Wild Wings

Preening

Rowan was sitting in the Tortuga with her wings out. The feathered wings felt irritated and itchy in some places, mostly due to the fact that she couldn't reach. Like normal birds she sheds and regrows feathers, but new feathers are always pin feathers. 

Pin feathers are new feather incased in a sheath with a blood supply flowing in them. But as the sheath loses the blood supply it becomes waxy and needs to be preened off to release the new feather. Normal birds in flocks will preen each other to socialize. 

The Flock would usually preen each other's wings in a chain from youngest to oldest, but Rowan would have help preening either way when everyone else was done. 

Both Martin and Chris noticed her behavior before anyone else. "Rowan, you, okay?" 

"Pin feathers, usually the Flock would have a preening chain and help. But they're not here." She answered as the two sat with her, some of these pin feathers were seen. 

Chris then had an idea and he and Martin went to grab the wing packs Aviva made them. "If some of the traits from the Flock are in the wing packs, it means they could be preened too." 

The brothers put on the packs and activated the wings before going back to join Rowan. Chris sat behind Rowan and Martin sat behind Chirs. Of course, the girl was confused at what they were doing. 

"Is it ok if we do a preening chain?" Martin was the one to ask, as he looked to the confused girl. 

Rowan smiled and nodded as she extended her wings a bit so Chris could get to work on her pin feathers. "Thanks, guys. You know, for everything." 

"You're welcome." Martin sifted through the feathers on Chris' wings, there were some pin feathers like his little bro predicted. "So, how are we gonna do mine?" 

Rowan lowered her extended wings and relaxed as Chris helped with her pin feathers. "Usually, the last one on the preening chain would have the whole flock help them once everyone was done. That was usually me, plus I had the biggest wings, so it took a lot of work." 

Aviva, Koki, and Jimmy then came in and saw the preening chain. Aviva snapped a picture of it with her creature pod before coming over. "Need some help, MK?" 

"Sure, thanks, Aviva." The inventor then got to work helping Martin, Koki and Jimmy joining her to help since the blue brother had the biggest wings. 

"This is actually really relaxing. And oddly satisfying." Koki noted as she gently handled a pin feather on Martin's wings. Jimmy agreed with her as he handled another. "Yeah. Almost like a self-care day." 

Rowan fiddled with a metal puzzle as Chris continued to preen her pin feathers. "Uh-huh." 

"It is kinda nice, peaceful." 

Jimmy then looked from his spot to Rowan. "Mind if I play some music?" 

Everyone agreed with some music and Jimmy played a soundtrack to help with the relaxing vibes. Soon the pin feathers were all taken care of, and Rowan, Chris, and Martin shook out their wings, so the new feathers laid right. 

Rowan stretched and sighed in content. "Ah, that feels better. My wings were getting itchy." She then hugged the Kratt bros. "Thanks, guys." 

The two hugged her back, happy to help. "No problem, Rowan." 

Jimmy then went to the freezer and brought out a tub of ice cream. "Cool, ice cream." 

That got Rowan's attention and she got out of the hug and looked over to the ginger. "You better be planning on sharing that ice cream." 

"Uh." He took off with Rowan on his tail. "Jimmy!" 

The rest of the crew laughed a bit as they watched the two. 

(A/n: Just a short chapter of fluff. Sorry I've been ghosting; I've haven't been feeling well and am much better now. I've also entered this year's Art Fight, I'm on team Seafoam.)