Irmuska had been asleep for a short time when an unfamiliar noise woke her. She sat up slowly with a yawn. Her mother couldn’t be back yet she thought. Listening again, she realized that it sounded nothing like her mother anyhow. The pup debated between returning to her nap, or investigating the odd nose. The peeping was increasing in volume and intensity. Something was surely going on.

Mind made up, the pup pulled herself to her feet; a quick peek and she’d be back before her mother knew she’d left. Ears twitched as she followed the noise. Soon enough she heard an unfamiliar growling and yipping coming from the same area. Irmuska crouched down and inched her way forward. A new scent filled her nostrils; it was one she’d never smelled before. The brush thinned out somewhat ahead. She peeked through and saw a fledgling bird being harassed by an animal. It was a young fox.

She put on her puppy pout. That wasn’t right! Before she could jump out of her hiding place the fox kit went after the hawk again. The hawk attempted to fend it off with its wide wings. Irmuska stood up and charged out from behind her brush. She growled as fiercely as she could. Both bird and fox turned to look at her in surprise. The rolly pup barreled right into the kit; sending the two young animals tumbling over each other across the clearing. The fox bit into her tail. Irmuska yipped and returned with a bit to its rear paw.

This was rougher than her father’s family played with her, but she could take it. She told the fox it was being bad with her growls and nips. It certainly took awhile to get her message across to the young fox. Irmuska was panting hard and felt a couple lingering painful spots as the fox ran off into the bushes. “That’ll teach you to be nice!” She shouted after it. A couple licks to her legs and tail reassured her that she’d taken no lasting damage from the sharp teeth.

Irmuska turned her attention to the bird. She cocked her head at him. He looked semi-fuzzy and unfinished. As she scrutinized him, the hawk screamed and mantled his wings at her. “Please don’t do that.” She winced at the piercing scream. “I’m not going to hurt you. Are you ok?” Her blue eyes took in the large bird. He seemed nearly as big as she was. Big birdie.

The hawk stared at her then slowly lowered his wings. “I…. think I’m alright.” He looked at her hesitantly. “Why did you do that?”

The pup puffed out her chest proudly. She’d driven off the mean, old fox by herself. “That’s good. I did it ‘cause it wasn’t right. My name’s Irmuska! What’s yours?” Now that he looked calmer, she moved in closer to look him over. He was missing quite a few tail feathers and some wing feathers. “How’d you encounter that fox anyhow?”

The young hawk looked confused at her reasoning, but didn’t say anything. She had saved him from the fox after all and didn’t seem bad. “Um, I can’t pronounce my name in your language.” He ducked his head shyly, “but it’s a pleasure to meet you Irmuska.” He twitched nervously as the pup walked around him. Embarrassed he looked down at his taloned feet before answering. “I was practicing flying and fell out of the nest. There was a fox family below. All the little ones chased me, and all but that one gave up eventually.”

Irmuska tisked in sympathy. “I’m going to my mama’s home. It made me kinda sad to leave my papa, but mama said I could come visit when I got older.” She seemed very proud of that fact. “Well since I doubt the foxes will let us get you home, we’ll have to find another way mister bird.” She looked him over again; her mind considering her options.

“My mother should be coming to find me soon.” He perked up, trying to be helpful to the pup.

A grin crossed her face. “So I just gotta keep you safe until she comes! I can do that….. but can she find you out here?” Irmuska wasn’t sure how well her mother would take to bringing the bird along with them. The bird nodded reassurance before she could start to worry too much. With that settled, the pup realized he wouldn’t be safe sitting on the ground. Where would he be safe? She thought about what her mother did for her.

Annika made a lovely, warm, and secure den. It was cozy and warm during winter, cool and damp during summer. “I’m not very good at digging dens yet. My mama still does that for me. You need protection now.” The hawk coughed uncomfortably and looked pointedly toward the branches above them. “OH! You wanna be in the trees!”

The pup felt silly. Of course the bird wanted to be where he could see the sky. She looked up, and up, and up. Those branches were way over their heads. No way she could get him up there. Blue eyes checked the whole area as she turned in a circle. There had to be something. A branch she could reach. At the far end of the clearing, one branch caught her beautiful eyes. It was perfect! Just out of her reach actually.

“Lookie here. That one should do well, don’t you think?” Irmuska backed toward the branch and coaxed the bird to follow her. “Come this way. It’s not far. You can do it. One step, and another.” She nodded encouragingly. The hawk walked slowly toward her, with his wings flared out slightly for balance. At the branch she stopped and looked back at it. “Do you think you can get up there?”

He eyed it dubiously. “I can try Irmuska. Back away.” He raised the wings, but waited for the pup to move safely off to the side. With a mighty leap he flapped hard and struggled to rise. He was nearly there. His wings flapped harder thought he didn’t seem to get any closer. Reluctantly the bird dropped back to the ground and shook his head.

Irmuska stood off to the side watching. His wings stirred up a lot of dust and bits of stuff. When he landed again she trotted over. “You were almost there! I know you can do it. C’mon you can push off me to help.” She nervously eyed his talons and hoped he wouldn’t hurt her. Her front paws rested on the tree trunk as she stood on her back legs. “Alright. Up you go birdie.” Even like this, the branch was still above her head.

The hawk used his wings to get him started. When he could tell he could go no higher, his feet carefully gripped onto the shoulders of the nice pup. With a shove that made her grunt he propelled himself easily up to the branch. “Thank you.” He looked approvingly at her.

She grinned as the flapping stop; her friend was now safely on the branch. “You’re welcome. Now all we need to do it wait for your mother to come.” Determined to guard the bird until helped arrived, Irmuska sat down at the base. All was quiet for a time as the two waited.

A scream filled the air and make the pup shiver. If she hadn’t had assigned herself a task, she would certainly had gone to find cover. Even now it made the fur on her back crawl. The hawk above her gave an answering call. That must mean it was his mother. She didn’t have to wait long until the large hawk showed up. Her eyes went round at the size of her. He was gonna get that big?

“What is this?” The female hawk eyed the unusual pair. Her young was clearly ruffled and if this pup was the cause….. “Easy mother. She helped me.” The young hawk put in quickly. “I’d still be on the ground if it wasn’t for her, and she ran off the fox kit.” Irmuska was staring at the hawk with her mouth open.

“Well then.” She eyed the pup below them. “Thank you for the kindness you showed my son. We don’t have much to offer in return, except this.” She reached back and plucked a long wing feather out. It swirled slowly to the ground.

Irmuska watched the feather mesmerized. It was fascinating how it spun around. She grinned back up at the pair. “Your welcome miss birdie. I like the feather a lot! Thanks.” She walked up to it and carefully picked it up. “Now that you’re here, I gotta get back or my mama will worry about me.” She gave a friendly wave of her tail and headed back to the clearing she’d left.