FLASHBACK

It was always like this.

Those days when I could be free, those days when I could waddle here, there, anywhere you wanted to. It didn't matter. No one cared. It was all fun back then. And that's what everyone cared about, fun.

Every couple of minutes a gigantic figure loomed over us, it was a monster. Terrifying and massively towering. We all didn't know who, or what it was. All we knew was that each of us was disappearing from the other. Every day or two. Maybe that was something to worry about. For me, nope. I was at my happy stage back then.

Everyone danced, played, skipped, and even tripped in some bedding. While others slept, drank, and ate. That was what we did all day. Nothing at all symbolized as important, or worrisome to any of us.

And there was I, waddling past the huddled crowds of yellow fuzz, black jet black, wondering eyes, and a pink little beak, fixed into a playful grin. That was us. That was what we were all like- not entirely though...

We often were separated into groups of the 'striped-eyed' and the ' yellow'.

The striped-eyed ducklings had many differences from the yellow ones. The first thing that stood highly from the bouncy little groups of fuzz was their color. To me, it was amazing. I didn't get why they thought it was hideous or not like them.

Yes. Those days. Although they could be cruel, I tried to ignore them. I tried to keep away from getting involved in the conflict.

But, that one day. The one day that I'll remember...

I wandered, trying to find the clump of bedding, that was mixed with water. It was my favorite spot to sit. I never knew why though. It almost felt as if the clump would one day jump up. And ask if it could play with me. Sometimes I rather dream up such a fantasy than play with the other ducklings and be ignored the second we play. But at the same time, I did want to play with the others.

When I finally spotted a glimpse of the heap of stuff, behind the constantly moving, webbed feet, I quaked in accomplishment. Hey, it wasn't easy finding a certain spot in a crowd!

I sat down, leaning on my little friend. This was my daily routine. But what also was my daily routine, hearing the cries of little peeps in pure terror.

" Go away!" Peeped a Yellow.

The Yellow duckling flapped his stubby, feather-less wings. He took a dangerous step closer, causing a fragile little figure to cower back. Getting swallowed by the Yellow's shadow.

" I-i w-was just t-trying-" She stammered. Revealing she was a female. Although that nervous voice was heavily suited in confidence, something inside her told me that this was a little over her status. If I was her, I would stand up, higher, to argue back. She looked terribly frightened. Maybe I would be frightened too.

" You don't belong here! What are you doing on OUR side?" Demanded the Yellow. He gestured his pink beak to the crowd of black, bobbing heads, of the Striped Eyed section.

The little Striped Eye frowned worriedly and scooted farther back, tripping over her own feet. She fell and tried to stand up. Still eyeing the Yellow. "Please" She yelped each time she fell. But the Yellow kept a monsterous grin on his face. I had never seen such cruelty in my life. I never knew it could get this far, and yet, here I am, seeing it. Hearing it.

How could he do such a terrible, terrible, thing? Lots of the Yellows go for the Striped-Eyed like it. Oftentimes with a "Hey! Go away! You pushed me!" or " Black fuzz is stinky!"

The Striped-Eyed duckling stared at the Yellow, with her eyes wide as our water bowls and a trembling beak. She looked like she was trying to utter out a few simple words, but nothing came out.

"Well, well well, another failure! This one should be the target in our tossing game! Won't that be fun?" Yellow said with a nasty smirk.

I couldn't bear it any longer.

" Leave her alone!" I shouted over the peeping crowds.

The Yellow's focus flickered for a second before he whirled his head abruptly. His eyes stared into my soul.

" And why should I?" He demanded. That Striped-Eyed duckling scooted back, getting farther away from the Yellow. Her black webbed feet constantly tripped over each other in terror.

"Because," I pouted.

The Yellow duckling gave me a glare and slowly approached me. On his stomach, there was a white stripe passing through his fuzz. He peeped in warning as he stomped over to me, small explosions of bedding followed in each of our thundering steps. A few ducklings, mostly Yellow ones stopped to watch.

"Because what?" He peeped back.

Dang. He was serious.

" Because it is very mean and wrong!" I yelled, causing silence among the nearby ducklings.

The Striped-Eyed gave me a look of pleasure. Her eyes seemed to sparkle in delight and her gaze lay on mine. I smiled so she could see what I was trying to do. But the Yellow duckling was beak to beak with me. He flapped his little wings in a warning.

"Oh, yeah?" Yellow yelled back at me, in my face.

Right now, all I know is that I had to get ready. Ready for a fight. I had seen fights before. Some of them were fights where we screamed back at each other. Other times, but not often, there were fights where they jump on each other, and talons and beaks go around and around, in a whirl. And usually, I hear peeps but not in sadness or surprise. But a word you call pain.

That's when Yellow lunged at me, his wings out and his talons outstretched. My heart dropped the heartbeat my vision was covered with a layer of fuzz. Next, I came to my senses and the Yellow duck had me pinned to the ground.

A commotion started over the huddled, passing crowds. Each of them turned to the other. Some cheered and some couldn't stand to look. ( and one was sleeping)

"L-let me go!" I grunted between the cheers of the others"

" Tell me your part of the Yellow!" The Yellow screamed.

"W-w"

"TELL ME!" He roared.

A crumbling feeling inside took over my body. This was a feeling I never felt before. It was a mix of concern and like my heart was going to rupture.

" I-i-i"

" SPEAK UP DUMMY!" He shouted. Right before I was about to open my beak, a feeling struck my face. It was like getting insulted and burned awfully. But not the inside; outside. A few ducklings gasped, including the Striped Eyed one who already was standing.

Even some ducklings started to wail.

I realized it was Yellow's talon that scratched my face.

I squeaked in the thing called pain. Now I knew what it felt like.

"Stop!" I cried.

I caught a glimpse of the Striped Eyed duckling waddling past me. And the crowds of the Yellow formed in a circle, yelling, chanting.

I was finally able to stagger back, catching my balance as the Yellow let go of me. His glare and grin were the foulest things I ever saw. The Yellow grumbled a complaint as I tried to stand up. Then, he charged at me. With talons and all.

Scratched me.

" Are you one of us!?" He yelled.

I caught my breath once more and I rubbed my face on the bedding, trying to get rid of the stinging.

" Yeah! I am! D-d-don't h-hurt me" I responded with a quivering peep.

The Yellow trodded on my leg heavily as spoke to the active crowd. He violently kicked my body aside as that Striped-Eyed duckling waddled quickly away.

" HE ISN'T ONE OF US!" He yelled to the peeping crowd. " HE SAVED THE STRIPED-EYED TYPE!"

Questioning gasps filled the area. Some of them started to dart toward me. Even a few started chanting to proceed with the terrible punishment. But I didn't do anything wrong. Saving someone was the right thing to do, even if they look different from you-- right?

The crowd formed suddenly evil smiles and closed me in. Before I could tell if I was dreaming or not, a wall of Yellow formed around me. Enclosed with them. I spun, whirled, and whipped my neck everywhere I could. But all I could see was a wall of Yellow ducklings. Every. Single. Place. I. Turned. To.

Some were beating their wings in a dangerous warning. Others were peeping rapidly.

This is it. I thought. The last time I will be able to meet by the clump of bedding, smell the aroma of the scented bedding, and the last time I took a sip of water or a beakfull of seeds. This is over.

I squeezed my eyes shut. The sounds of rapid peeping and the shouts of the others who vigorously scrambled over one another. All the flickering orange feet. All the wondering, but creepy black eyes. They were getting closer. I felt they were getting closer. That's when I felt a small, but mighty force push against my tail and smash into my back.

The impenetrable wall of Yellow was gaining up the small space that I had left. But the thing that clung to my back didn't let go. As If the thing were placed carefully. Not a critical hit. A soft, but strong one.

I dared open my eyes to see the Striped Eyed duckling. The one I saved. Clung against my fuzz.

Her eyes widened and she trembled each time the Yellow tried to nip her. Everyone started to climb on top of each other. I didn't know if they were playing at this rate. From these faces, probably no.

"You're a dumb duck!" One of them shouted.

"W-what?" I choked. Trying not to let my feeling out.

"Yeah! That's right, stinky!" Another one yelled.

" You can't do anything!"

" What dummy sits by a chunk of bedding?"

"Ooo! Wait! He tripped over the water bowl yesterday! He was soaked!"

" I saw too. Who does that? Who likes Striped Eyed?"

Everyone started peeping in the chatter at once. But their tone wasn't baffled or excited at all. It was something far from it. Snappy. Rude. Those were the words to describe it. It was like all my secrets were blurted without thinking twice before observing, feeling, and knowing if it was okay if it was safe. And they let it all out like it was okay. Like no one was going to be hurt in the insides.

The Striped Eyed duckling clung to me, she gripped harder onto me with her small but strong wings. She dug her tiny head into my neck like she wanted it to stop. Or she was scared.... like I am now.

All the words that were hurled at me hurt more than what Yellow did across my face. Every. Single. Word.

I turned my head rapidly to see the beaks fly open with more hurting words. It was like my insides curled and rotted in the insides. Like my stomach dropped but in a way I knew recovery was a long time to come.

" T-thank you" A small voice whispered.

I turned my head to find the duckling looking up at me with wondering eyes. But there was one thing that I haven't noticed; brown loops in her eyes.

In the Yellow's eyes, all you see is empty darkness. Just plain black eyes which I normally don't point out as strange. But I have never seen a Striped Eyed duckling before. It;'s hard to notice it at first but her eyes weren't entirely black. I tried to smile over the harsh comments at her brown loops. But my beak quivered.

" Over here" She quietly said as she pulled me from the group. I let myself get steered by her as the thought of everyone who said those things, still, hadn't left me. It was like I was still there. Even though the rough pull going through the Yellow's and seeing the ducklings toss themselves over to find us. But, we were out of their sight.

" Thank you for saving me" Thanked the Black Eyed duckling. A smile spread across her beak.

I looked down at my feet and up at her, realizing and trying to adapt to her height. Also, trying to process what just happened. It felt like everything was a dream.

" U-uh thank you for saving ME" I corrected her kindly.

She took a long look at the crowd of Yellow that shouted complaints about their lost target. Most of them already faded away and now most of them were gone by the time I took a few blinks.

" You shouldn't let that happen to you next time," She said to me. " If it happens again, just fight your way out of it"

I never heard someone talk like this to me before. I did hear it from the other ducklings many times. But it's surprising to know that someone was talking to me, directly. And it wasn't just any ordinary duckling. A Striped Eyed.

"Yeah" I mumbled. The comments of the others still clung to my thoughts. What if I was really a dumb, stupid duckling? And what if I am so useless that I don't belong here? Maybe I deserve to get taken by those big monsters that every once in a while swoop in and take us away. Although I do wonder where you go.

"Anyways," Princess said, changing the subject. She nudged me in another direction and we started walking away together " So, do you have a name yet?" She asked me. Her gaze was like an angel. But a fiercely determined one.

" No. I'm the unnamed type"

"Well, that's okay. I know a lot of unnamed ducklings here. But not all of us get a name right away" She explained in a thoughtful voice.

That Striped Eyed duckling smiled and thought to herself some more. If I was able to look into her thoughts, I bet I would see a party going on in there.

" What's your name?" I inquired with a wondering tone.

" My name's Princess"

Hello again!

Thank you for reading this far into my story. I hope you are enjoying it. If your mind, can you hit that 'vote' button and leave a comment down below? Thanks. Have a great day.