To Be a Hunter

by: Kai Delmas.

I basked in the morning sun. Mind at peace, eyes keen, I searched for prey.

A rabbit scurried through the forest and I dove down. The violence my talons would do was not lost on me. But it was my nature.

No matter.

The lucky rabbit darted into its den. I remained hungry.

Later I heard a familiar call. My great wings carried me to the woman.

My talons dug deep into her gloved arm.

She smiled at me and smoothed my feathers, a tear slipping down her cheek.

“Come back to me. The war is over. Please, change back.”

Kai Delmas loves creating worlds and magic systems. His debut drabble collection, Darkness Rises, Hope Remains, was published by Shacklebound Books. You can support him at patreon.com/kaidelmas, and find him on Twitter @KaiDelmas or Bluesky @kaidelmas.bsky.social.

Eavesdropping