A/N: I once said in another story that the Birds' meritocracy is partly supported by reality game shows. This story has an example of one based loosely on The Amazing Race, though much shorter on the Birds' television screens.

Disclaimer: I do not own ThunderCats, Warner Bros. does.

The Winged Migration Race

The skies all over Third Earth are seen, as well as the streets and sky lanes on Avista, the Bird city in the sky. A hoopoe Bird named Tutulu speaks to the audience.

"Here, in Avista city, generations ago, seven diverse Birdmen were set to race from the northern end of the world to the southern end, and back again, not on foot, not by airship, but by wing power and their natural talents at navigation, all for a grand prize of A$100,000, and the title of the Ultimate Migrator."

Flashback:

"All right, my feathered friends, the skies await you. Go!" said Tutulu.

Seven Birds take to the sky to complete their migratory routes first out of all of them.

Flashback ends.

"And now, in the seventh month of the three thousandth, six hundredth, eighty-ninth year since the defeat of Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living and the construction of Avista, another group of seven Birdmen and Birdwomen will be racing around the world in The Winged Migration Race!"

On a landing platform in Avista, where many fans of the race are observing, seven Birds come out to the starting point, one by one.

"Here come the racers!" says Tutulu. "Frendo, a male Cerulean Warbler who hopes to win because he doesn't want to keep sleeping in his private airship! Rubie, a female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird with a penchant for taking on the appearance of a goth! Vulturky, a female Turkey Vulture with a taste for some of the finest carrion cordon bleu the city's restaurants have to offer! Gando, a male Canada Goose who takes pride in being part of one of the most plentiful waterfowl species! Sidewind, a male Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker with a sweet beak who just loves Bird candy! Forkera, a female Tree Swallow from the city's local nudist colony, as the swallows are so fond of! And, Searuff, a male Arctic Tern whose goal is to be the most dominant racer The Winged Migration Race has ever seen!"

The racers line up at the starting line a short distance from the edge of the platform.

"As all people familiar with ordinary birds know, many non-sapient birds migrate from north to south during a certain part of the year," says Tutulu, "We also know this happens because food usually gets scarce in the northern habitats during the winter. Then, in the spring, they return north, because in warmer months, the north has an abundance of food compared to tropical habitats, and birds can rear more young in the north than in the south, too. And this, the Winged Migration Race, represents the spirit of perseverance and adventure that goes with every migratory bird's courageous migration, which, I must say, is very courageous, considering the dangers brought about by storms, by predators, by accidents, and other things on the journey!"

Applause!

"You should all be very happy that you've been chosen to represent your different kinds in this, the most legendary race the Birds have ever raced in!" continues Tutulu, "The Winged Migration Race has gone on for generation after generation, by Birds representing all different methods of finding their migratory destination, by visual landmarks, by the sun, by star patterns, by Third Earth's magnetic field, by sound and smell, and by improvisation; by Birds who may or may not master the timing, the speed, or the altitude, of migration, who prefer to migrate under cover of night! And now, it is your turn to race around Third Earth!"

The Bird racers cheer. More applause!

"And of course, the winner of the first of seven flights will win a powerful advantage in the race," said Tutulu. "If you are racer number one at the end of this first flight, you will win the Feather Beacon. If you have the Feather Beacon, and you are lost in the skies, all you have to do is activate the Feather Beacon, and you will be able to detect where the next Bird's Nest (Pit Stop) is, no matter where you are, and you may fly straight there."

The Birds all look excited. Tutulu continues again. "You can use the Beacon up until the end of the fifth flight. Is everybody ready?"

The Bird racers let out ecstatic bird cries to communicate their enthusiasm.

"All right," said Tutulu, "The skies await you. Good luck… Fly safe…"

The Birds ready their wings for flight. The fans are tense with excitement.

"…Go!"

To be continued...