As Sylvia climbs the tree, her “bare feet and fingers pinch and hold like a bird’s claws to the monstrous ladder reaching up.” She first climbs the oak tree before passing over to the tall pine tree, for there is a part way above the ground where one of the oak’s branches touches the pine. When she reaches the top of the pine tree, she stops to look around and sees two hawks, which now appear to be flying lower than they really are. From her new height up in the tree, she can even see the color of the hawks and the softness of their feathers. She feels like she too can “fly away among the clouds.” Thus, the reader sees that Sylvia, though small and frail, is able to climb the tall pine tree with her feet and fingers working like a bird’s claws to take her to the top of the tree. Also, once at the top, she feels like she can fly, like the hawks, to whatever place she wants to. As she is sitting at the top of the tree, the white heron that she has been looking for flies and settles on a branch just above hers. She is able to sit quietly, so quietly that the white heron is not disturbed by her presence. She is as adventurous as the birds, for she does not fear to climb the tall tree. She is also just as shy as they are and therefore understands how one should behave when around them.