valorous idylls

Hero the blue heron sat on a branch of a fallen tree near a turn in the river.
A stray breeze touched riverbank reeds through the heat haze.
The heron seemed to savour existence.
Another heron flew into sight.
It was Leander.
She was under attack from a carrion crow.
The crow was much more manoeuvrable than the heron and was able to circle her in flight, darting in and out to harry her.
I don't think he was trying to hurt her.
He just wanted her to drop her fish.
She let a single plaintive cry.
Instantly Hero rose up from his branch.
Herons are big birds and can look unwieldy compared to the smaller ones
His take off was a thing of beauty, straight up and into the fray.
He flew at the crow who dodged him easily.
Now both were circling Leander, Hero doing his best to defend her, the crow still evading him easily while attacking her.
They three of them flew west tussling valorously above Kilcullen town square before vanishing into the wild blue yonder of evening.