Chapter 8. The Four Styles

The Council members watched the sky in anticipation. They were curious to meet Samuel and Sarah’s friend. They were startled when a voice came from the tree itself.

“Thank you for having me,” said the voice, as if a branch had come alive. “It’s an honor to meet all of you.”

Sitting beside Sarah was the chameleon, Xavier.

The Council members stared in disbelief as Clark proclaimed, “Non-avian creatures are strictly prohibited from Council meetings unless approved of by a two-thirds majority vote.”

“We’re sorry, Clark,” explained Sarah, “but given everyone’s sensitivity over the crisis, we felt that we needed some outside support.”

“Bold move,” thought Dorian, impressed by the doves’ initiative. “Maybe he knows something.”

The chameleon scurried up to the podium and silently examined the assemblage before him. The birds wondered what he was thinking. After what seemed like a very long pause, Xavier finally spoke. “So many colors to choose from,” he marveled. “What great diversity in this group. Imagine if you all appreciated it.”

“Right now there’s not much to appreciate,” mumbled Dorian.

The chameleon crawled down from the podium and beckoned the birds to form a small circle around him. The eagle and owls found it awkward being so close to the others but grudgingly complied. Samuel and Sarah felt right at home. They loved nesting like this.

With the full attention of the birds, Xavier explained the four different styles: the eagle’s decisiveness, the parrot’s enthusiasm, the compassion of the doves, and the accuracy of the owls. The chameleon then took a step back and sat quietly.

“So,” Clark asked, “what does this mean for us?”

The chameleon slowly turned his gaze from one Council member to the other, transforming into a dazzling collage of colors representing all of the birds. The doves smiled at each other.

“Sure,” said Ivy, “that’s easy for you to do, you’re a chameleon!”

“Actually,” replied Xavier, “it’s not a simple feat to assume the color of those around you.”

This surprised the birds, who knew little about other species.

“For me to display your color, I must understand you,” he explained. “When I look at Dorian, I feel his confidence and authority. This understanding allows me to assume his appearance. When I look at the parrots, I embody excitement and freedom. Suddenly, life is full of opportunity and optimism. With the owls, I sense precision and order. I experience a structured world that ensures quality and accuracy. And when I connect to the doves, I feel harmony and compassion. I experience a sincere caring for the well-being and happiness of others.”

The doves tingled with satisfaction. For the first time since the initial tree fell, they felt the group was coming together.

Suddenly Dorian snapped, “Are you suggesting that I should hang out with the parrots just for kicks and complicate anything and everything to better understand the owls? I can’t do that. I’d be neglecting my leadership responsibilities, not to mention wasting my time!”

“Oh paa-leeeeease,” interjected Indy. “What has all your leadership actually amounted to?”

Samuel and Sarah sighed in disappointment.

Clark studied the chameleon carefully. “I must say that while I find the four styles fascinating, I have no intention of abandoning logic and analysis in favor of these other...ahem...qualities you have described in the others.”

Sarah was upset. She had worked hard to unite the group, and it took a lot for her to stand up to the Council, but this had gone too far. “Everyone, please,” she pleaded. “Don’t you see? This—how you’re all behaving right now—is exactly what Xavier is talking about.”

Xavier nodded calmly. “You are all so caught up in your own worlds that you think that your way of doing things is the only way.”

“What’s wrong with that? My way works for me. And it worked for my father before me and his father before him,” stated Dorian proudly.

“Same here,” the parrots agreed in unison.

“Well,” the chameleon said, “I’m glad you’re all in agreement about something. But, if you wish to solve this crisis, you need to be more accepting and less judgmental.”

Clark folded his wings across his chest. “This is a lot to absorb.”

“I still don’t think you all respect what I do for this place,” said Dorian.

“I’m not convinced that you appreciate me and the other parrots,” said Indy.

Xavier’s color returned to a wooden shade of brown. Samuel nodded at his friend feeling defeated. “Thank you. My apologies that you came all the way here for...”

Xavier nodded back at Samuel. Then, the chameleon slipped away as the other birds continued to bicker.

Samuel and Sarah glanced at each other as the volume of the squabble continued to escalate.

“Is this how it’s going to be now?” Sarah wondered.

Before the trees had begun falling, the forest had been such a peaceful place. And although the birds knew that they were all distinct from one another, they had assumed they shared more similarities than differences. Now they weren’t so sure.

It was a cold night at Home.