Comet and Courage. 

I stopped when I saw a man out weed whacking his drive. He has a concerning group of horses and wanted to chit chat.  He warmed up pretty quickly and offered to walk me around his property and see the horses. He then introduced me to his cows. Do you eat them I asked? Ohhh no he said, those are my pets, I love them. But I will here and there send them to auction and someone else will eat them. Hmmmm, I couldn't quite wrap my head around that. After some time, we walked back towards the driveway. In an open shed I saw cages with a bunch of little birds. Awww what  are those? Quail he replied. Those are pets too? Oh no, I eat those. My brain told my legs to keep walking to the car but my heart said otherwise and within seconds I was standing in front of the cages. They were wild, running all about frantically. They were so little..you eat those? really? Yes he replied. I didn't want to know but somehow I asked. How do you kill them? I just reach in, grab one, pull it out of the cage and snap it's neck. I watched these 60 plus living creatures in front of me and   I was so very sad.  I reached into my pocket and pulled out Six bucks, it's all I had. Can I buy one, I won't sleep tonight unless I can save at least one. Our time together must have been well spent, he told me to put my money away and Pick one. I looked inside, no, I couldn't do it. I could not choose who lives and who dies....whoever you grab is fine. As soon as his fingers hit the cage door they went insane, they were literally running for their lives. They knew, each and everyone knew what happens when they get caught. I stared into the cage as one stood still, quivered, shook and cowered in place. Even when his steady hand approached, this quail stood still in the midst of the hustle and bustle of all the others. He wrapped his rough hands around her and pulled he from the cage. He asked would you like another for company.  You bet I said, the more saved the merrier. None were willing to self sacrifice so it took a bit longer but you could tell he was used to it. He soon pulled out another. I should have walked away maybe a little happier, but could not stop thinking about the ones I left behind.

When I got the quail home the kids were so excited to hold them. They opened up the cage and again, the quail were frantic. Mommy, why are they so scared? My little Amber asked. I recounted to her what the farmer does when he opens the cage, puts his hand in and pulls them out. Do you understand now Ammie why they are so scared? Yes, Mommy I do. 
It had been just a few days when Amber asked if the quail could be put in with WeeBit and Stuffy. The silkie chicks still so little needed a heat lamp, but nothing can truly replace good old fashioned body heat so we transitioned the quail in with WeeBit and Stuffy. It was instant success!!!! The silkie chicks would squish, squirm and wiggle under the wings and bellies of the quail to stay warm, in return the quail would try to stay so still all night while they slept. When I put the feed dish in the quail step back and allow and watch over the babies while they eat first. It's truly amazing to me how each and every life can have such meaning and purpose, even if it's teeny tiny, it's so sad how quickly we forget that....
The kids quickly named the very fast one Comet. As I held "my" quail cupped in my hands trying to show her she will indeed survive my touch Ammie asked me. What about yours mom, what's her name. I thought for a minute, I remembered how brave she was, how she stood and cowered, how she shook with fear, she took a chance that day....and it saved her life. Courage........her name is "Courage".