[Bêthberry]

Bethberry joins the game.

Cheery, cheerful Pip'kha had been up for some time in the early dawn of light, checking out the damp ground for worms and grubs which the previous night's rain had forced to the surface. His pouch, just behind his tongue, was bursting with juicy morsels. He had eaten his fill and had quite thoughtfully decided to bring breakfast to his cousin Iadok, who tended to be a late riser.

"Urphka," burped the perennial adolescent as he saw Akaaw swoop down from the dawning horizon. He rubbed his head with his wing and wondered what this foretold. Akaaw's absences usually always brought some kind of adventure or journey in their wake and this quite excited Pip'kha. The last three had not been especially exciting or fruitful, but, still, a bird could always hope.

Pip'kha hopped over to where Iadok was sprawled out over an anthill, picking up ants in his feathers in his sleep. Iadok sometimes took such risks as sleeping on the ground, for he was prone to parasites and the ants gave him much relief.

"C'rec. C'rec," Pip'kha said to his cousin. "C'mon. Akaaw has been out scouting something. I sense an adventure. Just the thing for two smarts crows such as ourselves."

Iadoc looked up with one eye cocked at his cousin and the other at the sky, searching for some of the other young birds of the horde.

"Why does it always have to be morning when he starts his adventures? Wouldn't lunch be a more civilized time?" Iadoc croaked disconsolately to his cousin.

"Krhush! Don't let Akaaw hear you say that. He can be short-tempered if he suspects we are lazy."

The two flew up to a birch branch midway up a tree trunk and Pip'kha offerred some of his grubs to Iadoc, who crushed them eagerly and affectionately preened Pip'kha behind the ear in thanks.

[ December 15, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]