Many thousands of years ago, there lived amazing creatures on Earth who possessed incredible abilities.
This story is about one of these creatures.
Our hero's name is FO. He was born into the tribe of Fluffy-Bellies, who had protected the inhabitants of the Furry Forests from the Fang-Bearing hunters since ancient times.
The hunters often raided to capture rare animals for their king UMA-UMA. The Fluffy-Bellies hypnotized the raiders using special fur that began to grow on their bellies at age 33.
FO had just turned 33, but the magical fur was nowhere to be found. When FO was very small, he loved to play in the golden fields with his Noodle-Legged friends. Once, while riding on the back of his best friend, he fell and badly wounded his belly. Since then, a scar had been there, but there was not a hint of fuzz.
The most important event for every Fluffy-Belly was approaching—the initiation as a forest protector. FO had only three days left before everyone would discover he was Bald-Bellied. He had to act.
Early in the morning, FO and his Noodle-Legged friend Fri set out to the wise stone Gaa. The stone was the most important relic of the Fluffy-Bellies.
Each Fluffy-Belly could only turn to Gaa once in their lifetime. And FO decided that his moment had come.
Approaching the stone, FO shouted his name loudly and asked the question that troubled him so much:
What must I do, Gaa, to make my belly covered with magical fur?
There was a deafening crack, and three round pebbles the size of walnuts appeared from under the ground next to FO. One was blue, another was red, and the third was black.
Silence fell. FO stared at the unusual stones in amazement and didn't understand what to do with them. Nearly in tears, he collected the pebbles and hid them in his waist pouch.
FO and Fri walked back in silence. Suddenly, a Crab-Hare jumped onto the road in front of them. It clicked its claws and shouted loudly:
My name is Zabar! Zabar heard everything! Zabar will tell everyone! Everyone will know about the bald belly of the Fluffy-Belly!
What do you want? – said the Noodle-Legged one menacingly.
The Crab-Hare pinched its own tail with its claws and hissed:
I spent three years digging my burrow, and a black and white bear moved in. He won't leave. Drive him out, and I'll keep quiet.
There was no way out, and the friends had to go to the Crab-Hare. Before they even descended into the burrow, Fri and FO heard loud snoring: the bear was definitely inside.
FO went in first. The bear lay curled up on a pile of carrots.
Fluffy-Bellies are not cowards. Without thinking for a second, FO began to wake the uninvited guest by pulling his small tail.
The bear stopped snoring but didn't even move, only quietly said:
Whoever you are, you must leave.
FO stuck out his belly and said:
I am FO from the Furry Forests. You must leave. This is not your burrow!
The bear turned around, looked at his friends with sad eyes, cried, and whispered softly:
I need my finger.
Tell us what happened, – said Fri, – where did you lose it? Maybe we can help you?
My name is Al, – said the bear, – I was the most beautiful multicolored bear in my forest. Once I fell asleep on the riverbank, and when I woke up, my paw was in the water. I pulled it out and froze: my pinky was gone! I started looking for it in the water and saw my reflection... I couldn't hold back my tears: the colors were gone! I became black and white! I ran for three days until I stumbled upon this burrow. I won't leave until I become bright and beautiful again.
The friends went outside. The Crab-Hare was already waiting for them.
Well? – Zabar shouted impatiently, – when will he leave? When will he disappear from my burrow and my life?!
FO looked down and said nothing.
You're so useless, – Zabar got more worked up, – I'll do it myself, I'll smoke him out of there!
He quickly clicked his claws and began gathering firewood near the burrow entrance.
I need fire! I need fire, FO, or I'll tell everyone about you! – Zabar couldn't calm down.
Fri and FO froze. They didn't know what to do next. Suddenly, the pouch on the Fluffy-Belly's waist moved. Startled, he threw it on the ground, and the pebbles of Gaa rolled out... They cracked open, and something was inside each one. The friends looked closer.
In the red stone, a coal glowed. In the black one lay the bear's pinky. In the blue one, the magical fur of the Fluffy-Bellies was visible.
When FO reached out mesmerized to the blue stone, the other two dimmed. FO understood that he could only choose one thing. At that moment, the words of the leader he had admired since childhood echoed in his head.
Always remember, – said the leader, – that Fluffy-Bellies are the only true protectors of the forest. They always think first not of themselves, but of the weak and defenseless. Of those who are in trouble.
FO took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The choice was obvious. He grabbed the black pebble with the bear's finger and rushed into the burrow, attaching the pinky to the bear's paw. The bear flipped over, jumped up, stretched out, and within seconds began to shimmer with different colors.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Fluffy-Belly! – the bear cried out, unable to believe his happiness.
But FO was very sad. Al noticed this and said:
My friend, I will be eternally grateful to you for returning my treasure! I will leave this burrow right now, I want to return home immediately! But it's not the Crab-Hare's home that saddens you. Tell me what happened. Perhaps I can help you too?
You can't, Al, – FO answered sadly. – I'm 33 years old, my belly is bald, and in three days there will be an initiation ceremony for forest protectors. I will become Bald-Bellied and will never be able to fight the Fang-Bearing hunters.
The bear laughed heartily and shouted joyfully:
Do you know what they call me in my homeland? Al from Berta, the Fur-Giver! My strength is in my pinky. I stroke animals who have nothing to keep warm, and they grow thick fur. Such fur keeps you warm in any frost!
You returned my strength to me, FO. For this, I will give you magical fur, – Al continued tenderly.
The bear raised his paw and stroked the belly of his savior with his pinky. FO's belly tickled. FO couldn't believe his eyes: soft, beautiful fuzz was appearing right on the scar. From then on, there was no Fluffy-Belly in the forest with thicker fur than FO.
The End.
