"Now disperse."
The flock lowered their heads and scattered.
Atop the sentient tree, Woodie stood tall—feathers ruffled, but undeniably victorious.
Everyone left.
Everyone… except for Bubble.
John turned, brow raised. "What?"
"Sire, I have the report for today's tasks. Would you care to review the information?" the swallow chirped, her voice crisp and precise.
"I'm all ears."
"The three houses have completed their assignments with excellent results," Bubble said as she flapped her wings. A large watery bubble dropped from the sky, landing with a soft splash on the dusty ground. Its outer layer burst, revealing five thick scrolls nestled within.
"These are the contributions from the Parrot Hall," she added.
John stepped forward, grabbing the top scroll. With a flick of his wrist, he untied the thread and tossed it across the ground, letting it unravel downhill.
It kept rolling…
And rolling…
Five whole minutes passed before the end of the scroll finally revealed itself.
