Group Think

A dystopian short story incorporating as many collective nouns for birds and animals as possible

Claiming to possess shrewdness, wisdom, zeal and charm, the optimistic leader of the Party in control of Parliament led his flock towards, but never quite reaching, green pastures. With little more than a leap of faith on a flight of fancy he promised that, one day, all would be well and dismissed the murmuration and mumblings from an increasingly impoverished mob. Bellowing ‘Plague on him!’ those in opposition attempted to oust him but, being restrained as if bound by a yoke, they failed to bring about his destruction. Their spears harmed him no more than a prickle. Undaunted, he soldiered on ignoring pandemonium while commanding his troop like a tower of strength. But knowing that pride comes before a fall, how will this sorry tale end? As the rules of dystopian stories dictate, it ends not with triumph or exaltation but in a confusion of mischief, murder and mayhem.