High, high up in the mountains lived the eagles, proud birds. There was a whole tribe of them. In one family a chick was hatched.
The mother eagle loved her little son dearly. For a long time their family had had no offspring, and they had waited years for a baby. At last the spirit of the mountains took pity on the loving pair and sent them a single egg. Mum and Dad took turns sitting on it in their large nest on the highest cliff.
While Dad eagle hunted for food, Mum cherished and doted on her 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.
The father eagle wanted to start training his son and teaching him common sense. But the mother eagle kept talking him out of it, saying the boy was still small, let him enjoy the nest, there was no hurry for hunting.
The eagle loved his wife and could not contradict her. He carried on flying out for prey for himself, his wife and his son. Neighbours and relatives began to ask him: ‘What, is your heir unwell? Why doesn't he leave the nest? Why aren't you giving him lessons, why aren't you teaching him to find his own food? Why is his mother still sitting beside such a big chick?'
The eagle did not know what to answer his kin.
One fine day the eagles gathered and flew to the nest. They wanted to see the grown chick and offer help to their relative's family.
As soon as they drew 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're feeding him, 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? You'll ruin a young eagle's life with your love! You never taught him to fly or to look after himself. Is he feeble or something?
The young eagle called out to the old kin.
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 burst out laughing:
And how will you hunt? How will you find your own food?
Then you'll take turns bringing it to me. After all, I'll be your king!' he shouted loudly.
Oh, just listen to that, the king is speaking,' laughed the eagles even louder.
Just then Dad came back with the prey.
What's going on here?' he asked.
Your chick wants to be our king and king of the mountains,' laughed the eagles, 'yet he can't even fly. How could you let this happen? You've failed to raise your only son! We've never seen anything like it. We are proud and independent birds.
And then the eagles overturned the nest. Some birds held the mother and others held the father. The plump young eagle began to fall into the chasm. He spread his wings, but nobody had taught him how to flap them.
The mother eagle wailed:
Save my son! He'll be smashed against the rocks!
The proud father squeezed his eyes shut and said not a word.
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.
Well then, parents. We will take your son, teach him to fly, to hunt and to find his food.
The mother eagle wailed again:
I shall die without my little son!
There, there, in a month we'll return him to you, and he'll fly back himself. You won't recognise 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. She fell ill. The father stayed close beside her, afraid that she would die of longing.
Then they looked up: straight towards them flew a young eagle, handsome and strong, carrying a young hare in his talons. He swooped down and landed in the nest.
Hello, Mum and Dad! I'm back at last. I've brought you food as a gift from me. The elders taught me everything a mountain eagle must know. Now I shall look after you. Thank you! But I will never repeat your mistake: I won't love my own children blindly, because blind love can lead to disaster...
