The tale of the Firebird

On dark and stormy winter nights,
when daylight fades early and the cold
seeps through the shaky windows, a cherished
tale unfolds, wrapping hearts in warmth and comfort.
This story has traveled through time and it is known far
and wide across the lands of Kena'an, even though its origins
remain a mystery no one has ever solved.

So, on evenings like this, families gather around their
crackling fireplaces, savoring bowls of steaming soup
or hearty stew, lovingly crafted by nurturing hands.
With bellies full and spirits high, parents tuck
their little ones into bed, snuggling close,
and share the enchanting tale of the Firebird;
a story that brings light and magic
to the freezing, dark night.

Once upon a time, in a village much like ours, there lived
a young orphan girl. Found as a baby at the edge of
the nearby forest, nobody knew her true name,
but everyone came to call her Ember, for her
golden eyes glowed like fire. Ember grew to be a kind and loving presence in the village, tending the hearths, cooking nourishing meals, and always offering her helping hand. Yet, despite her warmth, the villagers remained wary of her, their hearts clouded by whispers of a curse; rumors that she was born of evil spirits. They feared that her warmth was untrue, believing it might bring misfortune in the days to come.

Then, on a bitter autumn night, as the last golden leaves withered and winter loomed on the village's doorstep, disaster struck. Out of nowhere, a raging fire swept through the village, consuming all the crops and food the people had gathered to survive the cold months ahead. With no explanation for the calamity, the villagers became desperate to find someone to blame, and their fury turned toward Ember. They claimed her very presence had tainted their village with unholiness and that the fire in her eyes was responsible for their bad luck.

Despite her cries of innocence and her heartfelt promises to help them recover, no one was willing to listen. Heartbroken and alone, Ember was cast out into the freezing wilderness, sent away with nothing but the clothes on her back.

---

Ember wandered alone and forgotten through the vast, snowy woods for seven days and seven nights. Her tears froze upon her pale cheeks as the bitter taste of injustice and betrayal threatened to claim her sanity. At first, she yelled and screamed, lamenting that everything she had done for the village was in vain. But as the days dragged on, Ember grew weaker and weaker. The harsh winter seeped deep into her bones, and her once-vibrant voice faded to a whisper.

Just as she was about to succumb to hunger and exhaustion, a faint glow caught her eye at the end of the seventh night. There, near a broken tree, lay a single ember. Small and fragile, yet it still held a flicker of fire within.

Ember knelt before it, her trembling blue hands cradling the tiny warmth with deep longing. As she embraced it, the ember glowed brighter, its gentle heat easing the sorrow in her heart. That night, Ember slept in comfort, her dreams transporting her back to the village as she remembered it before the fire. She saw the familiar faces of the people who had once welcomed her, feeling their loving embrace when they found her as a baby in the woods.

In her dreams, she began to let go of her pain, and a strange feeling of peace and forgiveness enveloped her. As her breath slowed, the small ember burned hotter and hotter, and by morning, both the girl and the ember had undergone a remarkable transformation.

By dawn, the space where Ember had lain was covered in ashes. As the first rays of the sun touched them, the ashes began to shift and swirl. From them emerged a magnificent Firebird, its eyes glowing like fire- just like Ember's- and its large wings of blazing red and gold shimmering against the snowy landscape. The Firebird soared into the sky, flying high over the village that was just beginning to awaken. Its voice rang out, a warm song of sorrow and forgiveness, and as the villagers looked up, they felt a mix of fear and awe wash over them.

As the Firebird circled above their heads, its warmth spilled over the land like summer sunlight. And as the creature glided over the fields, the frozen earth began to soften. Sprouts of green pushed through the soil, and the scorched fields burst into vibrant life. Crops grew tall and lush in an instant, their roots warmed by the Firebird’s glow, and the villagers’ empty stores were filled once more.

In that moment, the villagers understood that the bird was Ember and that she had forgiven them. They felt a wave of humility and gratitude wrestle in their hearts as the Firebird looked at them one last time before vanishing high into the sky.

From that day onward, the villagers never ceased to remember Ember's kindness and vowed to keep her memory alive. Thus, this tale came to be; the story of the Firebird, who was once a girl with ember-colored eyes.

As the winds howl
and the winter nights grow long,
remember the tale of Ember and the Firebird.
It is a story of warmth found in the coldest
of times, of forgiveness that blooms from the ashes of despair.
Keep the spirit of Ember alive, for her tale lives on in the
warmth of our hearts and the stories we share.