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The Tale of Old Tiger and Young Tiger by Rubicant Rokoharu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Once there lived a pair of tigers. One was young and srong, with sharp teeth, lighting fast reflexes, and a brilliant striped coat. The other was old, his once-lusterous coat now dull and matted, his teeth dulled, and his joints achey. Young Tiger was brash and bold, willing to face any danger. Old Tiger had grown cautious in his old age; he considered every alternative with the wisdom of many seasons before acting. Despite these differences, Old Tiger and Young Tiger were fast companions. Old tiger passed on the knowledge learned from many hunts to Young tiger, and Young tiger made Old tiger feel invigorated with his infectious exuberance. One day, while prowling through the jungle as tigers are wont to do, the two tigers came across an unusual site. Sitting on a bed of leaves was a delicious looked shank of meat. Imagine, thought the tigers, such a delectable piece of meat just sitting there un-attended. What luck! Now these tigers lived deep in the jungles where man seldom ventures, so they did not see that this was obviously a cunning hunter's trap. Fortunately for the two tigers, Old and Young, just as they were about to move to the meat, a sing-song voice called out from above an brought them to a halt. "I would not place a paw upon that shank of meat were I you, tigers," sang a colourful bird perched on a tree branch above, "For that meat was placed there to lure you into a trap. If you touch it you will fall into a deep pit, and some evil men will come and take your beautiful coats!" "Thank you, kind bird, for the warning", said Old Tiger, " You have saved us and for that we are in your debt". "Nonsense," said Young Tiger, "I am too quick to be caught by such a simple trick!". And against the warnings of Old Tiger and the bird, Young Tiger pounced at the meat like a striped thunderbolt. Yet, his speed was not enough, and both Young Tiger and the meat crashed into a deep pit as the bed of leaves gave way beneath. "Foolish Tiger, I told you so!", called the bird mockingly. "You must help me!", pleaded Young Tiger, "I do not wish to be skinned!" "Would that I could," replied the bird with a shrug, "but you are much to heavy for me to carry out". "Hold still, youngling", said Old Tiger, "I will get you out". Old Tiger searched for a while until he found a long, sturdy branch. Grabbing it in his feeble jaws he slowly dragged the branch to the edge of the pit, and lowered its end inside. "Grab hold, Young Tiger, and I shall do my best to pull you out",said Older Tiger around the branch in his mouth. "What about the meat?", asked Young Tiger, taking the meat into his mouth. "Don't be foolish youngling, there will be other meat. Let that one rot!", replied Old Tiger. With that rebuke Young Tiger dropped the prime shank and took the branch between his teeth. With great effort Old Tiger pulled and strained, and Young Tiger was able to climb out of the pit. "I hope you have learned a valuable lesson my young friend", said Old Tiger sagely, "Sometimes a good head on your shoulders is worth more than all the speed and strength you can muster. While reflexes will grow slow and muscles slack, if you can keep your wits sharp you can get by. While there are times to be bold, sometimes a little caution and forethought is required." And with that, the two tigers Old and Young thanked the bird for his warning and walked off into the jungle, in search of some tasty game. *** Young Tiger and Old Tiger remained fast friends for many years hence. Eventually, Old Tiger's spirit passed to dwell among the great Tiger Spirits in the sky, and his body was given back to the fertile earth. Young Tiger became Old Tiger, and befriended a new Young Tiger so that he could pass the lessons he had learned. And so the wisdom | |