Crows and Owls

Near the city of Earth-Base stood a vast banyan tree. King Cloudy and his flock of crows lived among its branches. In a mountain cave nearby lived King Foe-Crusher and his owls. For years the two flocks had quarrelled, and the night-flying owls often frightened the crows.

Cloudy called his advisers. Some wanted to fight at once. Others wanted to flee. Live-Strong, the oldest counsellor, said, “A hurried answer may deepen a quarrel. Let me learn where the danger truly lies.”

The crows pretended to drive Live-Strong away. When the owls found the tired old crow, he claimed that Cloudy had rejected his peaceful advice. Most owls welcomed him, though the wise owl Red-Eye warned, “An enemy’s adviser may still serve his own people.” No one listened.

Living beside the cave, Live-Strong quietly studied its single entrance. Each morning he placed dry, thorny twigs near it as if building a nest. When the pile was ready, he returned to Cloudy and explained his plan.

At sunrise, when the owls disliked the bright light, the crows surrounded the cave with noisy wingbeats and smoking leaves. The smoke never entered deeply, but it showed the owls that their fortress was no longer secret or safe. Red-Eye led them through a narrow crack to a distant forest, and the others followed.

Cloudy’s flock returned to the banyan tree. The king thanked Live-Strong for choosing patience over a reckless battle. The crows strengthened their watch, and the owls built a new home far away. Both flocks remembered that leaders need truthful advisers, especially when fear and anger are loud.