Chapter 1
The Land of Chickens had gathered on the first day of the month as they did every month. The chickens from every corner of the Honey Flowing country were filled with joy as they finally reached this eagerly awaited gathering.
A festival area had been set up in the city’s square, and the chickens’ favorite meals and drinks were prepared, accompanied by classical music that they loved. In the circle of chickens surrounding the festival area, close friends sat next to each other.
Among them, only one chicken stood out. It was sitting apart from the group, and those nearby didn’t know who it was. This chicken was known as the Lonely Chicken. It had very few friends, and it wasn’t even friends with half of the chickens in its coop. It was safe to say that the rest of the chickens didn’t really like it.
The Lonely Chicken got up from its seat and walked into the center of the festival area. Because it entered the area alone, they mocked and belittled it.
One of the chickens in the crowd said, “Can there be a chicken all alone?” mocking it. Another chicken, sitting across from the first one, added, “As soon as the sun rises, our masters, the humans, open our coop doors, and we go out to hang out with our friends. But that one, it spends time alone,” as if what it was saying was something admirable. The first chicken responded, “Honestly, it’s a real oddball. It doesn’t even have any friends.”
The Lonely Chicken heard all the conversations but didn’t care. It thought to itself, “Fools.” Ignoring these words, it went and sat between two other chickens. One was its close friend, the Black Chicken, and the other was the German Chicken—called that because it came from Germany.
As soon as the Black Chicken’s friend sat down, it said, “Welcome, brother. We thought you wouldn’t come. Don’t pay attention to what those chicken wannabes say.”
The Lonely Chicken nodded to show it wasn’t bothered. “Truthfully, I couldn’t miss this gathering or you,” it said. “How are you? Did you manage to lay productive eggs for your master today?”
This time, the German Chicken spoke up, “Yes, our master was very pleased with the situation. He even found a new customer from the village. He was very happy today.”
“I’m glad for you. You know how it is in our coop. The master’s child chases us around with a stick every day... We can hardly graze properly.”
The Black Chicken frowned, “Don’t we know it. We could hear your squawking all the way in our village today.”
Their conversation had grown intense and lasted for minutes. The Lonely Chicken wanted to continue talking, but it excused itself from its friends and left the festival area.
It came to a field. True to its name, it wanted to be “alone.” It crouched in a suitable spot among the grass and began to think.
“Maybe there’s no cure for my loneliness. No one likes me because I’m alone, but if no one likes me, how can I escape this loneliness? I don’t want to dwell on these thoughts, but I’m a chicken after all. Can’t help thinking.”
Maybe it had been sitting there for hours. Until a voice behind it called out, “Psst.”
The Lonely Chicken jumped as soon as it heard the voice. It couldn’t figure out where the sound was coming from and waited for the sound to come out again.
“I’m here,” the voice said again. This time the Lonely Chicken understood where the sound was coming from and turned toward it. It was surprised by what it saw. There was a small, cute, and oh-so-pink snake.
As soon as it saw the snake, it backed away.
“Easy now! I won’t harm you. What are you doing here all alone?”
“That’s none of your business, SNAKE,” it said. “I mean, sweet snake.”
“You’re right, it’s not my business. But when I saw you all alone, I thought I’d stop by.”
“You don’t seem to have many friends yourself.”
“These days, it’s really hard to find a true friend.”
The Lonely Chicken had calmed down a bit and approached the snake, “Our species are in a big fight with each other. Like the men and women of humans...”
The snake laughed. “I don’t like humans either.”
They got to know each other closely. They learned all about each other’s pasts and lives. Both of them enjoyed their newfound friendship. But how close could a snake and a chicken really get? As close as a human man and woman could?
The two friends left the field and returned to the festival area. According to their plan, the Chicken would pack its suitcase tonight and run away with Cute. Yes, Cute. The Chicken had decided that this name suited it.
The Lonely Chicken packed its suitcase and tried to sneak out of the festival area at night without being seen. It thought a guard chicken would spot it, but thanks to the chickens’ sleepiness, it wasn’t caught as they had already dozed off.
Cute and the Lonely Chicken had agreed to meet at the mill on the other side of the field. Everything went as planned, and when it reached the mill, it started waiting for Cute.
It had been about half an hour, give or take when Cute finally arrived at the meeting spot. The Lonely Chicken had been scared, thinking the snake wouldn’t come, but was happy to be proven wrong.
After greeting each other, the two friends started walking toward the exit gate of the Land of Chickens’ dirt road.
The Lonely Chicken asked Cute, “Will you always stay by my side?”
Cute turned to the Lonely Chicken and replied...
