As the sun rose over Lake Eros, the animals began their day. Five Canadian geese with brown feathers and black beaks glided across the water, moving with a mix of confidence and menace, like sharks circling a reef. Fero, one of the geese, watched the beavers building a dam, grinned, and knocked the male beaver into the water.

“Don’t block our view of the forest!” he yelled.

“W-Wait.” his partner said, her voice shaking. “We need to make a home. I’m pregnant.”

He grabbed her tail and held her upside down. Then Brunhilda, crept up behind her. “Mabel, we do not care!” She said, pecking the poor beaver’s face so hard that blood appeared.

Mabel sniffled and said, “I’ll take it down.”

Fero let her go and swam back to join the others.

Things had been this way for years. The geese believed Mother Nature had given them their size and strength to rule the area.

“I love watching rodents squirm,” Brunhilda cackled.

“This is our domain,” Portia agreed as she preened her feathers.

Johan and Ares, the other two geese, pulled a baby salmon from the water and watched it struggle to breathe.

“Please! Stop.” The little fish cried between dunks.

“Suit yourself,” Ares said with a laugh. “But never come back!” He tossed the fish across the water like a skipping stone.

“Aw, I wanted to play longer,” Johan grumbled.

“It’s a waste of time,” Fero sneered.

“Quite right. We’ll find prey more worthy of our attention,” Brunhilda said with a laugh.

They lined up and glided in a grandiose fashion. Then, another bird appeared from around the bend beyond the trees.

She had white feathers, a black mask, and a bright orange beak. She was a mute swan.

The geese stared as she glided past them.

“She ignored us!” one of them exclaimed.

“How rude! Let’s teach her a lesson!”

Two of the siblings swam up on either side of her, while another came from behind. Soon, all five geese had surrounded the newcomer, ready to bite and frighten. The other animals watched in fear.

As Ares got closer, the swan gave him an icy stare. The usually brash and bold brother gulped and backed away. Satisfied, she finally spoke.

“May I help you?” she asked.

Portia grew impatient. “This is our territory! We don’t like outsiders!”

“This is nature; it can’t belong to anyone.”

Fero snorted. “Look, a philosopher. Get out of here!”

To everyone’s surprise, the swan laughed.

“You haven’t changed, and neither have the others. I heard about your harsh rule. It’s quite over the top.”

Brunhilda hissed. “If you don’t like it, then leave!”

The stranger smirked. “My dear, I am home.”

“What?” she honked.

“Once, a pair of geese found an orphaned egg and raised it with their own. The egg hatched an innocent chick, but the others grew up mean and selfish. The siblings bullied her with slaps, scares, and insults and only their parents could stop them. When it came time to leave the nest, the others threw her over a waterfall.

“H-How did you know that?” Brunhilda asked.

“The parents never learned the truth and thought she had left to find a new home. But she survived and promised to get even. Another pond took her in and helped her grow into the strong bird you see now. I haven’t forgotten how you treated me or the awful nickname, ‘The Ugly Duckling!'”

“Snowflake! It can’t be!” Fero gasped.

“But it is!” she replied, raising her head and calling to the sky. Soon, dozens of geese, swans, and ducks appeared.

“It’s time for you to get what you deserve!”

Feathers filled the air as honks, hisses and quacks grew louder. Wings flapped with fury and sharp beaks pecked at bared chests. The battle raged for hours, and in the end, the once proud rulers lay defeated on the riverbank. They were no match for the rebel army.

Snowflake tapped on the dam, and Mabel and her husband came out.

“Don’t worry. A new era has begun. You won’t have to fear those bullies again. Now, let me help you build your house.”

Surprised, the two beavers smiled and showed her how to stick twigs and mud together.

At first, it seemed unbelievable, but with the geese gone, the pond’s true nature and peace returned.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero