Author’s NoteThere is this Roman myth about a luminescent snow-white bird known for its beauty and song.
The caladrius birds were kept in the King's court, where they protected the royal family by using their healing powers. If the bird looked someone in the eye, it could take the sickness into itself and allow the person to live. Once it had taken the illness, it had to disperse of it.
In the wild, the caladrius would find a mate and stay with them for the rest of their life. They'd develop an extra sense of their mate's emotional state, and if their mate ever found themselves in a bind, the caladrius would come to the rescue. If their mate was unhappy, they'd comfort them by singing.
But you don't find any caladrius in the wild anymore, do you?