How could I have predicted what this world would be like? My ancestor’s piercing eyes could not have foreseen such a demise. My wings have taken everywhere, I have soared above the clouds and dived back down at incredible speed. I am bold. I have lived and overcome so much in my eagle life. I have torn apart my beak to survive, hitting my head against my rock to do so.
5 months I have suffered this way, maybe losing my mind in the process, but finally able to lose this dull beak and those heavy feathers weighting me down. When I hit 40 years old, this glossy coat of feathers that gave me so much pride as a young bird put me at risk of dying, while my beak had grown dull couldn’t allow me to eat.
So just as my ancestors did before me, I’ve gone through a process of change, not without pain of course. But it was necessary. Unavoidable. Unstoppable even. And yet, here I am flying higher for a much different reason. My dear forest is on fire. Why do humans do this? What have I ever done to them? Am I not a kind animal at heart, always preferring to eat a dead animal than a live one? All these thoughts crowded my mind while I was flying back to my young ones. My dear babies; the future of my species.
My nest is high above the flames, but it is still too risky to keep my offsprings in this mountain. I flapped my wings softly to let my babies sleep longer. I can’t help but stare at them. Such innocent and clueless slumber; They have no idea what the world really is like. They will soon grow hungry and restless, as I have not been able to find any food for them.
As I soared above earlier, no prey was around and all was flames and smoke. The sky usually so blue was painted coal. I was suffocating and sought refuge in my nest, but where am I meant to go now. I have to uproot my home and find a new place for my young family. My gloomy thoughts filled my mind until I heard my youngest scream begging for food. It’s been days. How am I meant to look at my children in the eyes, knowing they are starving? As a mother, what can I do?
English