading into nothing near the end of his 'explanation'. I glared at him with daggers shooting from my eyes. "Sharp Talon, you are a disgrace!" I said vehemently. How did I ever fall in love with this immature asshole?