They were so tiny.

She wondered again if she would ever fly, much less be as good as her idol was. With a sad sigh she began her daily preening. Her parents had told her would help her wings grow faster. She wasn’t convinced but she also didn’t know what else to do.

She started out with her tertiaries since they were easy. almost never out of order. Then the secondaries, which only required minor upkeep.

She didn’t even start on her primaries, instead she leapt from her bed with an enthusiastic scream, leaving behind a single large orange feather.