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Things long ago were not as they are now. The land was still fresh and new and the mythic animals roamed about, not yet driven into their sealed caves. Each creature was strong or wise or powerful, but none as strong, wise, or powerful as Tiger. At least that is what Tiger thought. In fact, Tiger was sly, devious, and rude. There was only one thing that Tiger had that no other creature had: a pelt that shone like the deepest of sunsets and the most glorious of sunrises. It was a pure, firey orange and all the creatures envied him for it. Tiger spent his days lazing about in the shade of the trees, sleeping and relaxing, and tricking or threatening the other animals into giving him what he wanted to survive. From Ox and the Pig he demanded meat, roaring and snapping his teeth at them until they shivered. To Rat he always said "You are so tiny and small! You must scratch the itches on my back, for you are useless for anything more." Tiger always made Monkey fan him with the leaves of the trees, or else he threatened to tear down every tree in the forest. So it was that Tiger made every other animal his servant, except Dragon. Dragon lived among the clouds and seldom visited the other animals. Each time he did, Tiger would pretend that he treated all of the other animals kindly. But Dragon was not blind and, eventually, became tired of Tiger's lies. Each time Dragon had waited to see if Tiger would apologize and free the other animals from his tyranny, but each time Dragon was disappointed. One day Dragon flew down from the skies and landed before Tiger. Startled, Tiger tried to shoo away Rat and Monkey who had been seeing to his wishes, but he knew he was caught. "Tiger, what can you mean to do by forcing the other animals to be your servants? If you do not reverse your ways, you will regret it!" Tiger pretended to agree and said, "Oh, it must be as you say Dragon. We should all be equals!" But inside Tiger was not afraid of Dragon and scoffed. As soon as Dragon had left Tiger returned to his cruel ways. It was Rat who first noticed the spot of black upon Tiger's back. "Tiger! There is a strange patch of black in your fur," he called. "What? That cannot be. It is only dirt. Clean it away!" Rat bowed his head and tried to brush away the black, but with no success. Each day this spot grew bigger and bigger, and each day Tiger blamed Rat. But inside Tiger was becoming worried. Could this be Dragon's doing? Still, Tiger would not change his ways, and each day the spot of black grew larger until, one day, Tiger looked into the river and cried out. His beautiful fur coat had become a dull ugly black! Only the tip of his tail remained orange. Tiger climbed to the top of the tallest mountain, calling the enitre way "Dragon, Dragon! Where are you?" At the peak of the mountain Dragon heard Tiger calling and flew down, not in the least surprised to see the nervous, crying Tiger. "Dragon, my fur has turned all black! Help me, please help me! I am sorry for what I have done, I will apologize to everyone!" Dragon shook his head and replied, "Just apologizing is not enough. If you wish to regain your former beauty, you must make amends!" So Tiger nodded and said "I will do just that! I will become a protector and friend to all!" Tiger worked hard to apologize to everyone, helping each animal with all that he was able. He protected the small from the mighty and helped to settle disputes. Tiger stalked the forest, lending his help as it was asked and asking forgiveness for all his cruelty, and day by day the black shrunk until he again gleamed with a shimmering glow. But all along his back remained several black stripes which never went away. These Tiger accepted as a reminder of his bad deeds and from then on Tiger became kind and noble, and all tigers today wear his stripes to remember Tiger's promise to always protect and care for all. | |