Feathered Justice

Zip’s shrill curse echoed against the thick glass of the aviary, lingering in the heavy air like a slap. Before Chloe could raise a hand to wipe the foul sludge dripping down her forehead, a sharp screech tore through the dome above.

High up in the metal rafters, dozens of cockatoos, parakeets, and crested mynas shifted on their iron perches. Their wings snapped open in unison, kicking up a gust