Porcupine Ridge cloud city

@Kiiyea

From one extreme to the other, Shiv continued her "holiday" from the Heartwood, flying all the way from the coast to the mountains. The environment was vastly different here and the magpie found she much preferred the long stretches of beach and open plains that made up a large portion of the Wilds. She very rarely, if ever, ventured high up into the snow-capped mountains — what with her being a rather small, lightly-feathered bird and all. Horrible predators lurked these territories such as mountain lions, hawks, eagles, leopards! No thank you. Shiv would rather take her chances with the wolves, bears and buffalo down in the fields.

Alas, curiosity had dragged her towards a curious ridge line that shadowed a small refuge of trees nestled between the mountains. Gliding over the trees that dotted the slopes of the mountainous area, the magpie came to a rest on a low-lying branch, deciding to rest while a rain cloud passed over the area. Sheltered from the light shower, Shiv began to preen her perpetually ruffled feathers, picking out the small bugs that she had collected within her plumage from flying.

Taking a walk along the snow cloaked ridge was one of the things Kiiyea enjoyed most about her home. From the high peaks she could see out above most of the wilds and the view was absolutely spectacular. As she walked gracefully along the snow covered rocks and scraggly pines, the wide eyes cat noticed a little bird land on a low hanging branch in a tree near by. The little bird didn't seem to notice her and just went on preening it's sleek black and white feathers.

The small predator narrowed her eyes at the bird and lightened her steps, approaching the tree on cloudlike paws, making no more sound then a ghost would. When she finally reached the tree, she crouched low, hoping that her strong back legs would provide enough spring for her to make it to the branch that the bird was sitting on. It was a low branch, but maybe not low enough.

Unbeknownst to the little bird, she seemed to be on a particular cat's menu today. Shiv continued her idle preening, making soft squeaks and chitters as she happily picked at the tiny bugs that had unfortunately became one with her feathers. It was a handy way to store a snack, the bird mused. Perhaps she would go on long distance flights more often. She was largely unaware of the predator silently stalking up to her on quick and skilful paws, though she looked up as if startled (though it was only because her neck had become sore), before turning back to pecking at her other wing. Though, as oblivious as she was, one wrong move by the leopard and Shiv would suddenly turn into the bird equivalent of an evacuation siren.

Kiiyea stopped when the little bird looked up as if startled, but then quickly went back to picking at it's feathers. The felines wide eyes narrowed and a smirk crossed her lips. This bird would be a good snack. She hopped silently up to a ledge that allowed her to be closer to the branch that the bird was perched on and she crouched her legs, ready to spring. She unsheathed her claws and bared her teeth, eager for her meal.

After counting for five seconds, she shot off the rock and into the air, her outstretched claws perfectly aligned with the birds soft body, ready for impact. The only thing left was for the bird to stay put, allowing Kiiyea to catch it in her claws and land nimbly on the branch.

It was a small prickling sensation at the base of her neck that made Shiv pause, her beak buried within her feathers. She had the strangest feeling that she was being watched...no, no, stalked. A small ball of fear began to twist within her stomach, and she murmured softly under her breath — senseless noises to sooth herself. With her trust of wolves and her avoidance of dangerous places, she really hadn't had to give a second thought to would-be predators. Apparently today she was about to get a harsh wakeup call.

A sudden movement caught Shiv's eye and she spun around, suddenly seeing the feline who had just readied herself to leap. The magpie's life flashed before her eyes as it leaped at her, claws readied and reaching for her fragile body. With a frightened screech, Shiv took off from the branch faster than she had ever gone in her life. Feathers scattered the area — whether they were from suddenly being startled or because the feline had hooked a claw onto her tail, she wasn't sure, she just knew that she had almost become someone's snack!

Flying in a quick circle above the tree, the magpie clumsily landed on the opposing line of trees, on a much higher branch. She looked down at the carnivore, clattering her beak angrily while her heart threatened to leap out of her throat. "BAD. BAD KITTY." she shrieked, fluffing her feathers as she glowered at the cat.

The bird spun around right as she was about to hook her claws into it and make the kill, causing the feline to land clumsily on the branch, her eyes narrowed as she watched the bird rush to get away, screeching all the way. Great. Now there would be no prey for miles do to it's obnoxious racket. Her yellow eyes were tied to the bird as it fluttered around and landed on a high branch in the tree opposite her, clicking it's little beak at her and glaring.

She hissed back, showing her sharp fangs, fangs that had almost killed the black and white bird. She situated herself so she was sitting comfortably on the branch, looking up at the bird with equally angry eyes.

"No, bad birdy." she hissed, her teeth flashing once again. "Because of you, I don't get breakfast." she grumbled, wishing that the bird was in her mouth instead of on the branch above her.

Apologies for the wait!

The branch she had landed upon quivered slightly as the bird tried to calm herself, chittering away quietly and nervously preening her ruffled feathers. She couldn't believe someone would have the gall to just attack her like that! She, a tiny, innocent magpie! Still young and largely unaware of her natural predators, Shiv just couldn't believe it. Her eyes flicked to the feline who glared back at her with a show of her fangs.

In any other circumstance, the bird would have offered to help the stranger catch some breakfast. But considering she herself had just about become their breakfast, she wasn't in the most generous of moods. "Do not deserve breakfast," she said with a snap of her beak. "So rude."

She hissed once more at the arrogant bird. It was making her mad and she didn't like it one bit. "I do actually deserve breakfast. I was working for it." She replied haughtily, her claws curling around the branch she was sitting on. She blinked at the bird a bit more before turning and jumping out of the tree in one elegant leap, landing on a large rock.

She situated herself so she was sitting comfortably but still had a view of the small bird, her large yellow eyes fixed on the black and white form, watching every movement of her prey. Maybe she would get a second chance.

"You know you should be more careful." She purred, bringing a large paw to her tongue so she could clean it carefully. "There are much worse things out here then me." She warned the little bird, looking from her paw back at it's twittering figure.

Adding in an ending!

Do not, Shiv thought defiantly as the feline responded with a hiss. Well, she had chosen the wrong meal for this day! The bird inspected herself once more to confirm she hadn't been disembowelled by the creature's claws without realising it. No, everything seemed in order, slightly more ruffled than usual but there was no sign of blood or bone. Even if she had been eaten, the magpie doubted she would have made a very nourishing meal — she glanced back down at the lynx — even for such a small carnivore.

She edged along the branch, moving away from the base, as the stranger leapt off her perch elegantly. If she decided to try to make her her breakfast again, Shiv would be ready. As much of a bad first impression the feline had made, however, the bird was still interested in her. She had never encountered a creature such as she before. She was so very different from a wolf. Still wary of her movements, Shiv tilted her head slightly. "Like what?" she challenged, dubious.

The answer came in the form of a distant cougar's roar. Startled, the smaller cat took off, wisely choosing to avoid the larger predator. Shiv herself stiffened upon the branch she was perched on, unsure what had made the noise but knowing that whatever it was, it sounded much larger than the other feline. Not wanting to stick around to know just how large it was, the magpie took off, fleeing into the air with a flock of other frightened birds, eager to escape the monstrous carnivore.