On Top of Obsidian Wings

Jaden’s textbook falls out of his hands as he falls on the floor with a thud. The sound of the thud was quiet compared to the loud crash of his now broken window. Jaden slowly turns his head around as the rest of his body shakes like a tremor. Jaden’s mouth is agape when he sees the figures that broke his window.

A massive nine-foot-tall crow. Its black feet tap against Jaden’s wooden floor, scraping it in the process. The crow looks around erratically before sending out a piercing screech that cracked the remaining glass fragments on the ground. Then, the crow stared directly at Jaden with cold blue eyes. Jaden was shaking to his core as chills were practically having a marathon on his spine. With a creak of the wooden floor, the crow’s rider climbs down and waves. 

“Hey, Jaden! How’s it going?” said an excited high pitched voice. She energetically waved at Jaden, her red hair blowing due to the wind coming from the now broken window.

“HOW DO YOU THINK IT’S GOING!? WHY IS THERE A GIANT CROW IN MY ROOM, KATIE!?”

“First off, she has a name and her name is Beatrice. Secondly, I need your help with something.” 

“I DON’T CARE ABOUT ITS NAME! WHY IS THERE A WEIRD GIANT BIRD IN MY ROOM!?”

“Don’t call Beatrice weird! She’s just a baby!” Katie petted Beatrice’s neck and cooed. “It’s okay, Beatrice. He’s just a little shocked is all…” Beatrice lowered her neck to Katie, allowing Katie to hug her neck. Beatrice cooed back, seemingly enjoying the affection. Jaden was still confused and terrified by the freakishly large fowl. He’s seen some massive birds before—he even saw an eagle pick up a ten-year-old—but crows the size of basketball players? 

“How did that thing get that big anyhow?”

“That ‘thing’ is Beatrice! And remember our date Sunday at the park?”

“Yeah, I remember…,” said Jaden, trying to refresh his memory.

“Remember that family of crows? And an egg fell out of the nest? And how I told you to put it back in the nest, but you said ‘I don’t know where it’s been’?”

“Hmm, now that you mention it…I do faintly remember that happening. But what does that have to do with its size?”

“Well, I took the egg when you weren’t looking and put it in my purse. And when I got home, I realized that Beatrice had hatched…and my chips were gone. Maybe that has to do with it?”

Jaden’s mouth was agape for the second time tonight. “YOU TOOK AN EGG FROM ITS NEST?!”

 “It fell and needed our help!”

“And you help it by giving her potato chips?! And that doesn’t even make any sense, how do potato chips make animals that big?!”

Katie drew a blank for a second. “Ummm, it could be GMOs? I don’t know, Jaden. All I know is that I woke up in the middle of the night and found that she grew .” She hugged Beatrice’s neck again, causing the fowl to squawk. “That’s right, Beatrice! You grew big and strong!

Jaden facepalmed at Katie’s affection toward the wild animal. “Stop cuddling with it. I don’t want you growing ten feet.”

Katie laughed as she continued hugging the bird. “C’mon, having a tall girlfriend isn’t so bad. And we’re getting sidetracked! We need to go back to the park and bring Beatrice back!”

Jaden blinked at the request. “Why ‘we’?”

“We found it together! And besides, you have an amazing sense of direction! I’m sure you can find the exact location of the nest!”

“NO! You picked it up! And I have a test tomorrow!” Jaden stood up and picked up his textbook to shake it in Katie’s face. Katie grabbed the book and threw it on the bed.

“C’mon! You’re gonna pass anyways! Just a quick flight and we drop it off, and then we come back here and kiss or whatever, and then you study till your hair turns gray…or grayer,” said Katie with a huff. Jaden quickly looked at his brown hair and then looked back at Katie.

“Wait, flight?”

“Yeah! We have a giant bird!”

“NO!”

“C’mon. I keep telling you that you need to look at different points of view!”

“Yeah, with stuff like new food and politics, not taking a ride on avian airlines with mutated animals! And I thought you said it was a baby?!”

“C’mon! It’ll be fun and she’s a great flyer! Please?!” Katie cupped her hands and batted her blue eyes, making sure to pout. Jaden looked back with cold, brown eyes. This only made Katie pout more. It was a battle of brown vs blue. And eventually, blue won out.

Jaden sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ugh, fine. But let’s make it quick.”

“YAY!! You hear that Beatrice? Your dad is coming with us!” Beatrice squawked with joy, much to Jaden’s annoyance.

“I’m NOT its dad! Let’s get this over with. so I can get back to studying…”

Katie leaped back on Beatrice. She looked back and waved her hand at Jaden. Jaden rolled his eyes and slowly walked.

“Hurry up. New horizons to pursue and time to spare!” Katie said, excited at the prospect of flying again. Reluctantly and awkwardly, Jaden got on top of Beatrice, surprised at how soft her feathers were.

“Ready to go? Well, you don’t have a choice! Onward, Beatrice!”

“SQAAAAWKKKK!!!”

The bird cried as she ran to Jaden’s broken window. The ringing of Jaden’s ears was coupled with Beatrice’s piercing battle cry, the sound of more shattering glass, and the scraping of the wooden floor.

“You’re gonna pay for th—AHHHHHHHHHH!”

Beatrice jumped out of the window and fell, before falling her wings. The crisp, cool air hit their faces, as the obsidian bird flew into the starry night. 

“Don’t be such a baby, babe! It’s fun!”As she said that, Beatrice took this as a chance to show off. She sped up her flapping and was soon piercing the air with her wings. She began doing a corkscrew and cartwheel, squawking with excitement at her motions. Katie and Jaden were both screaming as well, both for different.

“Weeee!”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Beatrice eventually stopped and soared in the night sky, catching her breath.

“It’s like that movie….except we’re not on a magic carpet! We’re on a magic bird!”

“NO, it’s not like that!”

“I can show you the…,” Katie started

“Don’t you dare sing while I have a panic attack!”

But it was too late.

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“I could show you the Earth

Something, Something else, Someeeeething!

Tell me, Jaden, now when did 

You last stop being a nerd?

I can show you new heights

Take you higher and higher

Corkscrew, spiral, and glider

On a magic giant bird!

A Giant Earth!

Different, amazing points of view!

I’m making up each word

So if we’re heard,

There will be no one suing!

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Come on, Jaden. Stop screaming, it’s your turn!”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,” screamed Jaden in the key of G major.

“You’re a little pitchy!”

“Shut up!” 

They argued as the obsidian bird picked up speed in the midnight light, the moon shining over them like a pearl. The wind howled as they accelerated under the stars. Other birds could be seen, soaring alongside Beatrice. Beatrice squawked again, followed by the calls of other birds.

“I don’t wanna die!” Jaden said, covering his eyes.

“Don’t you dare close your eyes!” said Katie.

“I hate you….well, I love you…but I hate you at this moment!”

“Just shut up and look for the park!” shouted Katie.

Jaden scanned the ground below them, looking for a landmark at the park. Trees looked like fuzzy green dots from up there, but he could barely make out where they were. 

“Keep going straight,” said Jaden.

“Onward, Beatrice!” At her command, Beatrice sped up further. Jaden held on to Katie’s waist, trying not to fall off.

“Isn’t this better than being in your stuffy room studying?”

“You’re still paying for my broken window!”

“You’re not saying no!” said Katie with a smile.

“I’m not saying a yes!” retorted Jaden with a frown. He scanned the ground again and saw a distinct soldier statue. “There!”Jaden pointed, causing Katie to look as well. 

“You hear your dad, Beatrice? Land here!” Katie pointed near that statue.

“I’m not her da—AHHHHHHHHHHH!” Beatrice dive-bombed at the ground below with the speed of an arrow. She slowed down slightly, turning from a soar to a glide. In the nick of time, Beatrice landed on the dry, rough ground. She flapped her wings a bit before standing still on the ground.

“See, that was fun!”

“I think I’m gonna be sick…,” He said, slowly getting off the crow and tumbling to the ground.

“Just don’t throw up on her feathers!”Katie jumped off of Beatrice and petted her neck. “Good girl. Now we’ll lead you to your family!” Katie turned around to Jaden. “Do you remember where the nest was?” From the ground on his back, Jaden pointed in the direction of the bird’s nest. 

“Good! Now get up, babe. We have a family to reunite!” Katie ran in a random direction with the bird following her closely. 

“The other way…,” said Jaden as he stood up. Katie ran in the other direction, the bird once again following. “Thanks, babe! Where would I be without you?” 

“Probably in a random cornfield somewhere…,” Jaden sighed and followed her.

Katie continued walking in the same direction, her gait like a soldier’s. As she marched, the tall grass tickled her knees while the cold nipped at her skin. 

“Maybe wearing pajamas and slippers isn’t the best attire,” she said as an afterthought. Jaden rolled his eyes and closed his robe tightly. He looked at the giant crow and noticed the massive obsidian wings that were falling off. Although she was weird, Beatrice was a very interesting creature. He turned her head from Beatrice to his surroundings. Orange leaves were falling off the maple trees around them. The hooting of owls could be heard, only interrupted by Beatrice’s own call. 

“Wait, go this way,” Jaden directed. Katie and Beatrice stopped and turned towards the forest. Jaden and Katie walked into the forest, but Beatrice was blocked by the tree branches. Jaden turned his head and asked, “Why did she stop?”

“She’s too big! She can’t get through!” Katie walked up to Beatrice. “Okay, Beatrice, I have a plan,” Katie said as she reached into her pajama pocket. She pulled out a small bell and jingled it. “When we find your nest, I’ll ring this bell and you come in flying! Got it?” Beatrice chirped in response. Katie put the bell back in her pocket and hugged the crow before turning around. “Alright, Jaden. Lead the way!”Jaden started walking slowly, only to be pushed in the back. “Hurry up! We gotta find her family!” Jaden rolled his eyes and moved faster.

They marched through the forest, the rustling and crunching of golden-colored leaves under their feet. They pushed through the golden branches as they looked at the tops of each tree. The wind whispered past their ears as the moon shined above them like a spotlight. There was the faint sound of chirping crickets combined with the hoot of the occasional owl. After some frantic searching, they began to notice the natural beauty around them.

“The forest is beautiful at night, Jaden.”

“Yeah, it is. We should come here more often.”

“Just me and you, right?”

“Yeah, our own little oasis. You and me….,” said Jaden as he slipped his hand into hers. He loved it when she could just calm down and stopping being so restless. Always on the move, making a decision at the drop of a hat and changing it a moment later. So impulsive, so spontaneous, so…lively. He looks at her, the moon shining on her skin. It almost looked like she herself was illuminating the entire night. Katie looked back at him in awe.

“You look cute in the moonlight,” she said softly. Jaden opened his eyes wider, surprised at her comment. Compared to her, he thought he was bland and uninteresting. He was never excited to do anything fun, never outgoing, never alive. 

“Really?”

“Yeah, Jaden…,” she looked down at the ground, as though she was thinking.

“I’m sorry for pushing this on you, Jaden. I know that…I can be a bit overbearing at times. So, thank you…,” Katie said. She leaned and kissed Jaden on the cheek. Jaden’s heart melted at that very moment and the chill of the night had no effect. Jaden began to lean towards her in response…

“GRAAAAAAHHHHHH!!” called an animal from the forest. Jaden and Katie jumped at the sudden noise and turned in that direction. When they turned, they saw the worst thing imaginable.

The wild beast was over 8 feet tall and its hooves practically shook the ground. Its dark brown fur was like a cape blowing in the wind as it shouted another blood-curdling cry to the night sky. Its antlers were as crooked daggers, primed and ready to tear through skin and draw blood. Its eyes were dark, like its soul, and they seemed ready to commit acts of violence. It shook its head and slowly walked forward examining them, like prey. Jaden trembled at the majestic creature, ready to submit to his fate.

“I don’t want to die!”

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Katie facepalmed and said, “Dude, it’s just a moose. They look…super goofy. It probably won’t hurt us if we leave it alone.” She slowly tip-toed away from the creature, making sure not to startle it.

“Katie, KATIE!” he whispered loudly and held out his hand. “Give me the bell, give me the bell! Beatrice can handle this demon of a deer! Besides, I think this is where the nest was.”

“We can’t let Beatrice get hurt! Just slowly walk back,” Katie whispered back.

“Look at it! It thirsts for blood!” said Jaden, pointing at the moose. The moose was eating some leaves off of a nearby maple tree, enjoying its night.

“Jaden, it’s eating!”

“Yeah, an appetizer! And we’re the main course!”

“I think moose don’t eat meat…”

“MAYBE THIS ONE DOES!” Jaden said, a bit too loudly. The moose rose up from its lunch and started moving in Jaden’s general direction. Panic and adrenaline coursing through his veins, Jaden thrusts his hands into Katie’s pockets and retrieves the bell. He started jangling the bell furiously and shouting, “BEATRICE, DADDY NEEDS YOU! PLEASE! HELP!” Katie covers his mouth, trying to stop him from doing something stupid.

Sadly, the stupid had already happened. The moose was now charging at them with great speed. The two lunged out the way, causing the beast to get its antlers stuck in a tree. The two ran away from the animal with Jaden still ringing the bell. Unfortunately, the moose’s prison was temporary. It pulls its antlers out of the tree and turned around, resuming its charge again. The two pumped their feet up and down, using every bit of adrenaline and energy they had to evade the wild beast. But nature had other plans.

“AGH!” Katie shouted as she tripped on a rock and fell down.

“KATIE!” shouted Jaden. He stopped running and grabbed her hand. The moose was not slowing down, ready to strike at breakneck speed with the force and anger of a thousand moose. Jaden pulled her back up but the time was lost. By the time they started running again, the moose was a foot away. Then 10 inches, then 4 inches, then 1 inch…

“GRAAAAHHHHHHH” the beast shouted. But not because he was about to attack. But because he felt talons pierce his iron hide. When they stopped hearing the footsteps of the moose, Jaden and Katie turned around to see the moose being raised in the air by obsidian wings.

“Beatrice! You saved us!”Katie said with a huge smile.

“That’s my girl!” said Jaden with tears running down his face. Beatrice lifted the moose up and tossed him to a tree. The moose got himself back up and fled the forest, not wanting to tussle with bird muscle. Beatrice got back to the ground and did a victory squawk, which was followed by Jaden and Katie’s cheers.

“Good job, Beatrice! We’re so proud of you!” said Katie as she hugs the bird around its neck. “Right, Jaden?”

“Yes, great job! I’m just…really overwhelmed right now!” he said through tears. As they celebrated, the sound of fierce wind appeared above them followed by two bigger squawks. The trio looked up to see two massive birds, almost twice the size of Beatrice with the same pitch-black feathers.

“Oh no, there’s more gigantic animals trying to kill us?” ask Jaden

“Wait…I think that might be her…family?” After Katie said the sentence, Beatrice immediately flew toward the duo of dark birds, squawking with utmost excitement. One of the birds wrapped Beatrice in their wings in a form of a bird hug, while they other pecked Beatrice on the beak. 

“Aww…it is her family!”said Katie.

“It’s kinda cute…if it wasn’t so terrifying that there are two more giant birds,” said Jaden. One of the crows unwrapped Beatrice and the larger birds started flying away. Beatrice started to to fly away, but turned around the last moment.

“SKRAAA!” It said as a goodbye. Katie and Jaden waved at the Beatrice. Katie almost shed a tear.

“Goodbye, Beatrice. We’ll miss you!”

“Come back soon, Beatrice. Thanks for saving our lives!” 

The bird then followed its parents towards the moonlight before the obsidian wings disappeared into the night.

“I’m gonna miss that bird…,” Katie said, tearing up some more. Jaden wrapped his arm around Katie and wiped away a tear from his eye.

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“Me too…They grow up so fast…quite literally, in this case.”