The Fox and the Desert

Through the brisk morning air chased the fox, his prey the hare. Against his better judgement, the hare led his pursuer into the desert, away from the forest which would have given him many places to hide. At noon the Fox broke, sick with hunger but seeing the impossible task that was outrunning the Hare.

Keeping a safe distance, the Hare said to the Fox, "Here we are, miles from our homes in the bitter reaches of an alien land. Band together, we must, or we will never see our families again." The Fox agreed to this truce, and replied "There, in the distance, I see an oasis. Let us travel that way and drink now, for we may hardly see a drop 'fore we find home." "Nay," said the Hare. "The wind blows in the opposite direction, from the coast and our home. This is how it has always blown, and thus we should travel that way in haste." The Fox did not trust the Hare, though,  and said in turn "a Harish trick of logic, you shall not use to fool me. I see water in my direction, but I see no wind, nor any coast in yours. Prove to mine eyes what you suggest, and I will join you that way."

The Hare could not prove his point to the Fox's eyes, so they agreed to part ways; the Fox moving toward the oasis, the Hare traveling against the wind. After a long while, the Hare came to a large dune. Looking back, he saw the Fox drinking sand in the far distance, no oasis in sight. To this he said, "Woe to he that believe in err' that sight be the only sense to which truth bears itself, for he will end his days chasing mirages." And the Fox did end his days that way.

The Duelling Hares

There was a set of Hares, equal in physical prowess in every way. They tested each other endlessly, but neither could best the other. "Fine, let us race to see who is the fastest, as that is the truest test of a hare in the real world" said one to the other, and the other agreed.

So they set to training night and day, and in this regard they were not equal. The first hare set to memorizing the route until he knew it perfectly. He ran the course until every turn and root was memorized. The second hare took to practicing on multiple routes, learning to surprise himself with jumping over various sized roots, and run turns with various degrees.

On the day of the race, the second hare hoped desperately for a flood to render the planned course useless, but none came. The first hare beat him easily, as he was familiar with the course. "Ha" said the first hare, "we may be equal in strength, but i am superior in brains!"

At that moment a fox came barreling through the wood, seeking out a hare for dinner. The fox chased the hares, and the second escaped as he was used to new terrain, where the other was not. As the fox chewed the first hare, the second looked on and said, "he who is limited to the false structure of schoolyard lessons is eaten whole by the variety of reality"

The Song of the Nightingale

There was a Nightingale that sung her song to the creatures of the wood as they hid their offspring from the stalkers that lurk in the night. She sung in the hopes that her soft melody would ease the burden of these poor animals, but always she was overlooked. The Loon was the talk of the wood, with her odd calls that would make the young rabbits giggle. It was the fashion of the age, and the Loon basked in vogue.

Though the Nightingale was jealous of the Loon, still she sang her tune in the hopes that one day the art that gave her so much joy might be noticed. Each night she could be heard by all, and yet she was met by not but passive scorn. "Your melody is sweet, but look to the Loon! Take note her style and make copy that you may share in her popularity," the Wise Owl advised. But the Nightingale stayed true to her soul, and sang on in her own fashion.

There were a few that gathered to her, for they saw the truth; that the Nightingale sang in harmony with the universe. But there would ne'er be fame for her, as the stalkers of the night were drawn by her voice too, and she was eaten to the dismay of no one.

Then a strange thing happened. As the creatures laid down their heads to sleep, their minds were unsettled. Something was amiss. They had not their Nightingale to sing them to sleep amid the dread of night. Soon, they made their voices heard. "Bring to us the like of the Nightingale, again," they cried to the Loon, and she did her best to oblige. But the Loon could not bring back the song that was missed, as she had not the voice, nor was she accustomed to the nocturne. And so it was that the creatures grew tired of the Loon's quirk. In her stead, they sang the song of the Nightingale in their hearts long after she was gone, and forever was she remembered as the fairest of the songbirds.

Dark Fables for Modernity: The Ant Queen and the Blue Birds

There once was an Ant Queen whose empire encompassed many miles. Her armies were massive, and her workers numbered in the millions. She built for herself a great ant hill that reached far into the air; the greatest achievement of any kind in all the forest's history.

            Looking down upon it, the Blue Birds became jealous of its height. They saw it as a threat. They said, “Only we are to dominate the heights. What right do ants have to be this high in the air?” And thus they took to spreading hatred among the animals for the Ant Queen. “Look, this Ant Queen seeks to control all the forest. She would have her armies do away with us all if it suited her. A fortress of that height is unnatural, and must be torn down.”

            And so many of the Animals went to war with the Ants, and a battle was fought to save the forest from the supposed threat. In the end, the animals succeeded in dethroning the queen, and the great ant hill was demolished.

            Before its demise, the ant hill had an unexpected effect upon one of the more curious creatures in the forest. The Humans, who hunted and gathered in the land, looked down upon it, and one of them had an idea. “What if we were to make such a fortresses for ourselves? Then we would not have to sleep in the cold rain all night.” The Humans took to the trees; cutting them down, and constructing crude homes out of them. The Blue Birds, having had their homes cut down by the Humans, squawked in dismay “What have you done? You were not supposed to take the Ants as examples!” To which the Humans responded “Perhaps it is better to ignore your foe, than lead others to him who might join in his cause.”

Dark Fables for Modernity: The Spider and the Arrogant Fly

 There once was a Spider, young and wise. He spun his web in the open where the foolish Flies buzzed, but not a single one flew into his web. Seeing the Spider’s struggle, the arrogant Fly landed below his web, and called the other animals to his side. “Cast your eyes upon this fool, who spins webs were his prey might easily spot him. Laugh at him, and his folly.” And the animals did laugh; all but the Spider who, to the surprise of all, thanked the Fly. “A fool indeed,” said the Fly, “this spider does not even know when he is being mocked!” With that, the Fly took off into the air, and was gone.

            A curious Squirrel climbed up to the Spider, and inquired, “Why have you thanked he who has made you out to be a dullard?” At this, the Spider smiled and said “I love my boastful enemy, for he shows me my weakness, as well as his own.” With that, the spider crept into a hollow log, where he spun a new web. There, hidden from sight, he caught many insects who passed through unsuspectingly. Among the Spider’s victims was the arrogant Fly, who he promptly had for supper.

Dark Fables for Modernity: The Bear and the Grasshopper

 A bear was trouncing through the woods one day, and stomping upon all the grass, ruining the food for Grasshoppers. Enraged, the Grasshopper confronted the Bear. “You fool,” he said “what an oaf you are, stepping upon my lunch!” The Bear responded in kind, “Aye, but what a fool you are for not eating it before I got here!” And so they went, arguing and debating, while the hyenas surrounded them, and laughed.

            After much heat and frustration, the Bear, sick of the Grasshopper, stepped upon him, and went beck to trouncing the grass. Having witnessed the gruesome sight, one Hyena looked to another and said in a grim tone “Antagonism is the death of persuasion.”