That sounds as good a plan as any.

Pinion watched as Pebble wandered away and used the distraction to let some of its anger drain away. It took a deep breath and exhaled, letting its feathers smooth themselves against its back and tucking its wings properly against its sides.

Finally it looked at Langoustine again. "I'm sorry, Langoustine. You're right, I'm just not used to it."

Langoustine's stern look held for a moment, and then the leader reluctantly relaxed too. "Very good." It watched Pinion, waiting for the younger flamingo to wander away, but instead Pinion spoke again.

"Do you think they'll ever let us grow in? And, you know, leave us like that? I'm sure..." Pinion tried to think of a good reason for the humans to not trim their wings. "I'm sure they don't want to have to trim us. It must be boring for them."

Langoustine gave Pinion a curious, guarded look. "They are the ones who care for us. Without them we would never eat and would have nowhere to live."

"But we don't know tha-" Pinion blurted before remembering its goal: to get onto the leader's good side. "I mean, we rely on the humans so much that maybe we're more capable than we think-"

"You're restless," Langoustine told it. Its tone had an air of finality to it.

Pinion opened its beak to disagree but then it saw the flash of warning in Langoustine's eyes, and closed its beak with a clack.

Langoustine turned away and Pinion couldn't help but feel that there was a whiff of contempt in the gesture.

Well, Pinion tried, but I guess it just wasn't to be. What would you like it to do now?