Critters of the Forests

Critters of the Forest

By

B.D. Adams © 2012

         Forests are full of all kinds of “critters.” Big critters, odd shaped critters, those on the ground and those in the air, in water and on land, some with fur and some with no fur ... all kinds of critters.

        In The Forest, everything a critter would want is available. There’s a nice pond to drink from and to swim in; with a small, cool waterfall to breathe better; a sunny patch to bathe in the beautiful sunlight for warmth and to dry off; plenty places to create dens to live in ... from the large critters to the smallest. All matters of nourishment are every-where, as well.
        Only a few meat-eating animals, Nastys, are welcomed! The only Nastys that are truly allowed into The Forest are the ones who do their hunting outside The Forest and stay to themselves. Those animals are only allowed to drink from the pond, and then go on about their business. A good separation.
        Most of The Forest critters have their leaders. Some leaders had been in charge for long periods ... most died of old age. Those critters left without a leader would be sad until they voted on a new leader. The Nastys were not allowed to vote ... they voted in their own elections far away in the Other Forest.
         As usual, some critters would try to waggle some kind of control over the Burro family, who had joined The Forest eons before. Because they are big and make a horrible noise when riled, they had become an important deterrent against the Nastys outside The Forest. For many, many years, the Burros served The Forest!
         Recently, however, the Geckos and Newts were in a stigma because both their leaders had died! The Geckos had already begun their nominations for their new leader.
         The Newts had decided to approach the Geckos with a novel idea.
         Leroy, the spokes-Newt, suggested to Glov, the spokes-Gecko, that the two species should join ... have more power. That would simplify their procedures ... make things go more ... fairly.
        “We can offer the Burros extra to battle more for us ... combine our forces and when those darned Ravens begin to attack us, we can fight them off. That’s how we lost our leader, you know,” Leroy said, as he remained half in and half out of the pond.
        Glov lay on a sunlit leaf and pondered this idea. “I like the idea of a stronger union ... but ...,” he hesitated.
       “But ... what?” Leroy asked impatiently.
       “But ... what more can we offer the Burros? We offer all we can, as it is. We clean their hooves and ears of parasites. My critters cannot drag the food they eat because we’re too small. I refuse to clean ... ahem ... under their tails,” Glov stated piously.
        Leroy pondered this question. He hadn’t considered this problem ... and he
wanted to be voted the “Leader of the Forest!” So, he pondered.
         While these little fur-less critters discussed these ideas, neighboring critters began to listen.
         “What’s going on with those two,” Ricky Squirrel asked.
         “Not sure,” replied Mac Chipmunk.
         “They want change,” Lady Frog suggested, as she hopped onto a lily pad.
         “Change!” Mac Chipmunk guffawed.
         “Yes,” Pat Packrat chattered, “They want to steal the Burros from the rest of us!”
         “No!” croaked Lady Frog.
         “What are you griping about? They’d be more on you side ... you amphibian!!!” Ricky Squirrel nastily said.
         “Glov is not an amphibian ... he’s a ... lizard!” shuddered Lady Frog.
         “And would you fight for us?” Pat Packrat demanded of Ricky.
         “If anyone needs a change, we need change. Our leader is always giving into those squirrels!” Mac Chipmunk whined. Then, he scampered to a group of chipmunks and they began to voice their grievances to each other.
         Ricky Squirrel, being irritated with the chipmunk’s accusations of their leader, hopped to a group of other squirrels! They were louder than the chipmunks!
         Then, the frogs croaked their protests that the salamanders were given more considerations over the other amphibians!!
         And, so it went. Even the species of birds made loud their protests!! So, it went for several hours ...
         Finally, all the critters got quiet and just looked at the old oak tree.
         Ted, the Owl ... the oldest and wisest critter (even though he was a meat-eater) perched on a low branch of the ancient oak tree.
        “What’s going on here?” the Owl queried.
        With his question, all the critters began their raucous, unpleasant yammering again!
        The wise old bird shook his big head and only said, “Tsk ... tsk.”
        The critters noticed the Owl’s quiet remark. Everyone got quiet, as well, to better hear the old bird.
       “Listen ... listen to what’s around you,” Ted said pointedly. “Can you hear all the Nastys, who want what you have?”
      The Forest critters began to listen more closely. They heard it ... they heard the sounds of anticipation. It was a growl, a low chuckle from all the Nastys in the Other Forest. They were just biding their time before attacking The Forest.
     “You can hear it ... yes,” Ted ruffled his feathers. “Do you really want “them” to take over because of your bickering? The Burros are here for all of you!”
     The chipmunks, squirrels, frogs, salamanders and different birds just hung their heads in shame. The old Owl was correct.
     All the critters went back to their daily routines. The fighting was over ... the elections would go on as before. Leroy Newt was immediately censored.

             The moral of this Fable is ... be careful what you wish for ... you could lose your ass!!