Training begins with a wild bird on a tether. You teach it to fly, controlled, in a very
        confined area. You reward obedience with affection, and kindness, and an occasional
        treat. As the bird responds, the tether gets longer, the area of freedom expands, but
        remains under control. As trust and loyalty grows, so does the tether, and eventually, it is
        no longer necessary. Replacing the tether is the voice command; strong, sure, and
        unyielding. When the response is positive, the voice softens, becomes pleasing. The bird
        responds. 

        Even the best trainer, with the best falcon, takes a shallow breath as the unfettered bird
        leaves his gloved arm, wondering as it flies away if it's in it's mind to return. You feel it
        *every time. Sometimes, it's only a passing thought, relatively sure you've done your job
        well, and have your bird's loyalty, and confidence. The bird goes thru it's paces, as
        instructed, as planned. You think that you've provided an atmosphere that will make the
        creature WANT to return, even if it doesn't have to. You've conditioned it, thru love, and
        caring, that being on your arm is a better place to be than free, and defenseless, and on
        it's own. You think all this for just a moment, and you breathe again.

        Then, just once in awhile, the creature doesn't make the turn. It has traveled just a little
        farther, a little faster than usual. You wonder if it has decided that the lure of the
        unknown, the things not yet experienced, the call of the wild, may be just a bit stronger
        than your training, and it's loyalty. You see it looking towards the mountain, flying
        towards it, mesmerized by it. You know you can use your call, a verbal signal that would
        break the animal's concentration, train of thought. The sound would illicit an immediate
        response, you know, as it has so many times before. But this time, this one time, you see
        something different in the way the bird is flying. Stronger, straighter, with a purpose. Is it
        merely stretching it's wings, exploring it's boundaries, curious as to the world it is in? Or
        has it decided to explore a new world, an untethered one. You could call.... but you
        don't. You decide, in that instant, to allow the creature it's freedom, it's choice.
        Somehow, you know it needs to make it, it needs to know for itself where it belongs. So
        you hold your voice, and your breath, and your heart, and you wait. And suddenly... it
        turns. It's flight back to you is straighter, faster than usual. And you breath again, and feel
        pride, for this mighty creature is here because it wants to be, not because it was trained to
        be.

          by TorqueDom