47 Ducks 1.7

7.

Othello and the Guards flew parallel to the Legionnaires on their way to the inlet. The forty six ducks flew in to two diamond formation. It was to be a routine flight until Casa at point alerted the pack of the impending danger.

“Eagles ahead.” Casa quacked out. “I am going to scout their intention.”

The rest of the Guards dived for the trees and landed beneath the branches. The Legionnaires also seen the eagles and took evasive action. They dived and then flew at the trees height.

“Reformed to line wave formation.” Caesar gave the command with thirteen ducks forming one line while the second line followed close behind. It was an advanced formation that the first line will attack and then followed up by the second line. The formation will continue with repeated loops.

“Caesar, I am going to scout the eagles.” Anthony volunteered and flew upwards with the wings flapping. Cleop saw the other soaring chose to do so with it. Caesar was to quack call Cleop back but held back. It had sensed that Cleop was in emotional ties with Anthony despite being his.

“Cleop, return to formation. I will be fine.” Anthony quacked to the other. “Those are eagles and not some sparrows.”

“I care not. It’s the rare moments which we are alone.” Cleop replied while it flew next to Anthony. “Eagles or hawks; they matter not. We, the Niles know how to handle ourselves.”

Anthony looked over and horned at the other. It liked Cleop too but with Caesar in the way, there were no hopes of claiming the other. Anthony regretted not meeting Cleop earlier. That Niles breed looked so sexy when the feathers when the winds sweeping it back. The beauty of Cleop was its unique shaped crown which was made for a Queen.

“Tell me, Anthony. Would we ever be alone again?” Cleop asked the dashing duck compared to the lame on flying at low formation. Cleop had joined alliance with Caesar to avoid a major war that will deplete their resources. Prior to meeting Caesar, Cleop had rumors of the brave commander and hastily agreed to the union. It was a selfish and unsatisfactory one when consummated. Caesar was pass its seasons and was more of a figure head. It was Anthony and Brutus who does most of the fighting. Cleop selected Anthony over Brutus although the other one had the wild duck looks for it also feared the motives of Brutus. According to Cleop, Brutus may be more brutal than its name. Even Caesar had confided with Cleop that Brutus was not to be trusted. Caesar once said that Anthony was loyal to the Commander in duty but not in love. “The first I could do with, while the second I may challenged on.” Caesar had told Cleop.

Anthony was to reply when it saw the guard scout flapping frantically. The two met in mid flight and the Guard cautioned the Legionaries.

“Those are no friendly. They are seven Sea Eagles.”

The Sea Eagles are white-bellied sea eagle has a white head, breast, under-wing coverts and tail. The upper parts are grey and the black under-wing flight feathers contrast with the white coverts. The tail is short and wedge-shaped and can measure up to 35 in long with a wingspan of up to 7 ft, and weigh 10 lb. Anthony could hear the loud goose-like honking battle call of the eagles. It in turn called on Cleop to warn Caesar.

“Caesar knows what to do.” Anthony then flapped off to join Casa in warning the Guards. Othello was told of the new threat and called for action.

“Iago, Roderigo. Take nine Guards and wait at the tree top. Await my call.” Othello gave the command. “Cassius, follow me with the others. We are going to trap the eagles.”

“Othello, what of the Legionnaires?” Cassius asked while motioning to above the tree levels. “More to it, we can out climb them.”

Othello was to reply when it saw the eagles had split up; three was in pursuit of the Legionaries. The Guard Commander called on the others to fly to the open clearing. It took to fly parallel to the tree lines and attracted the three eagles. It was no match for speed against the eagles, and soon the eagles caught up with the twelve ducks. The larger eagles had their talons on two of the guards by the wings. They snapped the wings before discarding the wounded ducks to the ground before they continued pursuit. Othello drove the remaining ducks in a series of loop around the clearing until Othello gave the command. The ducks made a soaring climb which the eagles found its momentum stalled by the level flight. When eagles were flapping their wings, from the tree lines came the diving group of ducks led by Iago and Roderigo. They duck using the momentum of their dives drove into the eagles flapping wings. They crashed in the wings and sent the eagles into a series of spin. The three eagles landed onto the clearing with their wings broken or broken. They hobbled on their legs but the predators on the ground level had descended on them for meals.

Iago rejoined Othello in the sky and reported their losses.

“Five of the guards including Roderigo could not make it. I saw Roderigo go with the bill wounded and the left leg partly severed. It did not stand a chance when the fox came.” Iago reported in.

“We go on. There is a mission to complete.” Othello told the remaining ducks before continuing on the journey.

Meanwhile with the Legionaries, Caesar had formed the line to attack the remaining four eagles. At the last moment of contact, the first line of ducks climbed up over the diving eagles. It caused confusion to the eagles but they were met head on by the second line. The ducks soared into the eagle wings avoiding the talons and used their webbed pads to kick at the wing joints. Just when the eagles were reacting to the attack, the first line of ducks had done a loop to dive onto the eagle’s body from the top. They used their weights to drop on the eagles’ back. The double impact caused the eagles to lose flight control and dropped to the ground.

Caesar lost three ducks to the attack, but they survived the battle.