Alex barked orders to secure the ladder more tightly, then climbed swiftly up himself. A minute later, he reached into the nest and gently scooped Juniper into his arms. The cat meowed indignantly at being interrupted but clung to Alex’s shirt with surprising strength as he made his way carefully down.
“This is… extraordinary,” Alex said quietly. “If an eagle loses a mate, it can sometimes misdirect its nurturing instinct. She probably saw Juniper—small, helpless—and adopted him into her brood. It’s rare, but instinct can do strange things when survival drives everything. Especially for a grieving animal.”