The Golden Eagle lowered its majestic head. Its silver eyes locked onto her outstretched palm, then flicked up to her smiling, hopeful face, and then back down to the berries.
Ren's smile faltered slightly.
'Wait,' she thought, a sudden wave of logic crashing over her. 'I'm a stranger. Why would he eat from my hand?'
She started to lower her hand. "You know what, I'll just put them on the floor—"
Shuffle.
Before she could retract the offer, the eagle stood up.
It took two heavy, purposeful steps toward her.
Ren's heart immediately decided to run a marathon inside her ribcage. She wasn't afraid of the bird anymore—mostly—but having a beak the size of a meat cleaver inches from her face was still terrifyingly intimidating.
Ren's outstretched hand began to shake.
'Don't drop the berries,' she told herself. 'Don't faint. Don't scream.'
The eagle lowered its head.
Peck.
It was surprisingly gentle. The sharp beak deftly plucked one electric blue berry from her palm.
