The Song of the Cardinal

In an orange orchard, a year‑old cardinal bursts with energy, flitting among branches, proclaiming “Good cheer!” to anyone who will listen. His brilliant red plumage and towering crest set him apart from his more modest relatives, making him a living flash of flame in the summer heat. With a song that seems to promise endless happiness, he spends his days hunting slugs for breakfast and reveling in the abundance of fruit and insects around him.

Drawn by tales of a legendary wetland to the north, he sets his sights on the Limberlost, a sprawling marsh where towering trees, tangled vines, and shimmering pools host a riot of birdlife. The swamp hums with the buzz of bees, the croak of frogs, and the chatter of countless feathered families, each more colorful than the last. Amid this dazzling chorus, the young cardinal’s bold spirit and striking plumage make him both a curiosity and a challenge to the seasoned birds who call the marsh home. Yet his restless heart and father’s stern expectations hint at trials that will test limits of his optimism.