(Draft 1.42. Edited per Liquid's suggestion.)
Feedback is welcome.
Once again, she looked like she might peck him. He shuffled back a few more steps, trying. Maybe appealing to keep his tone respectfulher pride would work. Why fight for crumbs when you can take the whole bagel?
Have you neverever wanted to raid an ape-beast’s nest?
Something in her tone made him uneasy.
Three of the ape-beasts were standing in line. Another five lounged in nearby chairs. Most of them were distracted, staring at those funny glowing rectangles that they liked to carry. Not a single one of them appeared prepared to defend their roost – in fact, they appearedthe one closest to be duckingthe door ducked and hurryinghurried away…
The flock banked right, aiming for the coffee shop. Grayfeather swooped down, scoldingRaider shrieked a war cry and dove at the bagelnearest ape-keeperbeast. Had they really been afraid of these useless, hideous creatures all their lives? Had they really scattered before their feet like so many dry leaves? ForThe sparrows followed. The ape-beast yelped and swatted at the first timebirds with its glowing rectangle. Two-Spots took a direct hit and fell, he sawdazed. The flock circled the ape-beasts as they really were: slow, clumsybeast’s hand, earthbound vermin. It was they who had build this citydiving and pecking, hacking downuntil the treesrectangle slipped from its grasp and tramplingshattered on the grasses, leaving nothing but empty fields of asphaltfloor. The ape-beast gave up and concrete where no food could growfled. Two others followed.
He landed on the bagel-keeper's hand and pecked its knuckles. It yelpedPecking and swung its handscolding, mashing Grayfeather's left wing againstRaider flew at the cash registerface of one who did not flee. He fell ontoThe flock followed in Raider’s wake, revenging themselves upon the counter and hopped awayslow, dazedclumsy, earthbound vermin who had tormented them for so long. His wing hurt No more, they cheeped. No more scattering before the ape- he was going to regret this tomorrow beasts’ feet like so many dry leaves. No more being chased by the ape- but it was not brokenbeasts’ shrieking fledglings or yapping dogs. No more cigarette butts dumped in their drinking water. No more squabbling over whatever scraps the ape-beasts deigned to give them.
Grayfeather circled the room, cheeping, trying to the gather the flock. This wasn’t going the way he planned. His goal was to swoop in, grab a bagel and get out. Raider seemed intent on starting a war with the ape-beasts. On some level, Grayfeather itched to join her. After all, it was the ape-beasts who had build this city, hacking down the trees and trampling the grasses, leaving nothing but empty fields of asphalt and concrete where no food could grow.
But even as fierce as she was, Raider would not win that fight.
Most of the flock, remembering their hunger, left off chasing the ape-beasts and flew up to join Grayfeather. They spotted the coffee shop and swooped down, scolding the bagel-keeper.
Grayfeather landed on the bagel-keeper's hand and pecked its knuckles. It yelped and swung its hand, mashing Grayfeather's left wing against the cash register. He fell onto the counter and hopped away, dazed. His wing hurt, but it didn’t feel broken. He staggered away, hoping the ape-beast would not hit him again.
The ape-beast shrieked, and Grayfeather looked up. Raider was perched upon the ape-beast’s head, pecking at its scalp. The ape-beast clutched at its hair, but Raider was too quick. Squawking and scolding, she herded the panicked ape-beast out from behind the counter and down the hallway. Grayfeather heard one last, angry cheep: MOVE!
The last to land was Raider. Grayfeather considered asking her if she’d enjoyed herself, but then thought betterlooked at the streak of itblood on her beak and said nothing. He had a nasty feeling he would regret this tomorrow.
They waited until she was through the door and out of sight before starting on another bagel. Once it was eaten down enough, three sparrows grabbed it and took flight, winging their way across the now-deserted lobby. Grayfeather gave the coffee shop one last glance. They might not be able to raid it again. Even the ape-beasts might be smart enough to post some guards next time. And then there was the possibility that they might retaliate… the sparrows might even have to find a new home.
