Creggan begins to lose his sense of freedom, as the cage curls around himself, cutting off access to the sky. An older female eagle who's been trapped in the cages for a long time gives Creggan the strength to survive, and the hope of one day escaping this man-made construct.

    A strong, rebellious donkey with a checkered career is sold to a man named Joseph, and during a journey to Bethlehem proves a great help to him and his pregnant wife Mary.

    Scarlett, a nervous young filly from a fine family of trotters, finds a home on a run-down farm in Ohio, where she makes friends with a friendly rooster and a motherless goat and calms down enough to fulfil her promise as a harness racer.