The Cougar, The Cricket and The Cave

A lesson that power does not always mean victory.

The Cougar, The Cricket and the Cave

There was once a great forest that sat at the base of a high mountain, many relations lived there as the forest provided an abundance of food for all the lands inhabitants.
From the greatest to the smallest the forest was their home.

Now among the forests people there was a cougar. He was a great hunter and all the inhabitants feared him, for he was unseen and unheard. So quiet and soft were his steps, that many learned only too late of his presence and met their fate.

Cougar knew that he was a great hunter and was feared by all. A simple growl from his lips commanded the forests inhabitants to offer up their food, or their den, and sometimes just by his approach. The inhabitants feared him so much that the birds kept watch and would alert all who dwelled within earshot when he approached.

Cougar was very proud, and he would often boasts to any who would listen of his power to cause fear.

One day the cougar was walking through the forest when a very bad storm was approaching. I should take shelter he thought to himself and he looked around and spied a small cave. That would do just fine he thought and silently slipped into the darkness and out of the storm.

It was a nice warm cave and very dry, and so cougar settled down for a nice nap. But just as he was about to slip into dream time there was a loud chirp chirp chirp, repeated by another stream of chirp chirp chirp, and then another.

Who is making that noise he growled menacingly toward the darkness behind him.
Chirp chirp chirp, chirp chirp chirp, chirp chirp chirp.
what a most agitating noise he thought and growled even louder and more menacingly. Who's there I say!

A small voice then answered “it is me cricket, singing my song”.

The cougar hearing this spat out “not in here you don't,” I am cougar and this is my cave. get out now or I will end your life. he growled.

Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp chirp, chirp, chirp chirp, Shut up! The cougar growled now enraged that this cricket would be so brave to challenge him, not to mention the chirping was driving him insane.

Having enough cougar turned and faced the darkness, I will tear you to pieces little cricket he sneered, I am the greatest hunter of the forests and I am feared by all! either leave this cave now or I will find you and end your life.

Chirp chirp chi and with that the cougar leapt toward the sound of the last chirp pouncing with precision, both paws easily covering the place where the sound had come from. He was about to remove his great paw to see what was left of the cricket when.

Chirp chirp chirp, cougar snapped his head around to where the sound came from, further back into the darkness. Quietly he positioned himself to pounce and was just about to do so when he heard the cricket once more only now behind him.
Chirp chirp chirp, again from a different direction. Each time he turned toward the sound only to have it pop up in a different place again. Each time he thought he knew where the cricket was it would move. The chirping got louder and louder, but still the cougar could not find the cricket in time.

This went on for hours as the storm raged on and on. Finally exhausted and tired of the chase cougar could take no more and he called to the cricket.
Cricket he said you are tiny, a mere pebble under my paw. insignificant and weak how is it that you you can stand up to my might, my stealth and my cunning? What is it that you want I will give it to you if you will just be silent.

The cricket replied. I simply want to sing my song. cricket said because I love to sing. You see only through the eyes of a boastful bully, you command from fear, and you are fearsome indeed.

But a cricket does not mind the cougar, for with all your might you can not slay a tiny weak cricket, yet I being so insignificant have the power to cause you great discomfort.

Not all battles can be won with might, some are won with a simple song.
and the cricket once again began to sing, chirp chirp chirp, chirp chirp chirp,

Cougar could swear he could still hear cricket even in the storm as he made his way in the rain toward an old rotten log, climbing inside wet and cold was still better than the cave.