Pre-System conversation between a Geraldine LaFaive the Nobel Prize winning biologist and her neighbor Mark the small homesteader-
"Chickens, surprisingly, are the closest living relatives to the Tyrannosaurus rex, sharing a common ancestor that lived around 230 million years ago. Despite their vast differences in size and appearance, both chickens and T. rex belong to the same dinosaur family tree. One interesting fact about chickens is their remarkable ability to communicate through various vocalizations, including clucking, crowing, and squawking. These sounds serve different purposes, from warning others of danger to establishing dominance within a flock. Oh, and as for the T. rex, it's widely regarded as one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs to have ever lived, with estimates suggesting it could reach lengths of up to 40 feet and weigh as much as 9 tons. Despite its fearsome reputation, recent studies suggest that T. rex may have been a more social creature than previously thought, possibly living in family groups similar to modern birds, including chickens. Isn't that fascinating?"
"That's terrifying. Chickens are both the dumbest and the smartest creatures I have ever seen."
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With the rattlesnake slithering away into the shadows, Hennie's heart pounded with a mixture of relief and concern. She hurried towards Red's prone form, her wings trembling with anxiety as she reached his side. Why had he pushed her away like that? She hadn’t wanted for him to take that blow. That’s why she had run in first.
"Red, oh Red, please wake up," Hennie chirped softly, nudging her fallen friend with her beak. But Red remained unresponsive, his breathing shallow and labored. Panic surged through Hennie as she realized the severity of the situation.
"Come on, Red, you can't give up now," she urged, her voice filled with determination. With gentle care, Hennie began to assess Red's wounds, her feathers ruffling with concern as she inspected the bite mark left by the rattlesnake.
The wound was deep, the venom still coursing through Red's veins. As Hennie leaned in to clean the wound, a sharp burning sensation shot through her beak and tongue. The poison was potent, searing her flesh with its deadly touch. But despite the pain, Hennie pressed on, determined to save her friend's life.
With painstaking precision, Hennie picked at the wound, removing any debris and dirt that might exacerbate the infection. Each touch sent waves of agony through her, but she refused to let it deter her. Red needed her, and she would not fail him.
Beside Red, Molly lay unconscious, her fur matted with blood from the snake's attack. Hennie could hear her faint moans of pain as she tended to her wounds, her heart aching at the sight of her injured companion.
"Stay still, Molly. I'm going to help you," Hennie murmured soothingly, gently pecking at the detritus within the wounds on Molly's shoulder in an attempt to clean them. Despite the danger still lurking nearby, Hennie refused to let her fear overpower her compassion. There was a key difference between Red and Hennie when it came to Molly; Hennie had never stopped having faith in Molly. Where Red was filled with anger and fear over the deaths of their brothers and sisters all those months ago, Hennie was just filled with sadness and determination. She understood that the humans and Molly were only gone for a brief couple hours when the demon had attacked them, and the only thing that could be done differently was to become stronger and faster. Whether that was so she could attack it, or so she could flee, she wasn’t truly sure.
The morning sun beat down relentlessly, casting harsh shadows over the scene of chaos and uncertainty. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as Hennie worked tirelessly to tend to her friends, her determination unwavering despite the odds stacked against them. As the hours passed, Hennie's mind raced with thoughts of what might come next. Would Red and Molly pull through, or would they succumb to the venom coursing through their veins? The answer eluded her, shrouded in the oppressive heat of the midday sun.
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With each passing moment, Hennie's resolve grew stronger. She would not let her friends down. She would fight for them with every ounce of strength she had, refusing to accept defeat in the face of adversity. And so, under the scorching sun, Hennie continued her vigil, tending to Red and Molly with unwavering dedication. Though the outcome remained uncertain, one thing was clear – she would not give up hope. For as long as there was breath in her body, she would stand by her friends, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As the sun reached its zenith, bathing the world in a harsh, unforgiving light, Hennie's efforts began to show signs of progress. Red's breathing grew steadier, his feverish shivers subsiding ever so slightly, and similarly Molly's moans of pain softened, her body relaxing as Hennie tended to her wounds. Hope blossomed within Hennie's heart as she witnessed the small improvements in her friends' conditions. Though they were still far from out of danger, the glimmer of progress filled her with renewed determination.
The afternoon sun cast its warm glow over the coop, painting the world in hues of gold and amber as Hennie continued her tender care of Red and Molly. Despite the passing hours, there was no change in their condition. Red and Molly remained unconscious, their faint moans of pain the only sound amidst the stillness of the afternoon.
But despite her best efforts, Hennie couldn't shake the nagging fear that lingered in the back of her mind. The snake was still out there, its presence a constant threat looming over them like a shadow in the night. Though she hadn't encountered it on her patrol, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was lurking nearby, biding its time until the moment was right to strike again.
Hennie's tender care of Red and Molly provided a brief respite from the chaos that had enveloped their small corner of the world. But as the afternoon wore on, a sense of unease settled over her like a heavy blanket. The memory of the rattlesnake's vicious attack lingered in her mind, fueling her determination to protect her friends at all costs.
With a deep breath, Hennie resolved to take action. She couldn't sit idly by while the threat of the snake loomed over them. Determination etched into her features, she set off on foot, her talons digging into the soft earth as she navigated the treeline, scanning for any sign of danger.
As she patrolled the perimeter of their farm, careful not to pass into the darkness of the treeline, Hennie's senses were on high alert. Every rustle of leaves and every whisper of the wind set her heart pounding with apprehension. But despite her growing fear, she pressed on, refusing to let her emotions cloud her judgment.
Hours passed as Hennie combed through the dense foliage, her search yielding no sign of the elusive serpent. With each passing moment, her anxiety mounted, the fear of encountering the snake weighing heavily on her mind.
But still, Hennie persevered. She couldn't allow her fear to dictate her actions. Red and Molly were depending on her, and she would not let them down. With renewed determination, she pushed deeper into the forest, her resolve unwavering in the face of uncertainty.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape, Hennie reluctantly abandoned her search. Though the snake remained at large, she took solace in the knowledge that she had done everything in her power to protect her friends. With a heavy heart, she turned back towards the coop, her thoughts consumed by the uncertain fate that awaited them in the days to come.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape, Hennie's patrol came to an end. Though she had found no sign of the snake, her sense of relief was tempered by the knowledge that the danger had not passed.
With a heavy heart, Hennie returned to the coop, her mind still filled with the lingering fear of what might come next. Though she longed for the comfort of her friends' presence, she knew that the night would bring its own set of challenges.
As she settled back into her vigil by Red and Molly's side, Hennie's thoughts turned to the future. Though the road ahead was uncertain, she knew that she would face it with courage and determination, ready to protect her friends no matter the cost.
Now, one thing was really starting to bug her… Where was the last human? Normally when there was some kind of predator attack on the farm he would come running. Actually, something else was bugging her too; what was the deal with the flowers that kept popping into her vision? She had never seen a flower do that before. Every time a flower popped up she could hear some nearby, but unfindable rooster crowing and nothing it had to say seemed to make sense to her. It was telling her things she just didn’t get, like they were speaking two different languages that were similar and yet not the same.
Whatever it was that is happening, she felt good though. Better than good actually, she felt stronger and quicker than she had in a long time. That fight with the rattlesnake really seemed to wake her up. As long as the human could come fix Molly and Red soon, everything would be fine.
Things had just changed a bit, that’s all.