Fletcher’s Becoming

Fletcher’s anger at exclusion is redirected through training until he becomes a confident, compassionate successor to Jonathan.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Angry Exile

A Wounded Ambition Resentment at the Flock Fletcher feels harshly treated after a playful barrel-roll brings exile. He imagines proving the flock wrong and making its members regret their judgment. A Different Invitation Jonathan asks whether he truly wants to fly and whether he can learn to forgive. Fletcher’s answer begins to redirect his anger.

Learning Level Flight

Discipline Begins Natural Ability Jonathan sees that Fletcher is strong, light, quick, and intensely eager, making him an unusually promising student. Skill Before Glory The first lesson is level flight. This humble beginning places patience and fundamentals ahead of the dramatic maneuvers Fletcher longs to master.

A Hard Lesson

Frustration in the Air A Failed Roll Fletcher falls out of a difficult maneuver and calls himself too stupid to succeed. A Correctable Error Jonathan identifies a rough pull-up and lost speed as the real problems. Fletcher begins learning to distinguish a flawed attempt from an inability to learn.

The Near-Fatal Crash

Choosing Another Life Collision During a high-speed demonstration, Fletcher swerves to avoid a young gull and crashes into a cliff. Returning to the Flock In a changed state of awareness, he can either remain or go back. He chooses the students and the unfinished work he has begun.

An Independent Instructor

A Successor Emerges Jonathan’s Departure When Jonathan vanishes, Fletcher initially fears that he cannot lead without his teacher. Seeing the Students Facing a new class, he abandons their expected simple rule and begins with level flight. He recognizes their potential and feels his own teaching begin.

at the beginning of Part Three

at Fletcher’s first lesson

during the early training period

after the students’ return to the flock

at the end of the story