You are in the coastal forests of the island of Rodrigues, year 1690.

Walking through the thick foliage near the eastern coast of Rodrigues, you stepped into a clearing and found your path blocked by a trio of unusual creatures. They were massive birds, taller than a man’s waist, walking with a stateliness that felt strangely dignified.

The first, a large male, stood nearly a yard high, his plumage a mixture of brown and grey. He did not flee. Instead, he stopped, adjusting a few feathers on his thigh with his hooked beak before regarding you with a calm, large eye.

Beside him, two paler, smaller females moved with a distinct grace. The sunlight caught the 'white-whiter-than-the-rest' feathers on their throats, making them look almost elegant.

As you stepped closer, the male immediately shifted his stance, puffing out his breast and exposing a large black knob on his wing. He didn't screech; he simply stood his ground, demanding respect for his territory. The three maintained a silent, almost melancholic poise, representing a lost, gentle world, before turning and slowly walking into the deep shade of the woods, taking with them a piece of a world that would soon disappear.