I rule the night; the darkness is MY day. I am the king of the night skies, king of

the night altogether, which is what I am. The ground beneath me unfolds more and more

the higher I climb into the heavens. My outstretched wings span a little over five feet. With which the slightest twitch of the tips of my feathers I soar higher or lower. Cool breeze fluttering away at my wings as I circle upwards for altitude. I fly silently in the night but slowly taking my time. The thick dense forest trees do not hide the rabbit and mouse holes which I spy with my piercing eyes. The tiny silver of moon does not help nor harm my night efforts.

To me the night might as well be day. Movement. Movement to my right. I point my beak to the right. I point my beak to the right as I see the mouse poking its head out beneath some fallen tree leaves. Every twig, and blade of grass become so much clearer as I start my slow descent downward. Darkness enveloped that mouse. He did not see me gliding down silently on to a tree branch. My piercing eyes watched the movement of every twitch of the tiny nose. Hmm lunch. Thrusting myself into a missile like stance I waited. Digging my talons into the bark to force myself into patience. The mouse sneaked forward perking its ears to the slightest sound. Hunching down then pushing upward I threw my wings outwards. Slightly moving the tips of my wings to swoop sideways down as to make my looming shadow smaller, twitching my tail feathers to go in a straight line. The mouse darts too slowly as I strain my muscles back and put my wings up like a parachute to stop! Then as quickly as I came down I stretched out my claw-laden feet, sinking them into the back of its head.

No more nightly strolls for this little mouse. Pointing my large head upwards towards the trees I carry my prize with me to feast. The master of the night is what I am, nothing can escape me if I do not allow it to. Ahh the life of the night, so bitter sweet. Sweet for me, bitter for the little mouse.