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

[deenamr]

Just read the story for the first time. It is wonderfully well written. The descriptions are so vivid they truly create the image in my mind. Thank you for sharing.

 

[HorseFeathers]

Thank you! Let me whip up chapter 11 (I took them out for a photo shoot in the snow today... weren't too happy LOL)

 

[HorseFeathers]

Chapter 11
It was not a particularly cold day, so the Girl with Great Hands took all the hens out, one by one, into the snow. Fatima of the Gold-dust Feathers knew that the big black thing hanging around the Girl With Great Hands's neck meant that much clicking and adjusting of feathers was about to take place. She scurried off into a corner, but the girl picked her up first anyway.
She leapt off the girl's arm and into the snow, her wings making patterns.

Brrr! It was cold! The Girl with Great Hands only had a chance to click a few times before Fatima decided that the sky-blue boot she was wearing was a better place to be. She flew up and landed on the girl's leg. The Girl With Great Hands instinctually lifted her leg so Fatima would not fall, and Fatima nestled in the crook of the boot quite comfortably.

The Girl With Great Hands put Fatima back in the run, laughing, and proceeded to take out several other flock members.

Fatima just watched, knowing that this was sure to become a regular occurrence. She resigned herself to being picked up, put down, click click click. What could she do? She was a chicken.

 

[crazychicken]

Picked up put down Click Click Click

Love it !

 

[banter]

Great story and beautiful pics!

 

[HorseFeathers]

Thanks! I hope to write more tomorrow.

 

[GracefulBantams]

I love the new chapters annnnd the pictures! What sweet hennies

 

[HorseFeathers]

Okay, def. a big event today, I'll work on chapter 12...

 

[deenamr]

Love the pictures. Thanks for the new chapter.

 

[HorseFeathers]

Chapter 12
The day was so cold that when Fatima of the Gold-dust Feathers drank, the water in her beard would freeze. She was NOT happy at all. Why couldn't the days be warm like she remembered from her early life? This was a rude awakening to reality.
That morning, the Ones With Great Hands had cleaned the coop. New shavings let off the aroma of pine, and Fatima needed to lay a egg. NOW.
She hopped in the nest box. I really gotta GO, she thought, trying to get comfortable. She started making noises unlike any she had ever uttered. Bik bik bik beek beek. Over and over... bik bik bik beek beek...
Soon Olympia of Midnight wandered into the coop. She too needed to lay, but Fatima was in her preferred nest box. "Get out," Olympia instructed bossily.

Fatima shook her head, continuing to make the foreign bik bik beek sounds out of pure curiosity.
"And for feather's sake stop making that infernal noise!" Fatima could tell Olympia was annoyed, and knew she probably SHOULD get off the box if lead hen needed to use it, but a rebellious streak she didn't know she had inspired her to continue her strange new sound and stay very firmly put.
"Well!" huffed Olympia, ruffling her feathers indignantly. The black hen proceeded to fly into the nest box and sit squarely on top of Fatima!

Olympia was not a heavy hen; indeed, she was light as the feathers that robed her. But having someone's foot on your head is not a pleasant experience so Fatima yelled as loud as she could. The Great-Handed Ones came running and lifted Olympia off Fatima's back. As soon as she was free, however, the Girl With Great Hands started clicking away. Fatima gave her the ultimate "keep-that-up-and-die" stare and the girl closed the nest box.

Undisturbed, Fatima laid her egg with just five minutes of sitting. Feeling immensly better, she hopped out of the box- Olympia jumping in instead- and started drinking her fresh, new water.