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!