In the ancient days when the world was still young and the boundaries between animal and human territories were not yet firmly drawn, there existed a bustling town inhabited entirely by the creatures of the wild. This was no ordinary settlement, for here lived Unyunge the Shrew Mouse and Po the Lemur, two neighbors whose friendship would soon be tested by an extraordinary quest that would forever change their appearances.
The town of Beasts hummed with activity during the daylight hours, but as evening approached, a profound darkness would settle over the community. Unlike their human neighbors in distant settlements, the animals possessed no fire to chase away the shadows or warm their homes during the cool nights. They huddled together in the darkness, sharing body warmth and telling stories to pass the long, cold hours until dawn would break once again.
It was during one particularly chilly evening, as the two friends sat shivering in Lemur’s dwelling, that Po voiced what many animals had been thinking. His large, already prominent eyes reflected what little starlight filtered through the window as he turned to his smaller companion.
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“Unyunge, my friend,” Lemur said, his voice carrying both hope and desperation, “we cannot continue living in this endless darkness and cold. The humans in their distant town possess the secret of fire, that magical flame that brings light and warmth. Would you consider undertaking a journey to bring us this precious gift?”
Shrew Mouse, despite his diminutive size, possessed a courageous heart that beat strongly within his tiny chest. He looked up at his much larger neighbor, his small black eyes twinkling with determination. The weight of his community’s needs pressed upon his shoulders, but he felt ready to bear that burden.
“Yes, Po,” Shrew replied without hesitation, his voice squeaking slightly with emotion, “I will go and retrieve fire for our people. But I must ask something crucial of you in return.”
Lemur leaned forward, his hands clasped together in anticipation, ready to agree to any condition that might secure their salvation from the cold darkness.
Shrew’s expression grew serious as he continued, “If I undertake this dangerous journey, you must promise me this: do not look toward any other place except the exact path on which I travel. Keep your eyes fixed solely on my route, watching for my return. Do not even allow yourself to wink or blink unnecessarily. Your constant vigilance may be the thread that guides me safely home.”
The gravity of this request was not lost on Lemur, who nodded solemnly and placed his hand over his heart. “I give you my solemn word, dear friend. My eyes shall remain fixed upon your path until you return safely to our town.”
With this sacred promise made, Shrew Mouse set out on his perilous journey toward the distant human settlement. His tiny paws carried him swiftly across the landscape, through tall grasses that towered above him like a forest, over streams that seemed like rivers to his small frame, and past obstacles that would have been mere pebbles to larger creatures but presented significant challenges to him.
After traveling for what felt like an eternity, Shrew finally reached the outskirts of a human town. However, as he cautiously approached the first dwelling, an eerie silence greeted him. The houses stood empty, their doors hanging open, personal belongings scattered about as if the inhabitants had fled in great haste. The entire population had mysteriously emigrated, leaving behind only the hollow shells of their former homes.
Undeterred by this unexpected development, Shrew pressed onward through the ghost town. His determination burned as brightly as the fire he sought, driving him from house to house in his relentless search. Each dwelling he entered revealed the same story: abandoned hearths, cold chimneys, and no trace of the precious flames he desperately needed.
House after house yielded nothing, and Shrew began to feel the weight of potential failure pressing down upon his small shoulders. His community was counting on him, and Lemur was faithfully maintaining his vigil, eyes trained on the path of his return. The thought of disappointing them spurred him forward even as exhaustion began to creep into his tiny limbs.
Finally, just as hope was beginning to fade, Shrew discovered a small miracle in what appeared to be the last house on the settlement’s edge. There, nestled in the cold ashes of a hearth, lay a few barely glowing embers, the faintest suggestion of warmth and light that remained from a fire long since abandoned.
Shrew’s heart leaped with joy, but he quickly realized that these dying embers would need careful nurturing to become the flame his people needed. Positioning himself close to the hearth, he began to blow gently on the embers, coaxing them back to life with patient, steady breaths.
The work proved far more challenging than he had anticipated. The embers were stubborn, barely responding to his efforts. Blow after blow he delivered, his small lungs working tirelessly as he puffed air onto the reluctant coals. Minutes stretched into hours as he maintained his vigil over the slowly brightening embers.
The constant blowing began to take its toll on Shrew’s delicate features. With each breath he expelled, with each concentrated effort to fan the flames, his mouth and nose were gradually pushed forward by the force and repetition of his actions. The muscles and cartilage of his face slowly extended, reshaping his once typical rodent features into something entirely new.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of effort, a small but steady flame sprang to life. Shrew carefully gathered this precious fire, protecting it from any breeze that might extinguish his hard won prize, and began the long journey home.
When he finally returned to the town of Beasts, he found Lemur exactly where he had left him, but something remarkable had occurred during his absence. Po sat perfectly still, his eyes trained precisely on the path as promised, but those eyes had grown tremendously large. The constant, unblinking vigilance, the strain of keeping watch without rest for such an extended period, had permanently enlarged his eyes to extraordinary proportions.
As Shrew approached with the precious fire, both friends stared at each other in amazement. Shrew, noticing his friend’s transformation first, asked with genuine curiosity, “Po, what has made your eyes grow so remarkably big?”
In return, Lemur gazed at his friend’s dramatically altered appearance and asked with equal wonder, “Unyunge, what has so lengthened your mouth and nose into such an unusual snout?”
Both friends realized simultaneously that their shared sacrifice and dedication to their community’s welfare had permanently transformed them, giving them the distinctive features that would be passed down to all their descendants.
Moral Lesson
This tale teaches us that dedication and sacrifice in service of others can transform us in unexpected ways. Both friends were willing to endure personal hardship for the greater good, and their physical changes became permanent reminders of their selfless commitment. True friendship involves keeping promises and supporting each other through difficult challenges, even when the cost is significant.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who are the main characters in this African origin folktale? A: The main characters are Unyunge the Shrew Mouse and Po the Lemur, two animal neighbors living in the town of Beasts who work together to obtain fire for their community.
Q2: What important promise did Lemur make to Shrew Mouse before the journey? A: Lemur promised to watch constantly without looking anywhere else except the path Shrew would take, keeping his eyes fixed on the route without even winking until Shrew returned safely.
Q3: How did Shrew Mouse’s appearance change during his quest for fire? A: Shrew Mouse’s mouth and nose extended into a long snout from constantly blowing on the dying embers to rekindle the fire, permanently reshaping his facial features.
Q4: What caused Lemur’s eyes to become extraordinarily large in this folktale? A: Lemur’s eyes grew large from maintaining constant, unblinking vigilance while watching for Shrew’s return, straining them by keeping them wide open for an extended period without rest.
Q5: What does this African folktale explain about animal characteristics? A: This origin story explains how shrews developed their characteristic long, pointed noses and how lemurs acquired their distinctively large eyes through acts of dedication and sacrifice.
Q6: What cultural values does this folktale emphasize about community and friendship? A: The story emphasizes values of selfless service to community, keeping promises to friends, perseverance through difficult challenges, and how personal sacrifice for others creates lasting positive change.
