The Crow & The Geese

In a forest high up in the mountains, there was a young crow who was raised to deliver messages. Her family were respected messengers and had built trust with the other animals of the forest through generations of exceptional service. They flew far and wide, delivering urgent news, helping coordinate migrations and warning other birds in the mountains of approaching storms.

However, as the young crow grew up, her interest in becoming a messenger crow diminished. She couldn't fly as quickly or as long as her siblings and had trouble remembering all the routes. When her parents encouraged her to practice, she only practiced for a short while. She would stop and play with her friends at the lake when her parent got out of sight.

Every day, while the young crow played, her siblings practiced. Their wings became stronger, able to fly against stronger winds and endure longer distances. They memorized the routes that the young crow could not remember. They prepared for future storms that threatened the safety of the other animals in the forest.

One day, the crows received news that a storm was fast approaching and they needed help delivering news to all the animals in the storm's path. “This is what we've been preparing for. Many birds are counting on you to deliver this before the storm comes," her mom told her. Her mother reassured her of her abilities and sent her on her way.

She had to fly north and warn the geese. But with little practice, she struggled to fly such a long distance. She stopped halfway to give her wings a rest. However, when she went to continue on her route, she realized she had lost her way. She second-guessed her path at every turn. By the time she found the geese, the storm had already arrived. The geese were forced to leave in a panic, leaving many of their little ones behind.

The young crow couldn't forgive herself. She didn't just bring shame to herself or her family, but she had allowed the storm to destroy the innocent lives of other animals in the forest. She couldn't return home. She couldn't show her face again. Ashamed, the young crow isolated herself in an uninhabited part of the forest where no one could find her.

Word of the incident quickly spread throughout the forest. For the first few weeks, she saw her parents flying over her, calling her name and hoping to bring her home. However, she hid in the shadows. Soon, weeks into months, and months into a year. Her parents no longer flew by anymore. She grew tired. Her wings grew weak. Her future grew black.

However, one morning, a violent gust of wind almost blew her out of the nest. A storm was coming again. It was headed north toward the geese. She looked into the sky to see if anyone was coming to warn them. The sky was dark, covered by the rain, and the winds blew heavily. She thought the messenger might have been blown off track.

At that moment, she began to fly. She knew where to go. Her wings didn't flap like she wanted, but she reminded herself of what it would mean if she didn't make it on time. She carried on. When she got there, the geese were surprised to see her. There were unresolved emotions that hadn't yet been addressed. However, they got the news and evacuated their homes safely.

When the storm passed, a goose approached her and said, "I know you haven't shown yourself in a while. I can only assume you've been carrying our past with you. So have I, and I know how heavy it is. I have blamed you for so long that I forgot what it feels like to be a bird. However, thanks to you, my newborns are still here with me. Regardless of what happened, I'd like to thank you for coming."

She apologized to the geese. Her actions today didn't excuse her from her past, but it was enough to find the courage to face her consequences and create a different future. She flew back home and apologized to her parents. In the years to come, she practiced flying her routes more than anyone else. She felt like she had a lot of catching up to do.

In time, when her parents saw how she had changed, they allowed her to deliver messages to the geese again, building the trust she had once broken - not just with the geese, or with her parents, but with herself.