Peep was breathless with amazement (and possibly because their speed grabbed the air
away from her) as they soared over her home valley above the trees — the fields, the river,
the woods, all spread out below. She could see Grum and Mrrgh running fast beneath
them until they disappeared among the trees. All too soon the short flight was over and they
dipped down towards the river.
“That was wonderful!” she said when they had landed, pushing her short caramel-coloured
hair out of her eyes. She slid down the silky feathered back to the ground. "What are you?"
she asked, watching the huge wings fold into place.
“Bird mostly,” answered the creature, smoothing its gleaming blue and green feathers with
that wicked looking beak. “Mind you, it's hard to tell these days, there has been so much
mixing. Look at you,” he turned his piercing gaze on her and she stepped back half a step
before she could stop herself. “Human mostly aren’t you, and full grown, but so small.”
“I am small for a human,” Peep found her throat suddenly dry and swallowed before
continuing, “Ang is tall, most humans are taller than me. I think you’d call me the runt of
the litter.”
“Oh dear me, no. That is definitely not what I would call you.”
What the creature might have called her was forgotten as, with a crash, Grum burst through
the brush and out onto the river bank. He managed to skid to a halt before he slid into them,
and sat back panting. M