Puddleduck Reloaded (a Classical Writing assignment) by JellyMan

Years ago, in the English countryside, there lived a duck named Jemima. She was an unremarkable duck, with white feathers and a dull brain, and she had but one desire: to hatch her own eggs. The farmer's wife wouldn't allow Jemima to sit on her own nest because she had a history of leaving her eggs unattended while she preened herself by the lake. Instead the farmer's wife gave them to a brown hen to sit. The hen mocked Jemima and often led the little ducklings past her, clucking snootily. One day, however, Jemima decided to take matters into her own hands, so to speak, and left the farm.

Collie Dog Kep, the farmer's chief watch dog, saw her sneaking through the trees. He summoned his apprentices, the foxhound pups Watson and Zither.

"Watson! Zither!" he barked. "It's time to prove yourselves. Once you complete this test, you will be fully trained."

"What's the objective?" asked Watson.

"In the heart of the forest," replied Kep, "there lives a particularly cunning and bloodthirsty fox called Sir Kay. Defeating him will take all of your skill."

"How do we find him?" inquired Zither excitedly.

"Jemima has gone into the forest to nest. Kay is a sadistic killer and will certainly make an attempt on her life. Find Jemima, and you will find Kay."

Jemima trudged through the undergrowth anxiously searching for a nesting site. The sun had set long ago, giving the forest a most foreboding aura. Every snap of atwig seemed to be a predator stalking ever closer. At last she broke out of the mass of brambles and thorns and stumbled into a clearing. Too exhausted to move on, she gathered enough leaves to fashion a temporary nest and fell asleep.

The next morning, Jemima woke and began work on a permanent nest site among a stand of bright pink foxgloves.  Upon returning from her last trip into the forest to gather nesting materials,she went to work laying her eggs, hardly able to contain her delight. Unfortunately, this made her rather fidgety and distractible. As she turned around for the tenth time in as many minutes, she noticed a rustling in the bushes. The rustling came closer, and Jemima screamed in panic as a sleek figure burst through the undergrowth.

Frightened out of her wits, Jemima tried running but no matter which way she went the figure was too fast for her. Finally, out of desperation, she flew at him, pecking every inch she could reach and screaming with all the fury of the fowl of old. He evaded her attacks with ease, speaking soothingly all the while.

"Why do you attack me?" he asked. "I merely wish to know what a farm duck would be doing in my forest. Now, let us sit down and get to know each other," he added as he gently but firmly held her at arm's length. Truly looking at him for the first time, Jemima was dazzled by his emerald eyes and brilliant red coat, and captivated by the dash of bone-white on the tip of his beautiful tail. Charmed by his diction and good manners, she relaxed. She told him of her troubles, of the thieving farmer's wife and the condescending hen. He listened sympathetically, and offered her a place in his wood-shed.

The shed was a quaint wooden building next to a pleasant sounding brook.  The walls were painted in a strong rust color.  The inside was very cozy.  It was stuffed with feathers and scraps of fur, in which Jemima created a large hollow and sat down to work.

Jemima passed the next few days in great content.  Sir Kay brought her fresh, juicy pondweed and crystal clear water from the brook, and came often to check on her progress.  He was overjoyed when she at last laid her eggs.

"What a fine aerie you have created, Madam," purred Kay.

"A what?" asked Jemima, preening as she stretched her legs and beaming at her eggs.  There were nine, greenish-white and quite beautiful.

"An aerie is a nest," he explained.  "And now that you've laid your eggs we must celebrate.  I will prepare a fire, and you will gather herbs for our feast.  By the time we are finished, I will have prepared the finest meal in the wood."

Jemima, who was rather hungry now that she stopped to think about it, went off at once.  As soon as she had waddled out of the shed, Kay sneered.  Oh, yes, he thought.  It will be a meal to remember.

Jemima wandered through the forest, gathering herbs and humming to herself.  All was well until Kep's protégées burst out of the sage bush she was facing.  Jemima shrieked and fell backwards onto the ground at Kep's feet.

"It's all right, Jemima," said the dog, pulling her to her feet.  "We've been looking for you."

"Y-you h-h-have?" stuttered Jemima.  She shifted her feet nervously, looking for an escape route.  But she was surrounded.  She backed into the sage bush, and the dogs closed in around her.

"Yes.  "I haven't seen you on the farm lately,  and there have been rumors that you were nesting in the forest.  Apparently," he added, eyeing her unwashed feathers, "the rumors are true."

"Yes, it is true," replied Jemima, smoothing her ruffled feathers.  "I've been lodging with a gentleman named Sir Kay.  Maybe you would like to visit?  We are preparing a meal of celebration, and you are welcome to join us.

"Very well," smiled Kep. 

Kep and Watson positioned themselves on either side of Jemima as she guided them through the tall trees.  She thought to make her escape, but Zither was behind her, blocking her path.  She remembered the care and protection Sir Kay had shown her.  Maybe Kay will chase them away, thought Jemima.  She led them through the tall trees toward the shed.

Upon their arrival, Jemima stepped into the woodshed, intending to show Kep her beautiful eggs.  As soon as she was safely over the threshold, he slammed the door and bolted it tight, trapping her inside.  A moment later the frightened duck heard horrible barks and snarls from outside.  A trickle of blood oozed oozed under the door, and Jemima threw herself back into the feathers.  "Help me, help me!  Kep!  Kay!  Help!"

The din seemed to go on forever, but finally a strangled shriek ended it as quickly as it had started.  Kep opened the door of the woodshed.  He was battle worn, bleeding heavily from a bite on his right foreleg.  Kay's lifeless body lay behind him in a spreading pool of blood.  Watson and Zither, unable to control their excitement, ran in and trampled the eggs before Kep could stop them. 

Kep led a weeping Jemima back to the farm, explaining their mission as they went.  Jemima was furious with herself for trusting Kay, and despite the dog's many attempts to console her, she knew she would never forgive herself.  Finally Kep turned to news of the farm.  In her absence, the farmer's wife had cooked the mocking brown hen for Sunday dinner.  Jemima cheered up immediately.

Thanks to Kep's intervention, Jemima was permitted to keep her next clutch of eggs.  Jemima was so delighted with her new nest that she forgave the puppies for their clumsiness, and they became fast friends.  Only four eggs hatched.  Jemima claimed it was because of nerves, but Kep knew the truth: she had always been a bad sitter.

*** Epilogue ***

From the shade of the old oak tree, a sleek dog-like animal watched Jemima as she played with her ducklings.  "You'll pay, duck," hissed Kay's son.  "You'll all pay."