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“But mom, what about hurricanes, predators, and who knows what else!”
“For the last time, there is nothing to worry about. We’re in as much danger from those things as we are at home,”
“Exactly!” Cried Cody. He was migrating with his colony to their winter home at the center of the island. Thousands of mouse bats called to each other all around him. Unlike most residents of Fliwing island, mouse bats had no particular characteristic that made them unique. Granted, they flew during the day, but that was a logical behaviour. When you live on an island with all nocturnal creatures it’s far more useful to fly during the day than at night. Because night-time is filled with predators and, of course, no mouse bat wants to be eaten.
This was Cody’s first migration, he wasn’t even yet a year old and he was nervous, as usual, about this new thing. The colony was flying from their home near the coast, over Flight Forest, and stopping at the border between center forest and Flight Forest. That was their winter home. Sure there were predators as always, but at least they wouldn’t have to struggle with the fierce, winter ocean storms.
But what if it was more dangerous traveling back and forth? Surely they were unnecessarily exposing themselves to more predators this way. Cody frowned at the thought. If he had it his way, he would live underground like a burrow-bird. But then, there were just as many carnivores under there.
“Why can’t there just be no predators?” he asked, not meaning to say it out loud.
Cody’s mother looked behind her. A patient but almost sad look lined her brown, fur-covered face. “Because, every creature has a place in the world, if we all had the same place; there wouldn’t be enough for what everyone needs,” she said gently.
Cody grunted and pretended not to hear. Predators should never be compared to peaceful insectivores or herbivores.
‘Anything that eagerly kills another creature does not deserve to live.’ he concluded. But he didn’t say it. What was the point? Mother would just come up with another ‘logical’ answer. Cody looked at her, who was now flying beside him. He loved her, more than anything in the world. She was of the few in the entire colony that cared for him. There were a few other bat-lings his age that seemed to like him, but Cody didn’t care. Sometimes friends make a bat do dangerous things. Cody had heard many-a-story about how young bats wondered off; never to be found again. No sir, he would never be one of them, he planned on living a long, healthy life.
The colony flew on for the rest of the day. When the sun's light disappeared beyond the trees the colony leader shouted the order to roost. Cody, his mother and the other hundred or so bats followed him to a group of trees that formed a secure, weather tight circle. After settling down next to his mother, Cody immediately started to feel tired. He had been fine all day, but now that he'd stopped, tiredness caught up with him. Nestling close to his mother's fur, Cody feel into a deep and peaceful sleep.
There was nothing. Cody was all alone in the middle of nowhere. Wind gusted, trying to tear him out of the air. Rain started to pour so hard that it ran into his eyes and he couldn't see. Desperately he called out, for anyone, anything to help him. He struggled to stay upright. Suddenly he was aware of the ocean underneath him. It roared, sounding exactly like an animal. A huge animal.
Cody's was beginning to be exhausted. Every beat of his wings felt more and more impossible. The weight of water and fatigue pressed around him like his breath was being forced from his lungs. Cody tried to inhale a breath but instead more air rushed out. His eyes started to flutter closed, his wings crumpled by the exceeding wind stuck to his sides. Cody felt himself falling; face first toward the ocean.
All of a sudden a sharp screech pierced the air. Cody thought he saw a figure flying toward him through the rain, but he couldn't keep his eyes open. In no way was he prepared for what happened next; huge talons wrapped themselves firmly around his body. Cody tried to scream but nothing came out. Instead, he heard many screams, but they weren't his. Cody felt himself lift higher and higher through the air. His eyes were still shut and for some reason he couldn't open them. The creature carried him further and further, towards the coastline.
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Any comments welcome.
