The Bear and the Eagle (A Fable)

One day Bear was walking along the river's edge, looking for a good spot to fish for salmon.  The spawning season was almost over, a few of the weaker fish were still struggling to get upstream and he figured to scoop up the exhausted ones resting in the shallows.  Bear founds a good spot and waded into a small pool alongside the rapidly flowing current.  He soon had his breakfast and was working on mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and supper (he obviously did not believe in the numerous small meals concept) when, looking up he noticed Eagle soaring overhead, riding the thermals as the heat of the day met the cool of the water.  Bear took little notice of Eagle, for he was Lord of the Forest and ,though the Lord of the Air dipped his wings in acknowledgement, he did not bow his head in respect nor raise a paw in greeting.  He continued seeking his repast and soon scooped up another salmon, tossing it over his head towards the shore.
     Before the salmon could land, Eagle swooped down and snatched the prize out of the air and placed it in the branches of a nearby tree.  Bear roared his surprise and anger and yelled to Eagle, "Ho there, Bird, "(not using the respectful title due Eagle but the common vulgar greeting) "what do you think you're doing?".  Eagle replied, "Forgive me, Lord, but was not Brother Salmon still in the air? That is my domain and therefore the meal is mine".  Bear smiled and said slyly, " But mighty Eagle, there is so much air - from the moon to the Earth is yours to command. Leave me the hard ground and the freezing water".  Eagle swooped slowly past Bear, rolling on his back as he did and said, "And now you command the water also?  Did the oldest of us, Lord Crocodile, abdicate his throne and leave you Lord of the Water in his stead and not his son?".  "Cha, said Bear, " Lord of the Water!  Lord of our fresh water hatchery is more like it.  I should be named Emperor of the Earth and you to should be lesser lords to assist me and carry out my commands".
     Eagle now swooped very quickly, extending his right wing tip as he rolled, brushing Bear's nose as he past and said, " Let me go unto Brother Crocodile and request his presence at this meeting and perhaps he can help settle this disagreement".  "Yes", said Bear, " Summon him to me.  I think it is time we settled this once and for all".
     Eagle soared upward in a flash and Bear saw him off in the far distance in just a few seconds.  Bear sat down in the pool and continued his repast.   Not too much later Eagle returned and said, "Brother Bear, Brother Crocodile is on his way to thee as we speak.  He humbly requests we meet him downstream a pace below the falls.  He gently reminds thee he is the oldest by far and is not up to the torturous journey to the spawning grounds.  He has been on the Earth so long he does not even remember how he came to this place from the swamps way to the south".  So Bear, grumbling, started downstream to the falls.   "Senile old fool", said Bear as he arrived, " I hear all he does all day is lie on the sand and sun himself, talking about the foolish dinosaurs who strayed too far from water in there haste to evolve".
     "This is true", said Crocodile rising up from the water, all 30 feet of him floating lazily on the water.  "But i have learned a few thing throughout the millennia, not the least of which is respect. Good day, Lord of the Forest, how fare you?".  "Old Croc", said Bear, "I have decided to name myself Emperor of the Earth and I want you and Eagle to be my lords to help me rule my land".  "Your domain is the Forest, said Crocodile, " how can your rule all the earth as well as the sky and water?  Another thing i have learned over the ages (Bear sighed noticeably and rolled his eyes heavenward) is to know one's place.   I would never presume to become lord of all".  Bear answered, " that is because you cannot be too far from your precious water and you could not survive in my forest".  Eagle swooped past again and said, "nor like you could he he with me to the clouds but let us not talk out here.  Let us cross over to the island and talk there".
     Bear said, "How am I to cross?".  Eagle said, Jump over the chasm at the falls bottom".  "Are you mad", said Bear, " I cannot fly over that breach".  "Swim", said Crocodile.  "And be caught up in the whirlpool?", said Bear, "The water is far too deep and the fallen trees would surely trap me!". "Here, Lord, let me help", said Crocodile and he swung his might tail around like a whip, smote a huge tree on the bank and send it crashing down over the river, making a bridge for Bear to cross.  It was lodged about 50 feet above the churning, whirling waters and rocks and logs at the bottom of the falls. 
     Bear started across, but about half way over the wet, moss covered tree he slipped and started to fall.  Bear managed to grab the log but now hung precariously above the falls as the tree rolled back and forth with each attempt he made to climb back on.  "Lord of the Air, help me!", cried Bear.  "Alas, old bear", said Eagle, " i could not bear your great weight into my domain, the air. Try to fly across the chasm".  Lord of the Water", roared Bear, "come extend your might tail so i might slide down to your back and be carried to safety".  "Young bear", said Crocodile, "Sadly, i am stuck here in the water.  I could never climb up to where my tail could reach you.  Jump and try to swim to safety".  Bear looked down at Crocodile and up at Eagle and said no more.  Soon even his might strength gave way and he plummeted to the water and his doom.
MORAL:  Know where you belong in the scheme of things.