Eagle & Dove; Cylor

Grazing tranquilly on the earth below, they spotted a few goats. Cylor, like all his ancestors, loved to taunt the farmers. Despite the dangers involved, he was forever raiding. Over the years, Cylor had learned from other eagles (and his own experience), the ways of the firestick. Putting this information together, he had discovered a way to avoid the burning death.

Three important things he had found out. First, the fireball only travelled in a straight line and always in the direction the farmers aimed their stick. Secondly, the farmers only spat their fire when the eagle was diving, so as to kill before the raptor could damage their stock. Finally, and what Cylor believed the most important. Upon releasing their flame, it would take them a few minutes before they could send a second fireball.

In the wild, life and death can be decided in split seconds; this is the case for both hunter and hunted. A few minutes are an eternity to participants in the game of survival, and the eagle was a master of this game.

Cylor was a genius in the air. Even the farmers who despised the birds had to admire (however grudgingly), his grace and skill, when they saw him flying the skies above. His artistic and aerobatic displays in the heavens had turned many an eye upwards. Using this skill, combined with His knowledge of the firesticks, he was able to cheat the burning death. His strategy had to be a combination of split second timing and pure daring. While circling above, he would select a certain target. After the selection, he would note the position of the farmer to that of his intended prey. Then he would dive, not in the straight line the eagles normally took, but slightly away from his target.

Observing the farmer at all times, he waited for the moment he saw the flame leave the stick. At that moment, Cylor would swing his body in line with the chosen target.

It was a dangerous sport, and many were the time he had felt the heat of the fireball whistling past him. Yet so great was the excitement he received from this game it was impossible to make him abandon it.

Those few minutes were all the eagle needed. As the farmer struggled to reload, he would be into his prey. Talons ripping and clutching fast, up he would rise. His powerful wings lifting him ever higher. In less then a heartbeat, he would be aloft with his prey, dancing and weaving in his ascent. In the time it took the farmer to reload, he was safe, leaving below a very angry and frustrated human.

Cylor and Remera were circling on this particular day, carefully watching some goats grazing peacefully below on the valley floor. Such an opportunity was to much for Cylor to let go, without at least looking for the chance of a kill. Both eagles studied the ground below them. Try as they might they could see no sign of a guard around the animals.

'He must be fast asleep somewhere', Cylor indicated to Remera. 'This will be the easiest game we've taken for a long time.'

'I'm not so sure', was the reply. 'I find it hard to believe there's no one watching, may be he's hiding somewhere. Remera had always tried to rely on her instincts as opposed to impulse. She had a strong feeling against attacking the stock, safe as it seemed. She asked Cylor if they could not try somewhere else. 'We can always return if we don't find anything else', she concluded.

Cylor was quick to counter this. 'Suppose we come back and find a wide awake farmer. No, it has to be now or never. Just keep a good watch and warn me if you see anything.' As Cylor said this he had already began his climb to gain the altitude needed for the attack.

'Something feels wrong, I can feel it', Remera called after him.

Cylor heard Remera's warning but elected to take no notice of it. When he reached his chosen altitude, he circled twice to give the ground a final search. Convinced it was all clear, he started to dive.

Remera would always remember how magnificent he looked that day. Down he roared racing through the wind his talons stretched fully waiting to lock into his prey. There is a saying among humans that always proves true. They say: You can fool some people all of the time, you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you will never fool all the people all the time. For to long this eagle had been fooling the farmers with his tricks. The farmers felt the time had come for him to pay the price.

Lying and waiting in the trench he had dug and camouflaged with bushes was Manual Herreria. For three days he had lain in the scorching heat keeping his vengeful watch. He had lost to many animals to this devil bird with his evil trickery. He would gladly sacrifice one more goat to rid the valley of him once and for all. Herreria was aware that there were only a few eagles left in the valley; one more less would be better for him and every other farmer.

Watching the eagles circle above, he felt the adrenaline pumping through his body, as he sensed his long vigil would not be in vain. The birds would attack, he was certain. Having studied this pair for some time, he knew the male raptor would not let what looked like an unprotected flock alone.

Reaching for his musket that lay loaded and primed beside him he placed it against his shoulder. Aiming in the direction of his animals, he made himself ready.

Cylor had started his dive. This was the moment he lived for, he even felt a sort of love for his intended prey at this stage. If there was no victim, there would be no sport, it was as vital to him as the flight, he needed this danger and excitement. In many ways, the eating of the victim was a sort of anti-climax. It was only the kill that counted. That glorious second he made contact. That almost ecstatic feeling as he heard the prey beneath him scream out in surprise and then terror.

Down Cylor swept, his eyes still searching for the guard he felt must be around somewhere. Still he could not see anything to indicate there was one. Never in my life Cylor thought, have I come across such an easy kill. He would take his prize and be away without the farmer knowing one of his precious animals was missing. Scanning the surrounding area for danger a final time, he finally adjusted his flight path to the selected target.

Herreria had watched the larger bird climb and then circle, knowing this to be the prelude to an attack. His excitement rose as he saw the bird diving ever closer to his death.

The moment Cylor made the kill, his talons ripping through the skin and flesh to hook into the young goats' ribs, he felt rather than saw danger. His instincts told him to release the animal and take to the air again. Remera had been right there was hidden danger hear. He had to get back to the sky where his only chance of survival lay.

The time Herreria had long awaited for had come. Of the eagles uncanny ability to avoid bullets, he was only too aware. Not this time! He would wait until the bird had locked solid into his prey. Then and only then would he be stationary for a second. That second was all Herreria needed.

He watched as the eagle tore into his goat, fighting an impulse to shoot then. He saw the eagle look suddenly about him and was momentarily shocked by the enormous size of this creature. For an instant, he could do no more than look in stunned fascination, as the great eagle began to beat his wings, ready to start his ascent.

Herreria realised, that it must be now, or the chance would be gone forever. Taking careful aim, he fired. Over the screaming of his prey, Cylor heard the sound of thunder that accompanies the release of a fireball. He saw to late, the sheet of fire coming from out of some bushes. He felt the burning, tearing impact of the fireball as it ripped through his chest.

Cylor started to sway already he was feeling weak and sleepy. He realised there was no way he could fully release his costly trophy and take to the air, before his hidden assailant let out a second flame.

Anger and hatred had been building up inside Herreria. For to long these evil birds had plagued hard working and God fearing farmers like himself. The firing of his musket had only released a little of the pent up hate inside of him. Seeing the eagle was mortally wounded he threw aside the bushes and leapt out of his concealed trench.

Swinging his musket like a club, he advanced on the bird. He would finish by hand, what his bullet had started.

Up above, Remera had heard the thunder of the firestick. She had watched as her mate staggered under the fireballs impact. She had warned Cylor of this possible danger, why had he not listened to her?

Putting aside all thoughts of personnel safety, she too began to descend onto the fields below. Her only thoughts were to reach her mate before he died.