Chapter 41

Flocke was miserable. The cold days were a pain, and his stubby chick feathers gave little protection from the chilled wind. Huddling with the others was the only way to stay warm now, and even that was wasn't doing much. When they tried to sleep, they pretty much had to pile on top of one another, and switch around so that everyone got a fair share of warmth. Therefore, between all of the moving around and the freezing temperature, Flocke barely got to sleep at all. Then there was the hunger...

Since the food supply died down, Flocke found himself eating less than he should. This wasn't because of the shortage of food, but rather, because he wanted the others to get enough food for themselves. He felt like they needed it more than him.

That was his fault; his weakness. He was too caring. Too selfless. He'd kill himself simply by being kind and giving. But even though the frigid cold was shortening his usually patient temper, he couldn't find it in himself to care. He truly wanted the others to survive, even at the cost of his own life. So day after day, as the kills brought in from a painfully short hunt began to dwindle, Flocke would only take a slight nibble, and then let the rest feast on whatever scraps were left.

Most days it was just a couple of field mice, and they'd take turns eating. But sometimes, if they were really lucky, they'd catch a rabbit, and everyone could feast. But even with a rabbit, Flocke usually tried to hold back his cravings.

It was somewhat of a miracle that he survived. And that he stayed sane.

As miserable as the winter was for him though, he found that he very much enjoyed the first day it snowed. For the first time in many weeks, he was able to ignore the chill in his bones, and the hunger pains in his gut. The strange new flakes, slowly drifting down from the sky was something he could only describe as beauty. He ended up jumping around, trying to catch the pretty things. It was a happy day for him. And for the first time in a while, he felt warm again.

However, the snow began to taunt him as it collected on the ground. After some days passed, the compact snow kept his (larger now, but still) small form from being able to go anywhere. Now confined to the small den they were all sharing, Flocke simply focused on getting bigger. And to some extent, he did. By the time the world grew warmer, and the snow melted away, he was only a couple inches smaller than he should have been by that time. His size was relatively normal, his cub feathers were coming in, and he just survived his first winter. All in all, Flocke felt pretty good about himself.


Flocke woke up to the sound of something he dearly missed. The soothing whistles of morning birds. Stretching, the now brown feathered chick opened his bright blue eyes to a new spring filled world. While hints of the past winter still lingered, like the slight chill in the early spring air, they was feint. Flocke breathed in the world around him, looking at his home. The place he had lived and survived in for the past few months. Smiling brightly, he turned back towards his sleeping nest mates.

"Get up guys! I'm hungry!" he said happily, and waited to see who would wake up to join him.


Winter

Winter was hard for them all, no less so even for Skah and Ghost. Even with their hunting abilities the small group went hungry more often than not, the prey just seemed to disappear. It didn't help that Skah's leg had taken several weeks to heal, during which time he had very little movement. To this day he still has a dull ache and stiffness in it.

They were testing times for Skah, holed up with the other chicks. The sight of snow brought him some temporary joy, but his gruff personality returned soon enough. Along with the cold, their near constant companion. Mentally two things got Skah through the winter, his mother's words to him, you are the future, and Ghost's presence. He repeated the mantra to himself hour after hour, fuelling his resolve to survive the winter.

He remained fairly distant from the other chicks although he did develop a slight sense of familiarity with them. Mostly it was the others learning to sense his mood.

Progressively his dark black fur began to fall out leaving behind dull brown feathers. It meant little to him, other than another sign he was growing.

Winter for Ghost was no less challenging. She lived with the constant frustration of failing to bring home enough food for the group. She did receive some pleasure from teaching the others hunting skills, with varying levels of success. While Skah had remained distant and brooding, Ghost had made connections with the other chicks. Skah may have considered himself the leader before winter, but certainly during winter Ghost had assumed the role of leadership. And it was a role that she relished.

When her dense brown fur began to fall out and was replaced by similarly coloured feathers, Ghost could barely contain her joy. To her it was one more step closer to flying.


Now

Ghost raised her head from where she had rested it on her paws turning to the clearly excited Flocke. She shared his hunger as well, they all did. But she was hungry for other things as well. Ghost stepped out into the lush grass peppered with flowers before breathing deeply. Her eyes watched the birds acrobatic antics in the sky with anticipation. "Where are do you want to go today Flocke?" she queried.

Skah woke from his dreams abruptly with a slight growl. He clambered to his feet stretching his now healed leg out. It still gave him some trouble now and then but it was mostly fine. Skah walked past Flocke in silence, casting a temporary shadow over the smaller male. Flocke had grown considerably, but then so had the others. Skah was the largest and had the potential to be the strongest, but a poor diet and lack of exercise had left him slightly thinner and leaner than he should have been.

Skah stopped at Ghost's shoulder. He glanced down at her menacingly when she asked Flocke what they should do and not him. He didn't rise to her carefully concealed taunt though, maintaining his steely silence. The breaking of winter was almost a herald for him, it signalled the end of his self-imposed subservience. He would show the others who was better, the four words whispered through his mind.


"Hmm..." Flocke pondered Ghost's question. He was completely oblivious to how she was using him to taunt Skah, so he answered the question like he normally would. "Well, it's still early enough that we might find some rabbits in the nearby meadow, but we might have more luck looking for something in the forest."

Now that he thought about it, he didn't want to make the choice. If he chose to go to the meadow, and there was nothing there, he'd feel guilty. And if he chose to go to the forest, and they had no luck, it would be his fault. Taking a glance at the older male who was still plenty bigger than him in every way, Flocke instantly knew what to say. Whether it was because he was aware of who was in charge, or just plain instinct, no one could really tell. Maybe it was just innocent luck...

"Where do you think we should go Skah? I really don't care where we hunt, just as long as we get food..." he said thinking dreamily about whatever they might catch. Now that the food supply was going back up, he decided it was fair to be a bit of a pig now. And if he wanted more than what the group could catch, then he just needed to hunt for himself. Thankfully, he actually could hunt now. The lessons with Ghost had done wonders for his clumsily quick feet.

"But first, we should wait to see if anyone else is coming." he said, looking back into the den for some movement. He wondered if they had heard him.


Many miles away, two other cubs were just awaking from their own harsh winter. A once large, red, male chick was now the same camouflaging brown as all other cubs his age. However, he still contained his blood red eyes. His younger, smaller sister, while also covered in brown plumage, had stunning orange eyes instead of her brother's cruel red.

The two had been just as miserable as the main group during their winter. They had huddled up in the small crack of a tree, and waited there for winters end. The brother, Gladiolus, would go hunting often, and was usually able to find plenty of food for himself. He ended up letting his sister, Tulip, fend for herself. She was a quick learner, even without the help of her neglectful brother, and was soon able to find plenty for herself as well.

All the siblings really had to worry about was the freezing temperature, which they had very little protection from. Just two cubs wasn't enough to keep warm. In the end, Gladiolus managed to kill a fox and used its body to keep their makeshift den warm.

They didn't meet any other chicks throughout winter, much to Tulip's relief. Her stomach still turned at the thought of them eating the past few chicks they found throughout summer and autumn. There were very few, but it was still appalling. She often found herself wondering what their lives had been like before Gladiolus found them. They must of been like her to some extent. Alone, scared and hoping to find an adult to take care of them... and all of it was taken away when Gladiolus killed them.

Now that they were bigger, Tulip hoped that Gladiolus would be less likely to kill and eat any new cubs they happened across. Perhaps they could find friends. However, one look at her brother- with his arrogant stance, and cruel demeanor- told her it was best to try and avoid others.

Her brother didn't like company, and she didn't doubt for even a second, that someday soon, he'd abandon her. God forbid they meet again after that. He probably wouldn't acknowledge her as his sister the second time they meet, and he'd kill her on sight.

However, she tried not to think about it. She could focus on the here and now, and think about the future when it came. For now, she'd enjoy the company of her bloodthirsty brother…


Skah clicked his beak at Ghost, a slight display of arrogance before striding forwards considering Flocke's suggestions. They were sound, and he thought he was right in concluding they would have more luck in the forest. They were bigger now and their colouring would make it easier for them to blend in. Besides he felt somehow drawn to the forest, it was where he had spent those first few days with his mother and where he had learned to live by his own wits. "The forest", he said simply as he stretched out his wings. It was an instinct now for him to stretch his wings.

Ghost didn't flinch under Skah's steely gaze or when he snapped at her. She was in a way happy that he was behaving more normally. She turned to Flocke and slight glint of disappointment in her eyes. She loved Skah, and he loved her in his own little way, but she had a new respect for Flocke that had grown during the winter. Somehow she felt that Flocke wasn't giving his all, or fulfilling his potential. Cheekily she flicked her tail at Flocke catching him on the shoulder.


Flocke felt the very slight sting of Ghost's tail and turned to her surprised and confused. What did he do? He was just standing here... He summed it up to her being a girl.

'Girl's are weird.' he decided. He was finally getting to that age...