Ancient Kodiak Babies

The forest grew larger to our eyes and I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of fondness. I relished coming home and picked up the pace unconsciously. Demon bird swooped down and showed me that I'd left my companions behind and then he landed on a branch above me.

"Hello demon bird," I said as we waited.

He tilted his head to the side and viewed me with an eye. He'd grown during our trip and I had no idea when he would stop. He was the size of a vulture and looked like he was one of their cousins.

His feathers were black and various shades of grey which made his bright red exoskeleton surrounding his head stand out. Beneath it his eyes were pitch black and there was a black oval shaped gem which could pass for a third eye wedged into his exoskeleton on top of his head.