Wiz Rooster looked worried and that wasn’t like him. Dazel noted his furrowed forehead at once when she stepped into his office to deliver mails the pigeon postal service had brought.

“Is everything all right, Sir?” the duck asked in concern.

The rooster was so engrossed in his troubled thoughts that he looked startled when he saw Dazel in his office at the Aviary School for Birds.

“It’s nothing Dazel,” he replied with a forced smile.

“Are you sure, Sir?” Dazel asked again. Wiz Rooster sighed, “Have you ever been disappointed when an idea you had was misused?” he asked the duck. “I’m afraid I didn’t understand, Sir,” the duck replied in puzzlement.

“When we started the pigeon postal service, what was our intention, Dazel?” the rooster asked, pacing around the confines of his small office.

“Well, you told me yourself that you wished to make communication between the leaders of D’Land faster and more efficient and I believe the postal service has been able to achieve that,” Dazel said enthusiastically.

“Infact, as one of the creatures who records the number of messages sent and received, the leaders of D’Land, like Olly the octopus and Old Rex, have now been exchanging messages with you daily and we have all come closer as a community.”

“Yes that’s absolutely right, Dazel, but our idea has been wrongly used by the jackals,” Wiz Rooster said.

“What do you mean, Sir?” Dazel asked in bewilderment.

“The jackals have begun to use the rogue crows to communicate messages with the foxes,” the rooster said. He looked much older than his years as if the burden of this news had aged him.

“The jackals and foxes…how’s that possible? They aren’t even friends,” Dazel replied in amazement.

“Yes it’s hard to believe but it’s true, I received a message from Dr Trish, the dinosaur leader. She and her fellows have observed the crows going to and fro from the area where the jackals live to the Northern regions where the foxes stay,” Wiz Rooster said. “I am afraid they are plotting something. If these two tricky creatures get together they can be up to no good.”

“But remember a few years ago they were fighting with each other over Filip the fox,” Dazel reminded the rooster.“Yes, I recall. But it seems that they have formed some sort of an alliance,” Wiz Rooster said.

“There is an emergency meeting of all leaders of D’Land this evening at the Aquatic School. We will put our heads together to figure out what they might be up to,” Wiz Rooster shared. “I wanted you to accompany me, Dazel. I don’t feel too well and I might need your assistance.”

“Of course, Sir. It’ll be my honour,” the duck replied but her heart was sinking as she saw her mentor so agitated. “I’ll be with you in two hours when it’s time to leave for the meeting.” And with those words she excused herself.

“I must find out what the crows are doing,” she said to herself and without thinking of the repercussions she set off towards the barren rocky terrain near Fruit Park where the crows lived. She was cautious as she tried to sneak among the branches of the acacia trees because she knew her bright wings would make her conspicuous. It was early evening and the cawing of the crows made her nervous.

She shuddered as she remembered when she had ventured into this part of D’Land with Din Din in quest for an adventure and the crows had tied them up for trespassing. They had escaped with luck on their side but the memory of their capture was fresh in her mind.

Suddenly, she saw one crow fly towards a group perched atop an acacia tree. A strip of leaf was tied onto the crow’s foot. Dazel tried to slink closer within earshot.

“Here’s another message from Jacko, the leader of the jackals,” one of the crows who had opened the message said. “He wants us to convey it to the foxes.” The crow clearly seemed to be the leader of gathered flock.

“I don’t understand why we should be at the beck and call of these jackals, Carr?” asked one of the younger crows.

“Because they are paying us fruit from the Fruit Park in payment, Cedric,” replied Carr, the elder crow, his coal-like eyes blazing.

“I, for one, dislike being treated like a slave by the likes of these cunning jackals and sly foxes,” argued Cedric. “I know that the jackals want to take over Fruit Park and they want the foxes to help them defeat the dinosaurs. My gut tells me that we should not get involved in this feud of the titans.”

Many of the other crows began to agree with Cedric’s point of view loudly. “The majority has spoken, Carr,” Cedric challenged the older crow. “It’s us younger crows who will have to play messenger and we are not willing to do so. So, you can go ahead and tell the jackals and the foxes that we aren’t interested in their fruit payment.”

Carr seemed livid but he controlled his fury. Perhaps, he knew that he was out numbered. The meeting of crows seemed to disperse. Dazel, who had been hiding behind a clump of thorny bushes, silently crept away. Her heart felt much lighter and she couldn’t wait to share her knowledge with Wiz Rooster and put his mind at ease.When Dazel reached the rooster’s window, Wiz looked at her and said, “Ah, there you are. Let’s be off for the meeting.”

“I don’t think there’s any cause for worry, Sir,” Dazel shared, her eyes sparkling in excitement. “Fortunate for us, the crows are not as large hearted or helpful as the pigeons. Birds of a feather flock together!”

“What do you mean, Dazel?” asked the baffled rooster.

Dazel revealed the conversation of the crows she had eavesdropped upon. “Oh, my dear child!” the rooster said when he had heard the entire story. “I must admit, I am so relieved. If the crows had decided to help the jackals, there would definitely have been trouble brewing in D’Land. Now I must meet with the leaders but to share this comforting news you have brought.”

“Thank the Lord for one danger which has been averted,” Dazel sighed gratefully.

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