The Hawks and their Friends

Once there lived a family of hawks near the forest lake.

The hawks lived happily with their children on the western side of the lake. On the east, there lived a beautiful kingfisher. On the south side of the lake, there lived a small turtle, while the link lived in a cave in the northern side of the lake.

One evening, when the make and female hawks sat together for tea and their children played around. The female hawk asked the male hawk, "Dear, do have friends around here?"

The male hawk was absorbed in some thoughts. He blankly replied, "Not here. I have friends who live on the other side of the forest".

The female hawk said convincingly, "Dear, life is unpredictable. We never know when we may need help from friends. It is wise to have friends around where one lives".

The male hawk found her wife was right. But he asked, "Who can be my friend here?"

The female hawk smiled at her husband. She said, "My dear, many animals reside around this lake. The turtle, the kingfisher and the lion are there as well. Approach them and make them your friends". The male hawk nodded in consent. He went to the turtle first and made him his friend. Then he visited the beautiful kingfisher and the lion and made both of them his friends.

The hawks, turtle, lion and the kingfisher often met in the evening. They would chat and have snacks together. The hawk's children played around them. They often took ride on turtle's back and sang with the kingfisher. They tickled the lion's paw and jumped on its back. Time went by happily.

One day a group of hunters came to the jungle. They went around in search of prey from morning until evening. Unfortunately, they were unable to prey down any animal. They were tired and hungry. So they went by the lakeside to refresh themselves. One of the members of the group suggested, "Let's camp by the lakeside. The breeze is cool here and I am sure we will find something here in the morning". All of them agreed.

The group laid a bed of leaves and began resting under the tree. However, they were constantly pestered by the flies and the mosquitoes. So they decided to built a fire. The smoke of the fire would help in driving away flies and mosquitoes.

When the fire was built, there was smoke all around. The fumes suffocated the baby hawks who woke up. They cried aloud. Hearing the cries of the hawks one of the members of the group cried, "Hey, there are birds around here on the tree. They are idle for our breakfast. Let's get hold of the nestlings from the tree".

Hearing the hunter, the parent hawks were alarmed. The terrified female hawk said, "These hunters want to kill our babies. We should ask our friends to help us. Fly to kingfisher and ask for his help".

The male hawk flew to the kingfisher and told him about the hunters. "Help us friend, our lives are in danger", cried the male hawk.

The kingfisher pacified the male hawk and said, "Do not worry my friend. I shall try by best to help you. Lets go". The male hawk and the kingfisher flew back to nest. The kingfisher rigorously sprinkled water with its wings on the fire and put it out. Soon, the hunters built another fire. One of them started climbing the tree to seize the nestlings. The female hawk cried in anguish. Seeing this, the kingfisher once again put out the fire with water. It continued until mid night when the kingfisher was exhausted and could barely move her wings. Seeing this, the female hawk said, "The kingfisher is worn out and tired. You should go to the turtle and ask for help. Meanwhile the kingfisher can rest".

The male hawk asked the kingfisher to rest and flew southwards to wake up the turtle and ask for his help.

The turtle laid asleep with his head into the sand. The hawk tickled the turtle under its shell and called him loudly. The turtle woke up in startle.

"My friend, what brings you here at this hour? Why do you look so worried?"

The hawk was out of its breadth. He explained how the hunters intend to attack his family. He told the turtle about kingfisher. "Now the kingfisher is tired too. I am afraid, if you do not help us my family shall fall prey upon them".

The turtle assured the hawk. He paddled hard and reached the tree where the hawks perched. He collected mud from the lake and threw it over the fire. While it waited for the fire to go down, one of the hunters cried aloud, "Forget the hawks, here is our food. Catch this turtle".

The hunters were cautious as the turtle could bite. They made a net from vines and clothes to catch the turtle. When the turtle realised that the hunters were after him, he toppled over the net and took a leap into the lake. It took a deep dive in the lake. The hunters now became desperate to catch the turtle.

So the hunters jumped into the pond. They searched for the turtle all around, but the turtle quietly sat under a rock. After sometime they were tired and came out.

The hunters were thoroughly vexed. One of them said, "Half the night the kingfisher kept putting off the fire. We tore our clothes to trap the turtle. The day was equally bad. We are hungry and tired. Lets make another fire and ensure we get the nestlings for our food tomorrow morning". The other group members agreed and together they began building another fire.

The parents hawks were once again alarmed to heat the hunters. The female hawk asked the male hawk to seek help from the lion.

The male hawk flew to the lion. He narrated how his family was in peril of attack by the hunters. The make hawk asked the lion to help him. The lion consoled the male hawk and asked him to return to his family.

The lion followed the male hawk and came roaring in rage under the tree. The hunters were terrified to see the lion. They ran away from the lakeside in the middle of the night.

The male and female hawks flew down and thanked the lion and kingfisher for helping them. They met the turtle next day and thanked him as well for helping them by risking his own life. Thereafter they became more close friends.

The moral of the story is 'friends in need are friends indeed'.