Maddy Flies

As talons cut her Maddy focuses on the birds. Just as the second wave are about to cut her, she feels a connection.

She opens her arms and feels her body change. Instinctively she flaps her arms as they become black wings. It takes a moment for her to realize she is flying. It is exhilarating.

She sees the lead bird and dives for her, her talons extended. She collides ready and eager to kill.

“I yield! You are Ma-Gul!”

Maddy unclasps her talons. She realizes she has been named Ma-Gul, the leader of the flock.

She flies to a branch and perches. New thoughts bombard her mind. She feels the uselessness of males, the bloodlust for a kill, the desire to steal life **** and lay her eggs. She also knows as Ma-Gul she needs to name a second, a Sa-Gul.

She looks at the old Ma-Gul. “I name you Sa-Gul.”

There is a collective gasp. Naming a defeated Ma-Gul as Sa-Gul is unusual.

“I accept. Thank you, Ma-Gul, you are most wise.”

“You will help me return to the citadel.”

They chitter. “Of course, Ma-Gul.”

Sa-Gul tilts her head. “You need not return to the faleish.”

Maddy immediately recognizes the word. It is their word for humans and loosely means ‘tasty snacks’.

“I will return and my power will grow. I will bring glory to the flock. In my absence Sa-Gul will be in charge.”

They chitter a bit. Another bird speaks up.

“I will show you the way back.”

He takes flight and Maddy follows. He flies to a tall parapet with a window.

“I can not enter, it is warded.”

Maddy feels the breeze and sees the wind. She knows it would be easy to simply stay a pentacaw and return and lead the flock. She considers it for a long moment before flying through the window.

She finds a decorative suit of armor to perch on and ponders how to change back. After a bit she begins to focus On her human form.

She begins to grow and ripple. Soon she is back to being Maddy, except for her fingernails, which remain pretty black talons.

Professor Fowl walks in and smiles.

“Nice work, Maddy. You’ve taken the first step toward mastery of beasts. Class dismissed.”

Maddy stands there as he walks out wondering what is next. Thoughts from her time as a pentacaw still run through her mind. The joy of the kill, the weakness of males, the devouring of life ****, all feel very much a part of her now.