Once upon a time, in a land blanketed by golden fields and shimmering rivers, there lived two friends: Cormorant and Crow. They had been friends for as long as anyone could remember, often flying together and sharing stories under the broad sky.
One year, a terrible famine struck their homeland. The rivers dried, fields turned to dust, and food became scarce for everyone. Crow, who relied on seeds and grains, quickly grew weak and hungry. Day by day, he would watch the skies, hoping for a sign of rain that would bring back his food. Cormorant, on the other hand, was a skilled fisherman. Each day, he would fly to a nearby pond where a few fish still swam in its depths, diving gracefully to catch his meals. Though the famine had hurt them all, Cormorant managed to survive.
Crow envied his friend’s good fortune but admired his skill too. “Cormorant, you’re lucky you know how to fish. This famine is dreadful,” he’d say. But Cormorant would kindly share the few berries he could find, and Crow was thankful for the small but meaningful gifts.
Eventually, the rains returned, and life began to flourish once more. Grains and seeds once again scattered across the fields, and Crow could finally feast to his heart’s content. With the famine over, the two friends could enjoy the abundance of food together. But something strange happened. As Crow’s belly grew fuller, his feelings toward Cormorant began to change.
Seeing Cormorant dive into the water to fish made Crow feel uneasy. “Why do you still fish like that?” Crow would squawk. “There’s plenty of food in the fields now. You don’t need to dive and splash around like that.”
But Cormorant enjoyed his way of life and found comfort in his routine. The water felt refreshing, and the thrill of catching fish gave him joy, even when other food was available.
One sunny afternoon, as Cormorant stood by the pond, dipping his tail in the water to cool off, Crow flew by and saw him. He couldn’t hold back his annoyance. “Why must you keep soaking your tail and making a mess of yourself, Cormorant? It’s so… unnecessary!”
Cormorant looked at his friend thoughtfully. “Dear Crow, when you were hungry, I continued fishing to survive, just as you searched the fields for food. Now that there is plenty, why do my habits trouble you so?”
Crow fluffed his feathers, caught off guard by his friend’s response. He realized that his irritation wasn’t with Cormorant’s fishing but with his own lingering jealousy. Cormorant’s skill had kept him safe through hardship, and Crow had been too proud to accept it.
“You’re right, Cormorant,” Crow admitted, hanging his head. “You did what you had to in order to survive, and I envied that strength. Now, even though there’s enough for us both, I have foolishly held on to my jealousy.”
Cormorant smiled gently, nodding in understanding. “We all survive in our own ways, Crow. Just as you thrive on the seeds from the earth, I find my life in the waters. Let us celebrate our differences, for they have made us who we are.”
And so, Crow let go of his envy, and the two friends spent the day enjoying each other’s company by the pond. They learned to appreciate not only the times they shared but also the strengths that made each of them unique.
From that day on, whenever Crow saw Cormorant diving, he no longer felt bothered. Instead, he would watch with pride, knowing that they both had found their way through hardship—together and stronger than before.
Moral:
Everyone has their own way of surviving in life. True friendship teaches us to respect those differences, not to let jealousy divide us.
