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My father was one of the greatest photographers of his time, winning countless awards for his portrayals of wild animals in their natural habitats. Despite his renown, this, to him, was not enough. Longing to return to the family profession that his father had abandoned, he began to go off on expeditions to discover and document the unknown animals of the world.

It was to be his downfall.

During his travels in Australia, a few months after I was born, he became obsessed with a native's account of the mysterious rainbird. This creature, he claimed, with its wings of fire and stormy tail, was the source of the great rainbows that arched across the sky. It was ridiculous - everyone knew that it was just a simple reaction of light and moisture, yet my father filled his head with fairytales, believing in fantasy over reason. When he returned a year later with evidence of the bird, he was accused of doctoring the photo and publicly humiliated. His reputation was ruined, and to possess any of his works afterwards was considered the most fatal of social mistakes. We lived thereafter in shame and scandal, and he never touched a camera again, though often spoke wistfully of his tales. I am ashamed to admit it, but as I listened to his fervent descriptions of the creature I feared him mad.

Last year, as I happened to glance up at the sky after a particularly violent storm, I caught sight of a huge, snow white bird soaring overhead. I raised my camera, assuming it to just be an ordinary stork, but as I focused on it I could scarce believe my eyes. All these years, my father had lived in disgrace, and yet there it was, fiery wings outstretched, a glittering rainbow trailing behind it. When I showed it to my father, he was overcome with joyful tears - I think over the years even he had begun to doubt himself. And yet as I headed off to announce my discoveries, he begged me not to, out of fear that I too might suffer his fate.

And so here we are. Until the time is right, I will hide the existence of this incredible creature in my journals, though it pains me greatly to do so. My father is a great man, and should never have had to suffer the ignorance of fools, but the world is not yet ready for such wonders.

~ From the journal of Thaddeus Griffin the Third

Description
My father was one of the greatest photographers of his time, winning countless awards for his portrayals of wild animals in their natural habitats. Despite his renown, this, to him, was not enough. Longing to return to the family profession that his father had abandoned, he began to go off on expeditions to discover and document the unknown animals of the world.

It was to be his downfall.

During his travels in Australia, a few months after I was born, he became obsessed with a native's account of the mysterious rainbird. This creature, he claimed, with its wings of fire and stormy tail, was the source of the great rainbows that arched across the sky. It was ridiculous - everyone knew that it was just a simple reaction of light and moisture, yet my father filled his head with fairytales, believing in fantasy over reason. When he returned a year later with evidence of the bird, he was accused of doctoring the photo and publicly humiliated. His reputation was ruined, and to possess any of his works afterwards was considered the most fatal of social mistakes. We lived thereafter in shame and scandal, and he never touched a camera again, though often spoke wistfully of his tales. I am ashamed to admit it, but as I listened to his fervent descriptions of the creature I feared him mad.

Last year, as I happened to glance up at the sky after a particularly violent storm, I caught sight of a huge, snow white bird soaring overhead. I raised my camera, assuming it to just be an ordinary stork, but as I focused on it I could scarce believe my eyes. All these years, my father had lived in disgrace, and yet there it was, fiery wings outstretched, a glittering rainbow trailing behind it. When I showed it to my father, he was overcome with joyful tears - I think over the years even he had begun to doubt himself. And yet as I headed off to announce my discoveries, he begged me not to, out of fear that I too might suffer his fate.

And so here we are. Until the time is right, I will hide the existence of this incredible creature in my journals, though it pains me greatly to do so. My father is a great man, and should never have had to suffer the ignorance of fools, but the world is not yet ready for such wonders.

~ From the journal of Thaddeus Griffin the Third