This story took place in the heart of Eclipse Island – in a river valley where peculiar water-cheeked creatures lived. They were called this because of their unusual ability to fill their cheeks with water and shoot it out at great speed. The water-cheeked creatures would flood enormous trees and build dams and houses from them.
Chip was just an ordinary young water-cheeked creature, but everyone thought he was very strong. He'd earned this reputation through deception, though no one suspected it.
Water-cheeked creatures often competed with each other, filling their cheeks with water and moving stones with the stream. Chip was cunning: he moved boulders not only with the force of water, but also with help from his friend – a transparent tail-footed creature. Of course, his stones always ended up further away than everyone else's. Chip thought it was harmless deception because there were no prizes for winning, and everyone competed just for fun.
The little fibber was also very chatty and could talk for ages with anyone he met. Naturally, the inhabitants of Eclipse Island learned about his achievements very quickly.
One day something happened on the island that forced Chip to keep his mouth shut in the most literal sense, and thanks to this he saved all the valley's residents and came to value the truth. But let me tell you everything in order.
Life in the river valleys was bustling: water-cheeked creatures built dams, and their little ones played on the banks. The biggest concern was building a prettier dam. But suddenly the waterfall that fed all the rivers dried up. It had fallen from the highest cliff surrounding the valley, and now there wasn't a drop. Fear filled the hearts of the residents: without water they would perish.
The elders decided to send a scout team of flying crabs to the cliff. The crabs left at dawn and returned only the next day with bad news. A landslide had occurred in the gorge, and a huge piece of rock had blocked the river that ended in the waterfall.
Water-cheeked creatures needed to be sent to the cliff urgently to smash the stone with water. But walking uphill and then going to the rockfall would take a very long time, and the water in the valley was decreasing by the hour.
The flying crabs wanted to lift a water-cheeked creature to the cliff, but it didn't work out: water-cheeked creatures, though small, were heavy. So the elders decided to choose the strongest from the tribe and launch him to the summit using a fountain that several water-cheeked creatures could create together.
The scout crabs warned that there was no water at the rockfall site, so the chosen hero would have to collect it in the valley.
Chip was chosen, of course, since he always won the stone-rolling competitions. The water-cheeked creature was very frightened, but couldn't bring himself to tell everyone that he was a cheat.
The water-cheeked creatures gathered as a tribe. Chip sat on the roof of the tallest house in the valley. His cheeks were full of water. A voice rang out: "Three! Two! One! Go!"
All the water-cheeked creatures fired at Chip simultaneously, and he flew to the cliff top.
The landing wasn't the softest: our hero hit his leg, but didn't make a sound. He knew that if he opened his mouth, the water would spill out and he wouldn't be able to smash the rockfall. Everything in the valley would dry up, and then the water-cheeked creatures would be finished. With this thought, he limped along the former riverbed.
Chip walked confidently towards his goal when suddenly a home-bearing bear jumped out from behind the trees.
Home-bearers are called this because they carry dens made of brushwood on their backs. They wander the island for years looking for the perfect place to live, but they're never satisfied.
Did you take my honey, little one? – the bear said gruffly, glaring at the water-cheeked creature with an unfriendly look.
Chip looked at the enormous bear in fear, who seemed like a mountain because of the den on his back. At that moment, a bear cub peeked out from behind the home-bearer with fir branches on his head.
Look, Dad! He's hidden the honey in his cheeks! – the cub cried out.
Now, hand over my honey! – the bear roared.
And then Chip noticed that the bear cub's mouth was smeared with honey, but Dad didn't notice. The water-cheeked creature started pointing at the little bear, but the cub only got more worked up.
Look, he's about to swallow our honey! Hurry, Dad!!! – the cub cried.
Chip squeezed his eyes shut and thought it was the end. Suddenly bees flew out from behind the bushes and buzzed down on the bear cub. He squealed and spun in place. Dad bear finally looked at his son and, noticing the honey around his mouth, gave him a swat on the bottom. Chip didn't see this because he was running without looking back.
Chip reached the rockfall at night. Suddenly he noticed something on the stones. It was a nest of whirlwind-wings – flightless birds that could create such gusts of wind with their wings that even the biggest fluff-belly would be knocked over. There were three eggs in the nest, and their father sat beside them. He looked silently at the water-cheeked creature. Chip came closer and stared at the big bird. And so they sat, looking at each other.
An hour passed, but neither the bird nor Chip said a word. The water-cheeked creature tried to figure out how to explain to the whirlwind-wing without words that he'd come to help and that without water this bird wouldn't raise its chicks. He had to act.
I'll show you, – Chip decided and began to mime a waterfall, a stream of water and how the rockfall would be destroyed under the pressure. But the whirlwind-wing was silent and looked at him without even blinking. The water-cheeked creature got tired and sat down on the ground exhausted. It was getting light when suddenly the bird spoke in a cheerful voice.
Well, finally you've come! I've been waiting for you for three days, ever since the flying crabs promised to bring help from the river valleys.
Chip jumped up and froze with a surprised look.
When the river stopped flowing, everyone became so grumpy. I have to sleep with my eyes open so no one comes near the nest, – the whirlwind-wing continued.
After the bird's words, Chip simply lay down on the ground and smiled. After lying there for a couple of minutes, he got up, gestured for the bird to move away, and blew water from his cheeks with all his might. The stream hit the stone at great speed. The boulder cracked… but nothing else happened. Chip froze: how he regretted in those seconds that he'd cheated at the competitions.
If I'd told the truth, the elders would have sent someone stronger, – Chip thought with frustration.
Suddenly there was a crack and the rock fragment split. A powerful stream of water rushed towards Chip. But the whirlwind-wing flapped its wing, and the gust knocked the water-cheeked creature to the side.
What cheeks you've got, mate!!! – the bird cried out. – Thank you so much, I owe you one! Here, take my nest. I'm moving anyway, and you'll get home quickly on it.
Chip settled into the nest and floated towards the river valleys, waving goodbye to the whirlwind-wing. When the water-cheeked creature got home, he told all the valley's residents about his adventures for a long, long time.
Although everyone knew about Chip's deed, every evening the tribe's children came to his house and happily listened to his amazing stories. Chip told about his trials with joy and pride, because now every word he said was the truth.
