WIND RUFFLED the few last leaves that survived the cold whom was now normal. the grass glittered with frost, yet a bit of time still remained before the grass would be completely white with snow. few tallwings hurried through the stone path that remained crowded. why do they always hurry? the day was warmer than the previous, and water dripped from every roof and tree. small icicles formed on the gutters that the roofs were wrapped in.

jet-black eyes like beads blinked to the cool sunlight that glittered in the puddles on the stone path. every now and then, a tallwing's foot splashed the water out on the gray stone.

flap, flap, flap.

wings smashed the air as the small animal shot upward, startled by the tallwings.

do they have to be so loud?

the bird's brown, white and black feathers were ruffled by the flight. he shook his body rapidly and a few wet drops of water flew out. the bird sat on a fence, whom was rotten by the constant rain and frost. soon it will be rotten even more, with the snow coming. the bird chirped and looked for danger once more. it could be luring anywhere. he took off once again, and flew to the place where all the tallwings gathered. perhaps he could find some food there.

when he arrived, he landed on the hard gray floor that was everywhere in the city. he hopped a bit and found a crumb of some bread. it wasn't much, but it'd do. the sparrow flew quickly through the crowd of tallwings, and made his way to the high building with white circle on the top, with two black talons that sometimes moved.

"hey kingsley !" the brown sparrow spun around and spotted his friend, a black-capped chickadee, who's excitement, as always, was pulsing from him.
"hi finn," kingsley greeted him, nibbling busily on the piece of bread. "want some?" he nudged it toward finn.
"yeah, thanks !" the chickadee chirped and stopped bouncing. he pecked at it a few times and pushed it back.

"here ! it's yours, you found it. you know there's not much food now." when kingsley opened his beak to protest, he quickly added; "i can find my own !" finn smiled, and set off.

"see you !" he tweeted as he flew up, towards the blue-black roof of the building. kingsley watched him for a while, then grabbed the crumb in his beak and rode the air lightly in the direction of a forest that led to a small stream that gurgled beside a few trees and a small pond.

that was where kingsley had made his home.
the thin river splashed on the muddy shore where in the hot days, kingsley liked to splash the water at himself with his wings, but today the water was cold and icy. the stream was flowing into the pond, and in the middle was a small island with few bushes.

near the lake was a tall rock where few small scarce trees grew, and on the cliff was a waterfall.

and then there was the ancient oak.

it was a huge, old tree with a large hole in its trunk, big enough for a bird to nest in. and there was kingsley's nest.

his nest was thick and soft, made from moss that kingsley had to change from time to time, and feathers whom kingsley had found.
kingsley flew over the pond to the nest and dropped the crumb there, and settled himself comfortably as he gulped it down.

not much, but at least something.
kingsley wrapped his head under his wing and closed his eyes.

he felt as if he he had slept for a few heartbeats, and he woke up. he shook the moss and feathers off himself, and peered outside the tree.
a faint rumbling came from the edge of the forest.

then it stopped.

kingsley, obviously curious, plunged into the air and flew in the direction of the sound. water dripped from every leaf as he flew. he landed lightly and pounced a bit.
then he heard something.
he shot up and let out an alarm call, and as he looked down he saw a fox leaped at the place where he had been before a heartbeat.

more rumbling sounded from the path. it sounded like the cars that tallwings use. kingsley sat on a branch and looked what is going on.

"what are they doing? hadn't they got the city to live in?" he muttered. then he saw it. one tallwing was spraying with neon pink color a cross on a beech that stood the nearest. then another, and another.
kingsley knew what it meant. he saw it once, and the marked trees were sooner or later cut down.

no! they can't do that! he wailed inside and rushed to find finn.

"finn? finn! where are you?" kingsley called when he got to the high building.
"what's all that? hey bud!" finn finally chattered and tilted his head to one side. they sat on the black-blue rooftop.
"you look like you've just saw a badger!"

"i did! i mean, worse than that!" kingsley desperately blabbered.
"the tallwings plan to cut the trees in our forest!"

finn stared at him in shock and anger in his black eyes.
"it's all we've got now.. where will we go now in the ice-season?" kingsley explained.

"we must warn the flock!" the chickadee chirped with his enthusiasm returning.

"the flock?! no.. i won't go there.." kingsley whispered.

"come on! we will be like heroes!" finn jumped and fluttered in front of the sparrow. without waiting for an answer, he tweeted; "let's go!" and flew on the opposite side from the forest.

kingsley had no choice but follow him. he couldn't leave him on his own!

they glided between buildings and houses for a while, and then flew over a large lake. beside the water was a monstrous tree, much larger than kingsley's.
it was as big as the high building with the white circle and two black talons!
in the tree was scattered many, many small nests and holes, and in the middle was the biggest. the branches were thick and long, with nests on them too. on the treetop were thousands of big leaves, though they were falling down now, and the best thing, dozens of birds of all shapes and sizes were circling the tree, some were landing in the nests, some were going away for hunting.

"wow," kingsley breathed as they flew.

"let's land there in the biggest hole, it seems like they have guards," finn pointed out.
kingsley nodded, and they headed down.

two hawks were guarding the entrance.

"greetings, dwarves," one of them rumbled.
kingsley and finn were used to this name, they were one of the smallest bird species to be seen.

"hello! we came to speak with the queen," finn explained.

the hawks let out a raspy sound, kingsley thought they were choking. he almost rushed to help them, but then he realised; it was laughing!

"y-you?" the second wheezed.

"what's funny?" the sparrow stuttered.

"we can't just let you speak with the queen whenever you want so," the hawk rolled his eyes.
"do you know what 'guard' means?"

"tallwings are going to destroy the forest !" kingsley screeched.

"what?!" one of the hawks breathed.
"haven't they got enough land?"

a delicate coughing sounded from behind them.

"you wanted to speak with me?" an elegant voice spoke.