One Stark senses my fear and pulls at the jesses around her feet I stroke her breast feathers to calm us both Trainers should never show nerves to a bird of prey I try to slow my breathing as I listen to Dad introduce lure training my part of the demo It’s my specialty His falcon Gremlin isn’t even hooded and sits patiently on his fist making me regret my insistence on showing Stark She’s not as seasoned as Gremlin This is her first school demonstration with me Surveying the crowd I can’t remember remember why I thought this would be a good idea My favorite lure is hidden in my satchel It’s a weighted stuffed bit of leather in the shape of a duck at the end of a long string I’ve already attached a tidbit of meat with the ties in the center The lure is ready and Stark is ready But for the first time since I started helping with demos I’m not sure I am ready Is it heavy asks a girl on the bench behind where I’m 5
