The escape

Winter is almost over. It's relatively mild. The children championed our survival. We are some of the few birds left. They argued we'd lay lots of eggs in the spring, starting much earlier than the chicken. Of course, Narcisa will lay eggs soon, but it won't be in captivity if we have anything to say about it. Our wings have grown back. Luckily there is a myth that says ducks without wings don't lay. It must have been Codrin who brought it to the attention of our hosts. Either Codrin or Cawlin come to check on us daily.

People still wear masks to hide their teeth. It makes them look less like the predatory beings they are. Narcisa adds "that's not the reason. It's the pandemic. Codrin explained it all to me when we were still by the Bega". Well, I must have missed that explanation. Although, I vaguely remember something about covering people's teeth instead of gasing chicken and other fowls or destroying all pigs at once as they did in prior years. Anyhow, most people I see wear their mask around their chins. It keeps the cold away.

My thoughts are interrupped by Narcisa who excitedly quacks "Here is Codrin! We are so glad to see you!".
Codrin: Listen! Something's happend! All humans look distracted. I spoke with birds who come from the other side of the Danube. They report humans hunt each other instead of shooting birds. They also set buildings on fire, and use metal birds to drop fire.
Cawlin drops in as is just as excited. He adds "The war with the Russians has started on the other side of the Danube. We must get away. Look, they forgot to put the latch on your door."
I push against the door and we all fly away. A noise is heard behind me. Some humans are behind us running and shouting. One of them throws a rock. It misses us, but a window cracks at a nearby shed. Codrin shouts: "You'll pay for the repair! That glas costs more than a bottle of wine!". For the moment all humans stop and stare. An empty bottle crashed behind us. We've escaped!

Captured!

We are getting closer to Delta. The river is so wide one can hardly see the other side. Humans have become quite rare and the fish are big and fat. Even Athena switched to a fish only diet. She says the fish is so good here she does not mind. She spends her nights guarding the coracle. We are all grateful for her vigilance. The rest of us augment our diet with the many jucy bugs that fly into us. Narcisa and I also eat plenty of water plants. The fish here get fat because there is so much to eat!

This evening Cawlin excitedly told us he could see the sea when he flew ahead. Narcisa and I steer the corracle into a small pond connected to the Danube via a narrow channel. It's a perfect spot to spend the night. With the boat safe, everyone starts looking for an evening snack. Narcisa and I swim towards the shore. Suddenly a net falls over us. We struggle, but there is no way out. Two burly humans tie us up securely, and carry us off along with their half-dead fish.

"It's a good catch" one mutters

"They need a bit of fattening up. Somebody must have been really sorry to see them both fly off!"

When they reached home, two children run to greet the men.
"You bought us a present!" they said while jumping up and down around us.
"You might say the present delivered itself. Bring the nippers" the man screames into my already damaged ear. Next thing we knew our beatiful wings were clipped. Now our mission has become impossible.

"Be quiet, Fluffy!" one of the children said.
"That just the name for him" answered the other.
I looked around in search for an annoying furry dog, but I then noticed they were looking at me.
"It must be your new name" Narcisa quacked adding injury to my already hurt pride.
What an insult to my intelect. Fluffy! How horrible, how demeaning!
We are taken to a cage with some wire on top to make escape difficult. Days merge into weeks. Months pass. It's so depressing to see the same faces over and over, and to have the same food. I don't know how birds get fat when they eat only grain. It must be the depression.