He placed a wing over her shoulder to comfort her. "There is hope, perhaps, the human has changed his ways?" The hen lowered her head. "I doubt it." She nestled into his feathers, her heart aching as the man shut the door to the house behind him.
The man placed the egg in a little box. A warm, comfortable box that seemed to simulate the warmth of the hen. The egg remained still for a long time, for several weeks. When the man came down the stairs to check on the egg one morning, there was a long crack on the side of the egg. He sat with his mug of coffee in hand, watching as the chick pushed it's way out. Out came a sharp, black beak that tore the egg in half. A little chick lay there, soaking up the warmth of the brooder. The man smiled. "You, little bird, will become my next champion." He said, watching the chick as it slowly opened it's eyes. He left the house to run errands, leaving the chickens alone. The hen and the rooster hopped onto the porch chair and onto the window sill. They looked through the dark window, trying to find where the man put their egg. They spotted a bright light in thecenter of the room, and in it, was their chick. They were relieved that it was safe, but saddened that they could do nothing to rescue it. They sat on the window sill, just helplessly watching the chick move around. (TBC again.)
