The Fox and the Crow, Part Two

When Crow woke up, he remembered today was the day of The Gathering of the Animals.

The sun was well up, so he had missed much of it already. He sighed, and stretched his wings. Well, they were mostly boring anyway, so maybe it would be better to wander down to the river and see who else didn't go.

He checked Frog's house first. No one was home, but food was laid out for their return. He helped himself to a few flies before leaving. "Frog will never miss them," he thought.

He looked for Fish, but the river was empty. Snake's house was too small, but Beaver's was just right, though he never liked having to swim to get there. When he arrived, dripping, it was to an empty room - Beaver was also gone. Crow helped himself to a few tender berries and fresh leaves on the succulent twigs laid out for their meal. "They would want me to share in their bounty, as a good friend does," he muttered.

After another swim and having to dry his wings in the warm morning sun, Crow thought to visit Merganser. Again, the house was empty, and though he looked at the eggs lovingly tucked in their nest, he ate a few of the crayfish waiting on the table for their parents to come back. "They would want me to celebrate with them on their successful clutch," he said to himself.

He tried visiting with Eagle, but of course the fussy King of Birds would be at the gathering. He probably got up extra early to arrive promptly. Crow ate a few of the fish arranged in precise rows on the platter, thinking jealous thoughts.

Suddenly, Crow had a splendid idea! His old frenemy, Fox, would certainly be at the gathering! Fox was a clever lad, almost as clever as himself, and it grated on him that he had not been able to get one over on the sly sneak. Perhaps he should pay his friend a visit on this fine day!

No one answered Crow's knock on the door, and it swung open when he tried the knob. The hearth had a tidy banked fire, the floor was neatly swept, and the dressed table had a beautiful heap of glistening, fresh grapes.

Crow remembered. Ooohhhh, he remembered. He remembered the Grape Incident very, very clearly. The story was still told. He still couldn't sing properly without feeling shame.

Crow hopped on the table, mussing the tablecloth, and gobbled up the grapes as fast as his beak could snatch then up.

He was so engrossed in revenge that he didn't see the shadow creeping up on him from the other room.

Suddenly, SNAP! Crow squawked in surprise. His tail was sharply and painfully caught between the jaws of Fox!

Fox smiled, but didn't let go. It was muffled, but Crow could easily hear him through clenched teeth: "I sent Vixen. I thought you'd be up to something."

Crow squawked again, then flipped around and aimed his beak at Fox's eyes!

Fox let go, but the fight was on. They hurled insults at each other, they tipped the table, they ground the last of the grapes underfoot into a pulpy mess. The chairs were scattered and broken. The broom was used as a lance by one, then captured and used as a club by the other. They fought too close to the fire, and ashes joined the grape mash, tablecloth, and even the curtains in a sooty sticky mess.

But Crow got too close to the fire, and though banked, it flared enough to singe Crow's gray plumage. He said more Bad Words, but finally had a clear shot at the door, and took to his burnt wings to fly to freedom.

He landed in a tall tree outside to check for damage, while Fox sat below and snarled Even More Bad Words at him. Crow, though feeling quite sorry for himself, realized the damage they inflicted on the house more than paid Fox back for the old trick, and he laughed at Fox. "Ha! Ha! I finally got you back for making me drop those grapes! Ha! Ha!"

He laughed so hard that he forgot he had smoke in his lungs. Crow started coughing, and Fox was coughing too, because he got a snootful of fire as well in the fight. Which is why, today, Crow's whole body is black, but only Fox's muzzle is. But that is why Crow only seems to say "Ha! Ha!" nowadays, and Fox's singing sounds strange and otherworldly, like his voice hasn't recovered yet. Neither is quite healed from their dust-up, and neither will be, till they apologize and become real friends again.