| “ | The sky is always falling. Terrible disaster's always just around every corner. I bet they've run out of mundy chickens and pigs and cows--and this meeting is to inform us that they've decided Fable chickens and pigs and cows are now approved food items for all these new human Fables! | „ |
| ― Chicken Little to Papa Bear, Fables #70 — "Kingdom Come" |
Chicken Little is an avian Fable prone to worry and panic attacks, that resides at the Farm in Upstate New York. She first appears in Fables #6 — "Road Trip: Part One of Animal Farm."
History
Goldilocks' revolution
| “ | Run away! Run away! It's a raid! The feds are here! I wasn't part of this! I was duped! I'll turn state's evidence! I can't do hard time! I'm too delicate! | „ |
| ― Chicken Little, Fables #6 — "Road Trip: Part One of Animal Farm" |
Chicken Little[1] appears in the barn, present at a gathering of Fable creatures discussing whether they should take up arms against the Adversary. Coincidentally, Snow White arrives at the Farm just as she does twice a year to check on the Fable community there, and walks in on them. The group is shocked when they notice Snow's sudden presence in the room. Chicken Little experiences a panic attack, frantically urging everyone to flee. She claims that she has been misled into involvement and will turn state's evidence, asserting that she cannot endure a lengthy prison sentence due to their fragile nature. Dun grows frustrated, muttering that someone needs to strangle the chicken, before catching himself and correcting his statement to say that someone needs to calm the chicken down.[2]
During Goldilocks' revolution attempt at the Farm, Chicken Little stands among the many animal Fables gathered in the Farm square. Dun speaks to the crowd, announcing that the time has come to make a move on Fabletown in New York City. Unexpectedly, Snow White emerges, declaring that their self-proclaimed revolution has come to an end and commands all individuals to relinquish their firearms and disperse. Chicken Little asks why they all should do such a thing, before the animals hear her command someone out of their line of sight to set the barn on fire. The chicken looks up in shock as she sees the dragon Clara circling over them all, realizing that she used her dragonfire to set the barn on fire. Snow further compels the surrender of the group through the intimidation of the three giant brothers.[4]
The revolution teeters on the edge of erupting once more after Goldilocks shoots Snow, but a faction of human Fables swiftly seize control. Bufkin the flying monkey chases Chicken Little, stating that she cannot escape justice. The chicken, overwhelmed with fear, maintains her innocence, arguing that she has been framed, and fervently attempts to persuade the blue monkey that her true loyalty always was with Fabletown.[1]
Invasion of the wooden soldiers
| “ | Run for your lives! Run for your lives! This time the sky really is falling! | „ |
| ― Chicken Little in Fables #24 — "The Letter: Chapter Five of March of the Wooden Soldiers" |
When Baba Yaga's hut runs amok on the Farm, Mustard Pot Pete forms a makeshift posse in a desperate attempt to regain control of the cabin. As Chicken Little and a group of group of animal Fables frantically struggle to secure the runaway cabin as she careens through the woods, the chicken experiences yet another anxiety attack, urgently imploring everyone to flee for their lives, shouting that the sky is genuinely collapsing this time.[5]
New neighbors
As Snow White settles into the Farm with her newborn cubs, Chicken Little joins the multitude of animal Fables who assemble to greet their new neighbor in the Farm square.[6]
Upon the arrival of a newcomer at the Farm, Chicken Little and a few other animal Fables quickly dash off to investigate the identity of the visitor. When Snow asks, "What now?" the chicken, worrying as always, replies, "Isn't one damned thing, it's another!" It is revealed that the newcomer is none other than the North Wind, the grandfather of the cubs.[7]
Fabletown-Imperial war
Chicken Little is seen with a collection of animal Fables as they come across a notice posted on the Farm, summoning them to a crucial gathering in the Farm square at midday. Mama Bear and Papa Bear become frustrated as Chicken Little has yet another one of its typical episodes of panic: The chicken is certain that the notice is about some bad news, admitting that the sky is always falling for them, because the sky is always falling, as terrible disasters always lurk around the corner. Chicken Little's concern is that the Farm may have exhausted all of its supply of mundy animals for consumption, leading to the possibility that the Fable chickens, pigs, and cows will now be seen as acceptable food for for all the new human Fables. Nevertheless, Chicken Little attends the meeting, during which Boy Blue offers the Fables living on the Farm a chance to relocate to the Kingdom of Haven and begin anew. Chicken Little, ever the pessimist, believes that a deal this good has to come with one big monster of a catch. Boy Blue admits that there are not just one, but two catches, namely that the people who emigrate to Have will have to give up their Fabletown citizenship, and the boundaries of Haven currently aren't that much larger than the Farm.[3]
Threat of Mister Dark
| “ | I've taken down everyone's name and I'm ready to testify against all of them, if only you let me off, or at least don't cook me without a trial! | „ |
| ― Chicken Little to Clara, Fables #82 — Waiting for the Blues (An Epilogue of Sorts for The Dark Ages)" |
After Boy Blue's funeral, Chicken Little attends a small informal wake for Boy Blue in the barn. During the wake, Rockford J. Raccoon seizes the opportunity to voice his displeasure on the way the human Fables treat the animal Fables, claiming that only a human Fable is deemed capable of managing the Farm and the human Fables treat them as if they were infants who cannot take care of themselves. Clara swoops in, declaring that she will not tolerate any insurrections. Chicken Little, in a frenzy, informs her that she has written down the names of everyone involved and is prepared to testify against them all if only she will spare her or at least give her a fair trial before cooking her. Brock Blueheart orders the chicken to be quiet.[8]
Later, Beauty mentions having eggs for breakfast. Chicken Little, now wearing the blue scarf of Brock's cult, angrily declares that the cult's new world order will abolish the barbaric tradition of humans feasting on unborn poultry. Brock reminds the angry chicken to stay focused and not get sidetracked.[9]
Chicken Little later watches as Rose Red addresses her fellow Fables after finally overcoming her long depression.[10]
Christmas time
When the Fables are celebrating Christmas at the Farm, Chicken Little joins the White Rabbit and the Three Blind Mice in a lively line dance.[11]
Appearances
Fables
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Original source
Chicken Little is based on the titular character of the European folk tale "Henny Penny," also known as "Chicken Little." The story centers around a terrified little chicken who believes that the sky is falling and that life has come to an end. The folk tale is so common in European folklore that terms “the sky is falling!” and “Chicken Little” have become synonymous with fearmongering, and the often tragic results that occur. The exact origin of the story is unclear, but one of the first to publish the tale was Danish scholar Just Mathias Thiele, who included the story in an 1823 collection of Danish folktales. In the US, the story was first recorded by John Green Chandler as The Remarkable Story of Chicken Little, which inspired other American writers to create their own adaptations of the story.[12]
References
Notes
- ↑ Chicken Little has the comb of a hen, confirming that she is female, like in the original fairytale