Bison's Back

Originally posted to Shrubbery, 7 Sept 2003

Before Naapi put people on the prairie he first gave it to the animals. He showed them how to make homes in the grass since there were no trees, and then he left them to enjoy the world.

Most of the animals got along very well with each other and respected each other, but one felt that since he was so much bigger and faster than the others he didn't have to respect anyone. His name was Bison, and he was sleek and strong and fast. His friend (well, maybe more like a little brother who followed him around and didn't leave him alone) was Fox, and Fox just didn't really care what anyone thought of him.

Bison's favourite thing in the world was to run. When he was in the mood to run he'd tear across the plain at top speed, churning up the soil and not caring a lick for anything or anyone he might run into. And when Bison ran, you just knew that Fox would be bouncing along right behind him, cheering him on at the top of his voice and thinking it was the best game ever.

The problem was, though, that when Bison ran he ran right over the other animals' homes in the grass. No matter how much they begged or reasoned with Bison, he'd just look down his nose at them and snort snobbishly. Sure enough, the next day he'd run right over the homes again with Fox bounding along behind.

When this had happened a few times, the animals decided they had to call on Naapi to help them. "Old Man," they cried, "please come save our homes for us."

Naapi came down and asked them what was wrong. Hadn't he given them the prairie for their very own, and hadn't he told them they should get along with each other? "Oh Naapi," they replied, "we've done everything you asked. We've taken time making our homes here on the prairie, but every time we build our homes Bison and Fox run right over them no matter how hard we plead with them." "Is that so," said Naapi. "I think that if Bison and Fox decide to run tomorrow I will have to watch them."

Sure enough, the next day Bison decided to go for another run. He pawed at the ground with his big hoofs, and Fox bounced with excitement beside him. Not pausing a moment to even think of the other animals, the two tore across the grassland... and straight over the rebuilt homes.

"Bison!" shouted Naapi. When Fox heard the voice he hid behind Bison, but Bison just stood there eyeing Old Man. "Bison," Naapi said, "why do you show such little respect for others? It's true I made you bigger and stronger than the other animals, but that also means you have more responsibility. Never destroy the homes again, or you will suffer for it." With that, Naapi left.

The animals hoped that Naapi's words would make a difference, but the next day Bison decided to go for another run. Fox was a little nervous, but when he saw that Bison wasn't scared of Old Man he soon felt fine about following along as he usually did, cheering at the top of his lungs. The two dashed across the grasslands, picking up speed... and ran right over the homes AGAIN.

This time Naapi didn't call out to Bison. He came down without warning and slapped Bison on the shoulders very, very hard. Bison winced with pain, and Fox tunnelled quickly into the ground so he wouldn't be hit as well.

"Did you not listen when I told you to respect the homes? If you can't listen to warnings, then you must be punished." Old Man raised his arm to slap Bison again, and Bison hunched up his shoulders to keep it from hurting so much. Suddenly, Naapi laughed. "It seems you've chosen your own punishment, Bison. Since you would not stand still to be hit but hunched up your shoulders, you and all of your children will have hunched up shoulders forever." And sure enough, every bison you meet to this day has hunched up shoulders.

Fox stayed quietly in his hole hoping Old Man hadn't seen him, but no such luck. "Fox," he said, "you too have chosen your punishment. You thought that Bison would protect you from the consequences of your actions, but when punishment came you ran and hid. Well, from now on you and your children must find your only protection in the ground you've hidden in." And sure enough, every fox that lives in the grassland to this day must dig holes in the ground for protection.

When the other animals saw that Bison and Fox had been punished, they rebuilt their homes and lived happy and free on the prairie. That is, they lived happy and free until Naapi decided to make people... but that's another story for another time.