BIOGRAPHY - Page 4
In the time that followed, Bonita faded from view both within the super hero community and with the Avengers, as she opted to devote her time to the church and the social work in which she was heavily involved. When many heroes returned from a pocket universe after being feared dead, former Avengers across the globe found themselves under attack by strange monsters. Firebird was in Albuquerque, having collected blankets and clothes for the church, when monsters rose from the ground to attack her, only for them to vanish as mysteriously as they appeared. Bonita answered the call for all Avengers to assemble in New York and was caught in the reality warp constructed by Morgan le Fey. In Morgan's world, Firebird was called Firemaiden and was a member of Morgan's royal army, the Queen's Vengeance. Reality was eventually restored and, while most of the Avengers returned to New York to sort out a new roster, Bonita did not hang around, instead opting to return to New Mexico immediately. [Avengers (3rd series) #1-4]
Before long, though, Firebird found herself back in action after hearing about a large robot called Dominex making its way west for the Pacific Ocean. She began her mission at Dominus’ old base, 
where she found the Avengers out cold. Bonita soon learned that they had come to the base searching for Hawkeye and the Thunderbolts, only for both teams to be attacked by the large robot Dominex. Firebird accompanied the Avengers in their Quinjet as they flew after the giant robot and was even reunited with Hank Pym during a video conference. When the Avengers caught up to Dominex, Firebird and new Avenger Firestar teamed up to use their fire powers against it, only to find their powers had no affect against their foe. Nevertheless, the combined efforts of the Avengers and the Thunderbolts eventually defeated the large robot. [Avengers (3rd series) #12]
When the Avengers were having a hard time dealing with accusations about racial prejudice in their line-up, Firebird was contacted and invited to re-join the active roster. Bonita declined the offer, however, as she was committed to her work with the church and they were very busy at present. [Avengers (3rd series) #27]
Bonita's work with the church must have quietened down soon after, for when the Avengers began operating on a more global scale, Bonita was among several inactive members who re-joined the active roster. Initially, Bonita was stationed with the Black Knight in the ruins of Slorenia. There they were keeping watch over the Bloodwraith, who was mystically trapped within the borders of the small country. Firebird and the Black Knight were tasked with finding a way to use the Black Knight's sword to free the Bloodwraith from his curse. [Avengers (3rd series) #38] They were no closer to solving the problem when they received a distress call from Siberia. After linking up with Captain America, Thor and Quicksilver, Firebird and the Black Knight arrived in the Siberian town of Khystym to find that the Russian super hero team called Winter Guard had vanished and that radiation surges were plaguing the town. Firebird and her teammates searched the freakishly scarred land of Khystym, finding no sign of life until they rescued Darkstar. A figure soon loomed upon the Avengers and Firebird recognized him from the Avengers' files as the Presence, who had irradiated the Winter Guard members into a zombie-state and planned to do the same to the world. [Avengers (3rd series) #40-42]
Firebird and the other Avengers battled the radioactive Winter Guard members, who soaked up Bonita's firepower as if it were a drink. The Avengers started to use anti-radioactive foam on the 
Winter Guard. This annoyed the Presence, who refused to talk to the Avengers and bombarded them with radioactivity. Firebird woke, initially surprised to be alive and none the worse for wear, until she remembered the time she drank enough poison to kill her. Once again, Bonita had to wonder what were the plans the Lord had for her. She noticed Thor and approached him, leading Thor to conclude that Captain America and the others would be all right as well. Unfortunately, Thor’s belief proved wrong, as the two were attacked moments later by their former teammates, who had now been possessed by the Presence’s radioactive control.
Bonita tried to explain to Thor that Captain America's mind was now dead, but the thunder god had great difficulty in accepting this fact. He had accepted long ago that the mortals he worked with would die long before he ever did, but Thor held Captain America above all mortals. When they eventually tracked down the Presence, Firebird witnessed as Thor both defied the radioactive power of their foul enemy and then use his mighty hammer to drain the Presence of his own life. 
So struck was she at the sight that she momentarily began to question her belief in one god. In the end, the Presence was defeated and the Avengers restore to live and normality. After it was over, Firebird confided in Thor that this was the second time she should have died but didn't. She added that she was concerned about it, as her beliefs told her that the true rewards of Heaven come after death – meaning that if she couldn’t die then she would be forever denied them. Bonita decided that if that were the Lord's will, then she would bear it. Considering this, Thor advised Firebird that, if she was indeed mortal, she should be careful about making close bonds, as it would eventually bring great pain. [Avengers (3rd series) #43-44]
While Firebird was in Siberia, the Avengers' long-time enemy, Kang, had declared war on the planet Earth. Firebird attended a briefing with Thor, Captain America and the Wasp with the United States military and, when Thor walked out on the briefing, Firebird flew after him, having some idea what might be causing him to act like this. Though Thor told Bonita that he wanted to be left alone, Bonita told him that the Avengers were concerned about him and that she wanted to help. Bonita stood her ground when Thor angrily turned to her and, when she didn't back away, he told her that she had spirit to stand up to him. Thor informed Bonita that he was considering leaving the Avengers once the present danger was over, as what transpired in Siberia had made him realize that he had become too attached to these mortals in the Avengers. Bonita told Thor that if he left he would be making a mistake and asked him to wait until the crisis was over to change his mind. [Avengers (3rd series) #45]
As the crisis of Kang's takeover spread across the Earth, Firebird found herself working alongside 
Thor once again, keeping Kang's forces at bay in France. Bonita could see how low Thor was feeling and tried to lift his spirits by showing him what the human mortals were fighting for – their homes and their families – their lives. Just because their lives were short, she told him, didn't make their struggles any less meaningful. Thor reminded Firebird that what she spoke of did not apply to herself, because even she suspected she might be immortal like he was. Therefore, everyone she cared for would crumble to dust before her as well. Thor's comments caused Bonita to wonder whether she would succeed in changing his mind, or whether perhaps he would change hers.
When Firebird, Thor and the French military succeeded in holding back Kang's forces, the two Avengers were summoned to yet another crisis. Together, they fought Sentinels that were under Kang's control as the tyrant moved closer to taking over the Earth. During the battle, Thor sent Firebird through a portal to assist elsewhere and, in the aftermath, the Wasp signed an article of surrender on behalf of the United States of America. [Avengers (3rd series) #48-49]
The remaining Avengers who were not captured eventually rallied together as they set about their plan for taking down Kang. During a moment's respite, Firebird followed Thor out into the night, 
where she noticed him keeping his distance. She told him that people were going to die in the coming battle, and accused him of not caring. Thor became angry with Bonita, but she once again held her ground. Still, she supposed that it might be sensible to avoid connections with mortals and admitted that perhaps she was immortal. Still, even though she might watch everyone around her die, she vowed that she would always care and hope that they would always matter to her, no matter how brief their struggles. Bonita told Thor that her god noticed even the fall of a sparrow and that is the god she will try her best to emulate – never Thor. She then flew off to prepare for the battle that lay ahead. [Avengers (3rd series) #52]
As Firebird flew into space alongside the other Avengers headed for Kang's base, she apologized to Thor for what she said to him earlier, explaining that she was upset. Thor, however, would not speak with her. Firebird participated in the assault on Damocles Base, Kang’s spacecraft which later fell to Earth. The Avengers returned to Earth and watched as Captain America battled and defeated Kang in combat. In the aftermath, Firebird noticed that Thor disappeared and grew concerned for him. There was little time for searching, though, as the Avengers began to assist in the cleanup of the mess Kang left behind. Nevertheless, the Avengers found themselves celebrated as heroes by Earth's survivors.
Upon returning to Avengers Mansion, Firebird confided in several of the Avengers that she thought she drove Thor away with the way she spoke to him in trying to convince him not to leave the Avengers. To her surprise, Thor made a spectacular return, carrying with him an Asgardian feast on which all of the Avengers who were active during the Kang Dynasty sat down to dine. 
Thor made a speech, revealing that he was considering cutting his ties with the Avengers, but that a wise woman made him see the error of his ways and that she was courageous enough to stand up to him. The humble Bonita was embarrassed when Thor made a toast to her and all of the Avengers raised their glasses to her. [Avengers (3rd series) #53-55]