The Lion or the Wildcat

The beasts were preparing for a great assembly at which to choose their next king.  The candidates were a lion or a wildcat.  One bird spent all its time for many months of its short life flying back and forth all over the wild telling every critter it could find that the wildcat was a menace to birdkind and all small things.  The assembly happened, and perhaps in some small part due to the bird’s efforts, the animals chose the lion.

The bird flew back to its favorite tree.  Safe–but with no nest, no mate, and no younglings.

The bird died sad with no descendants.

The bird’s story got passed around.  Many years later when the lion died, the time came again for another assembly.  Another bird wisely decided to not squander its time.  During that whole season of preparation for the assembly, the bird found a mate, built a nest, and nourished its young.  One day the bird heard the assembly had happened and the wildcat was the new king of the beasts.  It shrugged and went about its business.

Another day it flew back to find its nest broken and its mate and younglings devoured.  The wildcat had done it.

The bird died sad with no descendants.