Hi everyone! This is a folktale I wrote this year as a school project!!
Enjoy, AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT! :D
+I TRIED at story-ing!!
Tapanga and the water problem
Once, long ago in the Zulu kingdom, there was a savanna near what used to be an oasis, where the animals were suffering. The water had almost run out, and even the usually friendly rhinoceros fought for the last few drops in the watering hole. The smaller creatures, like the warthogs and porcupines had given up hope in getting any water at the watering hole, and were searching for water in the shriveled up aloe and wildflowers that surrounded them.The kudu, in search of something to drink, traveled far with his kin, with no results.The animals fell down, weary from thirst.
The bright morning sun felt like wildfire, and a lovely flower could shrivel before your eyes. Sitting comfortably in dead bushes and grass, Tapanga the shelduck watched unhappily. Her nice home was dying, and the water would not come to give her back the nice life she had.
The only other animals that she knew could help, were the fishes. But in her opinion, fishes were food for the eagles and predatory animals, and even a treat for her. To her, fish were stupid and knew only the small secrets of the sea. She decided she would either get help from the other animals or do everything herself. Tapanga came out of her unhappy thoughts to see Salim, the kudu, looking at her.
"Can you fly?" asked Salim. "We need you to help look for water by flying in the sky. We can only look on the ground" "I can fly, but I don't need your help! I have a much keener eye than all of you!" Tapanga said with pride. Salim looked doubtful but went with the other kudu to rest after a long, fruitless journey.
"I can find water without the fishes OR anyone else." Tapanga commented to herself.
"Its easy! I just have to fly and look for water, and then everything will be back to normal!"
Taking off, she flew towards the trees. Salim looked up from his rest spot, and called to the other kudu to follow Tapanga. Salim liked to help out, but it was always hard to help Tapanga, Because she had such a bad temper.
Tapanga frowned to herself because she saw what looked like a small bit of water on a dried out river that should lead to the watering hole. She zeroed in on the spot, and realized the problem. The dry weather had must have weakened the nearby trees, and even a small windstorm may have pushed them over. Flying closer, she noticed that shifting the fallen trees a bit to the side could let the last bits of water down to the thirsty animals.
She tried using her beak to loosen the trees, her webbed feet did nothing, and exasperated and tired she hopped down to the ground to rest. Tapanga was vaguely aware of the smooth, watery tones of fish laughing. Angry at the annoying creatures, she yelled at them. Why dont you help me, you stupid things? this only made them laugh harder and one little fish swam up to speak. You dont need our help, you found the water with your keen eyes, you have everything under control! the fishes, giggling, dove underwater and Tanango paced back and forth wondering what to do, and regretting her mean words.
Salim and his herd galloped through the clearing, and saw the problem."What should we do?" he asked. Tapanga thought for a moment, and realized how useful the large horns of Salim were. "Salim!" she exclaimed.
"You and the others could maybe stab the trees and lift them away!!" she explained. Salim considered this, and built off of it. " That might hurt our horns, but I think you're getting somewhere!" he said,"What If we use our horns to lift up, and take the trees out of the water?" added Salim "Good!" Tampango decided as the kudu started to heave the massive trees out of the slightly low supply of water. The water rushed down to the watering hole, and Tampango remembered a forgotten saying: "Two heads are better than one." She commented to Salim. Salim agreed, as everyone headed back to the refilled, but not yet lush oasis for a well deserved drink.
-Pepr |
