Keeper of the Forest

by ShowShine


Cockatrices

“Hurry up Spike, we’re gonna be late!” Twilight exclaimed from somewhere in the castle. Spike shoved his journal, magic books, and an animal book in his roller bag. He placed a few pieces of clothing on top of those items so if Twilight checked it, she wouldn’t be suspicious. He and his friends were going to celebrate the Spring Solstice in Canterlot. It would be fun to watch the parade.

“I feel bad that I can’t help the cockatrices migrate today, Tiny can barely fly on her own.” Spike said to himself. The cockatrices were migrating to one part of the forest to another. They did it every year before they migrated for winter. He zipped his bag close and rolled it out of the room. He flew down the hallway, approaching Twilight.

“Are you ready?” Twilight asked. Spike nodded his head, opening the door for Twilight. They both walked outside to see the nice sun. Spike looked at a bush that he had grown a week before when no one was looking. The flowers on the bush were multicolored and very pretty. Starlight walked passed, heading towards the school.

“I’ll be right back, I need to give Starlight something.” Twilight said before flying after her. There was a loud clatter, making Spike turn around. Silverstream struggled to hold books in her hands, dropping some more onto the ground. She puffed her cheeks out in frustration. Spike walked over to her.

“Do you need help?” Spike asked. Silverstream looked up at him and nodded her head.

“I need to do a report for Professor Twilight and it’s hard to find anything.” Silverstream explained as Spike.

“What’s the report about?” Spike asked.

“Professor Twilight said it can be on anything we wanted so I chose cockatrices. The problem is that I can’t find any information on them.” Silverstream said sadly. Spikes scales perked up at the sound of that.

“I can help you with that.” Spike stated. Silverstream smiled.

“Do you have any books on cockatrices?” Silverstream asked excitedly. Spike shook his head.

“I have something even better.” Spike stated. Before he could explain himself, Twilight walked over.

“Come on Spike, we have to go before the train leaves.” Twilight said.

“Actually, I’m going to stay and help Silverstream with that report you assigned.” Spike explained. Twilight gave him a look of surprise.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come? You love the Spring Solstice Parade.” Twilight stated.

“I’ll just go see it next year.” Spike stated. Twilight let out a sigh and hugged him.

“I’ll see you later Spike.” Twilight said before flying off towards the train station. Spike turned around to look at Silverstream.

“Let’s start on your report.”


“Where are we going?” Silverstream asked as she and Spike walked through the rocky part of the forest. Spike pulled his cart that he kept at home, which was filled with stuff like animal treats, his journal, magic books, a first aid kit, and animal toys. He brought it with him just in case he needed any of the items.

“We’re going to see the cockatrices.” Spike said nonchalantly. Silverstream gave a look of fear.

“Aren’t cockatrices dangerous and can turn creatures into stone?!” Silverstream practically shouted. Spike looked over the edge of a cliff to see a whole swarm of cockatrices together. A few of them were sleeping and a few were fighting. Silverstream shook in fear. A cockatrices spotted her and let out a hiss. It flew up and charged and her. Silverstream let out a scream of fear and took a few steps back. Spike grabbed the cockatrice in mid air and placed it on his shoulder as it let out a hiss.

“Shh shh, she’s not going to hurt you.” Spike whispered, slowly stroking the cockatrices head. The cockatrice let out a soft coo and fell asleep on his shoulder. Silverstream gave a look of surprise.

“I know what I’m doing, let’s get to work.” Spike said as he placed the cockatrice on the ground. Spike and Silverstream flew down into the cockatrice habitat. They looked at the hundreds of cockatrices, who were starting to hiss at Silverstream. Spike stood in front of them and put his hands out, showing that they were empty.

“She’s with me and she won’t hurt you, she just wants to study you.” Spike explained. The cockatrices moved back, glaring at Silverstream.

“Put your hands out and show them you’re not holding anything dangerous.” Spike stated. Silverstream awkwardly put her hands up, waving them a bit. The cockatrices got back to what they were doing, no longer seeing her as a threat.

“Let’s go study some chicks first.” Spike stated. Silverstream followed him, holding a spiral notebook and pencil under her wing. They approached rows of nest and female cockatrices.

“Hi Beatrice.” Spike said, crouching down next to her nest. Beatrice looked at Silverstream and let out a hiss, hiding her children under herself.

“That’s just Silverstream, I brought her here to study you.” Spike explained. Beatrice glared at Silverstream and slowly moved back, revealing he three children. Silverstream let out a gasp.

“They’re so adorable!” She gushed. Tiny moved from the nest and ran over to Spike, excitedly jumping onto his shoulders. She nuzzled into his cheek, letting out a coo. Spike giggled and picked her up.

“Hey Tiny, what have you been doing?” Spike asked. Tiny let at a chirp and nuzzled into him to more. Spike held her up to Silverstream. She jotted something down into the notebook, staring at Tiny in awe.

“Can I hold her?” Silverstream asked. Spike looked at Beatrice who let out a groan and reluctantly nodded her head. Spike handed Tiny to her. Silverstream pulled out her wing and wrote something else down.

“I always found cockatrices fascinating but could never get close to them without being attacked.” Silverstream said as she drew a diagram of Tiny. “How did you manage to get this close to a cockatrice without getting hurt?” She asked.

“I found Beatrice with her tail caught under a rock. I helped her out and watched her eggs for her while she hunted. The other cockatrices started to trust me when I gave them dead bushes for there nest.” Spike explained. Silverstream took notes, nodding her head. Spike unwrapped the splint from Beatrice’s tail.

“It’s all better now.” Spike stated. Beatrice’s happily rubbed her head against his cheek.

“Did you know that cockatrices show affection by rubbing there head against a body part?” Spike stated. Silverstream jotted that fact down.

“Do you mind if I hold Beatrice?” Silverstream asked. Spike looked at her with a pleading look.

“She won’t do anything bad, I promise. It’ll help her with her report.” Spike explained. Beatrice rolled her eyes and stood up from her nest before walking over to Silverstream.

“I’ve never seen a cockatrice so close before!” Silverstream marveled. She opened Beatrice’s wing and poked it with her pencil. She lightly tugged Beatrice’s tail, making her let out a hiss, breathing out a small flame. Silverstream wrote that down.

“Woah calm down.” Spike stated, scratching a small spot under above her scales. Beatrice closed her eyes and laid on the ground.

“Do you wanna check out a male cockatrice?” Spike asked. Silverstream eagerly nodded her head. Spike stood up.

“Bye Beatrice, see you later.” Spike said with a wave. As they walked, Silverstream looked around and wrote down everything she saw. She wrote down how the cockatrices behaved and how they played with each other. They approached another nest to see a pink pukwudgie laying in it.

“Hi Ozzy, where’s Bandit?” Spike asked. Ozzy pointed to Bandit who was struggling to properly climb a small rock.

“Be careful around Bandit, he isn’t very nice.” Spike explained. He walked over to the rock and picked Bandit up. He let out a squawk of alarm as he was placed on the top of the rock.

“You’re welcome.” Spike stated. Bandit let out a grumble and hopped off of the rock before trying to climb it again.

“Male cockatrices can be very stubborn and try to do things on there own.” Spike explained. Silverstream nodded her head and wrote that down.

“The males aren’t that much different from females, they’re just slightly larger and more aggressive.” Spike stated. Silverstream closed her notebook.

“Thank you so much, I would have never finished this on time without you!” Silverstream exclaimed while hugging Spike.

“I’m glad that I could be a help.” Spike responded. Silverstream flew a few feet from the ground.

“With all of the stuff that I found, I can do my report before I can go home!” Silverstream said happily before flying off. Spike smiled. He should really help more creatures and not just animals.