Week 2 Story: Snip Snap Fish Crab

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The pond had been the home for generations of fish. The pond had seen generations of schools, all swimming up to feel the warmth of the sun after being burrowed in eggs on the deep floor. As the years passed, the pond kept losing water, kept losing fish. What was once a booming pool of abundant creatures slowly became a warm puddle with fish that were slowly suffocating.

The wild crane, the old and cranky one near the bay, watch the water line dip lower and lower every year. Instead of working hard to catch a few fish every day in a deep pond, he waited. Patiently. He watched the waters evaporate from the now shallow pond and saw the booming schools of fish starting to panic. He smiled to himself, knowing his long-awaited moment was almost here.

"I don't know what much else we can do, sir," said Lole, the wisest fish in the pond.
"I've never seen anything like it," said Boe, the oldest fish in the pond. "My old eyes may not see, but I can feel myself suffocating. I can feel us all sinking."

The crane knew it was time on the hottest day of the summer. He flew over to the rushing river, dipping his beak into the fresh water and scooped some up in his mouth. He made his way back to the shallow water and waited until the fish stopped scurrying around his legs. Then he splashed the fresh, cool water right onto the fish.

Lole froze, unable to understand the sensation he hadn't felt in years.

"Crane, tell me now where you got that water. It has not rained cool water in weeks!."

The crane thoughts slowly, forming his words around the misunderstanding of the fish. They knew nothing but the pond. They had no clue of the outside rivers and lagoons swarming with life and swelling with water.

"Would you like to come see for yourself," asked the crane, causing an immediate uproar from the warm schools at his feet.
Despite the warnings, Boe swam forward to the crane.

"Take me there to see, " Boe declared. He turned to the fish and announced, "if I do not return, do not trust the bird."
The crane took the fish up gingerly in its beak and off they went.

The bird flew high over the river and lakes, but even the old fish's eyes see the fresh waters streaming down the marshy grass. Tears of joy fill his blurry eyes as they made their way back to the pond. Boa began to rejoice before he was even back in the water.

"It's true! It's true! Our salvation!"
The rest of the fish joined in his joy, hope growing in their hearts and fins.
"Now wouldn't you all like to move to the fresh, clean water now?"

"Of course," said Boe, the first to swim up to the bird again. "Take me first, for I don't have that long."

Boe's solemn words hung in the air as the crane nodded before scooping him up once more.

"I will return soon for the rest of you," announced the crane before taking off.

Boe felt the cool air again, a small smile appeared on the crane's beak.

"What amuses you," asked Boe.

"You," said the crane, before he opened his jaw and gulped down the weary, old fish.

He laughed heartily to himself before flying back to the shallow pond. The fish were elated to see him, ecstatic to jump into his beak to fly up to the bright sky and then down to his dim stomach.

The crane took his full time, picking up every fish to the alleged promise land before gulping them down whole. After checking every rock and weed in the shallow pond, he sat in the warm water. He smiled to himself, beaming with pride at his own work. Suddenly, he saw bubbles arise from the wet soil from the swampy pond flood. It startled him but he stayed as the young crab revealed himself.

"Hello, I'm Foly."

The crane nodded at him groggily, feeling the weight of his full stomach.

"I would like a ride. I heard what you said to the fish. The pond is becoming too rancid for me too. Please, sir, will you take me to the other waters?"

The crane giggled, looking at his fresh dessert and nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course, Foly, hop into my beak."

Foly hesitated, knowing that this stranger could not mean that well that quickly.

"May I hold onto your neck instead? So I know you cannot hurt me?"

The crane rolled his eyes but nodded.

"Fine."

Foly jumped on, pinching gently on the crane's neck as they began to fly. He flew with the bird with joy, seeing the fresh pond come into view. Yet it was empty. As the crane lowered himself down to the crab's new home, no fish came into view. Even after the cran had landed, Foly didn't let go.

"Where are all the fish? Did you bring them here? To the same pond?"

The crane chuckled, shaking his narrow head slowly.

"They all saw this beautiful pond. Before, of course, I swallowed them. What does it matter?"

The rage grew in the young crab's heart, year of memories of the fish flashing by him.

"They were my friends."

And then Foly pinched, letting his clipped slice through the crane's throat.

"And now I don't have any."

Author's Note:
Hello! I recently read the story "The Cunning Crane and the Crab" and I loved the idea of the trickster being tricked. After reimagining the storyline and, hopefully, added depth by describing the characters' emotions and motions.

Story Source:
The Giant Crab, and Other Tales from Old India by W. H. D. Rouse. Web Source.