The cries can be heard throughout the forest. Another child was born, her screams waking up all the rest. The parents scramble to quiet her before the complaints start. The question on everyone's minds was why this new generation were so different from normal. One of each of their children looked nothing like them. Sure there were some small details that they shared, but overall they looked like a different species. Even stranger was that each of the unique families’ child looked the same type of different. Something was evolving them.

After a reluctant meeting of all the families, they decided to call the weird children Human.

Robin chirps a goodbye to her mother as she spread her dark wings to go meet up with the other Humans from the bird families. Only with the Humans can she make the full use of her vocals to speak their unique language they created when they were younger.

Her favorite time of the day has always been when she is spreading her wings with the others. Her family had trouble keeping up with Robin due to her much larger wingspan, even with a weak wing. The Humans though could keep up and even pass her.

“Raven? Crow? Where are you?” Almost to the redwood tree in the middle of the forest she calls out for her closest friends. Growing up on the edge of the woods, she didn't know many of the other bird families.

“Robin? Is that you?” A sleek male with blue wings pops out from the other side of the tree.

“Jay!” Flying down to the Human, she tackle hugs him. “I thought a cat got you!”

“She did… the Human that is. But it turns out that the other species Humans are just like us! Rabbit is even secretly holding meetings for Humans only! You have to see it Robin!”

Robin backs away a bit. “Are you suggesting mingling with predators? Those families eat our kind!”

“Their families might, but Humans don't! We aren't like our families either Robin. Haven't you noticed how much stronger we are from them? Even if a predator or two attack we can handle them. Raven and Crow have even already left to check it out! Join us Robin!” Jay seems so excited at meeting more Humans other than the birds. Finally Robin gives in and agrees reluctantly, trying to ignore the old throbbing in her weaker wing.

Raven's large black wings are tucked tightly into her back. Crow wasn't worried about the predators surrounding him and is showing his slightly smaller wings off left and right. A Human with grey ears and a bushy tail slinks up to Raven.

“A bird huh? Don't see much of your kind at these gatherings.”

Raven backs up. “Just never heard the news. Not like we talk with land animals.” Raven had heard the story her best friend shared anytime predators came up. The only reason she had come was to watch over her slightly smaller counterpart. Glancing over while still focusing on the wolf Human, she was glad Crow had moved on to talking with Rabbit who had set this all up. “If you would excuse me, I must return to Crow.”

Rather than letting Raven go, the wolf had cornered her. “I don't think so little lady. I want to know more about you.”

“Why? So you can eat my family?” Raven starts to panic. Instead of closing in, the wolf instead backs away.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.” He raises his hands to right against his head as his ears lowered and his tail tucked between his legs. He was submitting himself to her. Why? “I'm sorry for the wolf family eating your kind, but it's in their nature, not mine. I left them when they tried using me to hunt down a Human. She was a bird like you…” He looks down. “If anything I want to protect you. I want to get rid of the guilt of hurting her wing. I know I come across as aggressive, but I don't mean to.”

Raven's wings loosen up as she sees the truth in his yellow eyes. He was not the predator like the wolves, he was Human. What Human was, she wasn't sure yet. But they weren't the families. Even the families knew that when they were all born, purposely naming them as a new family.

Robin and Jay look around for the other birds. There were so many unique Humans mingling, yet none of them looked out of place.

Finally Robin spots Raven from across the field. Then she sees the Human she is talking with, and Robin's wing goes limp, the phantom pain overcoming all her sane thoughts as she starts screaming.

She passes out for several hours and when she finally comes to, her first thought is if Raven is still alive. She opens her eyes and sees a strange sight.

It was almost like a upside down nest on five trees with dirt packed smoothly to form a square around four of the trees, the last in the center. Her three friends surround the pile of leaves she was placed on.

Relieved to see Raven, Robin reaches out to take her hand. “The wolf didn't eat you.” Robin smiles.

“He's Human Robin, he doesn't eat other Humans.” Crow speaks up like Robin is an idiot.

Robin sits up angrily, not believing her ears. “Why did he eat me then?”

“He didn't though. He was forced by his family, he even ran away from them after that incident. He wants to apologize. His guilt has sworn him to a life of plants. Humans can do that you know. We can be anything we want.” Raven tries to calm her down.

“Sure, mangling my wing is not trying to eat me. I may be a Human like him, but I'm a bird before anything else. Just because he claims to be changing his diet doesn't mean anything.” Robin turns away, shaking from fear and anger.

Raven wants Robin to see Wolf for who he actually was. She starts to get desperate. “You just have to watch him Robin! He's different just like us! Rabbit is planning a year long civilization for Human's here. Why don't we join in as well?”

The wolf Human slowly opens the flap. “Sorry from eavesdropping, but possible I would like to prove myself to her as well.” He reaches into a pack and pulls out a long thin sharp stone. “I crafted this myself, if she wants she can have it for protection from predators. One stab to the heart would kill me.” He taps his chest. “I just ask you don't kill me for sport.” He passes the knife to Raven who passes it to Robin, who takes it reluctantly. She knows how hard it could be to change the Human's mind.

For the first few weeks Robin never let go of the knife. Then she would occasionally leave it in the Nest where the birds stayed. Raven was proud of her slow change.

They were all changing slowly in fact. All of the Humans started to realize how similar they were. They were all more at home here than with their own families. Why did it take so long for them to find each other?

Then near the end of the year a Human gave birth. It was unheard of before due to the different bodies they had from their families. The word spread fast through the whole forest as the baby's cries could be heard throughout. The child was born between a deer Human and a moose Human. It's antlers wouldn't grow in yet, so no one knew who it would take after, but the child showed that Humans were truly a different species from their families and could mate with other Humans, no matter what families they were raised in. Watching the new family showed that Humans were also mammals. Soon there were even predator and prey couples coming together.

Robin couldn't stand it and scoffed at them. Raven on the other hand had her eye on a certain grey wolf.

“Think about it Robin. Would we have a cub or chick? What about a mix?” Raven flew higher than Robin and seemed to glow.

“A bird works perfectly fine for me.” Robin grumbled.

“I know.” Raven flew down closer and smirked. “A certain blue wing right?”

Robin blushed, but admitted it. “Yeah, and you should focus on someone of our own kind as well. Like Crow for example. Someone that didn't try to kill your best friend.”

“Just forgive him already Robin, he doesn't mean actual harm anymore.”

Almost finished with their flight of the day, Raven spies Wolf near the Nest with the two male birds they were just chatting about. She lights up and dive bombs towards them. Robin rolls her eyes and follows, not as afraid of Wolf as she once was. Not like she would admit it though.

“What's up boys?” As Raven lands, Wolf hands the girls wooden cups of water.

Crow speaks up first. “There is talk about creating a ceremony to finalize and show whose mates are whose. It would be easier if Humans mate for life like many of our families do. Jay has already offered to be the first to try out the ceremony with Lynx.”

Raven glances at Robin who shows no emotions for once. She decided to speak up for Robin. “The cat who told you about the meetings a year ago?”

“Yeah, we met up again and started talking. And then all this mating business started and we thought why not? We have the right parts and we both want to bridge the gap between families. This is our opportunity.” Jay smiled wide, then noticing his future mate, he excused himself and literally flew to her gleefully.

Raven turned to her friend worried. “Are you OK with this Robin?”

When Robin doesn't respond Crow speaks up. “What do you mean? Does she have a crush or something on Jay?”

“You never noticed?” Raven looks at the dense Crow.

Wolf this time looks shocked. “She likes Jay?”

“Have you seen his blue wings? Of course she's been in love with him since the first time they flew together. They were the most beautiful Humans in the skies in our part of the forest. That is until the incident…” Raven quickly shuts up as she remembers that the cause of the incident was the wolf in front of her. “Point is she wanted to mate with Jay. And now she is heartbroken.”

Robin starts to get fed up with them gossiping about her while she was just standing there. As a single tear drops she jumps and pumps her wings, flying towards the redwood tree. Wolf doesn't even thinks and drops to all fours, chasing after her.

The two birds left behind just stare in shock, one heart breaking before the other more dense heart slowly realizes and also breaks. The whole complicated love web coming to the surface because a child that none of them knew was born in their community.

Robin sits with her wings spread out, one scarred and missing feathers. She is out of breath and her wing is throbbing from being overworked after so long. Just from a flight at a normal speed for the others.

Hearing the snapping of sticks she pulls out her knife. “Who goes there?”

“Please relax, it's me… I probably shouldn't be the one to run after you, but I couldn't stop myself. Your tears are each my guilts. I can't stand seeing them. Please tell me how to help you Robin.” He looks at her painfully.

Robin puts down the knife and pulls herself to Wolf and falls into his shoulder. Wolf does nothing for a moment from shock, but then he slowly wraps his arms around her pulling her close. They sit for several hours like that, Wolf holding Robin as she cries and eventually opens up to her enemy.

Finally coming to herself she looks up to Wolf. “Why did you attack me of all the birds anyways?”

Wolf looks down,but answers truthfully. “You were the most beautiful, like Raven said. I wanted to fly with you. I only know how to fly through the forest on the earth though, so I wanted you to join me down here. Maybe I also saw how free you were and was jealous. I wanted your life, and it slowly turned to wanting you yourself. Trying to capture you was all I could think about.” Wolf closes his eyes and puts his cheek against Robin's. “I guess I just fell in love at first sight.” He whispers.

Robin reaches up and pats his head. Her heart thumping, she turns her head without a word and kisses him instinctively. Slowly the kiss gets deeper and deeper. Robin's remaining hatred morphing to love the longer they sit there kissing.