For the next week and a half, Freya had more visits from the scouts than from anyone else. When the last chicken was bonded, Woda and Freya left to get more and brought back another twenty, crossing the outer south wall several times. The beasts had to be cajoled, bribed, and offered things that Freya was sure they couldn’t offer, but the chickens made it. Chicken Freya helped in the negotiations, and it was her descriptions of what the scouts did that sold it. Freya made sure that the scouts knew what exactly was expected of them to avoid a chicken mutiny.

Master Sergeant Mongoose bonded to the last chicken of the first group and then took a scouting party to the front. It was clear that riding chickens could change a lot of the battlefield calculus, which reminded Freya that she hadn’t heard from Muk at all since the Quartermaster had mustered with the regiment. Da Seung had sent letters explaining that he’d upped production for the war efforts, and would have to reconnect later, which was how Freya found herself on a date with both of the Cobbler brothers.

Cole Cobbler insisted through gritted teeth that his brother was the chaperone, even as his brother explained that it was quite the opposite. Freya the chicken seemed to sigh often as they promenaded around the southern green.

“You see what my brother means to say,” Cole said, straightening his yellow tie, “and as I keep telling you Miss Uki, is that he is the perfect gentle rabbit as well as Yellow Rock’s best chaperone.”

Freya the chicken gave the rabbit a bit of side-eye that only Freya was able to catch. She giggled a bit.

The four woodland animals were walking to an open-air dining establishment that the rabbits frequented.

“And I’m telling you, Miss Uki,” Philip Cobbler said, “that my brother is being demure. He himself is the best of the best at being a chaperone. Perhaps you have a good friend that would be interested in his company so I could at some time chaperone his promenades.”

Freya blushed as she straightened her whiskers. Well, a mouse could dream, couldn’t she?

“Tell me, Mister Cobbler, either one,” Freya said, holding back a smile. “How is your business? I hear that the regiment is in need of many things at present.”

Philip held up a hand to forestall his elder brother.

“Miss Uki, we have been preparing many shipments of salted food that will last longer as well as sending in blankets, pillows, feed for the cockroaches, as well as fixing many of their supply trains. We don’t just do boots, which by the way I must admire the pair you have, are they a Cobbler original?”

Freya took a second to reveal a boot under her long skirt.

“A knife!” Cole said, “Good heavens Miss Uki, who would do that to a perfectly good boot?”

“Someone who knows what their customer demands, I imagine, Mister Cobbler,” Freya said.

The three arrived in front of the Underground eating establishment, Vivian’s. A mole waved to them as they approached.

“Will it be seating for three and, sir, your uh beast?” the mole said, taken aback by the large chicken. Straightening her glasses, she grabbed three menu boards and led them to the table farthest from the restaurant, while still being visible. It was clearly a table that could be picked up and moved, not a booth but it fit with the earthy tones.

Freya the chicken sat down, facing out. Both brothers took seats across the table from her, so all three were equidistant.

“She’s probably going to guard us. She is very protective,” Freya said, knowing full well that the chicken was unable to control her facial expressions and had finally figured out what humor was.

“I have a feeling that she’s been laughing at my brother,” Philip said, leaning in.

“Why, younger brother, that chicken could not possibly be poking fun at you,” Cole said in a dry monotone.

Freya could feel the chicken trying not to laugh and stir at the two rabbits that it had determined were soft and pliable. Arching her neck around she stared them down.

Cole and Philip both sunk into their bench seats.

Freya the chicken turned back, looking outwards.

“She is serious about how other creatures treat me,” Freya said, “Why when Iron Beak left she was more concerned about how I felt about it, but since I bonded Iron Beak to Master Sergeant Mongoose, the scout leader, I was certain that it was the right thing to do.”

“It’s tough being the one who has to take care of a younger sibling,” Cole said.

“Hey!” Philip said, “Well it’s going to be tough to take care of an old and infirm elder brother when he is old and creaky.”

The brothers stared each other down as the mole returned.

“Do you have ka-pi Miss…?” Freya said.

“Just Vivian, Ma’am,” the mole said, “And yes I’ve got a fresh pot. Thankfully we have been able to get some from the farum otherwise we’d have many unhappy customers.”

“A round please,” Freya said, “and make sure you get an extra-large one for my beast.”