Library:The Turtle and the Bat

This fable by ArcanumVeritas is featured in the anthology.

The Turtle and the Bat
by ArcanumVeritas

The Turtle now lived in the bottom of the cave, where the trickles of water formed a pond and the stringy moss grew. It was not as nice as the food had been above ground, but it kept him alive.

The bats had always lived in the caves, and while slightly annoyed at having to share, they learned to accept their new neighbour. After all, they mostly had the cave ceiling to themselves.

One day, there was an earth slide and a Bat was knocked from its perch into the cool pond. The other bats mourned the loss of one of their own, but all was not lost, as the Turtle pulled the Bat to the safety of the shore, who once dry flew back to a new perch.

"If not for your quick action, our son would have surely drowned," said the grateful Bat. "My family and I are in debt to you, friend Turtle."

Weeks later another rock fall created an avalanche that filled the pool with mud and stones. It covered the turtle's food, and the remaining water would surely dry up without the tiny stream to refill it.

The Turtle wailed "What is to become of me? I will starve."

The Bat heard his cries and asked "What about the other pond? On the other side of the ravine?"

"What pond and what ravine?" asked the Turtle.

"It's a short flight away, it is cool and dark like this one used to be. The ravine is a deep nothing, even I have not flown to its bottom," replied the Bat.

"I cannot fly," stated the Turtle.

"You are not so big that I and my friends could not carry you, if you held onto a stick in your mouth and we carried the stick," suggested the Bat.

"What if you drop me in the ravine?" asked the Turtle.

"Then you will surely die," stated the Bat.

"Then I think I will stay here," replied the Turtle.

"Then you will surely die, of starvation. You're only hope to avoid death is to hold on tightly and for us not to drop you," stated the Bat.

"I will think about it," replied the Turtle.

Two weeks passed and the Turtle was now week with hunger.

"Bat, Bat ... I must away, there is no food. Will you and yours please carry me to the new pond?" pleaded the Turtle.

The Bat and his family carried a strong stick down, which the turtle grabbed with his mouth. They carried him up and started across the ravine.

The Turtle looked down in terror at the inky darkness, but in his weakened state could not hold on and fell to his death.

Sometimes one must act immediately, or lose the chance to act at all.