Word Count → 386
Birds could be fiercely protective of their young and their nesting areas; the silver-shaded hybrid had seen them fearlessly attack creatures hundreds of times their size, flying down at their top speeds to peck those sharp beaks into soft and delicate flesh. The unluckiest of canines could easily lose an eye in this way, though this was certainly not how her own eye had been lost. As she had told many over the years, a wolf had stolen that from her. This was many years ago, more than she could accurately remember -- just a short decade after the decimation of the human race, really, though Kaena did not know that.
Her own great-great-great grandparents had been very much alive and well during the time of the human race, and they had lived through its apocalypse long enough to bring her great grandparents into the world. The hybrid, of course, knew none of this and never had -- the furthest back her knowledge of family went was her parents and their parents. Little else was known beyond their heritage -- and truly, what did it matter? Canines that had been dead the better part of two decades did not matter, especially not in the face of a vicious and vindictive mother bird. The hybrid took several steps back as the bird floated easily to the bellies of the clouds, her head craned back and her single eye watching it with sharp interest.
It folded its wings and dove, hurtling itself toward the ground. With a swing from his arm, the sable-shaded canine brought the bag down on the bird, smashing it to the ground. He picked himself up, speaking to the now clearly dead bird, and the hybrid watched this with faint amusement, turning to him as he began speaking to her. Suddenly and without warning, he stopped, a look of amazement coming to his face. The next words from his mouth caused her to peer from right to left and shift her weight on her legs an awkwardness appearing across her scarred face. “Yes,” she answered, her one-eyed gaze turning back to him and studying the reddish markings across his face. “Please, get up,” the hybrid said, finding the instantaneous respect very nearly alien. She was no longer a leader; what deference did she deserve?
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