Too Coot to Kill

One fine day Iris woke up to find that her mother wasn’t in the nest, she woke her three siblings up.

“What do you want Iris?” her brother mumbled tiredly.

“Mothers not in the nest so I guess she’s gone to feed, I thought we could have a quick swim with the others.” Looking Iris in the eyes, he reminded her of their Mothers warning, about sharing a territory with two fierce otters, she could see that he was only going t leave the nest with his mothers protection. Stomping away from her brother, she went in search of her younger sister. She pleaded her sister who was resting, staring at the water. Iris gave her an annoyed glare and grunted. As Iris stepped on the edge of the nest, a shiver went through her body.

She had never seen how scary the river was, she had never swam before. What if the predators Chestnut and Willow ate her? She wanted to turn back but she couldn’t, her sister would make fun of her and tease her.

Suddenly she heard a flap of wings and turned around slowly Iris had her eyes shut but peeped through one eye, standing there was Mother, Mistress Fern. Her siblings sat there watching their mother, standing there, staring at Iris. Iris opened her eyes and quietly said “Hello Mother”.

Mistress Fern got all the chicks huddled round and explained to them that they’re all going to swim, they were all so excited!

Mistress Fern flew into the river and the babies followed, she swam delicately to her feeding place. She taught them to dunk their heads under water and grab some reeds to eat. Whilst they were feeding Mistress Fern saw the otters come out of their den and give her an evil smile, and laughed. Mistress Fern was nervous, Iris asked if they were the predators she used to talk about.

Mistress Fern told them that Chestnut and Willow moved there when they saw Mistress Fern have eggs.

When they went back to the nest the chicks fell asleep, Mistress Fern went to get dinner.

Iris awoke by her brother trembling. She looked to where her brother pointed and saw Chestnut climbing onto the nest. Her brother and sister awoke from the nest rocking and squealed. They huddled up to Iris and turned around to find they couldn’t escape because Willow was on the edge circling the nest with Chestnut. Chestnut swiped at Iris and scratched her wing. Willow grabbed Iris’ brother and Chestnut grabbed his sister, and then saw Mistress Fern swimming as fast as possible to the nest. The otters escaped with the two chicks, Iris fell onto her side and cried whilst her brother whimpered.

Their mother huddled her two babies letting them sleep. She knew she had to leave immediately.