Fanneci and The Frightful Bird

Deep in the forest where all things are as they should be, along came a fox, minding its own business. Yet this was not any ordinary fox, as this was the most clever of all. Fanneci was his name, and he had a knack for causing and getting into trouble. But unlike most foxes, Fanneci often did it with a kind heart, seeking to help others with his tricks and sly words when he came across them. One day, while he was walking through the forest, he suddenly heard a faint distress call of a bird chirping from above him in a tree. Using a rock to get a better look, he found a young hatchling still in its nest, but there were no signs of its mother. " Tell me, little bird, why do you cry? Where is your mother, who is meant to care for you? Ask Fanneci about the little bird. The little bird, noticing the fox, cried out, "My mother has left me all by my lonesome and do not expect her to return for me, no matter how much I cry." Fanneci was puzzled by the little birds' words as he knew that mother birds never abandoned their nests when they had chicks to raise.   Yet looking at the little bird, he realized that its feathers had come in and it could fly on its own, meaning the little bird's mother had done its job and no longer needed to take care of it. "I can see why she did such a thing, you're old enough to leave your nest and fly out into the world, your mother cannot care for you anymore when she needs to look after herself." Exclaimed Fanneci. The little bird continued to cry, "I know that all too well, you intrusive fox, my siblings knew that as well and have long since left me, being tired of my crying." This only confused Fanneci even more, as nothing seemed to be wrong with the bird at all; it did not appear to be injured or weak. " Then why pray tell, little bird, have not gone to join them in the sky with all other birds he asked. The bird hesitated at first, but finally cried out, "Because I am afraid to fly, as I have never done it before. Fanneci was baffled by what he just heard: a bird that is afraid to fly, which is as ridiculous as a fish that doesn't know how to swim. He tilted his head at these ridiculous birds; his ears twitched with a sign of annoyance. “Did your mother peck your head one too many times, you silly bird? All birds fly, and they know how to when they finally leave their parents' nest. What makes you so different from the rest? The little bird began to shiver at the thought, but it is so high up, and I don’t want to fall if I can’t flap my wings fast enough. Fanneci was just left dumbstruck by such a thought, a bird being afraid of flying, as if it would plummet to the earth like a stone; he would have to change that, wouldn't he? Well, you might be right about that little bird, Fanneci smirked. You look rather plump to flap those wimpy wings of yours. The little bird stopped shivering and turned towards Fanneci angrily. I'm not that fat, I eat as much as any other bird, the little bird said accusingly.   Oh, sure you are, and your feathers are sickly; either look at them, you'd have your feather fall right out as you started flying, he said coyly. This just made the bird angrier. My feathers are fine, you blind fox, I keep them clean all day long. Fanneci just mischievously smiled at the bird, and that was all that was needed to have him lose his temper completely. You are a foolish fox that knows nothing about birds, and if you dare come up here, look closer. And that was what he wanted to hear, as Fanneci, using the rock he was sitting on, jumped onto the branch, causing it to shake and making the slight bird panic slightly. Oh my way, are you doing your stupid fox? The bird cried out . Fanneci only grinned wider, his tail flicking as he steadied himself on the swaying branch. “What am I doing? Why, nothing at all. Just seeing if those fine feathers of yours are truly as strong as you claim. But, oh dear, the branch seems rather shaky, doesn’t it? Almost as if it might give way at any moment…” The little bird fluffed up in fright, hopping from one clawed foot to the other. “You vile creature, stop it at once!” it chirped, though there was more fear than fury in its voice. With a sly tilt of his head, Fanneci leaned closer, his eyes gleaming. “If you never test your wings, little one, you’ll never know if they’ll catch you. And when the branch breaks—as all branches do in time—you’ll have no choice but to fall.” He gave the limb one last bounce, and with a startled cry, the bird toppled forward, wings flailing. For a heartbeat, it seemed the hatchling would crash to the forest floor. But instinct overcame fear, and its wings spread wide, catching the air. It fluttered clumsily, then steadied, then soared in a shaky circle above the trees. Fanneci chuckled to himself, lying back on the branch as though he had planned it all along. “There now,” he muttered under his breath, “not every trick is for mischief. Some are to remind the world what it was made for.” With the bird, the bird flew off, wishing to escape this crazy fox, and Fanneci, seeing his work was done, went back to his stroll, but to where even he did not yet know, there was always someone in need, and Fanneci did not know how to put on a good show.