The Twentieth Duck

It happened five years ago, in the neighbourhood of Quack Mire in Makari. The Quackening, during which the biggest ducks are selected for The Big Roast, is something that the Kendric are getting ready for. By the time the event starts, darkness has already settled over the area. Because there are no other sources of light save lanterns and the fires prepared for roasting the meat, everyone and everything casts deep shadows.

The noisy ducks are being herded from one large enclosure to another in the middle of a sea of onlookers who are all waiting for the aroma of roasted duck to permeate the air so that they may enjoy a bite or two of the succulent meat right after. The first duck is chosen, then the second, and then a number of more ducks after that. And so it goes on, the eighteenth duck is chosen, and then the nineteenth.

At this point the incident takes place, that every Kendric remembers with horror. An eerie shreek fills the air just as the last duck of the lineup of rushing birds is about to be grabbed when a gigantic bird falls from the sky just in front of the roasting fires, casting an immense and horrific shadow.

The monstrous creature stands there for a split second, leaving the terrified witnesses able to see nothing more than the shadowy outline of it, and then it begins to accelerate toward the gathering, causing everyone to scatter and flee in fear.

Within seconds, every Kendric has vanished from view. The Big Roast is completely forgotten, and the flames are allowed to run out completely unused. Even the next day, there is little activity in the neighbourhood and no laughter or chatter can be heard.

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