Early in spring an Eagle was flying across the sky and saw from above that a majestic bird was standing in the water on long legs.
He swooped down to the shallows, landed on the trunk of a thick tree that leaned over the water, and asked:
Who are you? What kind of bird are you? I haven't met you before.
I am a Crane," answered the bird, "I have returned home from the warm lands.
You are so beautiful, you look like me, tall and slender. Let's be friends. Will you be my friend?
And why should I be friends with you?" asked the Crane.
Why, what do you mean? " the Eagle was surprised. "Do you have a friend here at home?
Yes! My friends are the other cranes.
Those aren't friends, those are relatives. Do you have any other friends?
No.
Come sit next to me on the tree trunk, stop standing in the water, and let's discuss why friends are needed...
I can't. We cranes never sit on tree branches.
Why not?" the Eagle was surprised.
That's how it has always been. The elders say our toes are not made for that.
Have you ever tried?
No, why would I? If we can't, we can't, and we don't need to. We walk on water instead. Eagle, do you walk on water?
I only touch the water when I fly over it. Let's talk about friends. You asked why friends are needed. Well, so that we can chat heart to heart, share stories that happened to us, or simply help one another.
Well, if you want, then let's be friends," agreed the Crane.
Tell me, where are your kin? Mine live on that mountain over there," and the Eagle waved his wing into the distance.
Mine are nearby, gathering food," answered the Crane.
You know, friend," said the Eagle slyly, "I am so hungry. I chased a mouse but didn't catch it. And a hare outwitted me, dashing into its burrow like a bullet. Could you treat me to some of your catch?
Why not treat you?" The Crane walked up to his new friend and held out a frog in his long beak. " Help yourself.
I've never eaten such a thing. But hunger is no aunt, I need a bite, or I won't have the strength to return to my kin.
The Eagle ate the frog, then another, then a third!
Thank you, friend. Next time I'll bring you a gift!
The Eagle flapped his wings, rose swiftly into the sky and vanished high above. The Crane went back to searching for food. He needed to eat well and gather strength. The next day he had to choose a wife, and a celebration was planned in the bird community because of it.
Several days passed. The Crane saw the Eagle flying toward him, carrying something in his sharp talons.
Friend, friend!" the Eagle shouted. "I've brought you a gift!
He landed on the tree trunk and tossed a hare into the water.
You fed me last time, so now it's my turn.
Thank you, but we don't eat hares. They won't fit down our throats. We feed on small mice.
Just try it!" the Eagle insisted.
Do you want me dead?
Well, nothing pleases you!
The Eagle ate the hare. When he finished eating, he asked:
How are you? What have you been up to?
I was choosing myself a wife, we had a celebration. Now we are building a new nest.
Congratulations!
And when will you start a family?
It's too early for me. I'll fly free for a year.
And so the Eagle and the Crane parted ways. Several days passed. The Eagle flew to visit his friend the Crane once again.
He saw the Crane standing in the water again, searching for something with his long beak.
What are you doing?" asked the Eagle.
I'm collecting seaweed, mollusks, and small shrimp and putting them in a jug to take back to the nest. My wife is sitting on the eggs there, the future offspring.
Treat me to what you feed your wife," asked the Eagle.
Come closer," agreed the Crane, "here's the jug, eat.
The Eagle circled the jug: its neck was long and narrow, and his beak was not that long, so he could not reach the food. He circled and circled around the jug, but never got any food.
Catch me some frogs. They were tasty," the Eagle requested.
There are no frogs," answered the Crane, "they have all disappeared.
The Eagle was offended by the Crane:
You are not my friend. You begrudge your food to a friend!
He flapped his wings and flew away. And so the friendship of the crafty Eagle and the Crane came to an end.
