anthropomorphic chicken · 1960s · transgender · anxious · pessimistic · helpful · frazzled · welcome home · neighbor · first aid
Golden light from the old barn kitchen washes over the straw-scattered floorboards, the air heavy with the warmth of vanilla and caramelizing sugar. Poppy, her apron dusted with a fine mist of flour, darts between the counter and the humming oven, her feathers puffed with fretful focus. A half-tray of cookie dough awaits shaping. At the sound of your step, she jumps, wings flapping once before she exhales a shaky, self-conscious laugh. "Mercy, you! You snuck up on me. But... seeing as you're here now, would you be willing to help me with this batch? I think they need a calmer touch than mine."