As the days grow shorter and colder, and as the leaves fall off the trees, a ruby-throated hummingbird named Ruby prepares to migrate south. She flits around some flowers, sipping nectar and snacking on the occasional beetle. She needs to eat at least double her weight to survive the long journey. She eventually finishes her meal and takes off, ready to fly.

Five Days Later

As I flew towards my destination, I saw an expanse of gray, and as I arrived there - or where it was at least - a huge block of stone blocked my path. It had some sort of transparent material on some parts of the sides. I searched around the place for a tree to nest in - any tree - but it was futile. There were no flowers either. The land was barren. My eyes focused on a flash of green. Could it be a shrub? As I flew in for a closer look, I saw a green cloth waving in the wind. I sagged in disappointment. But my sadness turned to joy as I saw a flower in the distance. As I pursued it jubilantly, I found only a red herring, grinning from a rooftop. As I surveyed the strange land, I wistfully thought of my summer home. What I wouldn't give for the fresh nectar, abundant food, and most of all, the safety.

I again saw a flash of green, but this time I hesitated thinking it was another ruse, but seeing another hummingbird flying to the same place, I followed, hoping for the best. I saw a mini forest surrounded by a fence. In the center was some sort of red container with flowers on the sides. I suspiciously poked the yellow flower with my beak, but nothing happened. I then drank the nectar gratefully. It tasted a bit off, but I was too tired to care.

"Hello, my name is Amethyst but you can call me Amy." A hummingbird chirped from behind me startling me. She was, in fact, an amethyst-throated mountain-gem.

"Hi," I said tentatively "I'm Ruby."

"Nice to meet you, Ruby! I haven't seen you before. Are you new?" she exclaimed "I know this place inside and out. Want a tour?"

"Okay?"

She took me around the place, a garden as she called it, and explained everything about it including a tiny elevated pond and where the best flowers were. Finally, she introduced me to the other hummingbirds.

"Meet Anna," Anna squeaked "Hello."

"Costa," Amy continued. Costa fluffed her feathers. "Humbolt,"

She continued introducing the rest of the hummingbirds, and as I thought about it, I realized that I had finally found a home.