A Sudden Pursuit Along The Water
The fox sprinted down the gravel path with a gray cygnet clamped tightly in its jaws. Just inches behind, a large adult swan charged forward on webbed feet, wings spread wide across the trail.
With a sharp thrust of its neck, the swan lunged at the fox’s back, pecking hard against its reddish coat. The fox stumbled, dropped the small bird onto the grassy verge, and darted away into the brush.
A cyclist riding along the lake path squeezed his brakes and brought his mountain bike to a stop just a few yards from the scene.
Reunion On The Gravel Path
The mother swan folded her wings against her sides and stepped directly over the tiny cygnet, shielding it with her body. The cyclist rested his bike against the wooden railing and lowered himself onto one knee on the stones.
He extended a slow, open hand toward the two birds, keeping his body low to the gravel. The swan cocked her head, watched his fingers move, and stood firmly beside her chick without hissing.
From his pocket, the rider produced a small container of fresh water and held it out toward the cygnet’s beak. The young bird leaned forward, dipping its bill into the liquid before looking back up at the adult bird.
An Escort To The Shoreline
The cyclist stood up slowly, gripped the handlebars of his bike, and began walking forward at a gentle pace. The adult swan and the small cygnet followed right beside his rear wheel, matching his steps along the dirt bank.
They moved together past the tall reeds lining the trail until the path sloped down into the soft sand. The cyclist stopped at the water’s edge, resting his bike frame against his leg.
The small gray cygnet waddled past the bicycle tire and pushed out into the shallow water, with the adult swan gliding immediately behind it into the calm lake.
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