My Fire Bird

Her gold feathers reflected the light of the setting sun, blinding me as I tried to keep my eyes on her. I reached out and ever so gently stroked the top of her head, her round blue eyes slowly closing with relaxation while my whole body felt tightened in knots. 1

Her blue eyes slowly opened and turned into a bright purple from the reflection of the sky. She looked over at me slightly cocking her head to the left. The red feathers on her head were now brushed back by my gentle strokes. 2

I sighed.3

“I guess you should get ready.” I whispered to her, my eyes beginning to water. She flapped her beautiful wings of gold, orange, and red fathers. The very tip of her wings grew aflame as she hit the air in the sky. I stood up from the green ground and looked back at the large boulder that was awaiting for the rebirth of my Phoenix friend.4

I used my bare hand to brush off the boulder, scratching off any unneeded matter. The boulder looked at if it was made for this event. The light of the setting sun just barely blanketed the boulder, making it glitter and dance. 5

Phoenix visited the boulder and I, each time laying more and more pieces of Cinnamon Twigs. Each time she left for more gathering she left the smell of smoke at the boulder. I remember smelling smoke from the fire at my house and watching my house crumble to the floor along with all my belongings. I remember my parents and my siblings calling me to the car as we were heading to stay at my aunt’s house. I also remember the faint figure in the smoke, an unearthly figure with a beak and large wings. No one believed me when I told them what I saw. Sometimes I didn’t believe myself.6

Was I just seeing something? Was it an illusion? I was very young my mind could have brought my fantasy dreams to life in front of my eyes. Now I know it wasn’t an illusion and it wasn’t a dream. It was a Phoenix.7

This smoke that I was smelling now was not the dark smoke I had smelt at my burning home. It was now a different smoky smell, one that was sweet and filled with life.8

Slowly the sun began to sink deep down behind the yellow grassed mountains and the moon rose into the black sky. A watched at the faint light from far away grew nearer. Her aflame feathers looked beautiful, much more beautiful in the night sky rather than the day.9

Hours had passed. I found myself drifting to sleep next to the boulder, not caring for the insects that made their bed in my sleeves or socks. I would often wake up to the bright light revisiting the boulder to build its nest. 10

I had a dream. I watched fire in my dream, a big wad of fire flaming to the sky and putting the white clouds on fire. I know it isn’t possible for the clouds to be on fire but if it was, it was a very beautiful sight. The clouds were nothing but big, black lumps in the sky that broke into ash as my Phoenix friend flew threw them with ease, arriving to add to her nest.11

Finally I awoke to the sound of the golden water of the stream being hit by drops of rain from the black clouds. I watched as the insects around me hid behind my back keeping out of the water. Were the black clouds in my dream a sign of this rain? I looked to the boulder to see that the nest was almost complete. I wanted to fix it with my own hands but if I touched the nest I knew I would feel as if I tarnished it. 12

Everything man made was the Earth being tarnished, no longer young and pure.13

I haven’t eaten in hours but my stomach was tied too much to think of food. I lay in the wet grass with my mouth open, capturing sweet drops of rain. I said there for passing hours, sleeping for drinking the rain. I watched as the Phoenix returned. The rain hit her wings but the flames never died out. Her feathers were dry and still glimmered in the dull light of the hidden sun. Then when she left for more twigs the heavenly light disappeared with her and everything was dull again.14

I fell asleep in the sweet rain but awoke when I felt the brush of her warm feathers against my cheek. I looked up to see her staring down at me; her large size could have scared anyone. Her bright blue eyes were now gold and bright. She was ready. 15

I quickly stood up and threw my arms around her long, slender neck. Her natural smell tingled my whole body. She brushed her feathers against my cheek one more time before pecking at the strands of hair at my wet neck. I laughed and stroked her feathers back.16

“This is the last time I’ll see you this way.” I told her. I knew she understood by her blinking eyes. I kissed the place between her eyes and watched the reflection of the moon rising to the sky in her eyes. “I’ll take care of you if you take care of me.” I said as I let her go. She slowly hopped onto the boulder to sit on her nest of Cinnamon Twigs. 17

I felt hot tears sting my eyes as the nest began to wear a gold glow, the glow soon turning to a bright red. The nest was soon aflame itself from the bottom up, the Phoenix sat still. I tried to look away and at the black sky but my eyes couldn’t get enough. The fire fed my eyes with content.18

The Phoenix gave me a last look before she lifted her wings as I watched them soon burn away. Red flames burst from her wings as if she was bleeding. I fell to my knees as her gold eyes turned black and grew into a new pit of flames. She let out a last spine tingling screech before finally disappearing into a pile of hot ashes. I kneeled there, wondering if something else would happen. If my life was in any danger.19

There was nothing but silence. I slowly rose to my feet, my legs shaking along with the rest of my body. Her screech echoed in my ears. My Fire Bird was gone. I would never see her again.20

I slowly approached the pile of ashes, wondering if my hands could tarnish it. Slowly my hands reached out to touch the remainders of the Phoenix but I couldn’t touch it before I heard a chirping. I watched as a Phoenix Chick made its way out of the pile of ashes. She was reborn just like she assured me. 21

The chick looked over at me, its bright blue eyes sparking like the stars of the sky above us. Her wings were already aflame, which was the only reason I didn’t dare take her into my arms. 22

“Welcome to Life.” I whispered to her, her blinking eyes responded. I smiled and slowly reached out for her, her wings tucked into her sides and the flames dying away. “Welcome home.”23