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Winter at last gave birth to spring, and a lovely one at that. The white colours drew back, to be replaced quickly with the green of shrubs and leaves. Days became warmer, and the air smelled of young, healthy buds. It was the smell of new life.

Winter had left, but Charlie hadn't. The eagle couple proved to be pleasant company, and he discovered over the course of the weeks just how much he could learn from them. The eagles, in turn, were glad to have him around and more than willing to show him some tricks of the trade, even though they were different species.

Today, on a crisp blue morning, all three of them were once again ready to put some theory into practice. Two eagle screeches echoed over a grassy clearing; a signal clearer than day.

On the other side of the clearing, a bush of heather rustled. A small shape jumped forwards and rushed off, tossing sprinkles of dirt in the air with its little, pumping legs. Charlie could not yet see the rabbit, but he could smell it easily enough. His legs itched. He wanted to make a move, but he had to wait. That was the plan.

Another set of screeches resounded. Up in the air, Chuck the eagle, wings outstretched, came soaring in from another direction. As he neared the ground, his grey shadow hovered closely behind the rabbit like a reaper of souls, forcing it to make a sharp turn. The rabbit was now heading straight towards Charlie.

Charlie sniffed. The rabbit's scent intensified.

Now!

He bolted off, running as fast as he could and occasionally looking upwards to check his course. Yes, he could still glimpse the eagle's hovering shape opposite of him. All was fine. His tongue hung out of his muzzle as panted and sprinted on. The thrill of the hunt was maddening. Charlie's heart burned with an inner fire.

And that was when the rabbit jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. At the very last moment he made an attempt to veer away from the wolf head popping up from right in front of him from the tall grass, but it was too late. Charlie sunk his jaws into the rabbit's neck. His prey twitched once, twice, then went limp.

With a grin, Charlie dropped the dead rabbit. He stood back and let out a little victory howl. This had already been his third rabbit catch for today, but he had the feeling he could go on like this forever. It wasn't just the adrenaline high that hadn't yet faded away--it was more. Charlie had never felt so successful, so powerful, so confident. Even more so than when he decided to take on a moose all on his own last winter. He sighed with a smile. Licking his lips, Charlie bent down to take a bite.

'Hey! Leave some for us too!'

With a whoosh, the eagle couple landed opposite of him and together they started ripping the rabbit to shreds. Everyone delighted in the taste of the fresh kill.

'We saw how quickly you finished this little bugger,' said Chuck. 'Couldn't have done it better myself.'

'That's because you have no teeth, dummy,' Hazel commented.

Her husband rolled his eyes. 'Anyway, we're glad you're doing better, little dude. Seems to me your hunting skills have improved a lot too over the past months.'

Charlie nodded and took a moment to reflect. He had stayed longer than he initially wished, but his stay had definitely changed him for the better. His legs felt stronger, his nose more sensitive, and his stamina had improved greatly as well. Charlie was no longer a little wolf. He had grown.

But would he have grown enough?

'What's up with the frown, little dude?' said Chuck.

'Well, I know I'm bigger and stronger and all, but in the end I'm still cheating.'

Hazel looked up from her lunch, her beak bloodied. 'Cheating? We're only giving you a teeny tiny push in the right direction.'

'And that's just it,' said Charlie. 'I have to be completely alone and independent, otherwise I'll never be able to return to my family.'

The eagle couple exchanged a worried stare, then Hazel said, 'Don't worry, Charlie. You just need to give yourself time to grow.'

'But I don't have time. You remember what I told you during that first day, right?'

'Yes, we do,' Chuck said. 'You've made your personal mission more than clear when you repeated it this morning, and the morning before that, and the morning before that, and--'

'It's not funny!' Charlie exclaimed with his mouth full, spitting chunks of meat towards the father eagle. Hazel too, gave him a judging glance.

'Sorry, couldn't help myself,' said Chuck. 'Hazel's right, though. Time is good for growing, and also for letting go of that intense attitude of yours. Honestly, it sounds a little... obsessive.'

Now Charlie turned this piece of wisdom over a bit longer in his mind, but he still didn't understand. 'What do you mean?'

'Please don't worry about it,' said Hazel. 'Time heals all wounds.'

So he did. Charlie forgot about Chuck and Hazel's worried tone of voice and dug in once more. Today he had done well. Tomorrow he'd do even better.