The WeatherBug

Colt galloped across a golden pasture of the Purple Farm to the far fence to stare at the line of deep crimson clouds gathered on the horizon. Filly, born the same year, pranced up beside him.

"The clouds on the horizon look bad," she said.

"It's bad for the Big Blue farm for sure," he said.

The Big Blue Farm, the largest in the county, twenty-five miles away, had more sheep than all the other farms combined.

"Will the storm clouds come here?" she said.

"I think the entire county is in for trouble," he said. "The Mockingbirds are bringing news from the Owl after dinner."

***

The barn shrank in size when every farm citizen made up of Cows, Horses, Pigs, Chickens, Ducks, Sheep, Donkeys, Cats, Dogs, and goats gathered in the evening for the news. A mockingbird, well recognized by all the farms, perched on a rafter, and spoke in a deep voice.

"Good evening citizens, this is J.T. Mockingbird here to bring you breaking news from the county. You heard it first here on WBRD," he said.

"A storm unlike anything in history has struck the Blue Farm with reports of many deaths. Reporting live is Emma J Hawk who has an eye for the truth. Emma?"

J.T. cleared his voice and mimicked the familiar and excitable voice of Emma J. Hawk, the WBRD star reporter.

“Mysterious illnesses are rampant at the Blue Farm brought on by crimson clouds that have invaded their skies. Hundreds of animals are collapsing in the fields with an unidentified disease. I spoke with the White Owl, and he said,

(J.T. Mockingbird switched his voice to the wispy haunted voice of the White Owl.)

"You have nothing to worry about outside the Blue farm, but we require all farm animals in the county to stay inside until further notice. This includes all schools and businesses of the farm. Essential animals must be approved by the Owl Society to travel outside and must always wear a full body raincoat. This is a precaution. The Owl Menagerie of Science is researching this event and the threat of what they call the Weatherbug.

We don't understand the origin of the cloud or how this illness spreads.

(J.T. Mockingbird coughed and Switched back to Emma's voice.)

"The White Owl also has ordered the Canine Guard to active duty immediately to enforce his 'stay at home" order, back to you, J.T.," she said.

(In his own deep voice.)

"Thank you, Emma, stay safe," he said. "Folks, tune in tomorrow for all updates. Good night."

All the animals began speaking at once. The horses, always independent, objected to the Owl's orders and accused him of exceeding his authority. The chickens ran in circles and screamed in a panic until one's heart burst and collapsed to the barn floor.

"It’s here," cried on an old hen, "The Weatherbug is here," and everyone scattered to their homes.

The bull pushed the cows into their stalls. Two donkeys brayed, made fun of everyone's panic, and proclaimed the illness a conspiracy created by the Owls weathermen. The crimson clouds arrived over the Purple farm, and mist began to fall.

***

Colt moved toward his family’s stall and settled down for the night. A disturbance in the barnyard woke him in the dark of night, and he slipped out of the stall. He peered through a crack between two outer boards. Three muscular dogs of the Canine Guard in yellow full-body rain suits circled two ducks. One duck lay dead-still in a growing puddle of blood, and the other stood protecting the body.

"Why are you disobeying the orders of the Owl?" the Doberman leader said, "and why aren't you wearing a raincoat for protection?"

"You didn't have to kill him," said the duck.

"He broke the law and ran," said the dog, "and you're breaking the law. Where is your protective raincoat? You are putting everyone else at risk."

"A duck doesn't' need a raincoat. We are made to withstand the rain," said the duck.

"You're under arrest, take him to the cinder block house," said the dog to his deputies.

Colt bumped his muzzle against the wall, and the Doberman jerked his head towards the barn. The dog starred with unblinking eyes and searched for a threat. Colt held his breath until the Doberman turned back to his sidekicks, and soft walked back to the stall.

"Move! Now! Dump this dead duck out of sight before we are discovered," the Doberman ordered.

***

The following morning rumors spread that twenty percent of the sheep from the Blue Farm were sick and hundreds had died overnight. The first case of the Weatherbug arrived at the Purple Farm in the hog pen. The oldest hog in the county struggled to breathe, and the Canine Guard escorted him to the Cinderblock House.

At noon, the Doberman announced new orders from the White Owl. Everyone must wear raincoats at all times, inside and out of the barn, except when eating.

For Colt, Filly was the girl next door as her family's stall adjoined his, and they were able to talk through the slats.

"The Owl Menagerie of Science researchers have created a protective treatment for the Weatherbug,” she said, "They say the device will stop the Weatherbug and protect everyone."

"Old man Hog died and most of the hog pen is sick now," Colt said.

"My Aunt Mar-ee overheard two barn owls in the rafters say most of the deaths at the Blue Farm are among the oldest sheep."

Late in the afternoon, the head of the Canine guard barked across the barn for all the farm animals to gather. The Doberman wore a domed yellow cloth contraption attached to his neck and his pelvis that matched the circumference of his body. He looked like a walking tent and appeared to be miserable.

"Attention everyone! The Owl Menagerie of Science has tested the V-Umbrella and declared this will end the Weatherbug. The White Owl has now mandated that all farm animals will use this for the protection of the community," said the Doberman as he teetered off balance and toppled on his side.

The animals laughed as he jumped up. Embarrassed, he growled at the donkeys who were the loudest.

“You look like Maestro the flying dog their mate,” someone called out and everyone laughed louder.

"You think this is funny? Animals are dying, and all you do is laugh. Take the V-Umbrella installation, and you will be allowed to go back to your regular routine.

"I won't be able to plow with that thing," said the Mule.

"We will be in danger from the Fox because we can't fly to safety," said the Rooster.

"I won't be able to run," said Colt."

"Stop the complaining," said the dog, "By order of the White Owl, anyone who refuses the V-Umbrella by next week will be moved to the Cinderblock house and separated from the farms society indefinitely."

***

Over the next week, seventy percent of the farm animals took the mandated V-Umbrella. Some unexpected side effects occurred. A strong wind caused a goat to sail into the trees and fall to his death. Filly's V-Umbrella got caught on a fence post. Wild wolves of the forest would have killed her, but her father went searching for her and rescued her in time. By the deadline, ninety percent had received the Umbrella against the Weatherbug, as the crimson clouds began to dissipate. The ten percent holdouts disappeared in the middle of the night. Some had escaped to the Red farms in other counties where the V-Umbrella mandate didn't exist, others were believed to be imprisoned at the Cinderblock house.

Almost all farm work stopped, and the White Owl issued a ration system due to a feed shortage. More animals became sick, but few died.

Four weeks into the Weatherbug, the clouds turned an odd gray with bright pink streaks ribboned across the skies, and the V-Umbrella and raincoat mandate remained in place. Word soon reached the Purple Farm a new Weatherbug Variant had struck the Blue Farm, and many were sick.

***

The Canine Guard leader called everyone to meet and was adorned with a bright pink H-shaped Umbrella atop the yellow V-Umbrella that doubled his height.

"A new version of the bug called Weatherbug Pink has been discovered. The Owl Menagerie of Science expected this variant and have created a new protection. The H-Umbrella and the V-Umbrella will be required by mandate of the White Owl to boost your protection," he said.

Late that night, awakened by his father, Colt followed his parents to the edge of the woods. The farm's entire horse clan had gathered out of sight of the Canine Guard and the ever-seeing eyes of Emma J. Hawk, the reporter. They walked on the soft sides of the road until they were a distance from the Farm, removed their V-Umbrella's, and took off in a sprint towards a free choice county a hundred miles east.

"Oh, I missed running,' Colt said.

"I missed the wind in my face," Filly said.

"I missed being with you," they both said at the same time.

The wind sailed through her long mane, and he flicked his tail toward her as they galloped towards their parents' choice of freedom amidst the shadows of the waning moon.

***

Darkness settled deeper over the Purple farm and the White Owl soared above the forest, over the pastures, and the barn.

Whoooooo Whooooo Whooooo