Well that's it! I'm done. It's been nearly two years, eleven chapters and over 25000 words, but I finished the story I wanted to tell. To those who have been waiting, I do apologize for making you wait, but I cannot apologize for my reasons. If there is one thing that this story has taught me it is that I am not a writer. I may write well enough to get through a few semesters of papers but I am no writer.

And yet, this story has taught me much more than that and may in part be responsible for a drastic shift in my life. It is kind of funny to think that a fanfiction (a relatively short one at that) could do that, but alas, it truly has.

Two simple but essential lessons that I wish to share come to mind. The first revolves around character development and expression. At times, I struggled for days, weeks, and even months trying to find the right words to express the characters within this story. I make no claims that I succeeded beyond my own satisfaction, but I will share my method for one who isn't a writer to those who are. My tool was empathy. I worked hard to empathize with my characters in a way that would allow me to write in their voice. Often this required me to write when I was in the same mood as the character I was writing. Again, if it worked is up for you to decide, but I will say that taking the extra time in this regard, did, at the very least, open my eyes to their though process and what might be going on in their head during the story.

The second is less of a method and more of an encouragement. In mid 2011 when I started this story, I knew nothing about birds or anything regarding avian characteristics. This posed a few challenges and quickly had doing research to overcome my ignorance. My research didn't end with Google and Wikipedia, rather I quickly found myself at a Wildlife Rehab center that specialized in birds of prey. Where I initially was seeking information on parrots, macaws, conures, and domesticated birds, I found myself dealing with talons, hooked beaks and generally bad attitudes. Even with the risk involved, I quickly became hooked on these "raptors". The personality these birds showed was truly an inspiration for anyone gifted with words.

Summer faded into fall and my tenure at the rehab center ended when I moved back for school. I continued to write this story throughout, but the draw to these birds only became stronger and soon I found myself volunteering with a Wildlife Education Center. Here I performed programs with these birds, learning to handle them and share their wonder with others.

The School year passed and grew into this past summer where I returned home to the Rehab Center. I returned, seasoned and able to handle, medicate and release more birds than ever. I even pursued and became a licensed falconer. Now as another year dawns, I am looking to expand my horizons farther than I ever would have dreamed two years ago.

I say all this in the hopes that you as writers might take the extra step in your research, if you are writing about birds, or the city, or rural areas, or whatever, go the extra mile and experience it yourself. For me this led to the realization that I want to work with these amazing animals for the rest of my life. You may discover something similar or even far better than I, but I can guarantee you won't find it on Google or sitting alone at your computer. I will say it again, I am not a writer. Nor should you be, rather, strive to be a researcher, an experimenter of the unknown. Step out and learn with your whole being not just your eyes and ears. When you have done that, come back and write, use your experience to fuel your work and your passion.

Alright, I have rambled enough. So I'll leave you to it.

In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien

"Farewell, wherever you fare till your eyries receive you at the journey's end!"
"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks,"