“My goodness, Flash. You’re a mess.” Flossie, his mate, began to pick small bits of grass, and who knows what else, from his ruffled feathers. “What happened to you?”
“I’m not sure.” He shook himself vigorously. Using his right talon, the flicker scratched something from his beak.
“Tell me all about it,” Flossie said, smoothing his feathers. She fondly rubbed her beak against his.
“Well, I was out looking for something to eat and didn’t find much in the trees. I flew out to the clearing where I spotted swarms of bugs—all kinds. They saw me coming and took off. I thought I had ’em, but some flew off one way, some another. A bunch of tasty looking ones headed for the big thing that sits out in the middle of the clearing.”
“You mean the thing where those critters hide? Where the hairy one makes such a fuss?
“Yeah. That’s the one.”
“You didn’t go over there?” Flossie whispered.
“Not on purpose. I wanted to swoop into that swarm and get a good gullet full. Next thing I know that swarm is trying to get into a round thing that sticks out of the big thing.”
“Where white and gray clouds float sometimes?” Flossie shivered. “You never know when stuff is going to come out of there.”
“Anyway, I was right on those bugs when they slipped down that round thing. Before I knew it, I was slipping too. It was dark and I flapped like crazy trying to get out.” Flash paused. “Next thing I knew something below opened up and let in fresh air and light. I thought I was going free. But then the racket started. Like birds I’ve never heard before. Really screechy. When they poked a tree limb up the round thing and hit me on the leg, I thought I was a goner. I tried to scoot up but I couldn’t get out. I hung on to the side of the round thing for dear life.”
“Oh, Flash. You poor bird.” Flossie thought it was a miracle that he was beside her now. “What happened then?”
“The noise stopped, and I saw light under me and breathed fresh air. I found that by spreading my wings, I could slowly slide down the sides of the round thing. But suddenly it wasn’t there. I fell into a heap of something soft and dusty. I could hardly breathe. One of those critters came at me with something that looked like a strip of bark, only it bent. He tried to catch me with it, but I scrambled away. I think he was afraid too. Even though I was out of the round thing expecting to come home I couldn’t see sky or trees. I flew up and banged my head on something hard. Flossie, I was inside the critters’ thing in the clearing and I didn’t know how to get out.”
Flossie shook her head. Flash continued.
“I swooped low and fast, trying to scare them. They screeched and waved those bark strips as if they wanted to hit me. I flew as high as I could and saw an opening. I flew into it, but there was no way out. In the meantime, one of those critters came after me. He didn’t fly but ran up on something and I thought he had me. I flew into another opening, but it didn’t go anywhere either. Something funny about that place, Flossie. When I was up there and looking for the way out, I thought I saw birds when I flew from one opening to another. They looked like me and moved when I did. I wondered if the critters planned to keep me there if I were caught.
“How awful, Flash. Maybe we should move deeper into the woods.”
“Well, I decided to look for the round thing again. I hoped I’d get out the same way I got in, but I couldn’t find it. Both those critters ran around waving the bark, trying to catch me. I swooped at them and they really screeched. I was getting dizzy flying around in that thing. I perched to rest, but whatever it was wobbled and scared me. Finally, on a particularly low swoop, I misjudged and one of those critters caught me in a strip. Only it wasn’t like bark.”
“Oh, my goodness, Flash. What was it?” Flossie shivered.
“Something soft. Didn’t hurt a bit. But I couldn’t see anything and I knew those critters were taking me somewhere. Screeching like crazy. Suddenly they opened the soft strip and threw me up in the air. I was outside the thing and saw our woods. I flew so fast I almost hit the first tree I came to. I didn’t stop until I got home.” His wings drooped. “I’m worn to a frazzle.”
“Oh, Flash. I’m so thankful you’re safe.” Flossie nuzzled his beak. “I found a lot of fresh berries while you were gone. Would you like some?”
Flash tucked his head beneath a wing and hunkered down. He was fast asleep. Flossie stroked his feathers.
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