There was an awful stench in the bird's shelter, reeking of the smell of bird feathers and poop. Parker cleared out a space with his foot for Bai Qingqing to sit on the ground.
Bai Qingqing asked Parker to catch a short-winged bird. Then, after she looked at its wings, she gestured a length. "Clip these feathers away."
"Even after we clip it, I think it would still be able to fly." Although Parker wasn't certain, his actions were very swift and accurate, chopping off the bird's feathers in one stroke.
Gah! The short-winged bird let out a pitiful cry, startling Bai Qingqing.
Bai Qingqing had thought that the short-winged bird was merely crying because it had suffered a shock, but very quickly she saw blood seeping from the feathers, which were of the same thickness as straw. All of a sudden, she could feel her shoulders aching. She covered her face with her hands and said apologetically, "Sorry!"