Thunk.
A dazed Snowy Owl very, very slowly got up from the dusty ground, and shook herself, starting with her head, then shaking her wings, and then finally whipping her tail around until she was cleaned off enough. She clicked her beak, and assessed the damage. Although a few deep bruises were forming, she could still move without killing herself. Good.
Wait-Chime? Where was Chime?
"C-Chime?" Max called out cautiously, careful not to yell too loudly. She heard a thump, a groan, and then a feeble voice said somewhere above her, "Max."
"Chime!" Max ran off the ground, spread out her wings, and took a very wobbly flight to her friend's voice.
"Oh, my....Are you okay?" She whispered, coming upon her friend's body.
Chime looked up feebly, and blinked. "Are you dead too?" She croaked, and coughed up blood.
Max grimaced, shook her head, and leaned down next to her friend. "Nope. And we have to get out of here. The Henchmen, they're coming. Hurry up. We've got to leave, and I mean now. Chime?"
She prodded her friends with her talon, and Chime opened her eyes, wincing. "I dunno, Maxi. I-I just wanna go home, to Alaska, with my owners-"
"No! Not now. Come on, Chime, get up. Hurry, please." She positioned herself on the side of the cat, and then, groaning and complaining, Chime the silver tabby stood up.
"Good. Come on, now, girl. You and I can do this."
She led Chime to the cliff, and then whispered, "Do you want me to try to carry you or will you jump?"
Chime groaned. "I'm dead, I'm sure. You would never carry my fat butt."
Max sighed impatiently. "Yes, but this is a life-or-death situation."
"Okay, fine. I'll jump." Chime opened her eyes a sliver, took a few cautious steps forward, and jumped.
Max growled. "Oh, now I have to save your fat butt too!" She took a small running start, and took off at the edge of the cliff. Max followed Chime down in the path she had taken, and found her sprawled in a patch of heather. She touched down next to her friend's head, and tapped her head impatiently with her beak.
"Maxi, I dunno 'bout this. What are we going to do now?"
Max's shoulder's sagged. She looked very seriously to the sunrise for dramatic effect, and said confidently, "We escape."
Oh gods, now I have to lead a hurt and maybe even crippled friend into the unknown. Crap. And get this, now I have to lead-without a plan whatsoever. I don't even know where we are, where we'll go, and what we'll do. I just hope those Henchmen won't find us while I-
Sleep. Max flopped down to Chime, drained emotionally and physically, and was snoring within seconds.