The Glowing Bird

In the deep mountain pine forest, a young sparrow named Pip hatched with luminescent silver feathers that cast a pale, gentle glow across his nest. While his brothers blended naturally into the brown bark, Pip shone like a little lantern in the canopy.

Pip tucked his head beneath his silver wing, wishing he could blend into the shadows of the forest branches like the other birds in the flock.

One autumn dusk, dense mountain fog rolled down the rocky slopes, plunging the woods into pitch darkness. The sparrow flock lost their way, fluttering blindly against the sharp thorny briars.

Pip spread his silver wings and flew to the highest pine bough above the trail. His bright plumage cut through the mist, illuminating a safe hollow cedar trunk where the shivering sparrows could gather.

The flock roosted together inside the hollow, sleeping soundly and warmly beneath the gentle light of Pip's silver wings until morning arrived.