CHAPTER 6
ADMISSION
Meanwhile, in another part of the valley, Petrie and Ducky were busy fixing up Petrie's nest with new sticks and branches. A flyer's nest often required maintenance, because of the abundant sky water that often fell in the valley, as well as the bright circle drying up the sticks and branches, making them brittle and easily breakable. Though Petrie chose to build his nest under a hanging rock, and it was reasonably well protected, he spent most days rebuilding it and maintaining it.
"WHEW! That hard work!" he would tell Ducky. "Thanks for help. Me NEVER get done if you not help today."
"Anytime, Petrie!"
Then they both collapsed with a sigh in the nest. Ducky placed her arm around his shoulders, and Petrie wrapped a wing around Ducky and leaned his head against her shoulder. Ducky seemed to be savouring this moment and enjoying the intimate closeness they both shared.
"Me no know what me do without you."
Ducky giggled. "You would probably be miserable and lonely. Yep, yep, yep!"
"Me no know about 'lonely', but me SURELY be 'miserable' without you."
After sitting there silently for a few minutes, Ducky got the courage to ask Petrie what she's been wanting to ask him all afternoon.
"Petrie?"
"Hmmm?"
"There is something I wanted to ask you..."
"What?"
"Actually, I..." She couldn't hold herself back any longer. She reached out and kissed him on his beak.
Petrie went wide eyed in surprise. "MMMBL! DUCKY, WHAT YOU DOING!"
Ducky placed her hands on her cheeks in shock as she realized what she's done. "OH! NO, NO, NOOOO! I cannot believe I did what I just dideded!"
Petrie tentatively approached Ducky. "Uhh... Ducky? What going on?"
Ducky sighed. "I am sorry if I scarededed you, Petrie. It's just that... I cannot hide my feelings any longer! I can't! I can't! I love you, Petrie!"
Petrie was taken aback by what Ducky just blurted out. It took a few moments before regaining his composure and gaining enough courage to approach the visibly horrified Ducky. "You... you... LOVE... Petrie?"
Ducky slumped down on the floor of the cave and sadly nodded.
"But... how that be? You swimmer, and me flyer! How you love me when I be flyer!"
Ducky sighed again. "I do not know, Petrie! I don't! I don't! When I reached my femalehood, it seemededed that I could not stop thinking of you. Then I remember my mother saying how she and dad were the bestest of friends, and how she said that the best mate you can have is your best friend. That's when I realizededed that... maybe... I could become life mates with you, because WE are best friends; despite us being different kinds of flattooth."
"But... what about male swimmer who court you! Don't he love you?"
Ducky sighed sadly. "He decided that I wasn't the right female for him and called off his courtship two days ago."
"Oh... Me so sorry."
Ducky sighed again. "You probably feel revolteded now after that kiss I just gave you." she sadly said as she hugged herself and turned away.
Petrie started feeling her sadness as he heard her sniffling. He closed his eyes and sighed. "A...actually, it felt good."
Ducky was surprised by what Petrie just said. She immediately turned around to face him. "Y... you mean... you actually liked that kiss?"
Petrie thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah... I guess..."
"Then... would you mind if I... kissed you again?"
"Petrie no mind!" he smiled.
Ducky smiled back and indulged in another kiss on Petrie's beak. She couldn't seem to pull away. Neither did Petrie, for that matter. He wrapped his wings around her and laid her down inside his nest. When they finally did release themselves from the kiss, they held each other tenderly, savouring the moment.
"Who'd've thought: The two of us becoming life mates! Yep, yep, YEP!"
"That good! Me no think me meet flyer quite like YOU!"
"I can't wait to tell EVERYONE!"
"What! OOOOHHH... Me no think that such good idea, Ducky!"
"AAAAWWW... Why not!"
"Residents of Great Valley might not like idea of us being life mates, because we so different!"
"Little Foot would not see it that way! No, no, NOOO!"
"Maybe not Little Foot, but other residents not share his ideals."
Ducky thought it over, then nodded. "Okay... I won't tell anybody else but Little Foot. Deal?"
Petrie nodded. "Deal for only telling Little Foot."
Ducky cried out in joy and hugged him. "That's my Petrie! Yep, yep, YEP!"
Then they shared another long passionate kiss in each other's embrace.
Ducky would end up sleeping over in Petrie's nest that night. They both fell alseep with Petrie's wings wrapped around Ducky, and Ducky's arms encircled around his neck.
