UNIT 3: The Flight of the Monarch

The first cold wind made Mari shiver. She was a young monarch—not a ruler of people, but a butterfly named for its “royal” colors and powerful wings—and this would be her first great journey. While the elders spoke of the journey with pride, Mari secretly wished they could postpone it forever. She had come to despise the chilly air that signaled the end of her peaceful summer in the north. An old butterfly named Sol flew beside her. “Be cautious, little one,” he buzzed gently. “The path is long and has many dangers.”

As the group flew south, Mari found it hard to keep pace and began to straggle. The world below seemed like a patchwork of miniature fields and rivers. The journey grew difficult. A sudden crosswind felt treacherous, tossing them about. Later, a wide, roaring highway became a major obstacle in their path, but Sol showed her how to rise above it. Tired, they rested on a high bluff overlooking a valley. From there, the vast landscape filled her with awe.

Finally, after weeks of flying, they arrived. Before them was a forest sanctuary, a true haven from the cold. The trees were not green but a vivid orange, covered in millions of butterflies. Sol explained that their new winter community would consist of all the families that traveled from the north. Seeing the magnificent sight, Mari no longer felt afraid. She was part of this incredible, flying kingdom.