He Was Trying To Kill You

The peregrine falcon is flying more slowly than usual.

Something is wrong.

Could it be the chocolate?

His belly has become over-active.

Bluh! Pffrrt! 

He flies on.

It's a matter of principle.

The lure of more chocolate has gone.

He can already see Rookai and two tiny orange-bellied birds in the distance.

He speeds up, until he is flying above them.

Bleeuh! Fttt! Ploh!

Roo-kai looks up.

A peregrine falcon! 

Don't look now, Tzeets, says Roo-kai, but there's a predator above us. Our best plan is to scatter.

Shouldn't we stick together? asks a Tzeet.

That's an option, says Roo-kai. But if we scatter it will only take one of us.

If we stick together, says the other Tzeet, it might think we have special powers

You know nothing, says Roo-kai. 

I can hear you, says the peregrine falcon, from on high.

Scatter! says Roo-kai.

Don't bother, says the peregrine falcon. I'm not here for that. I've brought a message. Ooh! Hek!

A few drops of brown faecal matter rain down.

Yuck! cries a Tzeet. 

A sign of my bona fides, says the peregrine falcon. I have diarrhea. Why don't we all land, and I'll tell you what I came here to tell you. 

Fine, says Roo-kai. 

They land, just outside Horsham.

The peregrine falcon looks pale.

Are you okay? asks Roo-kai.

I'm feeling a bit ordinary, says the peregrine falcon. 

What's that stuck to your claw? asks Roo-kai.

The peregrine falcon looks at his claw with distaste.

Turkish delight, he answers.

From Camus's box of Favourites? asks Roo-kai. 

Mm, says the peregrine falcon.

Chocolate is toxic for birds, says Roo-kai. He was trying to kill you.

I should have known, says the peregrine falcon. I'm usually more careful.

What did you come here to tell us? asks a Tzeet.

The Spirit of Tasmania leaves from Geelong, says the peregrine falcon.

Does that mean we're going the wrong way? asks the Tzeet.

Not yet, says the peregrine falcon. You can fly straight to Geelong from Horsham. And it's shorter.

Thanks, says Roo-kai. We'll head to Geelong then. Are you coming?

Why would I be coming? asks the peregrine falcon.

He looks at Roo-kai. and the two little orange-bellied parrots.

Safe journey, says the peregrine falcon.

Ughh! He will have to lie down. 

His heart beats faster.

The three travellers arise and head for Geelong.

The peregrine falcon dies.