A Frantic Call On The Wooden Dock
The white goose charged forward across the wooden planks, flapping wide wings and honking directly at the ranger’s boots.
Ranger Sarah stepped back, shifting her weight onto her heels as the large bird stretched its neck forward.
Instead of biting or snapping, the goose spun around, took four paces toward the bank, and looked back over its shoulder.
Sarah took a step forward.
Every time Sarah moved, the bird pressed ahead, keeping its orange beak pointed toward a patch of clover near the water’s edge.
Sarah walked off the wooden dock and pressed through the tall weeds, keeping her eyes fixed on the trailing feathers.
Following The Feathers To The Grass
The goose halted abruptly near a thick patch of grass and lowered its head, letting out a soft, low croak.
Sarah peered into the green stems and spotted a tiny bundle of grey down pressed flat against the dirt.
It was a young gosling, pinned to the ground and unable to extend its tiny wings.
Sarah dropped to both knees in the dirt, leaning down so her face was level with the grass.
A thick loop of clear monofilament fishing line was wrapped tight around the chick’s torso and legs.
The adult goose stood only inches away, wings half-spread, watching every twitch of Sarah’s hands.
Snapping The Tight Plastic Line
Sarah reached to her utility belt and pulled out a pair of orange-handled utility shears.
She placed her left palm lightly over the chick’s back to keep it from thrashing against the sharp cord.
The gosling let out a faint peep, pressing its head down into Sarah’s thumb.
Sarah slid the blunt lower blade of the scissors underneath the tightest loop of nylon against the chick’s flank.
She squeezed the handles together.
The plastic line snapped with a crisp pop, slackening across the grey down.
Working slowly, Sarah unthreaded each individual coil from around the small webbed feet.
She checked each joint, rolling the thin cord out of the tiny creases of skin until the entire clump lay loose on the grass.
Sarah lifted her hands away and rocked back onto her heels.
Returning Together To The Open Water
The gosling pushed its legs beneath its body and hopped upward, stretching both wings out wide into the morning sun.
The adult goose lowered its beak until it touched the tip of the chick’s bill.
A second adult goose stepped up from the shoreline, falling into step beside them as they moved toward the water.
Sarah stood up, dusting the dried grass and dirt from the knees of her trousers.
The three birds paddled out into the sunlight, their wakes spreading across the surface while Sarah raised her right hand from the dock to wave them off.
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