"This is the bald eagle's breeding area," John said, his voice filled with emotion as he stood outside the enclosure.
"After all, it's the national bird of the United States. The treatment is definitely different!" Jiang Hai remarked, glancing from the small cages in the distance to the patch of forest ahead. The disparity in treatment was clear.
"Hehe, there's no absolute fairness anywhere—especially not in nature." Dominica chuckled at Jiang Hai's words, and he instantly understood her meaning.
In a world where everything must be harmonious and reasonable, humans are not truly equal. And in the natural world, the weak are the prey of the strong. Jiang Hai simply smiled, absentmindedly petting the chirping bird perched beside him.
"Martha!" At that moment, John opened the cage and walked in with Jiang Hai and the others. He donned protective leather gear to cover his arms, then raised them skyward and shouted loudly.
As his voice rang out, a figure flashed through the trees. In the next instant, a massive bald eagle soared over the woods and landed smoothly on his arm. Its claws were no joke.
Bald eagles, when fully grown, aren't picky eaters—they feast on wild boars, deer, fish, and even other carnivores. Their claws are designed for gripping such prey. They're sharp, strong, and could easily cause injury if not for the protective leather.
Even so, when the large bald eagle landed on John's arm, it knocked him back a few steps.
After a brief pause, John regained his balance and walked slowly toward Jiang Hai and the others.
Meanwhile, the chirping bird on Jiang Hai's arm puffed up its feathers, eyeing the new arrival warily.
It was a natural response. Much like when watching TV at home, the bird would puff up its feathers, but seeing Martha in person made it even more cautious.
However, unlike the young chirping bird, Martha remained calm, simply staring back.
"This is Martha, a three-year-old female eagle. Her father was shot when she was young, and her mother was scared off. We found her and raised her here. Over time, we taught her how to fly. Now, she's the lead eagle and helps teach the younger eagles to fly," John explained as Martha perched calmly on his arm.
While bald eagles are solitary creatures in the wild, each with its own territory, this wasn't the natural world. There wasn't enough space here for them to claim their own territory.
It was much like tigers: aside from mating time, male and female tigers rarely cross paths. Even then, the male will be chased off afterward with no second chances.
Yet in reserves or zoos, tigers live alongside each other, even sharing territories with other species. That's how lions and tigers can exist together. In these settings, a leader must be chosen, much like a wolf pack, and that role is typically assigned by humans. If there are troublemakers, they're either isolated or removed altogether.
"Then, I'll leave it to Martha," Jiang Hai said, nodding at John's explanation. He gently placed the young bird, Jiujiu, on the ground.
"Remember, watch its movements carefully," John advised. "Martha means no harm; she's here to teach Jiujiu how to fly."
Jiujiu was no longer puffed up, having calmed down at John's reassuring words.
Once Jiujiu settled, Martha leapt off John's arm and approached Jiujiu.
After a few quick steps, Martha spread her wings like a whirlwind, lifting off the ground in a fluid motion. Her powerful tail allowed her to shoot through the air like a missile, darting into the woods before turning and returning to the ground, waiting for Jiujiu to follow.
Jiujiu, watching intently, seemed to understand the task. It dashed forward, flapping its wings to take flight, but it was a struggle.
With a loud "thud," Jiujiu tumbled less than half a meter off the ground. Still, it got up, a bit disoriented but not scared. It stared at Martha, confused but determined.
"That's a good start," Dominica remarked, watching Jiujiu's attempt.
"Yeah, it managed to lift off," Jiang Hai replied, feeling hopeful. Any movement upward was progress.
Martha, after a brief rest, approached again. She didn't immediately take flight but instead spread her wings, as though guiding Jiujiu on the proper technique.
Martha, though not a seasoned expert compared to wild eagles, excelled in teaching. Her patience and clarity were evident, akin to a professor guiding a student.
Jiujiu absorbed Martha's lessons like a sponge, growing more confident with each try. It flapped harder, flew higher, and soon, after a few attempts, Jiujiu managed to glide gracefully to a tree branch about five or six meters off the ground. It let out a victorious cry, signaling its success.
Jiang Hai, hearing the excited call, knew immediately that Jiujiu was overjoyed.
After a brief moment, Jiujiu clumsily leapt from the branch and soared into the air, its wings spread wide like a bird learning to ride a bicycle.
"Although turning, landing, and taking off are still a challenge, it's flying now, and it's using its tail to steer—quite an improvement!" Dominica smiled, impressed by the progress.
"It's finally done it." Jiang Hai nodded, content. Jiujiu had learned to fly, just as he promised.
After about half an hour of flying, Jiujiu returned to the ground. Though it stumbled a bit upon landing, it didn't mind. It excitedly ran over to Jiang Hai, hopping with joy as if to say, "I did it—I can fly!"
"Good job!" Jiang Hai exclaimed, lifting Jiujiu back onto his arm and giving its head a gentle rub.
Jiujiu, like a playful puppy, leaned into the affection, its eyes squinting in contentment.
"It's learned to fly. Now, let's make sure it trains well. It won't be long before it's soaring like Martha," John remarked, taking Martha back from his arm. He, too, was impressed by Jiujiu's quick progress.
"I'm really grateful to you and Martha for your help," Jiang Hai said, walking over to John. He gave Martha a gentle pat as a thank-you.
John, seeing Martha's calm demeanor, understood. Jiang Hai had secretly infused Martha with a bit of spiritual energy, which made her body change subtly—she would grow stronger, smarter, and develop a slight connection with Jiang Hai.
Of course, Jiang Hai wasn't trying to claim Martha as his own. It wasn't his place, and John wouldn't agree anyway. He was merely giving Martha the opportunity to become even better.
With a final shake of his arm, John sent Martha flying back to her perch in the tree. She would need time to process the energy she had received.