Free Web NovelChapter 108: Chapter 108: Seeing Humans as the Enemy
Baldy the Owl’s home was in Forest Park, eight kilometers from the villa in the suburbs.
Once the car was parked, Crow led them to Baldy the Owl.
The sky was overcast, and combined with the dense, interwoven canopy of Forest Park, the surroundings were cast in a gloomy, dark light.
The owl’s nest was high up in a tree, so well-hidden it was impossible to spot without looking closely.
Crow flew to the entrance of the hollow and called out, "Baldy, I’ve brought them."
An owl soon emerged.
It glanced warily down from the tree and asked in a hushed voice, "Are these humans really trustworthy?"
"I think they are," Crow said. "Look, I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I?"
Baldy the Owl grumbled, "It’s not the same. You’re a crow. Humans wouldn’t bother catching you."
Crow didn’t like the sound of that and angrily pecked his head. "Right, because you owls are so high and mighty."
"That’s not what I meant." Baldy the Owl was exasperated with his cousin.
Listening to the cousins’ exchange, Renee Jennings called out in a gentle voice, "Hello, Baldy. I’m Renee Jennings. I really want to help you and your grandfather."
"Come on," Crow said, beating her wings and flying to Renee.
Baldy the Owl hesitated for a moment before flying down to join them.
Crow landed directly on Renee’s shoulder.
Seeing this, Baldy the Owl, highly disapproving, called out a warning: "Cousin Crow!"
"It’s all right," Crow said, shaking her head. "This human girl isn’t like the ones who hurt owls. She’s harmless."
"Baldy, this is my work ID," Renee said, pulling out the credentials she’d just been issued a few days prior. "These two are my colleagues. They catch bad people. Humans who attack owls are exactly the kind of people they go after."
Kyle Morgan and Sawyer also took out their IDs.
Both Baldy the Owl and Crow drew closer to inspect them.
Staring at Kyle Morgan’s ID photo, Crow commented, "His picture is better-looking than he is."
"What did she say?" Kyle Morgan asked Renee.
She pursed her lips. "She complimented your photo."
Kyle Morgan was delighted. "Not bad. A crow with good taste."
Baldy the Owl wasn’t as optimistic as his cousin Crow.
He asked angrily, "If you’re the ones who catch those humans, then why was my grandfather hurt?"
The question made Renee feel a pang of shame.
’It was true. Humans promised protection, yet it was humans who were killing his kind.’
"I’m sorry," Renee said apologetically. "It’s true, humanity hasn’t done enough."
The police were, in fact, constantly cracking down on illegal hunting. But the poachers’ methods were constantly evolving; as soon as one was banned, a new trick would surface.
Baldy the Owl then asked, "Can you really save my grandfather?"
Renee met his big, round eyes and answered frankly, "I can’t guarantee I can save him, but I will do everything in my power to try."
Baldy the Owl knew he had no other choice.
’If he kept delaying, his grandfather’s condition would only get worse.’
’He could only take a gamble—a gamble that this time, he and his grandfather had met kind humans.’
"This time, I choose to trust you," Baldy the Owl said, staring at Renee. "But if my grandfather dies, I’ll make every owl turn against humans."
Renee opened her mouth, but her words dissolved into a silent sigh. "Okay."
Baldy the Owl’s grandfather, Cullen, was now unable to move.
Baldy the Owl called to his kin for help, trying to move his grandfather Cullen out of the nest.
But after several failed attempts, the owls were frantic to the point of tears.
Renee was growing anxious as well; every minute they delayed, the owl Cullen’s condition worsened.
They could afford to wait, but Cullen couldn’t.
Renee called out, "Baldy, how about I climb up and get your grandfather?"
After conferring with his kin, Baldy the Owl told her, "Then we’re counting on you."
"That tree’s pretty high. Are you sure you can make it?"
"Renee, why not let Kai try?"
Both Kyle Morgan and Sawyer looked worried.
’If something happened to Renee, the Captain and the Chief would probably tear them limb from limb.’
"Yeah, let me give it a try." Kyle Morgan rolled up his sleeves and started to climb the tree.
But he had no tree-climbing experience and failed after several tries.
Kyle Morgan looked embarrassed. "I was a well-behaved kid. When other kids were climbing trees, I was at home studying."
"..." Sawyer facepalmed.
’This partner of hers was utterly useless.’
"I’d better do it," Renee said, taking off her jacket and rolling up her sleeves.
She’d never climbed a tree before, either. But perhaps because of the previous 10-point increase to her Combat Power, she scaled the tree with surprising ease.
Kyle Morgan stared, dumbfounded. "Whoa... incredible."
Sawyer also exclaimed in admiration, "Renee really is amazing."
Renee stopped when she reached the owl’s nest. Bracing her feet and gripping the trunk tightly with her legs, she freed one hand and reached into the hollow, carefully cradling the weak owl, Cullen, in her palm.
His body temperature was low. Renee’s heart sank. A solemn look clouded her delicate features.
Climbing down the tree was difficult while holding the owl in one hand. She could only inch her way down. The rough bark scraped her arm, and fine beads of blood began to well up.
Watching from below and holding Renee’s jacket, Sawyer’s own brow was deeply furrowed. But she realized Renee hadn’t even frowned once.
’She really wasn’t fussy at all.’
As she neared the ground, Renee said to Sawyer, "Use my jacket to wrap him."
"Okay." Sawyer quickly unfolded the jacket and held it high.
Renee placed the owl onto the jacket and then jumped down from the tree. The moment her feet landed on the dry leaves and twigs, she said, "We need to contact the Forestry Bureau and get a vet to operate on Cullen."
’Cullen’s condition was quite serious; she didn’t trust the vets at a regular pet hospital.’
’After all, she had an agreement with Baldy: if Cullen didn’t make it, all owls would see humanity as the enemy.’ freēwēbnovel.com
"Got it. I’ll make the call," Kyle Morgan said, immediately pulling out his phone.
Baldy the Owl watched the scene, somewhat dazed.
’These humans seemed to really want to save his grandfather.’
’Especially this long-haired human girl.’
’She had scraped her arm on the bark just to get his grandfather out of the nest.’
"You’re hurt," Crow said, looking at Renee’s arm.
"It’s nothing serious." Renee glanced at her bleeding arm and calmly pulled her sleeve down. "Let’s go. Cullen’s temperature is low; we have to hurry."
"Then Baldy and I will go with you," Crow said. Just before they left, she asked, "You’ll be feeding us, right?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile touched Renee’s eyes. "Of course."
"Good," Crow said, finally reassured.
Baldy was speechless, but he didn’t say a word.
