[Folwren]

A cock crowed somewhere in the yard. Tim rolled over onto his back in the hay and instantly put an arm up to block the sudden ray of sunlight coming through a crack in the barn wall that fell on his face. He screwed up his face at the waking and then sat up and looked around him.

Wren still slept by his side, contentedly bedded in the hay. It had been a good night for both of them and Tim felt ready to get up. He left his sister still sleeping and crawled to where he had left the egg basket given him by Cook. He placed a few handfuls of hay into the bottom of it and hooked it over his arm before going to the ladder and quickly descending.

Tim left the barn by the door he had come by the evening before and looked around for the hen house. He spotted it at the corner of the barn - a small structure built right up to its side. The chickens were already out and scratching about in the dirt. A tall, handsome rooster stood in the middle of the yard preparing himself for another crow. His neck arched and the feathers stood out as he greeted the rising sun. Tim smiled at him and then went on to the hen house.

There were two nests, and one was occupied by a stingy hen who would have kept Tim away if she could. But he wasn’t afraid of the bird and gathered all of the eggs in the nest. She growled angrily at him as he left the hen house and he laughed in return.

He went towards the kitchen door and was pleased to see it already open to allow the cool morning air to flow in freely. He walked in a little hesitantly and placed the basket on the counter.

“Here are the eggs, ma’am,” he said to Cook, who turned towards him when she heard him enter. “Is there anything else I can do to help?”