Chapter 12 Bird Nest

As the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, the morning arrived with a sense of urgency, as if eager to greet the world anew. And within the soft whispers of the forest awakening, Kaka stirred from his slumber, his eyes blinking open with a renewed vitality.

With a yawn that echoed through the cave like the rumble of distant thunder, Kaka stretched his weary limbs, the stiffness of sleep melting away with each languid movement. As he rose from his makeshift bed, a smile spread across his face, a beacon of warmth within the cool shadows of the cave.

"Greetings, little Hermit," he greeted me with a gentle tug, "rise and shine, for the morning has come to greet us."

I blinked away the remnants of sleep, my eyes struggling to adjust to the gentle glow of dawn filtering through the cave entrance. 

"Good morning, Kaka," I replied, my voice still thick with drowsiness. 

"Did you sleep well?"

"Like a baby hatchling," he yelped, his eyes sparkling with a newfound energy.

 "And now, it's time to greet the day with open arms. So much to do little Hermit, we must hurry and prepare our things to move. I decided we would try our luck to reach open planes and leave this treacherous forest for good. This is our best bet. If we stay here, it is only a matter of time before we end up as food for the beasts. In the open plains at least we will have a chance."

With a sense of anticipation coursing through my veins, I rose to my feet, eager to embrace Kaka.

"I will go with you, Kaka. Show me the way and I will follow. I will be a good gobbie, I will!"

Kaka planted a gentle kiss on my forehead, his expression serious as he considered our next steps.

 "Before anything else, we need to fill our bellies as full as possible." He gestured towards the meager supplies we had gathered, a reminder of the uncertainty that lay ahead.

 "The journey will be long and hard, with no guarantee of when or how we'll find food again. Better to stuff ourselves now than risk hunger later. Come, little Hermit. We'll venture outside our cave and search for munchies, but we must be very careful." He emphasized the last words, a reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows of the forest.

As we stepped outside into the cool morning air, Kaka's senses were on high alert, scanning the surrounding foliage for any signs of danger.

 "Stay close," he cautioned, "and keep your eyes peeled for anything that might be edible. Predators roam these woods, and we mustn't let our guard down for a moment."

I nodded eagerly, my stomach growling in agreement with Kaka's wise words.

 "Yeah, let's fill our bellies!" I shouted, my voice filled with youthful enthusiasm.

 "I want to eat lots and lots of munchies! I'll be super careful! No falling to the predators! I'll keep my eyes peeled and my nose sniffing for all the tasty treats!"

With a skip in my step, I followed closely behind Kaka, my eyes wide with excitement as we ventured into the forest. We moved cautiously through the underbrush, our footsteps light as we searched for sustenance within the wilderness.

As we stealthily made our way through the dense foliage of the forest, Kaka's sharp eyes caught sight of a massive bird's nest perched high in the towering branches of a gnarled oak tree. With a gleeful yelp, Kaka pointed excitedly toward the nest, his finger trembling with joy.

 "Look, look! Little Hermit! Up there, in the branches! A treasure trove of goodies awaits us! Birdies nest! Tasty eggs! Tasty eggs!"

My eyes widened in awe as I followed Kaka's gaze, my heart pounding with excitement at the prospect of discovering what secrets lay hidden within the lofty nest.

 "Wow!" I gasped, my voice tinged with wonder.

 "That's the biggest bird's nest I've ever seen, Kaka!"

With Kaka leading the way, we approached the towering tree, our footsteps soft and cautious as we crept closer to the prize that awaited us.

 "Careful now," Kaka whispered, "we don't want to fall pray to the guardians of this magnificent treasure."

With a cautious glance around, Kaka stooped down and plucked a small pebble from the forest floor. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the pebble sailing through the air, aiming for the massive bird's nest nestled high in the branches. We held our breath, waiting for any sign of movement from the nest.

But to our relief, there was no reaction. Kaka let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing as he turned to me with a smile.

 "It seems the giant birdies are not home. It's safe to claim whatever precious eggs may be left in the nest."

However, as we surveyed the towering tree before us, a new problem presented itself. The nest was situated high above our heads, its treasures tantalizingly out of reach. Kaka furrowed his brow in thought, his mind racing with ideas on how to reach the coveted eggs.

And then, with a spark of inspiration, he turned to me.

 "I've got it! I'll toss you up, and you can grab onto the branches and climb up to the nest. Once you're up there, you can drop the eggs down to me, if there are any left."

I nodded eagerly, my heart pounding with excitement.

 "I'm ready, Kaka. Let's claim those precious eggs and fill our bellies!" 

With a nervous gulp, I braced myself as Kaka prepared to toss me into the towering tree. My heart raced with a mixture of fear and excitement, my limbs trembling with anticipation as I prepared for the daring feat ahead.

Kaka's hands, gnarled and weathered from years of hardship, gripped me firmly but gently, his touch surprisingly tender despite his frail appearance. With a shaky breath, he hoisted me into the air, his muscles straining with effort as he prepared to launch me toward the nest high above.

As he released his grip, I soared through the air with a dizzying rush of adrenaline, my stomach lurching with each passing moment. The world spun around me in a blur of green and brown, the branches of the tree looming closer with each passing second.

With a desperate cry, I reached out, my fingers scrabbling for purchase on the rough bark of the tree. And then, with a triumphant grunt, I managed to grab hold, my tiny hands clinging to the branches for dear life as I began to climb upward.

As I ascended higher and higher, the ground shrinking beneath me, I couldn't help but marvel at the breathtaking view unfolding before me. The forest stretched out in all directions, a vast expanse of greenery and life teeming with unseen wonders.

With every shaky step, I inched closer to the towering nest, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I fought to steady my trembling limbs. The branches swayed beneath my weight, creaking ominously as I ascended higher and higher into the treetops.

With trembling hands, I reached the giant nest and began to climb its towering walls, each movement slow and deliberate as I inched my way upward. My heart pounded in my chest with each upward step, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I fought to maintain my grip on the rough bark of the tree.

And then, with a final burst of effort, I reached the summit of the nest, my body sprawled out on the rough surface as I lay panting for breath. With wide eyes, I surveyed the contents of the nest, marveling at the sight of the enormous eggs nestled within.

With a sense of awe, I reached out and grasped one of the eggs in my hands, its smooth surface cool to the touch. The egg was almost as big as my head, its weight heavy in my hands as I cradled it gently.

With the precious egg clutched tightly to my chest, I began to crawl toward the edge of the nest, my movements slow and cautious as I navigated the precarious terrain. And then, with a steady hand, I leaned over the edge of the nest, my heart pounding in my chest as I prepared to drop the egg down to Kaka below.

"Here it comes, Kaka!" I called out, my voice echoing through the forest as I released my grip on the egg, watching with bated breath as it tumbled through the air toward the waiting goblin below. But to my horror, Kaka's hands fumbled clumsily, his eyes widening in panic as he struggled to catch the egg.

With a sickening thud, the egg struck Kaka squarely in the face, its contents exploding in a shower of yolky mess. Kaka let out a startled yelp, stumbling backward and landing with a heavy thud on the forest floor, his body sprawled out in a tangled heap.

"Oh no, Kaka!" I cried out, "Are you alright?"

But Kaka lay motionless on the ground, a sticky mess of egg dripping from his face. 

"Kaka, wake! Wake up!" I pleaded, tears welling up in my eyes as I watched helplessly over his still form. But there was no response, save for the soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze.

With a shudder, Kaka convulsed, his body jerking as he regained consciousness. His elongated tongue shot out from his mouth, lapping at his face with surprising agility as he licked away the sticky remnants of egg yolk and shell. With a slurp, he even managed to clean up the remains of the egg that had splattered on the forest floor.

As he rose to his feet, shaking off the last vestiges of dizziness, Kaka flashed me a reassuring grin.

 "I'm fine, little Hermit. Just got knocked out for a few moments, that's all. This time," he assured me, "I'll catch them properly. Trust me."

 I gathered up the remaining eggs and prepared to drop them down to Kaka below. With a deep breath, I released my grip on the precious cargo, watching with bated breath as they plummeted through the air toward Kaka's waiting hands.

And this time, to my relief and delight, Kaka's catch was flawless. He snatched each egg out of the air cradling them gently in his hands as he grinned up at me from below. With a triumphant cheer, I descended from the nest to join Kaka on the forest floor, our hands filled with the precious bounty we had retrieved from the towering tree above.