can't see the mountain for the fog

6. banning the fox from the coop

my coop is a small one. sorry.
built by hand, with care, with elaborate framework and an uneven roof. i'm sorry.
my coop was built slowly, carefully, delicately... though it still shows some signs of an amateur. that's okay.
my coop stands at about five feet, welcoming the sun a little later than other coops. that's okay.
my coop has been devastated by tornadoes and tsunamis and hurricanes and thunderstorms. yet it still stands. that's completely okay.

my coop (my unfortunate coop) can house a good amount of poultry. this fact attracts the fox.

the fox is a terrible, monstrous being with fangs stained crimson and
and claws snipped at the quick.
he takes what he wants when he wants it, and doesn't want the answers to his own questions.
the fox has scars on his face and a glint in his eye that tells me his story. i feel pain for him.
but the fox still terrifies me- even if i don't want him to.

the fox saunters into my coop often. he places himself directly in the middle so he blocks the one passageway.
this scatters the chickens resting inside, and they fly round
and round
the coop in

terror.

the fox merely stares at the chaos in what could be
curiosity,
or contempt,
or care.
the chickens are too fearful to ask.

one of them decides to ask.

the fox does not like this question, and kills the chicken without another thought..
this angers the fluttering din above the fox's head, and eventually the swirling of white flies straight into him.

he's been taken down.

the chickens peck at his scars
scratch at his glinting eyes
scream in his face in exile

the eyeless fox saunters out of the coop

never to return again.