"It's chilly today..." Wendy mumbled a week later. She and Tiberius were traveling again. On this day, it was a bit windy and the sky was as gray as cinders. Golden leaves fluttered in the air as they drifted towards the forest floor. Gazing up at the various trees around them, Tiberius muttered, "The seasons are changing. Autumn is upon us."

"Autumn? What's autumn?" Wendy asked, shaking herself. Her feathers fluffed up as a result. Looking back over his shoulder, Tiberius answered, "It's one of the four seasons. It's the time of year when everything that was green in spring and summer begins dying off. Come winter, these trees will be bare."

"Is this be similar to what the tribe would call the Season of the Red Leaves?" Wendy asked as a leaf landed on her beak. Impressed, Tiberius remarked, "Yeah, that's what the tribe would call it. How did you know that?" Shrugging her shoulders, Wendy mumbled, "I don't know... my parents always talked about the tribe and its ways."

"Wendy, I want you to think for a moment. Were you part of the Tribe of the Fire Talons?" Tiberius asked. He was curious at this point. Looking up at the older hawk, Wendy mumbled, "I... I think so... I don't know. My mom was, my dad not so much." Tilting her head to the side, she continued with a question of her own, "Why do you ask?"

"Um, no reason. I was just wondering," Tiberius murmured. Turning back around, he walked away. Hurrying after him, Wendy padded alongside him as she asked, "Were you a member of the tribe too?" At that moment, the pair arrived at a small stream. Stopping at the bank, Tiberius muttered, "Well, I used to. Not anymore."

"What happened?" Wendy asked, lowering her head. Tiberius didn't answer her question. Taking a drink of water, he looked down at his reflection in the stream. Bad memories flashed in his head. Sighing softly, he rasped, "Humans happened."

"What does that mean?" Wendy asked, just as a raindrop hit her beak. The young red tail tipped her head back. The gray sky had opened up and unleashed its rain upon the earth. Grasping Wendy by the back of her neck, Tiberius placed her on his back as he stated, "Come on, we better take shelter." With that, the pair set off into the forest.