In ancient times, all the animals and birds once gathered in the forest to choose a king for themselves. For a long time they judged and decided who should rule them.
“We need to choose a lion,” said the leopard. “Neither among animals nor among birds is there anyone equal to him in strength.”
All the animals agreed with the leopard, but the birds remained silent: they wanted to choose a king who could fly, like them. And then one bird came forward and said:
“Nobody argues: the lion is a strong and intelligent animal, but he can only show his valor on the ground, because he doesn’t know how to fly, and the tiniest birdie, if she wants it, will sit on his back and cause considerable concern.” No, you need to choose a king who will be able to rule both on earth and in heaven.
All the birds nodded their heads approvingly: they liked their friend’s cunning proposal.
“We need to choose a hawk as king,” another bird spoke after the first. “He is the strongest of us and the best at flying.” In addition, he can descend to the ground and kill the largest animal with his sharp beak and tenacious claws.
The birds opened their beaks and shouted joyfully in approval. But the animals stood their ground: they wanted to elect a lion as king.
Birds and animals argued and argued among themselves until they fought. The bat alone did not take part in any disputes or fights. She could not decide where to go, which side to take, because although she could fly like birds, she did not lay eggs and fed her young with milk, like animals.
And so a cruel war began between birds and animals. First the animals defeated the birds. Many birds died, others, frightened, scattered in all directions. When the bat saw that the animals had won, she immediately joined them and said:
- Do not consider me a bird, honorable animals. Although I fly, just like you, I myself give birth to my children and feed them with milk.
The animals were intoxicated by their victory and, in joy, allowed the bat to join them.
Meanwhile, the birds that managed to escape gathered in a safe place and began to think about how they could defeat the animals.
“If we fight with animals on earth, we will never achieve victory,” said one of them. “We will all die, and that’s all.” We need to attack the animals from the air. This is the only way we can defeat them.
The birds liked this proposal. They did just that. The hawk attacked the lion and pecked out his eyes, and the other birds tore other animals with their sharp beaks and tenacious claws. The birds celebrated their victory, and the bat addressed them:
“Don’t you know, venerable birds, that I am from your family?” Although bats, like animals, themselves give birth to young and feed them with milk, in all other respects they are no different from birds. They even fly just like you.
And the birds, to rejoice, allowed the bat to join them.
The animals and birds continued to fight among themselves for a long time, until they finally made peace. It was decided that from now on the hawk would reign in the sky, and the lion on the earth. And all the animals and birds agreed with this.
Then they all gathered for a common celebration and began to sing and dance. The bat also wanted to take part in this holiday; she approached the animals, but they pushed her away with the words:
- Yes, you are a bird! So go join your people!
The bat rushed towards the birds, and they began to peck at it and say:
- You're a beast! So go join your people! We don't have a place for you!
Frightened, the bat hid in the foliage. She sat in her shelter all day and only at night, when the animals and birds fell asleep, she flew out of there.
They say that bats do not show themselves during the day because they are afraid of animals and birds.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru