When Goats Fly

Not far from the mill, on a green hill, the Horned Goat grazes. This Goat isn't a simple one, but a very important one. She not only grazes herself but also herds swans. True, first she kidnaps them, then she raises them, and only then she herds them and teaches them wisdom.

Every spring, Horned Goat goes far, far away beyond the Dusty Road, beyond the village, to the pond. There, she digs nests with her nose and finds and puts swan eggs in her basket. The Goat drags these eggs to her hill and nurses and incubates them until the chicks hatch. When the shells crack and curious beaks appear, Horned Goat begins to train the dishevelled chicks.

"Don't go here, don't go there, keep your posture." All day long, the ugly ducklings march, run races, stretch their necks and nibble grass. Horned Goat is always dissatisfied with them: either they are out of step, or they don't jump fast enough, or their necks are too crooked, or they haven't nibbled enough grass. And the fact that the little swans don't have horns upsets the Horned Goat bigger than everything.

At first, the chicks don't suspect anything. They think the Horned Goat is their mother. She's white, like them, and her horns are beautiful and curved, like their necks. Also, Goat is gutsy. She bleats so terribly that the blades of grass press themselves to the ground, and not a single wild animal comes near the chicks. No one teases or offends the little swans. Everyone in the area knows what a tough character Horned Goat has. And ultimately, she knows where to find the most delicious grass. Ideal mother.

But the longer time goes on, the faster the chicks grow, and they have more and more questions. After all, the swans never get horns, but their wings spread out by the hour. And they want to flap and wave them so much. However, Horned Goat gets angry. She tells the children such fun isn't for goats.

But no one can forbid a bird to fly. Therefore, in the end, Horned Goat has the courage and climbs high up the hill with her swans, accelerates and runs down. She stamps her hooves and bleats for the whole area to hear. She has no wings and can only shake her ears in the wind. And the swans follow her with noise, din, and bird cries, barely having time to move their flippers.

One by one, the little swans roll down from the hill. They get tangled in their long necks and get covered in clay. Horned Goat scolds the chicks cause they can't fly, don't want to learn, and try poorly. These words frustrate the beautiful birds. But once, the bravest chick flaps his amazing wings. And instead of running down the hill, he flies into the sky. And the others, looking at him, repeat. Soon, all they are circling high above the grass, the mill and the ocean, and the Horned Goat stands below, her head raised, bleating proudly.