Chapter 4. An Old Friend

The next day, Samuel and Sarah rose early to journey to the northern tip of Home. Flying side by side, the doves passed over rolling hills and a towering waterfall. Following a creek that wrapped its way around mossy rocks, they noticed two humans gathering branches, presumably for a campfire. Gliding silently, Samuel and Sarah circled the red granite boulder where their trusted old friend Xavier could often be found. They almost missed him, as his chameleon skin blended seamlessly with stone.

Xavier was pleased to see the doves as Samuel and Sarah would rarely fly far from their comfortable nest. After a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries, Xavier asked, “Is there a reason for your visit?”

Samuel cleared his throat. “Actually, there is something we wanted to talk to you about.”

Surprisingly, Xavier already knew about the fallen tree and had even heard about the heated tempers at the Council meeting.

“But how did you find out?” asked Sarah.

“News travels quickly,” replied Xavier. “The Council meeting didn’t sound particularly harmonious. And I assumed it would be the two of you who would seek advice.”

“We don’t know what to do,” sighed Sarah. “Even the parrots are upset.”

The chameleon grinned slightly. “Your kind once knew what to do, but over time, you have forgotten.”

Puzzled, Samuel asked, “Doves knew what to do about falling trees?”

“No, no, no,” replied Xavier. It’s bigger than that. How do you suppose chameleons have managed to survive and thrive for so long? After all, most who live in this forest are seemingly far more powerful. And it’s not about intelligence, although we have accumulated and passed down much wisdom over time.”

Xavier paused. The doves looked at him blankly as the question lingered.

“The secret, my friends, is adaptability,” Xavier answered.

“But we can’t change our color like you can,” said Sarah.

“True. But real adaptability is not related to appearance. It’s much deeper than that. In fact, this knowledge is the key to the challenge before you...if you choose to accept it.”

Intrigued, Samuel and Sarah asked Xavier to continue.

“Very well then,” he added, “but I must remind you to be careful what you ask for. I cannot tell you what to do. I can only offer what I see.”

With that, Xavier looked at them intently and declared, “You birds simply do not know each other.”

Both doves cocked their heads. That didn’t sound right.

Sarah hesitated, then spoke softly. “I don’t mean any disrespect, Xavier, but we’ve known each other for generations. My mother was best friends with Crystal’s mother.”

Samuel chimed in, “And my father shared many stories of his experiences with both Dorian’s father and grandfather.”

“And when we were young,” Sarah added, “we often played with Indy, Ivy, and the rest of the parrots. Of course, they were a bit wild for us, but it was never boring. I think we know each other quite well.”

The chameleon smiled gently. “Allow me to clarify,” he replied. “You have shared many experiences, but you do not truly understand each other, and this has prevented you from solving this crisis.”

Xavier took a step toward the doves.

“Long ago, my chameleon ancestors learned that animals have four distinct styles of behavior. This understanding has been the key to our survival—and now, I’d like to share it with you. Let’s look at your avian community.”

Xavier picked up a small stick and drew an “X” on the ground. “I’m going to simplify this and instead of writing ‘Dorian,’ I’m just going to put the letter ‘D’ in the upper-left corner. At the upper right, he drew an “I” for Indy and Ivy. At the bottom right, he added an “S” for Samuel and Sarah and at the bottom left, he placed a “C” for Clark and Crystal.

The doves looked on as Xavier continued. Where was he going with this?

“Each of you has a distinct style, a certain way of expressing yourself and interpreting your world. If you truly understood how these four different styles behave, communication and cooperation would be easy. Unfortunately, you and your Bird Council members lack this awareness.”

Just then, the chameleon’s body transformed into a stately golden brown.

“Wow!” Samuel exclaimed. “You look like Dorian!”

Xavier grinned. “Now think about what Dorian is like on the inside. He possesses dominant leadership skills such as decisiveness, vision, and an eagerness to take charge. He communicates directly and is extremely driven to achieve results.”

“That’s true,” said Sarah. “I just wish he listened better.”

“Dorian is a good listener, if one understands how he does so,” Xavier explained. “Dorian does not listen with patience and empathy like you do. His style is to quickly assess the situation and offer solutions. That’s not a poor listener; that’s a problem solver.”

“I never thought of it that way,” said Samuel.

Just then, the chameleon’s skin burst into a rainbow of purples, reds, greens, yellows, and blues. Samuel and Sarah laughed. They knew exactly who he looked like now.

“Like the colors that brighten their feathers,” began Xavier, “the parrots add life to the forest. They display sunny optimism and live in the moment—which, for them, always seems to be filled with fun and excitement. They love interacting with groups and are quite effective at influencing others through their passion and enthusiasm.”

“Yep, that’s them,” confirmed Samuel. “My mother always said that parrots could sell ice to penguins.”

“Indeed,” responded Xavier. “They also bring fresh ideas and creative solutions where others only see dead ends.”

The chameleon’s belly suddenly turned snowy white while his body transformed into a rich owl tan.

“Clark and Crystal, the owls, are in their element with small, often overlooked details. They instinctively analyze the world around them and reveal patterns about how things function and interconnect. Then they create systems to provide structure. Accuracy means everything to Clark and Crystal because without quality data, there is no solid basis from which to make sound decisions.”

Sarah blushed and said, “I feel horrible. I always thought the owls were just being controlling by telling everyone how to do things.”

“They may provide a framework, but they’re trying to be helpful, not controlling,” said Xavier.

Just then, the chameleon turned a gentle white and gray.

“Hey,” Sarah laughed. “That’s us!”

“You don’t need to explain doves,” said Samuel with uncharacteristic confidence. “We know ourselves.”

“Ah, my friends, self-awareness is far more difficult to achieve than you might realize,” Xavier sighed. “A great chameleon philosopher once said, ‘To know oneself is the highest form of wisdom.’”

Samuel and Sarah looked at each other. How could they not understand themselves?

“Doves bring harmony and connection to your forest-mates. You care deeply about the happiness of others and listen with empathy and compassion. You are patient and calm, attracting others to confide in you when they are troubled. And although your steady energy is comfortable with gradual change, sudden disruptions that radically alter your environment are difficult for you to cope with.”

“Like fallen trees?” asked Samuel with a laugh.

“Exactly!” confirmed Xavier, returning to his native shade of green.

“You really do know us!” exclaimed Sarah.

“This is a lot to digest,” said Samuel. “I’m not even sure what it all means.”

“What it means,” Xavier replied, “is that there’s a lot of room for misinterpreting one another. But with even this basic understanding of the four styles you can begin to appreciate the strengths and challenges of those who differ from you.”

“I suppose that if all the birds understood the styles of others, we’d live in greater harmony,” Samuel said, nodding in agreement.

“It would be wonderful to eliminate all this conflict,” added Sarah.

The doves smiled, suddenly realizing that even the words they chose in their responses were in line with their newly identified style. They spent the rest of the afternoon with Xavier, delving deeper into discussion as night fell. Morning would bring a fresh perspective.