Enter Sand… Nope, Not Sandman
Lightning flashed in the sky and thunder rolled. The noise shook the earth.
Castiel started and looked around. Frightened hens ran to the chicken house with loud cackling. Dean was digging in the ground and pecking at grass under the fig tree. Castiel noticed that the black duck would throw cautious glances at him from time to time.
"Flood's gonna flow now," Bobby grumbled and crawled into his kennel. "And the one back in Noah's time will seem like a small puddle compared to this one."
"I love rain," Castiel mumbled and stilled in anticipation.
"Hey, Crowley, where the hell are you? You better find a shelter, if you don't wanna get drowned," Bobby barked.
"Already found one, darling." The cat's voice sounded from the balcony.
And it seemed like the skies tore open and the ocean poured down. The water flooded the yard. Small springs were flowing, taking the leaves and twigs away.
The rain stopped after a short while. Despite his depression, Castiel got happy when he saw small puddles and started to splash in the water. Black clouds cleared away and the sun showed up again.
"Mon Dieu*, mademoiselle, what a disgraceful thing to do! Get your hands off me!" Someone's agitated shout sounded in the yard.
Castiel stopped splashing in the puddle and raised his head. He quacked in surprise.
Emma, who was wearing flip-flops, was carrying a big, white rooster. The bird was flailing and trying its best to escape.
"Oh, the new inhabitant," Castiel whispered and hid behind the wooden basin, but stretched his neck to see and hear better what was going to happen next.
Emma put the rooster down. "If you try to harm anyone here, I swear I'll pluck your tail out!" she warned the rooster and walked away.
The rooster smoothed his ruffled feathers and straightened his crest. "Too bad you are not a hen. I would teach you how to behave," he shouted indignantly. "Oh, and what do we have here?" His indignation was replaced by excitement when he saw four hens. The hens had left the chicken house when the rooster's shouts filled the yard.
"Bonjour* ladies." The rooster bowed politely to them.
"May I, ma belle*?" The rooster took Bela's wing and kissed it respectfully. "What is your name, sweetheart?" He looked her in the eyes.
"Be... Beee… lll…aaaa." The hen blushed and lowered her gaze.
"Oh, pleasure to meet you. I am Balthazar." The rooster kissed the wings of other hens too.
The hens screamed excitedly.
"So, you came from Mr. Charpentier's farm?" Ruby asked.
"Oui*, my lovely." Balthazar wrapped his wing around Ruby's waist.
"Would you like to take a walk with me and you could show me around?" Balthazar asked in a husky voice.
"Yeeesssss." Ruby felt weakness in her knees.
"Great. Let's go then."
As soon as Balthazar and Ruby walked away, Meg flapped her wings.
"What a bitch!" she screamed.
Balthazar and Ruby were walking slowly and the hen was explaining who lived in the yard except them.
"Understood. And this lad is Castiel if I am not wrong?" Balthazar pointed his wing to Castiel's direction.
"Yes, that's him." Ruby nodded.
Balthazar walked towards the duck. "Oh, bonjour, mon ami*," he shouted cheerfully at Castiel and waved his wing at the duck, who was ready to run away.
Castiel froze in place and stared at the rooster. Balthazar looked friendly and benevolent. "I… uh… I don't understand that reference." Castiel tilted his head.
Balthazar looked confused for a second. But then he smiled broadly. "Oh, pardon. I am half French and use French words often. My name is Balthazar." He reached his wing to Castiel.
Castiel's eyes filled with happy tears when he finally understood that Balthazar was not an enemy.
"I am Castiel." He shook the rooster's wing.
"Nice to meet you, Cassie. Hope you will not mind being my friend?" Balthazar asked gently.
"What? Of course not!" exclaimed Castiel.
Balthazar turned to Ruby. "Ruby, mon amour*, thank you very much for everything. You can go now. I will see you later." Balthazar winked at the hen.
"Alright. See you later, Balthy," Ruby crooned and turned around. "Ah!" she exclaimed when Balthazar slapped her ass.
"Mmm, nice bum," chuckled the rooster. "Oh, sorry, Castiel, but who is that young man over there who won't take his eyes off you?" Balthazar asked, looking at Dean.
"That's my friend, Dean," Castiel sighed and fell silent.
Balthazar frowned. "Did something happen? You had a fight?" he asked with concern. "Maybe it is not my business, but you can trust me. I will do my best to help a friend." Balthazar put his wing on Castiel's shoulder.
The duck glanced at Balthazar and when he was met with rooster's sincere eyes, he nodded. "I will tell you everything. We can stop here."
They stopped near the rose bush and Castiel began to tell Balthazar his problem.
Translations from French:
Mon Dieu – My God
Bonjour – good morning
ma belle – my lovely
Oui - yes
bonjour, mon ami – good morning my friend
mon amour – my love