Hawks in the woods
Part II
Hawk: The Biography of a Cat who learned how to fly
If you missed the first part of the story, click here.
Time slipped by unnoticed. The sun was already shining high in the sky. Hawk had survived the night, but the safety of his brothers remained uncertain. He heard high-pitched meows fading into the wind, reminiscent of a child’s cry for help after falling in a park. Whether it was Paul or Caramelo, Hawk couldn’t be sure.
The day dragged on, lonely and ominous. By sunset, Hawk reached the other side of the woods, nearing the area where humans lived.
He was closer to his brothers now, and this time, the cries were unmistakable. Paul’s meowing had stopped, but Caramelo’s voice still echoed faintly in the distance.
The kittens needed help—and fast. Could they survive another night alone in the dark?
But life has a way of surprising us. Sometimes, help comes from the least expected places.
Two couples, drawn by the cries of the kittens, searched through the darkness. Hawk spotted Paul in a cat carrier but bolted instinctively. Our little friend gave those humans quite the chase! While they managed to capture Paul, Hawk fled like a flash of light.
The humans were kind, but how could Hawk know that? All humans had become the same—sources of fear and danger.
For our frightened hero, those few minutes felt like hours. Hawk was so consumed by fear that we couldn’t hear the gentle breeze meant to soothe him. Had Hawk noticed Paul’s calmness, he might have realized that those humans loved cats. Paul was already resting, content. But Hawk was trapped in his own pain, unable to notice the present.
Yet those humans didn’t give up. They knew Hawk’s chances of survival alone were slim. The longer he remained lost, the more perilous his situation became.
And then, tragedy struck. In his frantic escape, Hawk stumbled over a manhole and plummeted two meters into an abandoned garage.
“But wait, dear reader—don’t rush to conclusions. Hawk could barely see, let alone “fly.” His injuries were severe—he was gravely hurt...”
The humans persisted. It wasn’t easy to find the key to that old garage late at night, but they knew Hawk needed help more than ever. When they finally reached him, Hawk used his last defense: he bit the man who tried to scoop him up. But the man didn’t let go. Using an old towel, he cradled Hawk gently, keeping him safe.
Hawk was hurt, shy, and feeling powerless. He didn’t bite the man because he was evil, and those humans understood that. The humans saw love in Hawk’s eyes. They took Hawk home, caring for him even though he behaved like a small, scared beast. Hawk was gravely injured, and the couple wasn’t sure if he would survive the fall.
SideNote
Sometimes, those who hurt us do so because they are hurting themselves. They act defensively because they are scared—trying to protect their hearts, their lives, or whatever else they hold dear. It’s a frustrating escape mechanism, meant to avoid more pain, but it often pushes others away. Not everyone will make the effort to search for us in a manhole.
Meanwhile, Paul, content and calm, was heading home with another human couple. But Caramelo? He was still missing. Only Hawk and Paul knew their brother had been left behind.
End of part 2
rPart III: Smiles with Caramelo
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