Fifty million years ago, after the age in which the gargantuan had fallen, and during the years that the great cloud had finally broken wide enough to let the sun shine its light upon the face of the earth, the new winged ones began to take flight. Most of the race longed to fly for great distances above the new thriving canopy. Others remained content with short trips from tree to tree or gathering with their kindred within the dark depths of the caves. Yet still there were those that lived in darkness, but longed to have the freedom to rise so high as to feel the sun's light warm their black wings.

Those that had sought the light had come to wear variations of the colors of the rainbow, and use these colors to discriminate one another. Those that spread their wings in flight below the canopy or within the depths of the caves had no brilliant plumage, nor did they have the vision to concern themselves with the goddess Rainbow and her colors.

As the world grew warmer and brighter, there were scores of sighted creatures of flight, some of whom believed that the blind ones should not live their lives out in caves. Unlike most others, these creatures of flight had made great effort in encouraging the blind ones to fly above the great cloud. One of the blind creatures of flight that strove to fly under the light of day, and higher than the ceiling of his clan's cave, was Barbastellus.

Barbastellus' clan's ancestry came from a line of creatures who had lost their sight so gradually that they were able to become the masters of the night that his race now was. Due to his lineage, Barbastellus had the ability to sense space, and it was in large part that ability that fueled his desire to soar above the clouds. Other blind clans were made up of those that never experienced the ability to see beyond the darkness. For them, a visual consciousness was not necessary for them to live because their design was flawless.

One day, Barbastellus encountered a flock of brightly plumed creatures, and as they took off into the sky, he followed, staying close behind, listening to the flapping of their wings, and the pitch of their calls. It was not long into his flight that a great Eagle swooped toward young Barbastellus, his smooth sharp talons, gleaming in the sun, poised to snatch Barbastellus as prey. Barbastellus was aware of the Eagle's approach, and veered in time enough to dodge the predator. Yet the Eagle continued to pursue the harmless blind creature until he forced Barbastellus to land in a field of high grass. With his wings, the Eagle forced currents of air that caused the grass to sway and part, in hopes that Barbastellus' location would be revealed. Yet he would not be seen by the fierce predator.

"You, little one, should think better about flying in our sky!" said the Eagle, cocking his head this way and that as he continued to search for his quarry.

"By whose decree is it that the sky belongs only to you?" asked Barbastellus as the tall grass rustled around him.

"It is by our decree," the Eagle answered. "We see, and that should be authority enough for the likes of you. You are only good for eating pests, and being eaten, although I suspect that you are a meager meal at best."

"Why should the sun not also warm the wings of all those in my clan?" asked Barbastellus, still unseen by the Eagle.

"Foolish impudent creature!" exclaimed the Eagle, "You and your kind are a blemish on the world. If it was up to us, we would make it so that your kind could never be born. If you could see as we see, you would understand that you are gruesome little harbingers of death. Why would the goddess Rainbow have created your kind to dwell in caves, and take flight only at night? It was because your lot was to be a blemish on the world. And if a blemish cannot be cleaned away, then it must be hidden. And so you are, having committed the crime of blindness and exiled to the darkness of shadow and night! Can even you deny this!?!"

Barbastellus sat perfectly still. He could not even think the smallest thought; his mind numbed by the Eagle's jagged words. There was nothing more that the Eagle could say. And since he could not find the blind creature, he proceeded to furiously beat his wings, rising high enough to catch a current on which to glide toward the prospect of easier, more sumptuous, prey.

Hours later, night had fallen, and Barbastellus had found himself among his clan. Although his appetite was not great, he joined his brothers and sisters as they swarmed toward the marsh. Once above the teeming swamp, the legions skillfully avoided any collisions as they each swiftly chased, captured, and devoured multitudes of mosquitoes, and a myriad of other morsels.

Beyond the frenzy, one perched upon a limb and the other hanging beneath it, Barbastellus sensed the warmth and scent of two of the wisest creatures he knew. Perched was the great nocturne he knew as Owl. Hanging below Owl was the grand Phanius, his clan's elder, a massive creature that could snatch a bullfrog, and devour it whole. Owl and Phanius were known to hunt together, and spent many nights teaching each other the wisdom of the stars.

"What troubles you, boy?" asked Owl.

"Arrogant eagles that assume they have the right to treat me like I am not worthy of the same air that keeps them in flight." Barbastellus answered as he clung to a stretch of tree limb beside Phanius.

"Life, living, and the unconscious motivation to thrive began in the dark." Said Phanius. "That is what they do not understand, what they refuse to see. Without their truly understanding it, the creatures of the world that use their eyes to find each other or to find food, fear us because they do not have even the imagination to comprehend how we live as we do."

"You see Barbastellus," Owl continued, "Your kind served as the Rainbow's proof that creatures could live without the colors of her light. You prove that love and life can flourish, no matter how dark the prospect or how empty the hope."

"Do you understand Barbastellus?" asked Phanius

"Yes, he answered excitedly, ""But how can we make them all understand as well?"

"The ones that wish to understand, do." Answered Phanius, "The rest that cannot see beyond their own sight will remain blind from it. They will never understand, no matter how well or high you fly."

Barbastellus looked away.

"Barbastellus," said Owl, "It is not for us to be concerned with encouraging or forcing stubborn creatures to understand things that are already not within their reach to understand. Our concern is to perpetuate our integrity as citizens of our world, to nurture our young, and to thrive in peace."

"And if I wish to soar with eagles?"

"Then you must fly alone. Eagles will pass you by or they may join you in flight." Phanius advised, "Either way, it is your freedom and responsibility to relish in the flight. Whether you are alone or in company, your flight is yours to enjoy."

"I see now. Thank you."

On the following morning, Barbastellus awoke with the stirring in his heart to feel the encouraging warmth of a new day's sun. From his clan's cave, he flew directly eastward, locating, capturing, and devouring morning insect morsels along the way. Rising higher, he sensed the glorious width and breadth of open sky, and reveled in the shafts of light that warmed his face and wings. Higher he flew, rapidly beating his wings, unconcerned with the growing distance between himself and the earth. Barbastellus had flown so high that even the Eagle had to look up to see him.

Higher still Barbastellus flew, and he began to feel the pressure of thinning air, his mind clouded with the euphoria of its grip. It was then that he understood that he had risen to the place in the sky where the goddess Rainbow revealed the colors of herself. It was shortly after that an assembly of ravens had noticed the beginning of Barbastellus' downward spiral, that he thought his question to her. Are you happy with me Rainbow? And in the deafening loudness of his descent, as the eagle looked on in disbelief and as the ravens anticipated the little creature's death, Barbastellus believed he heard the Rainbow say yes.

And so downward Barbastellus soared. Between the collective seeing consciousness that watched his flight there was shared the single determination: the little creature is either a hero or a fool. Suddenly, Barbastellus passed them all, enraptured with the feelings and understanding of what it was to plummet, soar, glide, and be truly free to be both the hero and the fool, and take the risk of doing something for the sheer sake of just doing. Back into his cave, Barbastellus flew. Finding his nook, he hung proudly, his confidence now, and for always, unshakable.

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