Many thousands of years ago, amazing creatures lived on Earth and possessed incredible abilities.
This story is about one of these creatures.
Our hero's name is FO. He was born in the tribe of Pukhobrykhs, who had protected the inhabitants of the Pushy Forests from tooth-bearing hunters since ancient times.
Hunters often raided to capture rare animals for their king UMA-UMA. Pukhobrykhs 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 seen. When FO was very small, he loved to play in the golden fields with his Lapshilegged friends. Once, while riding on the back of his best friend, he fell and badly wounded his belly. Since then, a scar remained there, but there was not a single hint of fur.
The most important event for every Pukhobrykh was approaching—the initiation as a forest protector. FO had three days left before everyone would discover that he was a Lysobryukh. He had to act.
Early in the morning, FO and his Lapshilegged friend Fri set out to the wise stone Gaa. The stone was the most important relic of the Pukhobrykhs.
Each Pukhobrykh could address Gaa only once in their lifetime. And FO decided that his moment had come.
Approaching the stone, FO cried out his name loudly and asked the question that troubled him so much:
What must I do, Gaa, so that magical fur covers my belly?
There was a deafening crack, and three round pebbles the size of walnuts appeared from beneath the earth 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. Almost 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 cried out loudly:
My name is Zabar! Zabar heard everything! Zabar will tell everyone! Everyone will know about the hairless belly of the Pukhobrykh!
What do you want? – said the Lapshilegged friend menacingly.
The crab-hare pinched its own tail with its claws for some reason and hissed:
I spent three years digging myself a burrow, and a black-and-white bear moved in. He won't leave. Drive him out, and I'll keep quiet.
There was no choice, 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.
Pukhobrykhs are not cowards. Without thinking for a second, FO began to wake the uninvited guest by pulling its small tail.
The bear stopped snoring but didn't even move, only said quietly:
Whoever you are—you must leave.
FO thrust his belly forward and said:
I am FO from the Pushy 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? Perhaps 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 little finger 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 here until I become bright and beautiful again.
The friends went outside. The crab-hare was already waiting for them.
Well? – cried Zabar impatiently, – when will he leave? When will he disappear from my burrow and my life?!
FO lowered his eyes and said nothing.
You're so useless, – Zabar continued, – 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 at the Pukhobrykh's waist stirred. Startled, he dropped it on the ground, and Gaa's pebbles 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 little finger. In the blue one, the magical fur of the Pukhobrykhs was visible.
When FO reached out mesmerized to the blue stone, the other two dimmed. FO understood that he could choose only one thing. At that moment, the words of the leader whom he had admired since childhood echoed in his head.
Always remember, – said the leader, – that Pukhobrykhs are the only true forest protectors. 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 without losing a moment, pressing the little finger to the bear's paw. The bear flipped over, jumped up, stretched out straight, and after a few seconds began to shimmer with different colors.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Pukhobrykh! – cried the bear, 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 immediately, I want to return home right away! But what saddens you is not the crab-hare's home. 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 hairless, and in three days the initiation of forest protectors will take place. I will become a Lysobryukh and will never be able to fight the tooth-bearing hunters.
The bear laughed heartily and cried out cheerfully:
Do you know what they call me in my homeland? Al from Berta, the fur-giver! My strength is in my little finger. I stroke animals that have nothing to warm themselves with, and they grow thick fur. Such fur keeps 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 his savior's belly with his little finger. FO's belly tickled. FO couldn't believe his eyes: soft, beautiful fur was appearing right on the scar. From that day on, there was no Pukhobrykh in the forest with thicker fur than FO.
The End.
