"That was different."
"You're right. This morning you were horizontal voluntarily. Just now gravity made the choice for you."
"Either way, I ended up in the snow with you standing over me."
"It's becoming a pattern."
"An unfortunate pattern."
"I don't know," Marianne said with a smile that did dangerous things to his composure. "Some patterns are worth repeating."
Before he could parse what that might mean, Thomas let out a shout from his tree. "The geese! The Christmas geese are coming!"
Everyone turned to look where he was pointing. Indeed, a formation of large white geese was marching through the forest with military precision, led by an enormous gander that could only be Admiral Feathers.
"What are they doing in the woods?" Marianne asked.
"Flanking maneuver," Mr. Ironwell said grimly. "They know we're here for pine boughs. They're trying to cut off our escape route."
"That's absurd. They're geese, not military strategists."
As if to disprove this statement, Admiral Feathers let out a honk that was clearly a command, and the geese spread out in a pincer movement.
"Run?" Jeremy suggested in a small voice.
"Never run from geese," Marianne said firmly. "They see it as weakness and exploit it."
"Then what do we do?"
"We stand our ground and show no fear."
"I'm full of fear," Jeremy admitted.
"Then fake it."
Admiral Feathers advanced slowly, his neck extended in what could only be described as an aggressive posture. His lieutenants flanked him, while the foot soldiers or wing soldiers, spread out behind in support formation.
"This is ridiculous," Alaric said. "They're waterfowl, not an invading army."
Admiral Feathers fixed him with a beady eye that suggested otherwise.
"Mr. Fletcher," Marianne said quietly, "whatever you do, don't..."
Alaric took a step forward, intending to shoo the geese away like the farmyard birds they were. This was, in retrospect, a mistake.
Admiral Feathers interpreted this as a challenge to his authority and charged with a honk that sounded like a war cry. The other geese followed their leader, and suddenly the peaceful forest became a battlefield of wings, beaks, and very loud honking.
"Every man for himself!" Mr. Ironwell shouted, grabbing an armful of pine boughs and running for the path.
Jeremy needed no further encouragement, sprinting away with impressive speed for someone who'd been complainingabout the cold. Thomas swung down from his tree and joined the retreat, laughing maniacally as he went.
Marianne grabbed Alaric's hand. "Come on! Unless you want to add 'mauled by Christmas poultry' to today's list of indignities!"
They ran, slipping and sliding on the snowy path, while behind them the geese gave chase with disturbing enthusiasm. Admiral Feathers was surprisingly fast for something with such short legs, and his honks of outrage echoed through the forest.
"This is insane!" Alaric shouted as they ran.
"This is Hollingford!" Marianne shouted back. "Same thing!"
