The blanket of blue above the forest canopy disappears as clouds begin to gather. Like splashes of gray paint, they swallow the grand canvas that we call “sky.” The forest becomes eerily silent as the air falls into a telltale gloom. Without warning, a streak of blinding light splits the sky in two. A rumble of thunder shivers within a storm cloud looming in the distance.
A bluebird sweeps in from its perch on the outstretched arm of an oak tree. Burrowing into the shelter beneath the small dwarf-like shrub, the bird soon disappears.
Not too far away, a brown tail flickers as the sparrow descends into the undergrowth, vanishing into a little green bush.
Upon the cavity of a pine tree, the black head of a chickadee withdraws sharply as another draft of frigid wind scrapes by.
The birds are fading away.
All except for the eagle. Unlike the others, this magnificent creature perches atop the tallest pine tree, towering above the rest of the forest. It surveys the world below with its keen eyes, unfaltering as another vein of lightning snaps with another clap of thunder.
A droplet of water lands on its beak. The downpour begins.
Crystalline balls of small droplets cascade from the sky; first a drop, then two more. Splashing and dripping, they slowly wash off the months of gathered dust upon the leaves. Heavier and heavier, the rainfall presses down. In the distance, the windows of a lonely house rattle and quake as the wailing wind slams into the feeble glass panes.
There is not a single trace of the small birds. As if frozen in time, they hide in utter stillness and silence underneath the bushes.
However, one lone silhouette is soaring in solitude through the dark skies.
Gallantly, the eagle ascends, shooting into the gray heavens. The brilliant beast flies straight ahead as another torrent of wind clashes against its feathers. Its majestic wings only spread further, catching the draft and sailing into the tempestuous clouds themselves.
Higher and higher until the rain fades away; until the bird glides above the clouds. The eagle is beyond the rage of the storm, beyond the lightning and the thunder, beyond the calamity that overrules all other feathers.
This bird, chose altitude over escape.