Scholars used to believe that the phoenix was a unique immortal. They thought that a single scarlet plumed bird ignited itself, only to become a hatchling in a nest of ashes.
The male phoenix will indeed immolate himself. This act both incubates the eggs and fights off or kills any nearby predators.
But the female phoenix doesn’t burn. She buries herself in the earth and survives the firestorm, raising the chicks by herself, and often flying miles to find food and water for them.
Her feathers are dull, and her work is not spectacular. But she rises all the same.

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