A bloodcurdling scream caused them to leap from their chairs. Gawjo went racing out of the cabin, dagger at the ready.

“Sounds like somethin’ bein’ torn apart by wildbeasts!”

Hustling and shoving, they piled out onto the deck of the raft. The wild cry cleaved the air once more, and a dark shadow fell over them, causing everybeast to duck as something large hurtled by. Song was knocked flat on her back, but she lay there pointing skyward, shouting with joy. “It’s the Mighty Megraw! Look, he’s flying!”

With his tremendous wingspread stretching, closing, backing and flapping, the osprey flew as none had ever seen such a big bird fly. Soaring, wheeling, plummeting and twirling out of dives like a corkscrew, Megraw put on an exhibition of flight for his earthbound friends, sometimes skimming so low that his wing pinions clipped their ears. Song felt her heart soar with the eagle. She was thrilled that his wing was healed due to her grandpa’s skill.

“Go on, Megraw, fly! Fly! Fly!”

And Megraw did just that. Winging up into the blue until he was a mere speck in the summer sky, he turned and did several victory rolls. Folding both wings tight to his side, the eagle dropped like a thunderbolt toward the raft, and for a breathless moment Song thought he would smash into the deck. But he spread his wings again, and the mighty talons shot out as he swooped and landed on the rail, where he stood with both wings spread to their extent. For the first time since she had met her friend, Song saw the fish eagle in his element. Filled with the exhilaration of his own savage strength, Megraw flapped his wings, shouting aloud his challenge. “Ah’m the eagle whit kin outfly a lightnin’ flash! Mah egg was broken by the thunderstorm! Kareeeeeegha! Megraw rules the skies tae the world’s edge! These talons o’ Mighty Megraw cuid plow a field o’ rocks! Oh weep, ye foebeast, there’s a braw bonny bird a-comin’ yer way! Karaaaaagh!”

Gawjo nodded in admiration of Megraw’s brave display. “I take it yore about ready to go to the lake?”

The fierce golden eye winked at him. “Aye, laddie, ah ken ye’ll be comin’ wi’ me?”

Gawjo Swifteye picked up a long raft pole. He nodded at Megraw and his crew. “This very day!”