Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

“They headed across the meadow, passing groups of students eating lunch. A mottled bird that looked like a cross between a chicken and a pheasant burst from the undergrowth. Ash watched it flutter into the trees, then land in the bushes.
“What in the world�?�
Vale followed his gaze to where the bird waddled through the undergrowth. “It’s a spruce grouse.�
Ash stared into the trees. A few steps away from the meadow, the light dropped by half. “What did you call it again?�
“Spruce grouse is the official name, though they’re sometimes called prairie chickens or fool hens.�
Ash chuckled. “Fool hens, huh?�
“Yeah. People think they’re kind of dumb—the way they let other animals get close to them. They’re pretty mellow.�
Ash watched it as it faded back into the autumn foliage, the plumage a match to the brown and orange leaves. “How do you know all this stuff?�
“I don’t know,� she said. “I read things, I guess.�
“I know that, but where’d you learn the stuff about birds?�
“I’ve got a couple books on wildlife. Books on the woods, and on camping, and survival, and…� Vale shrugged. “I just read a lot of stuff. Okay?�
Ash grinned. “Pretty cool.”
― Danika Stone