Blackfeather Woods about it

astara's move had been made mostly in play, but she was deviously delighted to see the owl flutter off, as offended as a hen chased from her roost. he settled in a branch high above, his beak clicking -- the noise was not one the girl had heard before, and her muzzle tilted this way and that, with her long ears flopping in each motion.

and then he dove -- being far faster and on the wing, he easily had the advantage. astara had scarcely turned around before his talons raked her rump, drawing a pained yelp from the girl. this was play no longer -- with a snarl she wrung herself to the side and snapped at the bird's trailing talons, a guttural growl sounding deep in her body.