Story: The Scavenger
“A fresh blanket of snow!” Pip, the deer mouse, squeaks from her cozy, little hollow in the big cypress tree. “Mia,” she calls, “The snow is beautiful this morning. Do you see it?”
“Yes. It is beautiful!” Mia, the blue jay, answers and stretches her wings in the early morning light. Hopping down to Pip, she ruffles her feathers to stay warm, “It’s also cold—very cold! We should gather some food before the weather gets colder.”
Pip pops out and scurries down the tree, “Let’s go down to the river and look. I will beat you there!”
As they approach the river’s edge, Mia hops from tree to tree, looking for winter berries and acorns, “Here are some berries, Pip. Get ready to catch them!”
Pip stops in her tracks and points upward, “Mia! What’s that?”
Mia looks up and catches sight of a large, black bird circling above, “It’s a black vulture.”
“A vulture?” Pip is confused. “What’s it doing here? Don’t they stay in warmer places?”
“Usually,” Mia says. “But maybe it’s hungry?”
“Oh, look! It landed on a branch up there,” Pip moves in much closer to Mia.
“It’s big!” Mia realizes.
Pip whispers, “Do you think it sees us?”
“It sees us. Let’s find out what it’s doing here.” Mia calls out, “Hello! I’m Mia, and this is Pip. What brings you to the Watercolor Woods?”
The vulture tilts its head, “Good morning. My name is Zach. That is short for Zachariah. I’m searching for food.”
Pip steps under Mia’s wing, “Food? What do vultures eat?”
Zack chuckles, “Scraps, bones, and things others leave behind.”
Mia hops closer, “Have you traveled far?”
Zach nods, “Yes. I stopped here because these woods seem peaceful, quiet.”
Still wary of the visitor, Pip says, “They are very peaceful and quiet.”
Zach smiles, “I’m not here to cause trouble, only to search for food.”
Mia glances at Pip, “We can help. There’s a hollow log where animals leave scraps behind. We can show you.”
Zach perks up, “That’s kind of you. Lead the way.”
“Down the river bank, this way,” Pip points with her paw.
At the log, Pip crawls inside, “There are a few things in here left behind.”
“Bring it out, please. I do not fit in the hollow of the log. It’s too small for me.”
“Sure,” Pip pushes the scraps out. “Here you go.”
“Oh! These will do nicely,” Zack smiles. Picking at the scraps, “Thank you! I am always grateful for what I can find to eat.”
Mia wonders out loud, “How do you fly so far with so little to eat?
Zack looks at Pip and Mia, “I always find something, even if it’s small. It’s the way of our kind.”
Brushing snow off her paws, Pip shares, “You are welcome to stay a while. The woods are safe, and we can help you find food.”
Zack looks up from his scraps, “I would love to stay a while.”
Mia suggests, “You are welcome to roost in our cypress tree.”
“I like that idea. Is everyone here as kind as you two?”
Pip and Mia both blush and giggle, “Yes.”
After a full day of scavenging for food, the three return to their cypress tree. Pip and Mia look high in the tree to see Zach perching on a branch.
“He’s like a shadow guardian when roosting like that,” Pip whispers.
Mia nods, “I hope he has found a home here.”
“Me too!” Pip lazily whispers, dozing off to sleep.
“Good night, Pip,” Mia yawns.
“Good night, Mia.”
