Okay, just for fun, a short story or two ...
The morning sun had not yet creased the sky, but Ken was awake ... and scared. This was the day. He knew it. There was no question, no turning back, no options. His parents were telling him to leave and he had no choice.
Restless with fears and concerns, Ken got up quietly, trying not to disturb his brother. It wasn't fair. His brother wasn't leaving today. They weren't kicking him out. Why was that? Truth be told, Ken had always been treated slightly better than his brother, so he wasn't at all clear why he was being evicted first. Ken sighed.
Well, no matter. He would have to face his fears. There was no room left for questions of fairness. It was his day to go and he would have to go. Ken sat and looked out at the dark horizon. Very soon the sun would rise, and very soon thereafter his time would come. What would it be like out there? Could he survive? Could he make it on his own? Where would he live? What would he do?
The questions continued in his head. He knew his parents wouldn't be helping him. Once he left the nest, it was over. They wouldn't help him with food or shelter or any of the other necessities. Oh, they might check in with him from time to time, but he knew how it would be. Sink or swim, those were his options, so to speak. And he didn't really think about how that seemed so cold. It was the way it had always been in his family. Once you're out, you're out. No going back. That was the history of his family for generations immemorial.
Ken thought about family. He would have to start his own. How would he go about doing that? He had never actually talked to a female other than his mother. How would he go about finding the right mate? Where would they live? He supposed that he'd start a family just as his parents had and that some day he would have children who he would, when the time was right, force to leave their home. That was the way it was. And just because he was concerned about it didn't mean it shouldn't be. Still, he was concerned.
The sun peeked over the distant mountains. Ken hadn't noticed the gathering glow, lost in his thoughts. The day was dawning. It wouldn't be long now. Dad would come to his room and he would be asked to leave. It would be any time now. He wouldn't be cruel about it, but he would be insistent. With minimal education and minimal instruction, he would be sent out on his own, forced to make his own way.
Ken took stock of himself. He should really be okay. He had amazingly good eyesight, which would lend themselves to good hunting skills. He instinctively knew where to look for food sources, so that would help. And if hunting was a matter of sitting and waiting, he had been practicing sitting and waiting all his life. He was energetic and capable. And he had been practicing, truth be told. He had no formal training, but he had watched his parents enough, and he really thought he knew what to do once he got out there. And from what he could see there was plenty of places for him to live. He'd likely get out of range of his parents, but beyond that it looked like an open world.
His father suddenly appeared on the scene, almost as if by magic. He stood behind Ken. He wasn't pushy, but there was no question. The sun was up enough now for the landscape to be clearly illuminated. It was time. And Ken suddenly realized that he was ready. There were no real fears. He was already well equipped. His only fear was that first step. Could he make it? Well, there was only one way to tell. Ken's dad departed again, flying to a nearby tree to watch. Ken flapped his wings several times and lifted off the edge of the nest, then descended down the cliff face in a controlled fall, landing somewhat awkwardly but safely on a tree. The fledgling hawk was heading out on his own.
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