Tylisia awoke in the chilly morning air. She yawned and hooted a good morning to her friends. She ruffled her feathers and preened her wings, preparing them for the morning breakfast hunt. Then, as a few other young owls-in-training gathered around who would join her on the breakfast flight, she spread her wings, leaped from hee roosting branch, and soared up into the sky. She flapped her wings, looking down as the tree foliage began to thin. Soon she was flying above the tree tops, looking down as they grew smaller and smaller. A breeze caught under her wings and she flattened them out, gliding effortlessly, with her friends flying nearby. Ahh, the wonderful sensation of gliding on a gentle breeze, Tylisia thought to herself. She circled a few times, enjoying the view as she went. Screeee! All of the young owls made the breakfast hunt call before folding their wings in and diving straight down, back into the forest.
They menuvered between the trees, their keen eyes searching the ground below and their highly sensitive ears listening for the faintest squeek of a mouse, or the slightest rustle of the leaves as a vole scurried. Their flight was silent as they all flew together.
Suddenly, Tylisia's bright eyes caught the tiniest movement under a bush; the smallest flash of gray fur scurried under the bush, trying to stay out of view. But it was too late; Tylisia expertly yet completely silently dove down, heading straight for the bush and the mouse beneath it. Just at the right moment, she outstretched her talons, aimed, and caught the mouse before quickly lifting off again and joining back with her friends in the air.
Tylisia screeched happily; she was proud of the prize she had found. Indeed, it was a rather large mouse that would feed herself plus a couple of her friends. It would be a wonderfulyl satisfying meal that would last at least until dinner in the evening. She grasped the frightened mouse securely in her talons, and the breakfast hunt continued until all but a couple owls had caught at least one mice, vole, or some other small unfortunate animal. Nevertheless, this morning had been a great day for hunting and there was plenty for everyone at the Great Tree to have a fulfilling breakfast. Tylisia couldn't wait to see what the rest of the day had in store for her.
