The Silent Flight of the Crested Pigeon

Once upon a time, in the vast stretches of the Australian outback, there lived a Crested Pigeon named Lumin. With its delicate crest and soft plumage, Lumin was a creature of grace, gliding effortlessly over the sunburnt earth. But as the years rolled by, the lush landscapes began to fade, replaced by sprawling concrete and the relentless rhythm of industry.

Lumin used to sing joyfully each morning, welcoming the dawn with cheerful coos that were a soothing melody against the gentle winds. However, as cities expanded, the once-empty skies filled with the screeches of machines and the clamor of bustling lives. Lumin’s voice faded into a haunting echo, an unheeded plea for peace.

Alongside this chaos came the loss of habitat. Trees that once offered shelter were sacrificed for roads and buildings, stripping the land of its essence. Food became scarce, and Lumin and its kin struggled to find sustenance amidst the trash of human consumption. The simple joy of foraging turned into a desperate hunt for survival.

Haunted by the memories of a serene past, Lumin would perch on the edges of the city, gazing longingly at the fading remnants of nature. In the flickering twilight, it would see flocks of fellow pigeons, but their carefree spirit seemed as distant as the stars above.

Each night, Lumin returned to the city’s outskirts, surrounded by the shadows of a world that used to be. The silence weighed heavy on its heart, the once vibrant song now a mere whisper. The beauty of existence felt obscured, lost beneath layers of noise and disregard.

One day, during a fleeting moment of tranquility, Lumin caught sight of a child feeding pigeons at the park. The child laughed and delighted in the presence of the feathered visitors, brightness echoed in the innocence of youth. For a brief moment, Lumin felt the warmth of connection. But as the child left, so did that fleeting joy, leaving the pigeon again to ponder its isolated existence.

With each passing day, Lumin realized that the harmony it once knew was slipping further away. The world had moved on without it, leaving the Crested Pigeon to mourn its place in a reality that had transformed into something unrecognizable.

In the dim glow of the twilight, Lumin perched quietly, the weight of solitude palpable. In a city filled with life, the Crested Pigeon remained silent, flying above, yet grounded by the sadness of existence, forever yearning for a return to simpler times.