This story took place on an island called Eclipse. At first glance it looked like any other island, but if you took a closer look, a multitude of wonderful things would be revealed.
This piece of land was home to thousands of animals with incredible abilities, and the nature was full of dizzying colors! On the trees, fluff grew instead of leaves, and the grass in the meadows was so soft and springy that a single jump could carry you two meters into the air. The water rushing down from the mountains flowed into crystal-clear rivers and lakes.
On the banks of one such river lived the heroes of this story: underwater hamsters who could breathe beneath the surface.
One of them was named Faran. He was the son of the chief, and he loved to show off his riches to others. He always wore a necklace of expensive pearls and never missed a chance to tease the less fortunate villagers.
Not far from the village, a large raven lived in the trees. He had no nest and no magical powers. Because of this, he envied everyone, and his envy was black and bitter.
On the day when the young hamsters gathered in the main square so that the prospective brides could choose their partners, the raven sat on a rooftop. He witnessed Faran humiliating his fellow hamster Myao in front of everyone while bragging.
The hamsters took turns performing. Each one showed off an outfit and tried to display the most unusual skills. Every performance was accompanied by loud comments from the chief's son, who never tired of insisting that he could have done any act better.
In front of everyone, he began to call Myao a ragamuffin, then said he should never have come to the celebration at all. Myao felt deeply ashamed. He was hurt, and he ran off with his head bowed.
That evening, as Myao sat sadly by the campfire beside his small hut, a black raven silently swooped down beside him.
For a couple of minutes, he gazed silently into the flames alongside the hamster, then began to speak quietly, so that no one else could hear:
I saw everything. You can't let this go. If you don't stand up to that braggart, you'll be left alone forever. No one wants a coward for a partner. You must get revenge!
The raven's words seeped into Myao's mind like poison. He no longer felt shame; anger had overshadowed it.
The raven had done his work and smiled slyly. He had not acted out of fairness. He was tormented by envy of the chief's son, who had everything, while he himself had nothing.
Myao jumped up and began pacing back and forth by the fire.
But what should I do? asked the hamster, looking at the raven.
Burn down his house, and he'll lose all his wealth, hissed the raven, his tiny black eyes glinting with madness.
Without a second thought, Myao grabbed a burning stick and headed toward Faran's house. Suddenly, one of the brides from the celebration appeared before him. Her name was Nyama, and Myao had liked her very much.
She timidly looked at the fiery hamster with the burning stick in his paw, frozen in surprise. A moment later, she spoke in a tender, velvety voice:
I choose you as my husband, Myao.
Overjoyed, Myao leapt into the air and rushed to hug her, still holding the stick.
Don't singe my hairdo! Nyama cried out with a laugh.
Coming to his senses, Myao threw the stick away, and the two of them spun around in each other's arms.
No one noticed the raven slipping away into the darkness. He was left alone with his envy, which had now grown even larger.
That evening, the chief's son was not the only one who felt lonely. Sitting in his huge, empty house, its walls covered with portraits of himself, he could not understand why not a single bride had come to him.
A few days later, at the wedding of Myao and Nyama, the chief who was conducting the ceremony learned how the raven had urged Myao to burn down Faran's house.
The chief immediately ordered the guards to bring the raven, and within the hour the troublemaker stood before the leader, fear in his eyes. The chief was very wise. He did not punish the bird. Instead, he appointed him as an envoy to the neighboring tribes, and in doing so, he drained the envy out of him.
Everyone celebrated at the wedding. After the festivities, the chief leaned toward his son's ear and quietly said:
Boasting attracts envy, and from such a union anger is born. And in a home where these things live, there is no room for happiness.
The son looked seriously at his father and nodded.
