Unknown Island (red tailed Hawk Transformation story)
By Joel Forrest and Falkie

In the morning in a nice lovely city, in a great island, called paradise island, I woke up in a hotel bedroom. I had a full breakfast for a big day out. I said to myself while look at mirror "well Richard you first day of holiday, I better spend the next 2 weeks of holiday here as exiting as possible, before I go back to work as a boring Steel worker." I sighed to myself, Its not the most exiting or fulfilling job, but the money is good. after I ate breakfast I headed to the reception and  greeted them "good morning! Shannon and Will!"  they both replied "good morning Richard!" I walked outside of the hotel just at the right time to witness a lovely sunrise.

I walked to the taxi stand and hopped into one taxi and I said "to the airport please" we set off. while we were driving I said to myself " I couldn't wait for this day and now its finally here!". The taxi stopped at the airport. It was quite a short drive from the hotel. I said "thank you! Keep the change!" I gave the taxi driver $15. I went inside and I walked to the reception and said "hello my name is Richard Lane, I'm here for hand gilding" and they look in computer and they replied "oh Mr Lane just follow me, we get you ready" I follow one of staff at reception to room.

I entered into the room and got suited up for the gliding, the man said "wait here for a couple of minutes, we will lead you to the airfield". I replied  "alright! I can't wait for it to finally start"
I waited for a couple of minutes and a women came in and said "hello Richard! Follow me and we get you in the air" I follow the women and we went outside of the airport. it was loud with the sound of jet engines. it was a small airport but lots of people came here for gliding like myself. I went to a motor glider and I sat in it.

I started the engines and put on my helmet. I said over the radio "perfect! This  is X-ray Sierra 143 Romeo Lima come in Papa 26 Alpha Tango Charlie over!" after a short while I heard on the radio "this is Papa 26 Alpha Tango Charlie, permission on runway and take-off over!" I set off to the runway, while I stopped, I replied "Copy that! Have nice day Papa 26 Alpha Tango Charlie over and out!" I went to runaway and I said to myself "here it goes!" I take deep breath and think about the freedom I will have as I fly and glide.

I pushed the throttle. The machine was going really fast. I took off and I went as high as I can and I said to myself while looking at paradise island "wow look that! I am as free as a bird." I gilded like a hawk, well kind of. I took a look around observing the paradise island. I admired it the view, I said to myself "from above this island is even more amazing".  while I glided I heard that the engine has stopped working. I exclaimed "oh no, please no!The Airport is too far away, or anything on the main island." I looked around to for any safe place to land and I saw a big island it should be possible to land on, but it will not be a pretty landing I could tell.

I was still gilding, but so far I wasn't sure what to do and I prepared for landing when I saw a big plane meadow as my runaway. After that I landed on the patch of green grass. I was drifting quite a bit and I was seeing myself falling over at the cliff end of the clearing. Right before my glider went too far it stopped. The balance was pretty delicate and it was hanging over the cliff with its front. I quickly unbuckled the seatbelt and got off. I was really in a hurry and I fell on the grass. I got up, a bit hurt, right in time to see the gilder falling of the cliff. I said "oh god... if I did not jump off that quickly I might have died" I carefully walked to the cliff and looked down. The gilder was heavily damage, no way of repairing or salvaging it. I sighed "ugh! I was lucky there but how earth do I get out here?!" I chose to explore this unknown island a bit.

I walked deeper into the unknown island, when I saw a house and said "a house!! I'm saved, come on Richard!" I quickly ran towards the house just as a lady was exiting it. I wondered if she was all alone here. she quickly said to me, upon sighting me" Another trespasser? Get out!" I stopped running and said a bit confused "I'm truly sorry ma'am, I crash landed here and my gilder broke. I can speak of luck that I'm still alive. I just want to get home, I won't brother you again just please help me!" she replied "well, then come with me, you must be hungry" the sudden offer of food seemed a little off out of this context, but maybe she just wanted to be nice. We walk to house and I said "who are you ma'am? My name is Richard Lane" she replied with a soft laugh "my name is Circe" we went inside to Circe house, it looked amazing, kind of Roman like, or Greek.

I sat down at the table, she seems a little odd, maybe mischievous, even if she seemed nice at first glance. She offered me some food to eat. I don't feel that hungry but I wanted to be respectful to her, so I said "Mrs Circe, it's kind you are offering me food, but I don't really feel hungry yet" she replied "take your time Richard, you are going to be here for a long time" I felt confused and my mind said "you are stuck here, she is not letting you go back to paradise island, she wants to trap you". she said "Richard come with me I want show you something"

I got up and followed Circe. I felt like she would try to kill me, but I thought it was more realistic, that I was just paranoid and she was just trying be kind and helpful. After a short walk, we went outside entering her garden. it was a lovely place and I said "a lovely garden you got there Circe! I see bees and wildlife, I can even smell some lovely flowers" she replied "oh thank you Richard! I got a question for you" I replied "okay" I wasn't sure what to make of her question when she asked "do you have a job?" I look at flower and said "yeah I work as a steel worker. I make steel for buildings. it is boring and tedious, but you get paid a lot". "I can offer you a better one if you would stay here with me for some time" she offered me. "What kind of job?" I asked, but she seemed to ignore my question,  she walked a bit to get a box. I was curious, so I asked "what is that?" she replied and open the box "it's just a red tailed hawk's feather"

I walked closer to have a better look at the feather. I asked "it's lovely, where did you find it?" she replied with laugh "the gods gave it to me as a gift, to recruit myself a new messenger". I saw the feather started glowing and she poked me with the pointy shaft end of the red tailed hawk feather.
My arms cramped and started changing into wings, shredding my clothes apart on their way to become wings. I screamed. it was painful and she said "I'm sure you'll make an excellent messenger" my mouth was changing into the black beak of a red tailed hawk. I felt there was no turning back. My body started to shrink and I saw my shoes were growing loose, one of the shoe was even tearing  apart under my growing talons.

My feet pierce out of the socks tearing the fabric and becoming tough, strong, yellow talons with sharp nails. The process of growing them was quite painful and my body was still shrinking to the size of a red tailed hawk. I felt my vocal chords shift, being unsuited for human speech, giving be a hawklike voice. -screech- -screech- I screamed in haw calls, wanting to say, "please turn me back, I beg you"  she replied "don't worry, you will be a good messenger... that is, if you ever want to see your human form again.." she laughed and my body neared its completion with the wings and feathers finishing, replacing all the  hair, which was falling out. I was seeing my black grey hair on ground, declaring my humanity as gone and the last final crack of my skull, becoming a hawk skull sealed my fate and my new form. My mind was filling with hawk instincts, telling me how to fly and to hunt and what it means to be a hawk.
I screamed like a hawk, as I feared I would loose the rest of my mind to that of a hawk completely.

Circe said "don't worry, I keep your mind and memories intact, if you do fail me however, I will take away your last bit of human mind and shape your mind completely into that of a hawk mind" I didn't understood, but I had to obey her if I wanted my memories and my mind to remain, to not become full hawk minded. so I got up. I felt strange in my new form, still a bit shaky, but my hawk instincts helped me keeping my balance, flapping my wings a few times to steady myself.
she got a note and attached in to my legs with a thread. I was confused what to do. I wanted to ask her, but all I was able to do, was screeching like a hawk. she said "this message is for my neighbour, on a nearby island. just head north west 20 miles and you'll be fine"

I took off to find her neighbour and my mind said "why are you doing this, you could escape now and get some help" well I would need to write very good with my talons and I also remembered her threat, so I thought it would not be practicable.
It seems like I will be a hawk forever if Circe doesn't turn me back. She is the only one capable of doing so, so pressuring her into turning me back is not an option. Sure thing is, I will remain as a red tailed hawk for now.
After I landed on her neighbours island, I saw her neighbour and he took my message and attached one of his own to bring back to Circe.
I guess this is now my new job as postman, well rather bird messenger.
I have fly back and forth. it is exhausting but at least I get food and water from Circe to get my strength back up for the trip.
Over the time I got accustomed to my new life. I was even enjoying it quite a bit.

At night she has a nice aviary for me to sleep in and on occasion she pets me and plays with me. I think in her heart Circe is a good person, she's just much better with animals I think.
As the weeks passed and turned into months, It dawned to me, that I was already a whole year as a Hawk and her messenger.
I have to say she has quite grown on me. I even sit near her on a Perch, when I don't deliver mail. She gives me free time, I use to fly around, glide on the thermals and to hunt. the ecstasies of the hunt is indescribably. It's a wonderful feeling to fly and I really enjoy the birds eye view of the unknown Island and her neighbour islands. I also see the Paradise Island I came from at that fateful day and I sometimes think of flying there, but to what would I fly back to? My old boring life? After all this time I have now spend as a Hawk and as Circe s Messenger, I can say, I love my new Job!

About over a year later, I soared over Circe s Island. I spotted a boat stranded at our beach. I went to Circe to tell her about it, we had a system where I would tap letters with my talon and spell to her.
When I arrived I saw her talking to a nice looking girl. I landed on the perch next to Circe. "Oh wow, is that a Hawk? I love hawks. He's so pretty" the girl said and I did my best to make my appearance look more regal than it already was. "so you like my hawk companion" Circe said, "he's indeed a really pretty one, unfortunately he is the only red tailed hawk on my island" "oh, is he lonely?" the girl replied. "well I try to comfort him as good as I can, but I'm no replacement for a fellow hawk" Circe said. The girl eagerly replied, "I would really like to be your girlfriend if I could".
Circe smiled and said, "well, who knows, wishes do come true from time to time. Are you hungry my dear, come in"
with that Circe and the Girl went inside. I flew to the my perch in the backyard.
I knew what would become of her and I really liked it.

The end
By Joel Forrest and Falkie