People have been asking for this piece that I wrote about a year ago. So, here it is.
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Tigers and Wolves
He was an old man, his faced weathered with challenge, when I was but a little boy. “Grandfather, tell me the story about the tigers and wolves”, I would say. It was a story I had heard time and again but never tired of hearing.
“It was in the old time”, he said, “in a world where the tigers and wolves ruled. There were a few tribes of men, but nothing like today. The tigers lived in the sunny meadows. They loved to sleep and sleep and sleep. They were big then and strong but of extremely good nature. It took a lot to upset them. In fact, the baby wolf cubs would often play nearby and the tigers simply continued to snooze gently swatting away any cub that got too close. But, once aroused, these tigers were formidable. And, they made sure that the neighboring tribes of men were unable to claim the meadows and tame the creatures within. Eventually, the tigers formed a union with the wolves, who were constantly awake and always looking for threats. While the tigers slept, the wolves would be close by, constantly on the lookout and warning the tigers of man’s approach. More than once, these strong and courageous beasts had been disturbed from their slumber to drive back tribes of humans trying to take over the meadow and enslave the creatures who lived there in peace. .
One day, when hunting in the woods, the wolves noticed an assembly of many tribes. They listened while hiding in the trees and realized that the tribes were planning a raid. But, unlike previous raids, this raid was being planned in great detail and depended on capturing the tigers while they slept…..before the tigers could wake up to defend the creatures of the meadow. From what was being said, the wolves understood that this raid had been planned for some time. In fact, the tribes had just recently built the tunnels that they would use to get close. The tribes had told the tigers that they needed the tunnels to be able to trade food and other supplies with the tigers and and creatures of the meadow.
The wolves quickly ran back to the meadow to warn the tigers where they slept. The tigers listened but didn’t see anything when they looked into the surrounding woods. They simply could not believe that the humans had lied to them. No creature could be that treacherous. The humans were their friends now and the tigers liked it that way. They got to sleep more. They did not have to fight as many battles.
So, the tigers dismissed what the wolves said. Everyone knew the wolves were always looking for treachery about them. The wolves saw things other creatures did not. Sometimes they were right. Sometimes they were wrong. More importantly, the tigers did not like that the wolves wanted to disturb their sleep in the sun. So, the tigers ignored the wolves and went back to sleep.
What followed was a slaughter. The men descended upon the sleeping tigers and killed off the most powerful defenders in their sleep.. They then enslaved the young and capable for work in the fields. A few of the older wolves had stayed with the tigers, hoping at first to wake them in time. In the end, they simply stood with their friends in slaughter. The young wolves watched in horror from their vantage point on the hill. They had been told to leave the meadow and go to the north where the harsh climate would keep the men from coming……for a while at least. And, so, in the end, the young wolves left to live in the north and mourn their loss. But, they never forgot.”
I watched the tear trickle down my grandfather’s cheek. It was always there at the end of the story together with his broken voice.
“Why do you cry Grandfather?”, I would ask.
“Because they were my friends and we needed them in order to survive those wanting to take from us”, was always my Grandfather’s reply.
I am old now and have watched with great sorrow the ebb and mostly tide of the world’s condition as certain tribes of humans expand their territory leaving less and less room for others to thrive in the freedoms that should be theirs.
“Why do you cry Grandfather?”, my grandson would ask as I finished the story.
“Because the tigers are gone and we need them. We need their courage and strength.” This was always my reply to his question but he never seemed to tire of it.
“But, the tigers chose to sleep until it was too late. The wolves now howl to the wind in vain.”