Cora and the Tall Bird

Once upon a time, there was a little bird named Cora. Now, Cora was the shyest little bird in the big redwood forest, and she wasn’t that impressive. She was smaller than most birds her age, even the little ones, and she had a bland color of blue and green feathers like her dad. She didn’t mind, though. Cora loved herself just the way she was, but she wished she had a nice friend to share her days with, though.

Fatefully, on one sunny day, Cora was having fun by herself hopping from branch to branch in her favorite redwood tree when, suddenly, a tall bird with beautiful golden feathers bumped into her.

“I’m so sorry. Are you OK?”

Cora was so taken aback at the fact such a tall bird with beautiful feathers was nice enough to apologize. All the tall birds with bright beautiful feathers that she had run into before always left her feeling small and worthless. They always stood proud and tall before her, with their rude beaks and harsh words. You see, Cora’s family had always lived in the smallest redwood tree in the forest, and in this particular forest the smaller the tree and the smaller the bird, the less important they were. All the tall birds with beautiful feathers lived in the tallest trees, and smaller birds lived in the smallest trees.

So, you can see how Cora was really surprised at how the tall bird with beautiful golden feathers was being kind to her.

“Yes, I am OK. Thank you. Are you OK?” Cora balanced on a branch across from the tall bird.

“Yes, of course. May I ask what you were doing?” He waved his wing towards her feet.

“I was hopping from branch to branch.” Feeling a little silly, Cora would have blushed with embarrassment had she been able to do so.

“Well, that sounds fun!” the tall bird chimed, “My parents never let me do anything fun like that. They like me to stay in the nest learning proper mannerisms. Maybe I can join you tomorrow?”

Cora nodded and the tall bird with beautiful golden feathers tilted his head in a goodbye and flew off.

Cora could barely hold in her excitement as she raced on her little wings back home to tell her parents she had met a tall NICE bird with beautiful golden feathers.

She flew to the nest in the smallest redwood tree where her mother and father were resting after a long day of flying.

“Mom! Dad! You’ll never believe who I met today!” Cora’s wings fluttered with gleefulness.

Her mother and father perked up: “Who, my dear? Who?”

“I met a tall bird with beautiful golden feathers who was NICE!” Cora nearly laughed in her amazement, but her happiness quickly faded as she watched her mother and father glance at each other suspiciously.

Cora’s father stood and spoke, “That’s impossible, my little bird. Tall birds with beautiful feathers are NEVER nice to little birds like us. I don’t want you to talk to the tall bird EVER again. No good can come of it.” Her father sat back down signally his decision was final.

Tears pricked at Cora’s eyes as she said, “Yes, sir.”

That night, Cora lied at the edge of the nest feeling smaller than ever.

The next day after breakfast, Cora made her way back to her favorite redwood tree to play her hopping game.

“May I join you?” A voice came from behind her that almost made Cora jump right out of her feathers.

The tall bird stood on a long branch, “Oh! I’m sorry if I scared you. I didn’t want to get in your way.” He stood there patiently as she gained her bearings.

“That’s OK. I’m so happy you could make it! Of course, you can join me! May I ask what you name is?” Cora smiled up at the tall bird as he said,” Oh, I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. My name is Kellan.”

Cora responded, “It’s so nice to meet you, Kellan.” Cora held out her wing and Kellan shook it making their new friendship official.

Cora and Kellan hopped the afternoon away. The sun started to set as they said their goodbyes. She hoped she would see him again tomorrow.

That night, Cora didn’t share her secret friend with her parents. She didn’t want them disapproving of their friendship and telling her she couldn’t be friends with Kellan anymore.

The next afternoon, Cora decided to wait for Kellan to show up. Sure enough, after a few minutes, she could see his beautiful golden feathers in the distance. He flew down and perched on the same branch as her, so they were standing side by side. He really was so tall. The sun shown off his feathers, and she could see the different shades of gold in them.

“Hello again, Cora,” Kellan smiled down at her.

She smiled up at him and said, “Hey, so I was thinking we could do something else today.”

Kellan cocked his head in curiosity. She continued, “Maybe we could do a little bit of flying above the redwood forest?” She couldn’t look at him while she asked so she didn’t have to see him say no.

Surprisingly, he said, “Great! What part of the forest are we flying to?”

Cora’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected him to say yes. “How about near your home?” After his first yes, she was feeling bold.

Not even a second ticked by when he replied, “Of course! I’d love to show you my home. Then, we can fly to see yours.”

Cora now hesitated, but she smiled and nodded her head up at him in agreement. She just hoped her mother and father were having a long day of flying.

It was difficult for her to keep up with the Kellan. He noticed her struggling to keep up and kindly slowed down his pace. He yelled back at Cora, “It’s the tallest redwood up ahead!”

She caught sight of the tree top in the near distance. They swooped down into the tree brush and came upon a large elegant nest. Cora landed as gracefully as she could. The nest was soft underneath her feet. It was made up of only the finest twigs and bits.

Kellan noticed Cora’s awed expression and gave the nest a once over saying, “Yeah, it is a pretty nice place.” He gave a little leap and continued, “but now that we have seen my home. I’m super eager to see yours!”

Cora’s awed expression instantly dropped, and she started to panic. She couldn’t bring him to her home! What if her parents were home. They would instantly disapprove of their friendship and scare him away. Her one and only friend with beautiful golden feathers. She hurriedly said, “But we just got here? How about we enjoy the sights for a minute or two?” Cora waved her small wing towards the view from the nest, and Kellan nodded his head in agreement.

An hour or two passed by as he pointed out all the beautiful neighboring nests, explaining the families that lived there. A few tall birds occasionally swooped by in confusion, and some even gave Cora a sideways glare, but no one said a word.

More minutes ticked by, and Kellan was explaining his brothers, who were now grown with their own families, when an easy thud came from behind her. Cora turned around and was beak to beak with a gorgeous tall bird. The tall bird had beautiful pink AND golden feathers. She stood with wisdom and confidence and she SMILED at Cora.

The gorgeous tall bird said, “Well, hello there! You must be Cora! Our son has been telling us so much about you,” Kellan’s mother’s smile made Cora instantly relax, “He has become very fond of you.”

Cora then noticed the broad bird that stood taller next to Kellan’s mother. He also displayed beautiful golden feather with flakes of shiny blues and yellows. Cora couldn’t believe how NICE Kellan’s parents were. Cora said, “It’s so nice to meet both of you,” Cora tried her best at a small curtsy. Kellan’s mother’s smile widened, and his father replied with a bow. Cora, Kellan, and his parents talked to Cora through the morning.

Kellan soon interrupted, “Well, mom and dad. We’d love to stay and chat, but now we’re going to see Cora’s lovely home.” Cora looked over at Kellan who gave a pleasant nod at his parents, and she quickly answered his parents knowing glances, “Yes, well it was so nice to meet both of you. I hope we can do this again sometime?”

Kellan’s father answered, “Yes of course, young lady. I hope Kellan will bring you by again. Maybe even for dinner?” Kellan’s dad looked over at his son and Kellan answered, “Yes, dinner would be great.” Kellan looked at Cora as his father gave a settled nod.

His mother then said, “Alright, dear. I hope you two kids have fun and son?” She looked over at Kellan giving him a stern look, “Be safe and be home before sundown.”

Kellan nodded his head and both Cora and he gave one final wave as they flew out of the nest. Now, she had met three nice tall birds. That alone gave Cora the confidence to bring Kellan to her home.

Kellan was at Cora’s flank as he followed her down into the smaller part of the forest where her home was. Cora’s heart beat in her ears as they neared her family’s nest. She was desperately hoping her parents wouldn’t be there, but her head told her otherwise. It was now late afternoon. If her parents weren’t there now, they would be there soon.

Cora landed in the nest with a satisfying thud and Kellan landed close behind. She heard him say, “This is amazing!” Cora turned around confused as she now looked at his awed glance.

He continued, “I’ve never perched this close to the ground before,” Kellan ran over to the side of the nest and looked down, “Would to you look at that? Such beautiful creatures.” Cora walked over and peered over the side of the nest trying to see what he was so enthralled by. A doe was grazing right below the redwood tree.

Kellan looked over at her in amazement, “I’ve never been able to sit in a nest and watch them graze like this. Not in my home anyways. The trees are too tall, and they look like ants from up there.” Kellan sat down and laid his head at the edge of the nest in contentment.

Cora sat down next to him as a fawn came out of the brush to graze with his mother. She heard Kellan’s excited inhale at the side of the fawn and she smiled. She’d never really given much thought to what creatures lingered on the ground. She’d spent many days watching the deer graze, the bunnies hop, and an occasional wolf pack now and then, but never thought much of it. Now she realized how special it was sitting there sharing it with Kellan.

As the doe and fawn were disappearing among the trees, Cora’s voice caught as she heard two thuds from behind them. She turned around to see both her parents. Her father looked angry, but her mother took to straightening her feathers at the sight of Kellan.

Kellan stood straight up and said, “Hello, my name is Kellan. You must be Cora’s parents,” Kellan bowed. “It’s so nice to meet both of you.” Cora’s father was so surprised that his anger evaporated, and he managed a bow while Cora’s mother curtsied.

Cora’s mother said, “Well it is so nice to meet you, Kellan. Cora has told us about you and I must say she was sincerely right.” Cora’s mom smiled at her and then her father spoke up, “Yes, I dare say she was right. Even though I didn’t believe her at first, you really are a very nice young man.” Cora’s father gave her a wink and her heart finally lightened. Her parents liked him and that made her very happy.

Cora, Kellan, and her parents spend the rest of the afternoon in conversation. Kellan couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful this part of the forest was and how he enjoyed their home and company. He even brought up inviting them over for dinner one evening to which Cora’s mother happily agreed.

The sun started to peak the trees and Cora now interrupted her parents saying, “Well, Kellan has to get home before sundown.” Cora’s mother and father tried not to show their disappointment but said their goodbyes and how they couldn’t wait to do this again. Kellan gave one final bow and headed for the edge of the nest.

Cora then said, “I’m going to fly with Kellan over a few trees. I’ll be right back.” Both of Cora’s parents agreed, and Cora and Kellan were back in the air again.

They landed on her favorite redwood tree where they had first met. Kellan turned to look down at Cora and said, “This has been one of the best days ever with the first friend I’ve ever had.” Cora looked up at him confused and answered, “What do you mean your first friend?”

Kellan smiled slightly embarrassed, “Cora, you’re the first sincere friend I’ve ever had. My parents are the leaders of our part of the redwood forest, which meant that people were only ever “friends” because they felt like they had to be, but you...” He looked right down at her sincerely, “You were my friend without even knowing who I was or who my parents were. A true friend who I can just be me.”

Kellan unexpectedly wrapped his wings around Cora in a hug. Cora was so happy she started to cry and hugged him back.

As they pulled away, she wiped away her tears, smiled, and said, “You’re my first friend ever.” She looked up at his surprised face and continued, “I never thought my first friend would be a tall bird, honestly. You are an amazing bird, Kellan, and I’m so happy to be your friend.”

Kellan and Cora shared one last hug. A hug of sincere friendship. Right before Kellan took off flying home he turned and said, “Same time tomorrow, right?” Cora smiled and replied, “Same time tomorrow.”

She couldn’t wipe the smile from her face even after she landed safely home. That night she lied at the edge the nest and watched the animals below with a new sense of contentment.