It is a beautiful first light. The air is clear, the water cool, and the group just awakening. I flutter my eyes and toss my head side-to-side. Stretching my feet deep, I sway them in opposite directions, twisting my floating body to and fro. My Mate is within my sight; head on it's back, wings dropped, eyes closed. I roll my head in a Great Circle and water runs down my bill and off the black of my back.

I pull up my folded wings, level my head and stretch my neck upwards. As I fan my tail feathers one the Late Young bumps me.

"Ha-ONNKK!"

Call one.

"Ha-ONNKK!"

Call one to My Mate. It opens it's eyes and lifts it's head from it's brown back. It's head stays level as that graceful black neck unfolds into that delicate curve. It's wings are down in the water; the feathers of it's sides are shiny and black and even. The Late Young bob towards it and begin calling.

"Bwaawp bwaawp bwaawp bwaawp."

Call Four. The Late Young. My Mate is moving on the water now. I push with my legs and follow it. We are all heading towards the Green. My Mate ahead, the Late Young behind, and I am behind them. My Mate extends it's wings and then the Late Young each reach their feathered flight wings into the air.

Beside me are Quiet and Staccato and their group. I used to follow Staccato and Quiet used to follow me.

"Ha-ONNKK!"

"Ha-ONK!"

"Ha-ONNKK!"

"Ha-ONK!"


Staccato. Nearby, Quiet rolls it's head in a Great Circle. It's eyes flutter; white eyelids flashing.

"ha-onnkk!"

"Ha-ONNKK!"

Quiet Rolls it's head in a Great Circle again. More Calls from the group. More familiar voices. The mob chorus quickly builds and mingles with the sound of splashing water and the delicate sound of stretched wings moving air. The group is alive. The group is preparing. Time to take in the Green.

"HAAUNGH!"

Call Five. My Mate lifts onto it's feet and walks towards the rough. Tail feathers waggle. Wings shake. A jump and water splashes. It's head bobs and it lowers it level and puts it's bill on the water. Shuttering it's graceful upper bill it moves it's head forward, splashing with rhythmic precision. Taking in water.

"HAAUNGH!"

Call Five. The Late Young Call and move about My Mate on the rough. It raises it's head and walks up to the Green. The Late Young jump, one at a time, flight wings extended, after it. Call Four. I wait for them all to go up to the Green.

Walking on the rough. I level my head and lower it down past my side to the water. Sliding my bill forward and shuttering, I take in water, too. My head lifts high to look up and swallow it down.

With a jump I am on the Green. I bend my neck to bring my head low and twist it to better see it's color. Thick, sturdy, and even; an even Green. I close the front side of my bill around it and pull. The sound is good. It is sharp and crisp with a good pitch. I take one step forward. I swallow then roll my head over to the other side. More Green. More good color.

We move forward slowly, heads low, feet closing on upstep, head side to side. The Green is good and it is good to take in. The Late Young are about and My Mate is never far from me. Time to look back to the water. There is plenty of Green behind me. Moving forward nicely.

In a while it is time for me to stop and observe. I lift my head and stretch my neck upwards. I level my bill and twist my neck to look with one eye at My Mate and the other to far over the Green. I am motionless and quiet, waiting for movement other than the group or near My Mate or Late Young. Staccato and it's Mate and Late Young are taking in Green nearby. Quiet is close by, on one foot, foot-side wing stretched back and rolling it's head in a Great Circle. A few others have their heads up and bills level. Call Two's and Call One's from the group.

Midday. As I watch again I twist my head around with a level bill and then I see it out beyond the tall greens. Small and fuzzy and dark but not shiny like like the feathers on My Mate's head, near the eyes.

"Bwaap Bwaap Bwaap."

Call Thirteen. Low and short. I make Call Thirteen.

"bwaap bwaap bwaap."

Quiet sees it too. More heads level and push upwards.

"Bwaap Bwaap Bwaap."

The small black object in the distance is moving! I remember this thing. It moves low and fast and it's song is like bursts of wind and...

The tall object, farther off by the high greens. The taller object is there!

"Burrrb!"

The call comes from mid-flock. All members of the group are up and turned or heading towards the water. Call nine: head towards water. I walk towards My Mate to be between it and the black, darting thing in the distance. I move my head to see if...it looks like...it is coming towards us. It is moving towards the group.