In this story of a legend from a fantastical realm, a legendary Phoenix named Peregrine disguises himself as a noble parrot to guide his flock and care for his aging parents. When caught taking extra food from rice fields, he reveals his selfless nature to a wise Sage, teaching timeless lessons about family responsibility and compassion.

In a fantastical realm, a legendary Phoenix named Peregrine took the form of a Parrot, possessing unparalleled strength and beauty among its kind. The other parrots marveled at how his feathers sometimes seemed to shimmer with an unusually warm glow in the sunlight. 

As the Phoenix-turned-Parrot grew, his father, the aging leader of the flock, his father, acknowledged the limits of his strength and passed on the mantle of leadership.

“My son,” he said, “it is your time to guide our flock. I must rest.” Peregrine, embracing the responsibility, replied, “Rest now, father. I shall lead our brethren with honor.”

The parrots rejoiced, confident in their new leader’s prowess. True to his noble heart, Peregrine ensured his parents’ comfort, taking on the task of providing for them. When angered or protective, his eyes would briefly flash with an inner fire that both comforted his parents and unsettled his foes.

Every day, he guided the flock to the bountiful rice fields nestled in the Elysian Mountains. After satisfying his hunger, Peregrine filled his beak with tender grains, eager to return to his loving parents who awaited his arrival.

As the parrots frequented the rice fields, the Field Keeper grew frustrated in his futile attempts to drive the parrots away. The attentive caretaker couldn’t help but notice the extraordinary behavior of one particular parrot.

This parrot, Peregrine, possessed an undeniable air of nobility that set him apart from the others. The caretaker observed that while the other parrots ate only their fill, Peregrine carried rice away in his beak, a mystery that both intrigued and concerned him.

Fearing for the rice supply, the Keeper reported this peculiarity to his patron, the Sage. Upon hearing the tale, the Sage felt an inexplicable admiration for the noble bird, though he kept these thoughts unspoken. Instead, he advised the caretaker to set a snare and capture the unusual parrot.

Obeying the Sage’s instructions, the Keeper carefully set the snare. Then, he waited in his hut for the parrots’ return.

Soon, Peregrine, driven not by greed but loyalty to the place that had nourished him and his flock, descended upon the same spot as the day before. The moment his feet touched the ground, he felt the snare tighten around them. Fear momentarily gripped his heart, but his selflessness quickly overcame it. He thought, “If I cry out for help, my kin will flee in terror and remain hungry. But if I stay silent, their hunger will be sated, and they may yet come to my aid.”

With both courage and wisdom, Peregrine chose silence. He pecked at the grains around him, allowing his flock to feed undisturbed. As they finished, he called out softly, hoping for aid, but the flock, having satisfied their hunger, merely glanced at their trapped leader before taking flight.

As Peregrine witnessed their desertion, his heart sank. “How can it be,” he lamented, “that all my companions would leave me in my time of need? What wrong have I done to deserve such betrayal?”

The Field Keeper, hearing the distinctive cry of Peregrine and the fluttering wings of the departing parrots, emerged from his hut. He came to the place where he had laid the snare. There, he found the noble Parrot; he tied his feet together and brought him to the Sage.

The Sage had long studied mythical creatures and felt an inexplicable recognition stirring within him upon first seeing the noble parrot. Though he maintained a stern facade, something about the bird’s bearing reminded him of legends he’d read about phoenixes taking different forms.

He admonished Peregrine, “Why, O Parrot, does thy greed surpass all others? The birds consume only what they need, yet you take more than you can eat.

Peregrine responded with a sweet human voice, “O Sage, I bear no ill will toward you, nor do I hoard out of greed. Each day, I fulfill my duties, keep my promises, and share where it is needed.

The Sage didn’t understand. He said, “Please, O Wondrous Bird, make these words clear to me.”

The Parrot replied, “I bring food to my old parents because they can’t get it themselves anymore—It is my duty to help them out as they did for me. I also feed my young chicks who aren’t strong enough to fly and find their own food. One day, when I’m old, they’ll look after me. This is my promise to them. And for birds who are injured or sick, I save extra food to help them out. That’s how I share with those who need it.”

The Sage, deeply moved by Peregrine’s altruistic acts, at last, revealed the affection that had been growing in his heart. “Eat to your heart’s content, O Righteous Bird,” he declared, “and let thy kin feast as well, in honor of thy noble spirit.”

Touched by Peregrine’s selflessness, the Sage wished to bestow upon him a thousand acres of land as a reward. Yet, true to his modest nature, Peregrine accepted only a small parcel marked by boundary stones.

Upon returning to the flock, Peregrine gathered them close. ‘Though you abandoned me in my hour of need, I hold no grudge,’ he said with quiet dignity. ‘For leadership means serving even those who fail you.’ The parrots bowed their heads in shame, vowing to prove themselves worthy of such a noble leader.

Turning to his parents, the parrot cried, “Rise, dear Parents! Allow me to lead you to a place where abundance flows.” He then regaled them with the tale of his deliverance and the Sage’s generosity, the power of his compassion echoing in every word.

Peregrine’s parents, witnessing their son’s wisdom and compassion, smiled with pride. ‘You have far exceeded our teachings, our son,’ his father said. ‘Your heart has always burned brighter than any ordinary parrot.’ His mother nodded knowingly, ‘We always sensed you were destined for something beyond our simple flock.’ It was then Peregrine knew the time had come to reveal his true nature.

A dazzling radiance enveloped Peregrine as he transformed into a breathtaking, fiery creature. His feathers shimmered with hues of fiery crimson, sun-kissed orange, and regal gold, casting a warm glow upon the faces of his awestruck family.

“Remember these words, my beloved children,” Peregrine spoke, his voice resonating with tenderness and love. “As you journey through life, no matter what challenges you face, always be brave. Help others whenever you can, and never underestimate the power of love and family.”

The cycle of rebirth was calling to Peregrine. He had completed his mission in parrot form – teaching the values of family devotion and selflessness. Now, with his parents’ blessing and his duty fulfilled, he could embrace his true phoenix nature once more.

With a gentle gust of wind, Peregrine unfurled his majestic wings and took to the skies. His family watched as the Phoenix soared above them, his silhouette gliding through the moonlit sky.

An adaptation of THE SPIRIT THAT LIVED IN A TREE from Eastern Stories and Legends By Marie L. Shedlock

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