At some point, they had to notice her—Goosey Gray’s wings weren’t going to heal on their own, no matter how much she flapped or stretched. It became painfully clear that her injury needed real help, and that help wasn’t going to come from waiting. The humans had been watching her closely, and one morning, as the sun barely kissed the horizon, they knew it was time to act.
Locked in the barn at dawn, Goosey Gray put up quite a fight, honking loudly in protest as the humans gently cornered her. She felt something soft slip over her head—a sock, blinding her to the world around her. This calmed her a little, though her muffled honks still echoed in the small space. Completely disoriented, she was carefully scooped up and placed into the humans’ car. The sudden movement, the strange smells, and the rumble of the engine made her nervous, but her honks soon faded into quiet murmurs. Coriolanus Duck’s humans were taking her to the nearest vet, where help awaited.
Back at the pond, Coryo Duck wasn’t as panicked. Unlike Goosey, he knew his place was here, watching over the little ones. He stayed calm, guiding the bebes from one puddle to the next, teaching them how to forage, and all the while keeping an eye on the road, waiting for his mate’s return. He knew the humans would bring her back; it was just a matter of time.
Hours later, when Goosey Gray returned, she wasn’t the same sleek, proud bird she had been before. Now, she waddled out of the carrier with her wing bandaged tightly against her side, unable to move it. And, much to her dismay, a giant plastic cone was strapped around her neck, preventing her from reaching or pecking at the bandage. Coryo’s eyes widened at the sight of her, and the bebes stared, confused by their momma’s new look.
Goosey Gray was now a “lampshade goose,” as the humans joked, her majestic form replaced with a clumsy, frustrated one. She tried to shake the cone off, her head bobbing awkwardly, but the contraption stayed firmly in place. Honking in frustration, she waddled over to Coryo, who greeted her with calm quacks, assuring her that everything would be fine. The babies gathered around her, still fascinated by the strange thing around her neck.
Though Goosey felt awkward and out of place, her family still saw her as the strong leader she was. Even in her bandages and cone, she remained their fearless Goosey Gray.
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I hope this wasn’t too much text owo‘
BUT LAMPSHADE GOOSEY!! 🪿
Yes im still alive and really sorry, I’m just burned out as of recently and couldn’t do much qwq