High, high up in the mountains lived the eagles, proud birds. There was a whole clan of them. In one family a chick was hatched.
The mother eagle loved her little son dearly. For a long time there had been no offspring in their family, and they had waited years for a child. At last the mountain spirit took pity on the loving pair and sent them a single egg. Mother and Father took turns sitting on it in their large nest on the highest cliff.
While Father Eagle hunted for food, Mother cherished and pampered their long-awaited son. Three months passed and the chick grew. It was time for him to take his first independent steps in life: to learn to fly, to hunt, and to find his own food.
Father Eagle wanted to start training his son and teach him how to get by in the world. But Mother Eagle kept talking him out of it, saying that their son was still small, that he should stay snug in the nest, and that it was too early for him to hunt.
Father Eagle loved his mate and could not bring himself to argue with her. He kept flying out to hunt for himself, his wife, and his son. Neighbours and relatives began asking him: “What, is your heir sick? Why doesn’t he leave the nest? Why aren’t you teaching him, why aren’t you teaching him to find his own food? Why is his mother still right beside such a big chick?”
Father Eagle did not know what to say to his kinsfolk.
One fine day the eagles gathered and flew to the nest. They wanted to see the grown chick and to offer help to their relative’s family.
As soon as they came near the nest, the mother eagle flew out and shielded her son with her body.
He’s still little, it’s too early for him to learn! We feed him, his father and I. Let him grow a bit more.
The eagles were very surprised. By their reckoning the chick was already grown. Then they saw the young eagle rise to his feet. He was tall and well fed.
What are you doing, Mother? With your love you will ruin the life of a young eagle! You never taught him to fly or to look after himself. Is he feeble or something?
The young eagle called out to the old birds.
I am a young eagle. I want to be king of the mountains! I want to sit in my nest and watch the eagles, the high mountains, and everything happening around me.
The eagles laughed:
And how will you hunt? How will you get your food?
Then you two will take turns bringing it to me. After all, I will be your king! he shouted loudly.
Well, well, look at that, the king is speaking, laughed the eagles even louder.
Just then Father returned with prey.
What’s going on here? he asked.
So your chick wants to be our king and king of the mountains, laughed the eagles, and he can’t even fly! How did you let this happen? You failed to raise your only son! We have never seen such a thing. We are proud and independent birds.
And then the eagles turned the nest over. Some birds held the mother and others held the father. The plump young eagle began to fall into the abyss. He spread his wings, but no one had taught him to flap them.
The mother eagle wailed:
Save my son! He’ll smash against the rocks.
The proud father squeezed his eyes shut and said nothing.
But the wise old eagles did not let the spoiled young bird perish. They swooped in, caught him under their wings, and helped him land on a large boulder.
So, parents. We will take your son, teach him to fly, to find food, and to hunt.
The mother eagle wailed:
I’ll die without my son!
Don’t worry, don’t worry, in a month we’ll return him to you and he’ll come back on his own. You won’t even recognize him!
The eagles took the young eaglet away and carried him far off to the caves. A month passed.
The parents sat in the nest, pining for their son. The mother had aged badly and fell ill. The father stayed beside her constantly, afraid she would pine away from longing.
They looked up: straight toward them flew a young eagle, stately and handsome, carrying prey in his beak, a young snowshoe hare. He landed and settled into the nest.
Hello, Mom and Dad! Here I am, back home. I brought you food as a gift. The elders taught me everything a mountain eagle must know. Now I will look after you. Thank you! But I will never repeat your mistake: I will not love my children blindly, for blind love can lead to trouble...
