Songbirds are Friendly. Right?

The song of the birds seems inviting enough. Besides, they can fly and do aerial surveillance.

Maddy walks quietly in the direction of the song. As she listens to it, it seems more and more like words.

She walks into a clearing and sees a small black bird perching on a bush.

“Squawk…hello…squawk.” It says in a raspy feminine voice.

Maddy smiles at it. “Hello there.”

Another few birds land on the bush. Maddy notices, despite their small size, they have long, razor-like, talons and sharp curved beaks.

“Hello, don’t you look delicious.”

Maddy watches another dozen birds land on bush and still more land on nearby tree branches.

“I don’t suppose you could tell me how to get back to the citadel?”

“Why we we want to do that?” Another bird says in a sexy female voice.

A dozen other birds giggle like schoolgirls.

Maddy scrunches her face. “Are you all female?”

Nearly the whole Fock giggles. Maddy realizes there are easily a hundred birds.

“Pentacaws are all female dear.” The first bird rasps.

“Really? Then how do you…you know…reproduce?”

They all giggle.

“Why, dear, we devour the life **** of our prey and use it to make eggs. You look like you’ll make a fine clutch.”

“You can’t!”

The birds look about ready to attack.

“Why ever not, dear?”

“I’m going to be a Master of Beasts!”

“Maybe someday, but right now you look like dinner. Of course if you are truly a Master of Beasts, just transform into a Pentacaw and we’ll stop.”

With that several dozen birds launch themselves at her. Talons cut deeply on her arms and legs. Maddy realizes if she doesn’t do something soon, she’s going to die.