Alex looked down at Pablo in his arms, shaking his head with disbelief. “I can’t believe he’s actually okay,” he said, half-laughing. “You’ve got one stubborn little rabbit, Sam.” Then his tone softened, thoughtful. “I read something once—about how eagles mate for life. When they lose their partner… they grieve. Hard.”
He shifted Pablo gently in his arms before continuing. “While grieving, they sometimes misdirect their care. She may have mistaken Pablo for one of her own—a helpless creature in need of protection. It’s rare, but survival instincts do strange things, especially when grief is involved.”