Radi

"Come on Radi we are all waiting for you." His mother said getting to the edge of the nest. "The weather isn't good. I feel a storm coming." Radi said hiding under a patch of dead leaves. His mother shook her head. "Sweetie we have been over this. The weather is fine, now come." She encouraged. "What if I fall?" He asked terrified. "Eagles don't fall you dimwit!" Falo, one of his brothers said. "Falo!" His mother shot out. "Mum, we can let Raki stay in the nest again today. I can't wait to fly!" Seela his little sister said. His mother was considering it but changed her mind. "No, he has to come with us." She said. Falo was tired of doing this over and over again. He walked to him. "Look, flying above this tree and out there is the same thing. It’s even more fun there." He said. Radi shook his head. He certainly wasn't ready. Falo immediately started flapping his wings in front of Radi violently so he moved back. Radi cried out. "Stop it Falo!" Their mother instructed. "Radi, we will fly without you today but tomorrow we fly together, ok?" She said. Radi nodded, just like he always did. One by one they took off with Falo showing off as usual. Radi watched them as they left.

Radi was right about the weather. There was a storm. It came quicker that he could imagine. It's like the clouds were late and had to be somewhere in a hurry. Radi was terrified. He was all alone. Completely alone and afraid to fly. Thunder made his situation worse when it struck his tree. The branch broke and Radi came down with the nest. He screamed as they both fell. Even though the nest shielded him, he hit the ground hard enough to knock himself out.

He opened his eyes slowly. The ground was wet but it had stopped raining. Radi got up slowly and turned around. He saw a mole staring at him. It was just about his age. "Did you fall?" The mole asked. "Yes I did." Radi said getting up properly. "My dad has to see this." The mole said again. "Huh? Why?" Radi asked confused. "My dad uses this term, the day an eagle falls. It’s supposed to be impossible." The mole explained. Radi felt embarrassed. "I was struck by lightening and it damaged my wings. You won't understand. You don't have wings." He lied. "My name is Wedla." The little mole said. "I'm Radi." Radi looked up. He couldn't locate his tree. How would his mother find him? What was he going to do?

It was wet all over. Radi didn't like that. "Hey if you don't mind you can share my shole. It's dry there." Wedla offered. Radi turned around to look at him. "Your shole? What's that?" Wedla watched him with his eyes wide open. "Oh its a shallow hole. Wait a minute. I have to make it a bit bigger for an eagle to fit in too." He explained. Radi watched in amazement as Wedla dug. "Wow that's so cool." Radi said when he was done. Wedla smiled. "Yea but not as cool as an eagle." Wedla said still staring. "The way you lot fly so high and come down swoosh to catch a fish." Wedla said. Radi sat in Wedla's hole and listened to him talk about how amazing he was. Things he never knew he could do. He felt good. He was like a super creature to Wedla. He nodded and smiled and a few times lied about doing some of those things.

"Radi! Radi!" His mother called out. Radi heard it and came out of the hole. "Its my mum." He said. "Mum I'm down here!" He yelled. She looked down and spotted him. "Good heavens. Thank God you are ok. We have to move to another nest. I'm sorry but you will have to..." before she could finish her sentence Radi cut in. "Yes I know. Mum, I met a friend, he is called Wedla." He said and turned to Wedla. His mother was wondering why he cut her short. Wedla was hiding in his hole. "Hello." He said. "For goodness sakes. You are not fish, come out from that hole." Radi's mother said and he came out slowly. "Thank you so much for keeping Radi safe. Radi we need to go now." She said. Wedla nodded. Radi walked to him and whispered. "Wanna see me zoom off?" Wedla's eyes widened with excitement. "Yes, yes. Oh yes." He replied. Radi turned around, closed his eyes and allowed his wings to do what God created them to do. He shot up into the big blue sky. His mother looked at him proud and surprised at the same time. Wedla just yelled wow! "Mum are you coming?" Radi called from above them. She flew to him. He knew it. He knew what he was worth.     

Reviews

[Nana]

Heartwarming. This story's well done.