The Saga of Fatima of the Gold-dust Feathers! UPDATED - Fatima died...

[HorseFeathers]

Quote:
Really? I am so honored! *blush*

 

[HorseFeathers]

Chapter Nineteen: When the Rain Comes
Fatima of the Gold-dust Feathers was WET. With Mean Charlotte at a new home, she and Rita of the Small Fire were allowed to roam out in the yard with the rest of the flock by day. By night they were shut back in the cage, but that was all right because they kept each other warm.
But oh, the wet! Spring rain fell, making ground and air and feathers damp and musty. Sometimes salty air would roll in from the sea; that made everything maddeningly saline. Fatima did not like this dampness one bit, but it was better than the snow it washed away. And besides, the worms came out after it rained.
Often the flock would simply hang around inside, when it was too wet to go out comfortably. It was on such an occasion that Olympia of Midnight had a very interesting conversation with Fatima.
"This spring will be your first year, am I correct?" Olympia stared down her beak at Fatima.
"Yes."
"That puts you in fair position to challenge me for leadership."
"What?!" exclaimed Fatima. She had not thought of this before.
"Let's see, who's the competition? Rita's tried, but she's too small. Phoebe's too slow on the uptake. So the Elder Girls, my sisters, are no threat. Now YOUR hatch-mates: Ophelia is to timid, and Lillith is merely a coward. That leaves you."
"Um." Fatima could see that the older hen had a point, but her mind drew a blank on what to say.
"You're smart enough, certainly, and still growing. You're a bit over-excitable, but that's no great burden. You have every right and way to challenge me for leadership." Olympia fluffed up her feathers, satisfied.
"Madam Olympia," Fatima clucked, deciding to be extra polite. "Why are you telling me this?"
Olympia looked tired, which was unusual. "This spring I will be two years old. That is not young, you know. I have laid many eggs in my life, but quite soon- perhaps as little as a year- I will cease. I know I have a forever home with the Great-Handed Ones," she continued, "but I will not be able to lead the flock when I am old and my mind is failing. The new generation must. Almost every spring, perhaps skipping one or two, new chicks will come. They are the new generation. Do you understand?"
Fatima nodded, bewildered. She didn't understand, really, but Olympia's speeches were always quite long.
"You are second-in-command, you do know that? Second highest in the pecking order." Olympia ruffled her feathers. "You're probably tired of listening to me, aren't you? Off you pop, then."
Fatima wandered about the run, braving the damp to scratch for tidbits, turning over the strange conversation in her small mind. She gazed at the haze of misty rain, as if it would give her answers.
But the rain did not speak, did not stop its incessant pitter-patter on the clear roof.

 

[Honeysuckle]

Yay! I was waiting for a new chapter!

 

[crazychicken]

 

[kyeschicks]

Bravo!

 

[Fudgie]

YEAH!!!!

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Awwwww! I just caught up.

Olympia looked tired, which was unusual. "This spring I will be two years old. That is not young, you know. I have laid many eggs in my life, but quite soon- perhaps as little as a year- I will cease. I know I have a forever home with the Great-Handed Ones," she continued, "but I will not be able to lead the flock when I am old and my mind is failing.

It's so fun to look forward to the new little bitties but still .... it sorta breaks your heart.

What is esp. nice for the girls low on the pecking order is that with every new generation coming in their postion goes up.

Wonderful story!

 

[GracefulBantams]

I like it

 

[gmzamz]

Wow, really good

 

[americana-chick]

Fatima is awsome, do you have any pictures of her at like 2 or 3 days old? i remember seeing some i think, and i also think that i may have a chick that looks like fatima when she was younger.