The Bamboo And The Boar

Balthazer0
Jul 3, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Jul 5, 2020

by Balthazar M.

A boar once lived in a forest well-known for being a hunting ground frequented by men. One summer day, as the boar was looking for something to eat, he heard rustling and footsteps in the distance. A single thought flashed in the boar's mind: A huntsman! Not taking any chances, he quickly ran to the opposite direction from the noise, and looked frantically for somewhere to hide. He has seen firsthand the brutality of these men. All his brothers have been captured, killed, or eaten by them. Oh yes, he knew their ruthlessness all too well. And he also knew that he will not die today.

He ran as fast as his short legs could carry him.

No matter where the boar turned, the frantic sound of boots against the undergrowth seemed to be getting closer and closer. As he entered a glade in the forest, the boar spotted, in all its glory, a cluster of bamboo in the middle of the clearing. His saving grace! He closed the distance in no time and wildly pleaded with the bamboo, 'Please hide me in your stalks. My friend, I will die if you don't!'

The bamboo bowed silently to listen to the boar's pleas, and without further question, she gently opened her stalks. The boar scurried inside the safety of her branches; and, just as the bamboo resettled in her peaceful pose, the huntsman burst through the clearing.

He looked around, expecting a cornered boar quivering in fear. Alas, there was not a boar in sight! All the while, the bamboo swayed serenely with the wind erasing all suspicion. The huntsman eyed the scene one more time; and, with heavy disappointment, went back to look for other beasts to hunt in the forest.

As peace settled once more on the surrounding wood, the bamboo opened her many branches to let the boar out. The boar breathed a heavy sigh of relief, absolutely thankful for surviving another day.

Unbeknownst to him, a spectator from above the bamboo's branches watched everything unfold. A snake slithered down her perch; and, with a whisper heavy with poison and honey, said, 'Such a mus-s-scular beas-s-st. It's a shame that you don't us-s-se your strength to defend yourself. Instead, you crawl under the skirt of the weakes-s-st tree in the forest! No wonder your kind does not s-s-survive for long. A breed of cowards-s-s...'

The boar immediately stiffened at the heinous insult. Blood rushed in his head as he forgot his close brush with death just moments before and was overcome with uncontrollable anger from the unjust mention of his brothers. He blindly charged at the snake with the wicked tongue. The snake, quick as a wink, pulled herself up out of harm's way.

The boar struck the bamboo instead; the bamboo groaning as her branch bent precariously, broken and hurt. The boar, still filled with rage, hasn't noticed what he has done. Instead, he proceeded to charge again. Strike after strike, he sharpened his tusks against the wood.

'I will kill you, I will kill any hunter who crosses my path! My legs are strong, my tusks deadly! I will not hide!'

The snake slithered safely away in the commotion. She watched from a distance as the boar tore the poor bamboo stalk by stalk. Eventually, murder faded from the boar's heart, and clarity returned to his eyes. Before him lay a horrifying realization; the bamboo laid in pieces on the ground-- no stalks remained standing. Unable to bear the sight, the boar took off into the forest consumed with guilt and grief.

Meanwhile, the huntsman heard the commotion of wood breaking, and decided to head back whence he came. He found the destroyed bamboo in the middle of the glade. Figuring that he was actually hunting a stronger beast capable of such destruction, he picked up a particularly sharp branch of the bamboo, quickly honed its tip, and swiftly headed to the direction the boar went.

The confused boar, still wandering aimlessly, did not hear the huntsman approach. A second later, he felt an explosion of pain at his side. He tried to run and escape but it was too late. He was grievously injured and could not take another step. Hearing death whispering in his ear, he shrieked his despair and pain. Horror dawned on him as he looked at the long piece of bamboo stuck deep inside his haunches as the hunter emerged from the brush, eager to finish his hunt.