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The birds of the grassland are happy
All the birds in the grassland
congratulated Teetiri, and Salonki said very proudly that she deserved to be
known as the leader of the birds of the grassland. The birds had managed to
protect their grassland today because of Teetiri. Saying so, Salonki took her
family back with her to where they had come from. Chimini went back to her
sixty-seven relatives to prepare for the night. Kotwal said goodbye to his
family, who went back to their favourite tree along the river bank. Phoolchuki
and Darzi returned to their nests. Bulbul finally understood the entire
strategy and flew immediately to tell the story of the “War of the Marsh
Waters” to all the pigeons in the village. Guturgu smiled happily when the shy
young female pigeon came and told him about how Billi had been chased away from
the grassland by Teetiri’s plan.
Back at the marsh, Teetiri looked
around for one last time. She was happy that the marsh was once more back with
the birds. The grassland and the marsh would now be a safe home to her chicks
when they would hatch out. Teetiri entered the marsh in search of Bater to
thank him and his family. He must have already disappeared, Kotwal said and
flew back to his usual perch to continue to catch insects for his food. Teetiri
laughed and went about in search of red crabs to eat, thinking about Teetiraa
who had missed out on all the fun in the grassland. Teetiri was happy and
convinced that Billi would not return to the grassland. Not later, and not
ever. The grassland, the marsh, the river and the rocky patches of grass now
definitely belonged to Teetiri, Teetiraa, their children, and all the other
birds grassland, she thought to herself.
