Runt or SuperRaven

"Where's the nearest phonebooth?"

"My hero, my dad--Grog"

The runt of the Grogs has a special place in his father's affections. While the other five are precocious and inquisitive, pushing each other off cliffs and tantalizing each other with the preciousness and desirability of some newly discovered stick or string of kelp, the runt sits alone.

He favors his parent's company to his rowdy siblings, seeming to relish calm moments of repose next to them. Yesterday, he and his parents were each on a post leading down to the beach. Some people walked by frightening the runt who flew to the cliff edge. After a few moments, Grog left Sunshine's side to join him, placing himself between his favorite and the ledge. The two sat side by side in obvious contentment.

I noticed their closeness again today. Unlike his siblings, I haven't noticed the runt begging loudly for food. Rather he appears to be in his own world perhaps dreaming of being SuperRaven. He and Grog both take evident pleasure in their mutual proximity. When Grog returned to their perch after feeding a noisy kid, the runt turned himself around to position himself just like his dad. Grog looked at him as if in approval, barely resisting the urge to preen him. Instead, they held their heads identically, nobly looking forward while Sunshine scrambled around the other five.

Tonight when the parents decided it was roosting-time, they let out strong calls and flew down the beach toward the old nesting area. Four Grogs followed immediately; the fifth flew over to the runt's perch and gave him a peck before taking off in pursuit of the rest of the family. The runt only looked on, thinking his own thoughts. A good ten minutes later, he seemed to wake up and notice no one was about. He gave a croaky call and flew unhurriedly in much the same direction as the rest, doing several zigzags cleverly escaping the likes of Lex Luther. "It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's SuperRaven!"