Scout by Rob Garbin
 (1 rating)
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SUMMARY: Yet another reject of Flashspec The wings droned efficiently as the scout veered left and right through the dense undergrowth. He was a mere speck against the coarse bark of the leviathan trees that grew in the region he explored for the colony. Half his mind studied the landscape for potential strikes while the other half monitored the sensor outputs that warned him of approaching danger. Landing on an outcropping of age worn bark, he allowed the landing claws to take firm hold, testing the bark's strength, before he retracted the wings under their protective housings.
He checked his sensors again then turned his concentration on the tree he had chosen. The scout maneuvered around the outcropping until he was near the valley created between two vertical stripes of bark. Looking for trace levels of minerals and nutrients the colony would need to become self-dependent, he probed just below the surface. When the readings were complete he disengaged the probe leaving behind a viscous material his sensors could use to locate the tree again after he reported to the elders. The housings sprung off the wings as he quickly maneuvered higher into the foliage of the colossal plant to scan the broad leaves for more resources, as well as, any harmful bacteria.
Given the size of the tree, the scout found it prudent to sample several more locations on his way to the gently swaying leaves. As he approached the canopy, he watched the light that shimmered along the bark like glinting reflections from a rippling pool of water. It was amazingly beautiful. This region could prove highly profitable in more than one way he thought. Making the last leap, he brought himself to a hover near a large yellow-green leaf that glowed in the light of the noonday sun. The material actually looked strong enough to hold the scout who felt a little exhilarated by the challenge such a landing would entail.
He hovered before the leaf studying the intricate latticework of veins that supplied life-giving energy to the tree far below. With the sun behind, he could actually see the fluids flowing like miniature rivers plied by tugboats pushing barges of raw materials and wastes. The split second warning he received from the pressure sensors saved his life. Within milliseconds he had pulled the wings into their housings and let himself fall powerless before something massive sent him careening into other leaves. He plummeted downward for a few more seconds, tumbling end-over-end, then snapped the wings back on. His sensors told him he was being chased by one of the large brown avian that were common to this region. The scout began a zigzag flight path toward the undergrowth as he forced the wings to work even faster. A massive beak slashed forward narrowly missing him as he corkscrewed desperately before looping up and over the predator, which caused the wings to scream in protest.
He returned to the dive from a new direction hoping the maneuver had created enough lead for him to reach the dense scrub. Another attack proved otherwise. Dodging left and right, he forced the wings to their maximum while he moved closer to a tree hoping his smaller size would prove an advantage. His ploy worked but the creature still pursued. Luckily the ground cover was coming up quickly with him well ahead of the predator. With a last push, the scout crashed through the foliage working his way in deep before allowing himself to land on a thick branch to let his systems cool down. He kept very still in case the marauder was searching for an opening.
A surge of pressure warned him too late of another attack. His leap was mistimed and his wings responded to slowly as searing pain ripped through his nerves with blackness finally engulfing him. The sparrow crunched happily at the morsel that had practically flew into its mouth while its head darted around searching for more bugs to slack its ravening hunger.
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