"Sssso you ssssee," spoke the voice. "You ssssimply bite the bread and you will have the powers and sssssentience you ssssseek. It'ssss eassssy."

The duckling cocked it's head and the slithery snake, keeper of secrets, could not be certain the fluffy yellow creature understood. The snake had seen so many other birds come and try their wing at the quest, and yet still fail. It was starting to think there was none capable of toppling the iron feathered rule of the swans. Perhaps the bread had been a bad idea, and it should try the apples again?

But the duckilng bent forward and gave the bread a few quick nibbles. It stopped to ponder for awhile. Then it's tiny body gave an almighty shake and it dove beak first right into the yeasty feast until not a crumb was left. The keeper of secrets, looked on this with pleasure. Perhaps there was a slither of hope after all?

The duckilng gave another shudder and then with eyes which now registered meaning, in a voice very wise for one so small, it remarked, "Why that was a fine meal. Thank you for your hospitality, but may I inquire, is there ... more?"

The snake rose up. It's shiny scales gleamed. It nodded. "Yessss! Yesss! At the palace, but first you must defeat the swans that reside there, for only a bird can get past the guards. They are are responsible for all the woes in this world. Defeat them and none shall ever grow hungry again. Thou shall be king in their place. It may take ssssseveral months of training before you are ready, but fear not for I sssshall teach you all I know.”

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Months later...

Entry into the place was easy, for no guard could resist such divine plumage.

The King of swans soon appeared and shook its long and graceful neck with anger. "Your duck kind are the worst! When I was young and grey they called my feathers dull. Now look at me. I am the fairest of the land! You shall not defeat me!"

The duck cried “SSSSSSILENCE creature. You reign is at an end!” With a devilish stare and resounding QUACKsssss! The duck caused all of the windows in the palace to CRACK and SHATTER. The swan bared its sharp teeth but it was no match for the quick jabs of the duck. As fast as a serpent the duck struck the swan, and when it withdrew, two puncture wounds marred the evil swan’s plumage.

“What is this?” cried the swan as it fell to the floor. “Who are you?”

The sepent threw off the feathery cloak. “I am the keeper of secrets and now I am the king!”

Several years later...

“And that is why,” said the mother duck to her offspring, “You must go to bed early, always eat your bread and be good little darlings. Otherwise the Grand Serpent shall punish you.”

“Oh ssssstop ssssscaring the children,” remarked the Grand Serpent to his beloved Queen. “They won’t ssssleep if you frighten them too much.”

“But it’s the truth.” She nuzzled his sleek scales with her beak. “You saved us all. I never could have done it with only a few months of training.”

“It was a team effort. I never would have thought to hide under a cloak of your old featherssss and use it to ssssneak past the guards.”

Beneath the pair of them, four little velociraptors pretended to vomit at the display of affection shared by their parents.

And that is the story of how the dinosaurs came to be.