Once upon a time, there existed an abundant valley, surrounded on all sides by an enchanted forest that kept all outsiders at bay.
Now, in this paradise lived all matter of animals, from ducks and geese to rabbits, deer, and fox. The animals had an endless supply of food, water, and companionship. None of the animals were at odds with the others. The fish fed the bears and fox and coyotes. No animal was left in want.
As time went on the birds began to stray and spread their wings, bringing tales of faraway places and adventures of the critters and majestic two-legged creatures that inhabited the outside world. They would come back with stories that had the animals of the valley on the edge of their seats, hoping and dreaming they might meet these outsiders in person. Each day brought new tales, each tale brought new imaginings, until one day, the paradise changed forever.
The morning started like any other, full of sunshine and good cheer, they had settled into their normal routine, waiting on the birds return when through the trees wondered three strangers.
Their noses were long and snoutlike but much broader than that of the deer, though their hoofs were quite similar. Their skin appeared bare from far off, but as the creatures drew near, the valley occupants could see course hair over their wide backs. Their eyes were squinted and piercing. They had tiny little tails that curled into a spring. They snorted quite constantly through their funny little noses, and though they were rather short and stout, they could move surprisingly quickly.
All at once, the valley was thrown into a frenzied excitement. All of the animals gathered around to hear from the strangers. They were the first outsiders to enter into their paradise and as such, they wished to show them all hospitality. Presently the large buck who was seen as the eldest of them stepped forward, along with the wise old owl and the matriarch of the rabbits. The three bowed low to the ground in a show of welcome before the Buck spoke up.
“Greetings new friends. We wish to welcome you to our home.” He smiled down at their new acquaintances. “Pray tell, where do you come from?”
The largest of the three newcomers followed suit, “Greetings,” he replied through a hail of snorts.
The Owl did his best not to chuckle at the funny sounds the newcomers made. They were different than any animal the valley creatures had ever seen and didn’t match any of the characters in the stories carried in by the birds.
“We come from far off, a place known as the market, but we’ve wondered the woodland for quite some time and are quite weary from the journey.” He admitted.
“We are happy to have you. Please, tell us about yourselves? What matter of animal are you? And, what is this market you speak of?” The rabbit asked curiously.
“We are pigs, and I would be happy to tell you all about our journey, but if we might seek shelter and find rest first, I will be much more capable of relaying the tale.”
The leaders of the valley agreed readily, excited to house the newcomers, each gave up their own homes to the pigs.
The first was offered sanctuary by the deer, which he found quite comfortable. It was a house made of brambles and fallen branches with a soft bed of fresh-picked meadow grass. He fell fast asleep almost immediately after eating from the leaves and blossoms presented by the buck and his clan.
The second pig was offered the house of the rabbits. This was less successful, only his snout would fit through the entry, embarrassed that they couldn’t accommodate the newcomer properly, the entire rabbit family dug the large pig a rounded pit that he could curl up in. As they prepared his bed, the plumb piggy dined on fresh meadow grass and nuts and berries collected by the squirrels who were close friends of the rabbit dynasty. Once he’d finished eating, he fell fast asleep in the nest they filled with cattails and cotton from the cottonwoods surrounding.
The third pig was offered accommodation, at first with the owl, but soon found it impossible to climb to the large hole in the Oak the wise great horn lived in. The owl then offered to fly him up to it as he was quite proud of his abode. When the pig agreed, curious to see the space, he was only able to fit his head through the door. Again the owl was quite embarrassed to find his house was not only too small for the newcomer but once he’d got his head through the door, he couldn’t get it out. The owl did his best to keep the stout piggy airborne but his wings quickly became tired under the weight and a moose and bear were called to reach up to his puggy hooves in order to support him while they figured out what to do next.
The valley critters gathered around, discussing and arguing among themselves how best to unstick the pig from his predicament.
“We might grab him by the legs and pull with all our might!” Cried the squirrels.
“All your might is nothing compared to mine.” Hollered the moose.
“Quite,” responded the wise geese. “But how might you pull with your hooves?”
“We might fashion a rope with meat from the reads and trees!” offered the otters.
“You could use the top layer of cream from our milk to loosen the tree’s grip on the poor fellow!” offered a mother cow.
Many of the valley critters agreed with this method. The otters squeezed milk from the cow’s udders into a piece of wood, hollowed out by the family of beavers. The squirrels dipped their tiny little paws into the cream at the top of the offering and climbed their way up the tree. They slicked the buttery substance around the little pig’s neck and as they worked he started to slip from the hole. The owl, who’d been watching from a branch above instructed the newcomer to push against the tree with all his might and immediately, pop! He flew backward and landed on the soft fuzzy belly of the bear beneath him.
His head throbbed from the pressure he’d been under but his gratitude of being dislodged from the hole made up for the annoyance he’d experienced while stuck.
“Thank you, owl.” He grunted. “I don’t think pigs are meant to sleep in trees.”
The animals all agreed readily to his statement and in the end, he was welcomed by the bears to join them in their den. After so much trouble he was happy to accept and found the cave quite comfortable. He curled up with the bears and fell fast asleep in their cozy fur.
To Be Continued Upon Demand…