(All players used with permission.)

THWAP! "Morgaine, watch out for the banner!"

"Calm down, Anjali. Least I'm not the one who nearly lopped Margie's head off earlier!"

"She ducked in time! Besides, you startled me. Next time you're gonna swing from the dining room chandelier like that, give me some warning!"

"Okay, okay."

THWACK! WHOOSH! The two youngest CotK war-players giggled fiendishly as they darted around the living room, lightsabers flying.

Attempting to look dignified while brandishing her plastic weapon, Anjali lunged at her opponent with a barbaric battle cry. "YAAAAH!"

"Eeek!" Nearly dropping her weapon, Morgaine avoided the blow by diving behind the large couch.

Anjali smiled victoriously. "I win! I'm tired...enough for now, okay Morgaine?"

The redhead leaped up to a standing position. "Okay. I just want us to be able to defend ourselves in case..."

Her voice lowered. "...NA decides to seek revenge for our little prank."

"Don't worry," Anjali reassured her friend. "Aren't you and Lisa making cookies for them or something? As a bribe to keep our heads off pikes and Lisa out of more grout duty?"

Morgaine lifted her head and replied haughtily, "The cookies are a symbol of friendship between our factions. A gesture showing our respect and good feelings."

"So...a bribe?"

"Yes."

"I think Margie's still putting away the groceries, including the chocolate fudge for the cookies. I'm gonna go see her...you wanna come?"

"Nah. Gotta feed the S.P.s. See ya later."

Pulling on her jacket and grabbing a bulging plastic bag, Morgaine gleefully bounded out the front door.

After a short stroll northwest, the chicken coop came into her view. As did Kyer, who was leaning on the fence that enclosed the extraterrestrial poultry. Mr. Spitz, her llama puppet, occupied his usual place of honor on her arm.

Morgaine smiled as she approached, listening to Kyer talk to the puppet.

"Nice little chickens, aren't they, Mr. Spitz? No, Mr. Spitz, *you* ask them if there's such a thing as a Space Llama!"

"Hi, Kyer."

"Ack!" The Arizonan jumped at the unexpected sound of her friend's voice, accidentally sending Mr. Spitz flying into the coop.

"Oh, no! Mr. Spitz!! Fear not, I'll save you!"

Kyer took a deep breath and prepared to throw herself over the fence, but Morgaine stopped her.

"Wait a sec, Kyer. They won't hurt Mr. Spitz. They're vegetarians, like you."

Kyer still looked a bit suspicious, but sighed with relief when the Space Chickens simply stared calmly at the furry intruder.

Morgaine addressed the Chickens. "Could one of you please *carefully* bring the puppet back to Kyer?"

The Chickens seemed to deliberate amongst themselves.

"What, are you guys mercenaries now? C'mon...I even brought you one of your favorite snacks."

Morgaine slowly waved a bag of Oreo <tm> cookies mixed with ketchup at her pets. Kyer turned faintly green, but the Space Chickens became excited. One of the larger ones picked up the puppet by its tag, disappeared with a flash, and reappeared at Kyer's feet. Kyer cautiously took back her beloved llama, and gratefully patted the Chicken's head.

"Cute chickens," said a voice from behind.

"Aaah!" Both Kyer and Morgaine jumped at Lisa's voice.

Kyer frowned at her faction mates. "They're in on it together...trying to scare us, aren't they Mr. Spitz? Bad Easterners!" Kyer shook her finger at Morgaine and Lisa.

Lisa smiled. "She's got us all figured out. But anyway, Morgaine, why is that Chicken wearing a necklace?"

"Huh?" Morgaine bent down for a better look. Sure enough, a silver chain had been neatly placed over the Chicken's head. On it was a small silver cube inlaid with strange designs. She gently removed the necklace and held it up.

"Kewl!", commented Lisa. "What is it?"

"Dunno. But it was left here on purpose."

"How do you know that for sure?" Lisa asked.

"Because the Space Chickens don't collect things, and they don't *make* anything but noise."

Lisa nodded. "It might have something to do with the war. We'd better keep it. Morgaine, why don't you wear it?"

"Uh...no. You."

"Heck no! We don't know where it came from or what it does!"

"Exactly! What if it's some diabolical, fiendish thingy?!"

Lisa and Morgaine suddenly smiled, and slowly turned their heads to face Kyer.

Kyer waved Mr. Spitz at them. "Uh uh! No way! You're not risking this Squirette for the purposes of holding a thingy that might be fiendish!"

Morgaine sighed. "Okay. Let's go show it to Margie, J.L. and Anjali. Maybe one of them knows something about this."

The three, after quickly feeding the Chickens, headed back to the Cottage. They walked slowly, discussing their discovery.

"What do you guys make of those weird symbols?" asked Lisa.

Kyer shrugged. "Don't look Peruvian or Incan."

Morgaine shrugged. "Don't look Celtic."

Kyer suddenly spoke again. "Don't be silly, Mr. Spitz, of course you can't wear it. It's not your style."

Lisa grinned. "Actually that's a good idea. Just till we can appoint someone to hold it..."

Morgaine nodded and fixed the necklace securely around the stuffed llama's neck.

Lisa and Morgaine ran ahead to the Cottage. Kyer stayed behind, walking slowly. She shook her head.

"Can't ever keep your mouth shut, can you, Mr. Spitz?"

FIN

Note: written with the kind cooperation of the Space Chickens