Chapter 1: Two Birds<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brigit\u2019s mother picked her up in her jaws and ran from death. Terror stained the air with the putrid smell of sweat. Crunches of branches underfoot grew louder and ever louder behind them. The hot sun pushed through the bramble of branches overhead, and birds fled from the sounds with terrified screams. Brigit meowed softly and tried to look at her mother\u2019s golden face.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSshh,\u201d Mother whispered, jumping over a fallen log. Brigit swung from her mother\u2019s jaws and meowed again in complaint. Something whizzed by and exploded on the ground to their left and Mother jumped to the right and continued running. Brigit\u2019s eyes went wide. Fear rose up into her throat and radiated off her tiny form.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat happening, Ma?\u201d Brigit murmured. Mother didn\u2019t answer. She kept running.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The footfall behind them eventually grew quieter until it became nonexistent. Mother slowed her pace and looked over her shoulder. The stillness hid danger. The birds did not sing and the bugs did not cry out. There was nothing. Even Brigit\u2019s mother held her breath. Finally, Ma relaxed and dropped Brigit to the ground. She licked Brigit\u2019s small, spotted head and smiled.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe be safe for now, little one.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brigit smiled and flicked her tail. She fell into a pouncing position.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou teach me to hunt, Ma?\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mother laughed and licked the small Ocelot\u2019s head once more. \u201cBrigit, we must keep\u2014\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
The wind changed and Ma lifted her nose to catch the scent. Brigit sniffed the air as well. It smelled of fear; sweat mingled with urine. <\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She looked to her mother with anxious orange eyes. \u201cWill you show me, Ma?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mother didn\u2019t answer right away. She shifted on her paws and glanced behind her, where the poachers chased them from. Brigit leapt on her mother\u2019s paw and smiled wide.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPlease?\u201d she begged. Mother looked down at her daughter. Then she, too smiled, and licked her cub\u2019s shoulder.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAll right, little one. But then we need to keep moving, okay?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brigit cheered and ran in a circle with excitement.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That was the last time she saw her mother smile. <\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
Bird\u2019s beaks tugged at Brigit, pulling out tufts of her fur and tearing her away from her nightmare. The young cub jolted awake, leapt to her paws and turned her attention to the two birds squawking in fright. They flapped their wings madly and bolted to the air, landing on a nearby branch the young cub could not reach. Brigit\u2019s orange eyes glared at the two gasping birds before flicking her tail and turning to lick the patch of her exposed skin.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe ain\u2019t dead, Mam,\u201d squawked one of the birds above her. He looked to his mother with Halloween eyes and she, in response, ruffled her feathers in annoyance.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course she ain\u2019t, Jeffery. I warned you<\/i> that we should keep to the city. All the food in the trash is dead there!\u201d She flapped her wings and shook her head. Jeffery, the male black bird, looked at her with confusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Mam, that\u2019s not why\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cQuiet boy, we might as well introduce ourselves to Dinner there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMam, she ain\u2019t dinner\u2014\u201d Jeffery tried again before being interrupted by his mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cQuiet<\/i>, Jeffery. If you had any eyes at all, you\u2019d see she ain\u2019t going to live long.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two birds turned their eyes to the young cub, who looked defiantly up at them. She was quite small with deep orange fur and black spots over her body. White coated her underbelly and circled spots on her fur. Over her left eye was a nasty gash and dried blood flaked off it whenever she blinked. Her muzzle was in a similar state: blood coated the small pink triangle of skin. Despite this, the Ocelot cub ruffled her spotted fur and stood her ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ain\u2019t be dying,\u201d she snapped in protest, \u201cI be just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why are you squinting at us like that?\u201d Mam crowed with a frown on her beak\u2014or as close as a bird could get to a frown. She pointed with her primary feathers at the young cub and tilted her head. \u201cYou ain\u2019t going to last long if you can\u2019t see right, Dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI ain\u2019t going to die! And I can\u2014\u201d Brigit\u2019s ears pricked and the young cub turned her head towards a noise. The massive leaves of ferns spread out and concealed whatever was coming from view.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre the poachers returning?\u201d Jeffery cawed, looking over his feathered shoulder towards the sound. His mother shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s those \u2018care-givers.\u2019 Looks like they\u2019re looking for Dinner.\u201d She looked to her boy. \u201cI haven\u2019t flown all this way just to get our meal taken from us. C\u2019mon, let\u2019s get Dinner out of here.\u201d She jumped off the branch and swung low, grabbing the cub\u2019s whiskers with her talons. \u201cCome now, little Dinner! We don\u2019t want you taken by that wicked woman!\u201d<\/p>\n
Brigit jerked away, frowning. \u201cPoachers? They be back?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Dinner,\u201d Jeffery\u2019s Mam answered, \u201csomething worse. We can talk later, but first we all need to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMam, she\u2019s getting close! I think she spotted me!\u201d Jeffery swooped down from the branch, his eyes wild and frantic. \u201cWe can\u2019t let her have Dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFly ahead, Jeffery! Lead the way! I\u2019ll be sure Dinner doesn\u2019t get taken.\u201d Jeffery nodded and darted ahead and the female black bird grabbed a claw-full of the cub\u2019s fur and started pulling. \u201cIf you value your freedom, little Dinner, then you must come with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you want to be eating me!\u201d she cried, digging her heels into the ground. \u201cThat ain\u2019t no freedom!\u201d<\/p>\n
The rustling became louder and the bird let go and fled through the trees, leaving the cub alone. She watched the bird fly away then stuck out her tongue.<\/p>\n
Good riddance,<\/i> she thought as she leapt into the bushes and kept low to the ground. A woman stepped through the thick growth then. She was tall with brown hair and a streak of purple through it. She knelt to the forest floor and put her hand gently on the dirt where the young cub was a moment before.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was here!\u201d she shouted over her shoulder. Two men laden with equipment and backpacks stepped through the thick, green growth to join her. They grunted under the weight of their packs and nodded to her as she stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe little Ocelot,\u201d she said as she looked around, her eyes landing on the bush the cub hid in. The woman inched forward and gestured for the others to be quiet. The cub\u2019s eyes widened. Who was this woman? Why did the birds insist she run? Would this woman harm her, or was she here to help? Brigit shivered and lowered her ears. Her muscles tensed and she heard her mother\u2019s voice in her head.<\/p>\n
Regret stung her where her bravery might have been.<\/p>\n
\u201cRun, Brigit!\u201d Ma cried. \u201cYou must run!\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ma\u2019s eyes were frantic.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBrigit! Run! Get out of here!\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i>She hadn\u2019t run when her mother told her to. She had nearly died because of it and lost the full use of her left eye. But this time, she would listen to her mother\u2019s voice. Brigit got to her paws, whipped around, and ran. The woman\u2019s hand shot through the bush just then, brushing Brigit\u2019s tail. She cursed loudly and forced her way through the branches after the Ocelot.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s her!\u201d she howled. Brigit looked over her shoulder, but with her bad eye, she couldn\u2019t see the woman all that well. The woman\u2019s eyes, however\u2014well, they shined so brilliantly that Brigit could make them out. Violet. The woman\u2019s eyes were a violent violet.<\/p>\n
Brigit turned back around only to ram her nose into the trunk of a tree. She staggered back.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer eyes aren\u2019t working right! Damn those poachers\u2014what did they do to her?\u201d The woman got to her feet and started slowly inching towards Brigit, her hands outstretched towards her. \u201cNow, just be calm, little Coward,\u201d the woman whispered, her eyes locked on Brigit\u2019s orange pair. Brigit backed up against the trunk of the tree. What would her mother do? The woman stepped closer. \u201cJust stay there.\u201d Brigit turned around, jumped onto the trunk of the tree and dug her claws in for a hold. She started furiously climbing, but her small arms were weak. Besides, she never climbed a tree before in her life. She did her best though, digging her tiny claws into the bark and slowly making her way up the tree. But that violet-eyed woman, well, she was quite tall and simply plucked Brigit from the tree.<\/p>\n
Brigit swung her claws around, catching the woman across the bridge of her nose when she brought Bright too close to her face. The woman\u2019s eyes flashed and she cursed the cub.<\/p>\n
Then talons and feathers and beaks fell from the sky, ripping and tearing at the woman\u2019s face. Brigit fell heavily to the ground. She scrambled to her feet to look up at the two black birds scratching Violet\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo!\u201d Jeffery cried. \u201cGet out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n
Brigit stiffened.<\/p>\n
Run, Brigit!<\/i> she heard her mother say. Run!<\/i><\/p>\n
So she did. She turned and she ran as fast as her little legs could carry her.<\/p>\n
And she forced down tears when she didn\u2019t feel her mother running beside her.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Ocelot cub came to a stop at a river, gasping for breath. The river served as the line between her mother\u2019s land and the land of someone Brigit did not know. Mother always warned never to cross that border, no matter the circumstance.<\/p>\n
Brigit hesitated at the bank.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome along, little Coward!\u201d Violet shouted from somewhere behind Brigit. \u201cNothing to be afraid of! I\u2019m here to help!\u201d<\/p>\n
Brigit frowned. Was she?<\/p>\n
Jeffery and his mother dove into view above the young Ocelot. They spotted her and swung low in front of her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Mam snapped. \u201cGet into the water!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2014I ain\u2019t be swimming well,\u201d Brigit replied. \u201cAnd me Ma say not to cross that there border.\u201d She tucked her tail and glanced behind her. Maybe the birds were wrong about the woman. Maybe\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cThe water will wash away your scent and make it hard for that woman to track you,\u201d Jeffery explained. \u201cWe\u2019ll be with you. You\u2019ll be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just be wanting me to die!\u201d Brigit protested, jerking her snout back to the bird.<\/p>\n
The branches snapped not far behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s only a few of us free animals left. The rest are dead or being hunted or stolen away and never seen again. We\u2019ve got to help you, little cub,\u201d Jeffery said as quickly as he could, his gaze cast into the trees behind Brigit.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you be saying\u2014\u201d Brigit started.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would your mother do?\u201d Jeffery snapped.<\/p>\n
Brigit leapt into the rushing river.<\/p>\n
The water immediately engulfed her, pushing her under and spinning her around. Water clogged her throat and dove up into her nose. Brigit tried to cough it out, but each time her mouth opened more water would flow in. Then she was shoved to the surface and allowed to take one gasping breath before being pushed back under.<\/p>\n
She did not know that this was to her advantage. For just as that Violet woman burst onto the river\u2019s bank and looked around, Brigit was pulled under the water. Cursing loudly once again, Violet eyed small rocks that lead across the river.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s headed to the city!\u201d Violet jumped into the water which came up to her chest and waded across, the rocks being too small for her to travel over. The two men with her equipment broke through the trees, sweating profusely. They looked at the water and shifted uncomfortably under their heavy packs. Violet pulled herself onto the other side and turned back to them, her hands on her hips.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen find another way across! I can\u2019t wait for you!\u201d She turned and disappeared into the trees.<\/p>\n
Further down the river, the currents pushed Brigit back up for air. She kicked her legs and managed a few deep breaths before the water started to tug her back down. But two pairs of talons gripped her shoulders and steered her towards a small bank. The two black birds let go as soon as Brigit got her footing and the birds sat on the sandy shore, panting. Brigit pulled herself further onto the beach and collapsed onto her stomach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI be soaking,\u201d she whined.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least you\u2019re still free.\u201d Jeffery answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you be meaning by saying that no one be coming back?\u201d Brigit asked, turning her orange eyes to him. He shifted uncomfortably.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2014well\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen the compound many times,\u201d his mother interjected. \u201cThat woman captures the animals and puts them on her land, away from the poachers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat be sounding safe,\u201d Brigit murmured as she stood to shake the water out of her coat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2014gah, stop that!\u201d Mam and Jeffery put their wings up to protect themselves from the bombardment of water as Brigit shook herself out. Ruffled and annoyed, Mam continued with a distasteful look.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn\u2019t safe. After some time, she sells the animals to the highest bidders.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think she\u2019d sell you though, seeing as you\u2019re the\u2014oof!<\/i>\u201d Jeffery grunted and rubbed his wing where his mother pecked him. With a satisfied glare, she looked back to Brigit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know what those people do with us once they\u2019ve bought us. Maybe they release us out here again, where the poachers can get us. Maybe they kill us themselves.\u201d She shrugged, \u201cNone of us intend to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUs?\u201d Brigit tilted her head. \u201cAre there more of you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh yes,\u201d Jeffery said excitedly. \u201cThere\u2019s even some exotic animals, like lions and polar bears! Though they don\u2019t like it here as much, since it isn\u2019t cold.\u201d He tapped his beak thoughtfully with his feathers then, like his mother, he shrugged. \u201cThey were brought in for the compound but managed to escape. They\u2019re on a different part of the island.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre there more Ocelots?\u201d Brigit couldn\u2019t help but smile. \u201cMy brothers and sisters died when I was young. I haven\u2019t talked to someone my age for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd where is<\/i> your mother, little Dinner?\u201d Mam inquired, her gaze cold. \u201cShouldn\u2019t she be watching out for her sole survivor?\u201d<\/p>\n
Brigit\u2019s excitement died as she met the bird\u2019s gaze.<\/p>\n
Ma! Ma, get out of there!<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAnd how did you get those wounds?\u201d Jeffery pointed with his wing at her nose and eye. Brigit tucked her tail and looked away.<\/p>\n
Come here, little Ocelot.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about it.\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry, we won\u2019t hurt you. We just want to play.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAre you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about it!\u201d she snapped, looking at the two birds with tears in her eyes.<\/p>\n
Brigit lay in the hot sun, sniffing up the blood coming from her nose. Her left eye was swollen shut and she stared blankly at the cage that still sat in front of her. The men hadn\u2019t taken it with them when they left.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMa.\u201d she whispered into the dirt, sniffing again. \u201cMa, I be so sorry.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The calls of monkeys overhead carried through the tall trees, leaves falling to the ground by Brigit. One monkey fell to the ground in front of her, his black face contrasting against the green trees and bright sun. Brigit shifted her staring to him.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou be helping me?\u201d she murmured. She couldn\u2019t smell his fear-scent, though it was strong in the air. She also couldn\u2019t smell his anger; her nose was bleeding too badly. All she could see was his grinning face and his tight fists. Maybe that was good. Maybe he would take her somewhere safe, like back to the den. And maybe Ma would be there, too.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Howler Monkey smiled. Other Howlers dropped to the ground in a circle around Brigit. She shivered. Ma brought back these monkeys dead whenever she went hunting. Ma had been teaching Brigit to hunt with this prey in mind. Ma said they weren\u2019t that strong, but that Brigit would need to settle for less dangerous prey. Howlers had been known to kill their predator\u2019s young. <\/i><\/p>\n
Now these monkeys beat their chests and picked up rocks. They held a glint in their eyes that was very unlike prey. Brigit swallowed hard and spat the words her mother had taught her:<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI be the biggest of the smallest! I be demanding that you be respecting me!\u201d Her voice faltered. She sneezed and pain burned through every nerve in her nose. The Howler Monkeys laughed. A trickle of fear ran down her spine, and undoubtedly the scent burned the air.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re only the future murderer of our young.\u201d said the black-faced Howler. He picked up a rock. He raised it above his head. \u201cAnd you\u2019re going to die.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Brigit looked away from the two black birds, feeling the reminiscent sting of her left eye\u2019s scar. They had beaten her, but she was already quite injured from the poachers\u2019 hands. Brigit had fallen still after they cut the long gash over her eye, and the monkeys left her to die. Yet she had managed to survive.<\/p>\n
Brigit closed her eyes for a moment to clear her head and Jeffery hopped closer. He put his wing on her nose with a compassionate smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen little one, we ask so that we can better take care of you. The others are further away. It\u2019s a long journey and if we are going to make it, then we need to know your strengths and weaknesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you can be eating me,\u201d Brigit mewed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no, I thought we talked about that. Mam was only saying that so you thought <\/i>we were going to eat you. She was just trying the hide the fact that you\u2019re the last of your kind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJeffery!\u201d Mam spat, eyes wide. She shuffled forward and pushed him away. \u201cIgnore what he said.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI be\u2026what?\u201d Brigit recoiled and looked at them. \u201cI be what!?<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, little Dinner\u2014\u201d Mam started.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy name is Brigit,\u201d Brigit snapped, \u201cI be the biggest of the smallest and I be the sole survivor of my litter. I be an Ocelot and I demand<\/i> to know what you ain\u2019t telling me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook what you\u2019ve done,\u201d Mam grumbled, shooting a look at Jeffery. \u201cYou and your big beak.\u201d Jeffery smiled sheepishly and turned to Brigit.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, Brigit, you see, there\u2019s so little of us free animals left. And, well, we were looking for your mother. You can imagine our dismay when we only found you.\u201d Mam shot him another look. \u201cNot that you\u2019re not great, it\u2019s just that if you die\u2026\u201d he added, before trailing off.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen your whole race disappears from the map.\u201d Mam finished, crossing her wings. \u201cLook, little\u2014Brigit<\/i>. If you get caught by Violet, who knows what she\u2019ll do to you. She could keep you locked up for the rest of your life! She could keep you from the freedom all animals deserve. She could stuff you and put you on display!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I ain\u2019t going to die<\/i>. I\u2019ll be safe.\u201d Brigit replied. \u201cShe could be keeping me alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, wait, Brigit,\u201d Jeffery said hurriedly, \u201cyou don\u2019t understand\u2014you\u2019re young\u2014you can\u2019t go with her. She\u2019s an evil, evil <\/i>woman. You won\u2019t ever see this forest again.\u201d He spread his wings around. \u201cYou can\u2019t<\/i> go with her.\u201d he repeated one last time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy can\u2019t I?\u201d Brigit growled, her moist fur standing on end. \u201cIf I be going with her, my race be living on a while longer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if she kills you and sells your pelt? What then?\u201d Mam cawed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t let her.\u201d Brigit boasted.<\/p>\n
Mam laughed, \u201cWhat, are you going to negotiate with her? Humans can\u2019t understand us, Din\u2014Brigit<\/i>. She\u2019ll do what she wants no matter what you say.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I won\u2019t be talking to her. She\u2019ll just be prey and I be the hunter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll what?\u201d<\/p>\n
A cold finger caressed Brigit\u2019s spine and she turned her gaze upwards, where the woman stood with her arms crossed and a smirk on her lips. Several red scratch marks laced her face and she looked viciously at the two black birds. Jeffery and Mam squawked and took to the air above the water.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrigit, come on! You must jump into the river again!\u201d Jeffery shouted. \u201cYou cannot<\/i> go with her. The other animals can keep you safe! We<\/i> can keep you safe!\u201d<\/p>\n
Brigit ignored him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrigit, you\u2019re the last of your kind, you fool! Think of your race!\u201d Mam insisted.<\/p>\n
Brigit scoffed, \u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n
Violet smiled. \u201cFinally, a sensible little beast.\u201d She looked over at the birds again and touched her scratches. She narrowed her eyes. Jeffery screeched in fear, batting his wings to get that much further from her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can understand us?\u201d Brigit\u2019s ears poised forward. Violet laughed a cruel and spine-chilling laugh and looked back at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, of course, Brigit.\u201d Violet knelt down and reached out. She brushed Brigit\u2019s nose with a saddened gaze. \u201cYou know, little Coward, I have medicine at my home. I could fix you up. Make you a true hunter. Like your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brigit\u2019s ears twitched and an image of her mother, flashed before her mind: tall and proud, her spotted tail struck upwards and a firm gaze set in her eyes. Violet pulled back and for an instant, Brigit saw her mother in this woman. The hard jaw and thoughtful eyes, with determination keeping her smile upright. Stern but loving. Brigit\u2019s mother kept her safe for as long as she could remember.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go now, little Coward. We wouldn\u2019t want to let your wounds grow worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brigit\u2019s tail flicked and she nodded. \u201cFor my race.\u201d<\/p>\n
Violet offered her hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Chapter 2 to be released on Thursday)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chapter 1: Two Birds \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brigit\u2019s mother picked her up in her jaws and ran from death. Terror stained the air with the putrid smell of sweat. Crunches of branches underfoot grew louder and ever louder behind them. The hot sun pushed through the bramble of branches overhead, and birds…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[1],"tags":[22,29,23,26,143,72,12,145,144,68,69,60,97],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p27tjX-9J","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=603"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":634,"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603\/revisions\/634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winter-publishing.com\/welcome-to-winter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}