“The friends of Anipal Land accept your surrender and suit for peace,” Zack said, standing on the dias with Jeff Musk on his left and the recently knighted Ser Jinx on his right. “You are welcome to live where you please in our lands so long as you hold to our mission to live in joy, harmony and peace. You will identify and hone your specialty skills under our tutelage and care and use them for the advancement, comfort, and support of our community.”

“As recompense for the damage done in the crops and subsequent battle, you will assist us in harvesting these crops and planting new ones for future growing seasons,” Jeff Musk said. “You will also help to clean up the fields and castle.”

“Additionally, you will be trained in proper battle technique, just in case we need it in the future,” Ser Jinx said. “You fought well, and with honor.” He turned to Benny. “And now, I ask that Benny read the casualty list.”

Benny stepped forward. “There were no causalities, Ser Jinx. The nurse birds have already healed the members of the invading army that suffered frostbite and burns from the cans of whoop up. There were minor scratches and scrapes from the battle and a few got tangled up when they tried to attack yarn birds on the perimeter. And then, um,” he gulped, glancing at Chloe, “other various bruises from the castle breech and ensuing melee.”

Chloe cackled. “They needed a bath, too, after sneaking in through the sewer pipes!”

Jinx joined in the cackling. “Maybe Chloe should help with your training. The ladies held up just as well as we did in the field!”

“We live in an open community that welcomes and defends all anipals,” Zack said. “I was wondering, why did you attack us? All you had to do was ask and we would have been glad to help you.”

Queen Beak stepped forward. “Our aviary closed and they were going to sell us to a zoo. We didn’t know what to do or how to survive. All we knew is that we were scared that we’d go extinct if we were mixed in a strange place with all of those big animals. We’re sorry.”

“All is forgiven,” Chloe said, putting a wing around Queen Beak, “and we welcome you to your new home.”

“And now the celebration feast!” Jeff Musk announced. “Everybody outside to begin the festivities!”

All of the anipals stepped outside in the sun to see tables set up with fruits and vegetables. The farmer birds had managed to salvage most of the crops so far, despite the weeds. Lola shyly pulled on Zack’s feathers as he took his place at the table. “Sir Zack? I heard you were worried about me and the other babies.”

“It turned out to be a fruitless worry. You did an excellent job defending us and the castle. Thank you, Lola. I didn’t mean to underestimate you just because you’re young.”

“No sir, that’s not it. Actually, I’m flattered by your concern.” She turned motioned to Seamus and Rain, who rolled a wheelbarrow of peanuts forward. “This is a gesture from me and the young birds to thank you for your protection and care.”

Zack’s eyes widened. “Oh boy!”

“We have another gift, too,” Sassy and Morty said, rolling up four barrels of popcorn with Nena and Mesha. “Jiffy Pop for your gallant capture of Queen Beak and bringing the peace.”

“Wow!” Zack said.

“We helped too, you know,” Chloe said. “And thanks for helping to heal the ones I taught you to whoop up on in the castle, too.”

“Oh, you’re so brave, Zack!” the girls gushed, crowding around and snuggling him. Zack’s cheeks flushed a deeper orange.

“I had an army out there too, you know,” Jinx said.

“You saved us all with your clever planning and ingenuity!” the girls said, surrounding Zack in a massive snuggle.

“But Chloe and Jeff and Killer worked with him, too,” Jinx said.

“You’re the best, Zack!” the girls cheered as Zack turned brighter orange.

“You know, we all worked together,” Chloe said. “Even you ladies helped too.”

“And he’s so handsome!”

“Aw, shucks. Anything for my friends!” Zack said, his voice muffled in the snuggle.

“Oh, forget it,” Benny said.

“Hey, where did Jeff go?” Chloe asked, looking around.

They heard a horn honk from the road nearby. “Hey guys!” Jeff Musk shouted from the driver’s seat of the bus. “Guess what day it is?”

“It’s hump day!” the camel shouted, jumping in front of the bus. Unfortunately, Jeff didn’t see the camel’s sudden appearance and hit him, knocking Camel into a nearby field. Jeff stopped the bus.

“No, it’s French Fry Friday!”

The camel looked up from where he landed, unharmed and smiling. “Oh yea, I guess it is Friday.”

All of the birds cheered and rushed to line up as Jeff handed out prizes from the French Fry express. Chatter broke out as the animals mingled to enjoy the fruits of the land and the treats they created from them.

“It’s such a beautiful day, and wonderful to welcome so many new anipals,” Chloe said, looking at the Queen of Bavaria’s, raccoons, and squirrels shyly mixing with the anipals that kept handing them food and treats.

“It certainly is. It’s always wonderful to welcome new friends, don’t you think?” Zack asked, coming out of the snuggle with mussed feathers.

“Muuuh,” said Un Buey.

Everybody laughed, peeling open French Fries in the sun and enjoying a perfect day filled with friends, food, fun, peace, joy and happiness.

THE END.

Our Twitter friend @MilosParrots lost a member of their flock today. Dot Tiel died from a terrible fall that broke her sweet little neck.

Milo, we're so sorry. We know exactly how you feel, having lost Ollie just 8 weeks ago. It's terrible to lose a feathered friend, especially when you lose them suddenly. What a horrible shock to go through. It's incomprehensible, really.

Please don't feel guilty or bad, or like you did anything wrong. You didn't! Accidents happen. It's awful and terrible, and they can't be avoided. I know it's natural to wonder "what if" and to feel that you should have done better. You couldn't. Time and chance are a b****, frankly, and we're sorry they converged on you like this. It's not fair. It's  not right. And there's not a thing you could have done to prevent it.

Our parronts still feel like fools for not knowing that Ollie had a tumor. All that time, they thought it was a nerve injury, and they were looking in the wrong place. For 5 months. They found out in the end. And they felt awful for it. Still do, in fact. Mommy says she feels like such a fool that maybe she should wear a jester hat and juggle pins, like the king's fools in medieval times.

You're very good to your flock, and they need you now too. Jinx, Tuscon, Sassy, and the 'keets probably don't quite get what happened, and are anxious about Dot being gone. They'll probably get clingy. We did. Chloe made mommy late for work more than once, screaming until she'd walk her around the house to let me check every room. She said Chloe was looking to make sure the reaper that took Ollie was gone. We still miss him.

We know it feels bad, and that loss to your flock is overwhelming. We know there's really nothing we can say to make you feel better today. This is, in fact, probably the worst pep talk in the world. But we want you to know that we do understand your loss. You aren't in this desert alone. We're there with you - and all your Twitter pals too. Let us be your strength. Our Twitter pals were a great help to us when we lost Ollie, and you especially! So let us be there for you now, as you were for us.

Take care, friend, and stay online. We're here.

Luv,

Zack and Chloe

It looks like mommy’s picked up another wildlife hitchhiker. The opossum from a few weeks –it’s back! At first it scared her, but it’s keeping a respectable distance now. She figures it must be pretty bad off if it’s waiting outside in daylight – for her cooking! Yea, folks, that’s pretty bad. She’s not exactly a gourmet chef.

That’s what happens when you throw the leftovers outside in the woods. You tend to pick up hitchhikers. First it was the feral cats – one, then two, then seven. Now this opossum is creeping around, and it wants to be besties with the outside food dish (yes, they have a dish out there for the leftovers. It’s a broken casserole dish). But they figure it’s the least they can do. This whole lot used to be wooded, so mommy and daddy feel the least they can do after driving the poor critters further back in the woods is to provide some benefit from human incursions. They have a kind heart for animals, and it seems the wildlife around here are adapting to our presence well. Some wild birds even come around to visit us. Especially one cute little Carolina Wren that used to serenade Ollie, and some doves and cardinals that peek in every now and again.

It’s all working out. I know living out here has expanded our horizons, and it looks like we’ve made another new friend. Now if only those owls out there would quit asking “who?” all the time!

That’s all today. Have a fabulous Friday tomorrow and a great weekend.

Luv,

Zack