47 Ducks 1.11

Golden Crisp

11.

The road to Kentucky Court covered over some rough terrains from brush to rocky surfaces. Water springs were few and well guarded by the Chickens. Besides the chickens there were the foxes, and the coyotes. The later were more applicable to gifts compared to the foxes.

“Oh, I never knew ducks travelled so far from their lake?” Coyote Carl; the head of the Coyote Pack looked at the thirst dried ducks who had blisters on their webbed pads and their feathers were all dusty. It needed more preening; more like a deep bath.

Coyote Carl was in the color of the coyote's  grayish-brown to yellowish-gray on the upper parts, while its throat and belly have a buff or white color. Its back has tawny-colored under fur and long, black-tipped guard hairs form a black dorsal stripe and a dark cross on the shoulder area. The ears are proportionately large in relation to the head, while the feet are relatively small in relation to the rest of the body.

“The name is Carl, but you may address me as Coyote.” The coyote looked to its pack. “There is a spring over the hill but it guarded by the chicken. Here there are six of us but with your thirsty condition, I think we could outnumber you. However, we are a reasonable pack. We could compromise.”

“We need a feast since the last solid meal we had was some time back.” Coyote asked. “How about six of you for us, and we will lead you to hidden spring which is also nearby.”

“Never!” Othello shouted out. “We will never compromise.”

“Five will do.” Carl re-negotiated. “Or perhaps four.”

“Not a single one of us.” Caesar replied. It was Cleop who spoke up.

“Three but we see the spring first.” Cleop stepped up. It turned to look at Caesar. “Don’t be emotional. If we fight them, we might lose more than …three.”

“She is right, Caesar.” Brutus supported the Queen. “We are tired. I volunteered…”

“You will not volunteer anyone. We will pull reeds.” Caesar looked to Othello. “Are you in?”

The ducks got together to pull reeds. Coyote Carl began humming.

A school of little ducks, Went out one day
Over the hill and far away, Mother duck said
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."
The last three will not come back.
But little to know that they were to be served to the Coyotes.

“Do we have the three ducks?” Carl asked and was rewarded with three reeds at the throat. The other Legionnaires did the same. All the six coyote dropped to the ground panting with pain.

“What happened?” Carl asked in a low whispers.

“Centipede venom. It eats at your innards until it reached your heart.” Caesar replied. “I passed the venom to dip in the reeds. Now we will eat you instead.”

“I may die today but my pack will be hunting you.” Carl whispered out.

A short time later at the spring, Sergeant Cockerel Travis was in command with a platoon of twenty chickens. Its main task was the defense of the spring. There were exceptions.

“Coyote!” The sentries sounded out. That was one exception.

The chickens retreated in fright. The recruitment terms stated several predators but not coyotes. The chickens saw the six coyotes appearing over the hill. It was enough for them to retreat to the nearby coop. If they had looked harder, they would have seen it was six coyotes head without the body.

The ducks took their fill at the spring and did the dip into it. It was at the secluded corner when Casanova had the talk with Morgan.

“Can we talk?” Casanova asked the silent duck. Morgan ignored it and wadded off. Casanova was to follow suit when its spotted Cleop on the nearby banks.

“I hear your name is Casanova.” Cleop quacked out. “Well, I think you are a failure there.”

Casanova turned to leave when Cleop wadded over.

“Give me a moment with you and she will come running to you.” Cleop told him. And before he could understand her, Cleop had jumped onto the back of Casanova and nibbled at his crown with the bill.

“Hey!” Casanova shouted out. It shook the Queen off and wadded off but not before Morgan who had seen the whole thing. “Morgan, it’s not what you may think?’

Casanova chased after the departing duck while Cleop laughed at the fun she had done.

“You were mean there, Cleop.” Anthony told it when the two ducks stood side by side.

“Me mean? Nothing is as mean as yourself who keeps to yourself when another loves your own.” Cleop defended herself. “How could…”

Cleop stopped and saw Caesar approaching. The later signaled the ducks to regroup. Cleop looked to Anthony.

“I may not be around just for you.” Cleop gave the subtle warning. Anthony felt the eyes burned into its flesh like the golden crisp sunlight.