Early one spring, an Eagle was soaring across the sky when, from high above, he spotted a magnificent bird standing in the water on its long legs.
He swooped down to the shallows, landed on the trunk of a thick gum tree leaning over the water, and asked:
Who are you? What kind of bird is that? I've never seen you before.
I am a Crane," replied the bird, "and I've just come home from the warm countries.
You're so handsome, just like me, tall and slender. Let's be friends. Will you be my mate?
But why would I want to be friends with you?" asked the Crane.
Why, what do you mean?" said the Eagle, surprised. "Do you have a friend here at home?
Yes! My friends are the other cranes.
Those aren't friends, they're relatives. Do you have any other friends?
No.
Come and sit beside me on the tree trunk. Stop standing in the water. Let's talk about why friends are important…
I can't. We cranes never sit in the branches of trees.
Why not?" asked the Eagle, surprised.
That's just how it has always been. The elders say our toes aren't built for it.
Have you ever tried?
No, why would I? If we can't, we can't, and we don't need to. We walk on the water instead. Do you walk on the water, Eagle?
I only touch the water when I swoop over it. Let's talk about friends. You asked why friends are important. Well, it's so you can have a good yarn, swap stories about what's happened to you, or simply help each other out.
Well, if you want, then let's be friends," agreed the Crane.
Tell me, where do your mates live? Mine live up on that hill over there," said the Eagle, waving a wing into the distance.
Mine are not far off, finding food," replied the Crane.
You know, mate," said the Eagle cunningly, "I'm so hungry. I chased a mouse but didn't catch it. And a rabbit outwitted me, shooting into its burrow like a bullet. Could you shout me a feed of your catch?
Why not share? the Crane said, walking up to his new friend and holding out a frog in his long beak. Help yourself.
I've never eaten anything like this before. But hunger is no joke, I'd better have a bite, or I won't have the strength to get back to my mates.
The Eagle ate the frog, then another, then a third!
Thanks, mate. Next time I'll bring you a present!
The Eagle flapped his wings, shot up into the sky and disappeared high above. The Crane went back to searching for food. He needed to eat well and build up his strength. The next day he had to choose a wife, and there was a celebration planned for the flock.
A few days passed. The Crane spotted the Eagle flying towards him, carrying something in his sharp talons.
Mate, mate!" the Eagle called out. "I've brought you a present!
He landed on the tree trunk and tossed a rabbit into the water.
You fed me last time, so now it's my turn.
Thanks, but we don't eat rabbits. They won't fit down our throats. We live on small mice.
Go on, give it a try!" the Eagle insisted.
Are you trying to get me killed?
Well, you're hard to please!
The Eagle ate the rabbit. When he'd finished, he asked:
How's things? What have you been up to?
I was choosing a wife for myself, we had a celebration. Now we're building a new nest.
Congratulations!
And when will you settle down with a family?
It's too early for me yet. I'll enjoy being free for another year or so.
And so the Eagle and the Crane parted ways. A few days later, the Eagle flew back to visit his mate the Crane.
He saw the Crane standing in the water again, poking about with his long beak for something.
What are you doing?" asked the Eagle.
Gathering seaweed, shellfish and yabbies, and putting them in a jug to take back to the nest. My wife is sitting on the eggs there, our future family.
Shout me a feed of what you feed your wife," asked the Eagle.
Come on over," agreed the Crane, "here's a jug for you, help yourself.
The Eagle circled the jug: its neck was long and narrow, and his beak was not so long, so he could not reach the food. He circled and circled the jug, but never got a bite.
Catch me some frogs. They were tasty, " asked the Eagle.
There are no frogs now," replied the Crane, "they've all gone.
The Eagle got cross with the Crane:
You're not my mate. You begrudge a mate a bit of your tucker!
He flapped his wings and flew off. And that is how the friendship between the sneaky Eagle and the Crane came to an end.
