In ancient times, partridges lived in the tundra. Then the earth and sky were just establishing themselves, and the winters were not so snowy and cold.
But one year, a blizzard became frequent in the tundra, causing high snowdrifts, then it started to rain and the snow became covered with ice. Not a single thawed patch, not a single bush was visible anywhere.
The partridges got hungry and flew towards the forest.
We flew to the forest - and there were no thawed patches to be seen anywhere, even the tops of the willows did not peek out from under the snow, only bare trees turned black.
Their leader was the oldest partridge.
“Now we’re really lost!” - says the leader partridge. “We have nowhere to go further—death is everywhere!” But I know a place where there is a big river, that river does not get carried away in a snowstorm, nor does it freeze in the most severe frosts. Willow trees grow along the banks, the mountains are covered with wild rosemary, blueberries and grass. But there are pikes in that river, and they won’t let us go there. In ancient times, an oath was sealed: partridges will not occupy their land, and pikes will not occupy the land of partridges. If they remember the agreement, they won’t let you in. There is only one thing left - to fight!
- Right! Shouldn't we be lost here?! - said the partridges. - We'd better fight! Let's fly!
The partridges flew to the river and saw: the river was not frozen, and its banks were covered with willow and wild rosemary, blueberries and grass. They sat down and began to feed.
But then the head of the pike leader poked out of the water.
- Hey, partridges, why did you fly here? Why are you breaking your oath? Get out of here now! I will not give you any willow leaves, no bush seeds, no grass. I won’t even let you dig into the pebbles!
To this the leader partridge replied:
“Everything in our region is covered with snow, and we have nothing to eat.” We mustn't perish from hunger. And you pikes live in the water, you don’t eat willow leaves or seeds. Let's live peacefully as neighbors!
- I will not give in to kindness! - said the leader pike. - Only by killing all the pikes will you take this place! Let's fight!
The leader pike turned, hit the water with its tail and swam away to gather its army. Soon she brought so many pikes that the river turned black from their backs.
The partridges are standing on the shore: waiting! Bows and arrows are kept at the ready.
- Shoot pikes only in the head! - says the leader partridge. – If you hit them in the back, they don’t die!
The army of partridges shot arrows. Hearing the click of the bow string, the pikes rushed to the middle of the river. The arrows of the partridges pierced the backs of the pikes.
While the partridges were getting their arrows, the pikes swam back and started shooting at the partridges, aiming for their hearts. The partridges dodged, jumped, flapping their wings, and the arrows pierced the legs of the partridges.
They fought like this for a long time, but no one could win. Having fired all the arrows, they stopped fighting.
Then the leader pike said to the partridges:
- Let's end the war! Fly wherever you want, feed whatever you want!
Since then, the arrows of partridges in the backs of pikes have turned into fork-shaped bones, and the arrows of pikes in the legs of partridges have become fused sinewy bones.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru