Wings of Desire
In the solitude of the ancient gorges, high above the rugged mountains of Appalachia, there existed a world beyond the human comprehension, a world of magical birds, known as The Aves. For ages, they lived in harmony, their existence a secret to the world below. But amidst the Aves, unmistakable was a solitary bird, Ravan, known by his shiny azure feathers and remarkable abilities. Unlike others, he lacked the power of transformation — the ability to metamorphose into a human at will, which others viewed as a gift, for which Ravan yearned.
On the eve of their grand annual gala, the community almost trills with excitement. Vibrant preparations fluttered across reminiscent of the frenzy in the flocks before migrations. Amidst the chaos, Ravan's melancholy was conspicuous, amplifying with every gaze of a transformed Aves. He yearned to participate amongst his friends transformed into humans, dance and revel in human joy.
The orchid adorned hall buzzed with avian turned beings relishing delicacies while sharing tales of their flights and adventures. Ravan perched at a distance, his disappointment hidden behind his sapphire sheen. Suddenly The Elder Falcon, the oldest and wisest among them, stood up and called for silence. As a tradition, he always had a story for the night, from scriptures or his experiences, tales of valor, of sacrifice, of friendship. But that night, he directed his story to Ravan.
'This is a tale from millennia back, a time when Aves were still exploring the art of transformation,' he began, 'An Aves named Turin, like Ravan here, lacked the power of transformation. His despair pushed him to try something unusual. He met with a known sorcerer of the human world, exchanged his ability of long life for the ability to transform.' Maestro continued, 'While initially thrilled by his newly gained skill, Turin realized the curse of human life - mortality. He lost his long-life virtue, and by the time he wished to return to the Aves, he perished as a human.' Silence swept across the room at the completion of the tale.
For the remaining of the night, Ravan was wrapped in thoughts. He understood the gravity of the tale imparted by the Maestro, giving him a different perspective. His desire to transform suddenly seemed imprudent and ignorant.
From then, Ravan began to cherish the beauty of his existence. He indulged more in the soaring winds, raced with the clouds, plunged down the cliffs and glided over the shimmering streams, gleaming with joy. The desire that once burned him was replaced by a sense of contentment, making him radiant than ever.
As the following annual gala arrived, a change was visible. Ravan seemed more agile, filled with an infectious energy. His azure plumage glistened more brightly, his sapphire eyes sparkled more intensely, a clear reflection of his contentment, resonating with the spirit of the gala, without transformation.
That night, the Elder Falcon rose again, asked for silence, and remarked, 'Ravan, you may lack the transformation ability, but you own something highly desirable and precious: the power to relish existence, to thrive joyfully within one's confines, radiating contentment to others. Learn to honor that!'
Inspired, the young Aves, sticking to their true selves, participated in the merriment as birds, rendering a unique blend of their original and human form to the gala, reinforcing the message of the tale of Turin, tenfold.
A simple, sad tale from a wise old bird altered a prejudiced norm and brought a wave of acceptance among the Aves. It showed them that transformation wasn't an obligation for fitting in, but a choice, a lesson that the humans below could take as well.