The Rabbit and the Crane

A long time ago, when animals could still speak, there was a very curious and adventurous rabbit. Rabbit would sit outside the burrow late into the evening, even when Mother Rabbit told him to come inside because it was past his bedtime. Like most little rabbits, Rabbit wouldn't listen to his mother, and he would continue to sit outside. He was particularly interested in watching the moon rise up into the sky.

One day, Rabbit decided he would visit the moon and ride on its back as it went across the sky. Thinking nothing of her son's curiosity, Mother Rabbit agreed to her little rabbit's adventure. Excited, Rabbit ran off across the moor to find a way up into the sky and to the moon. Watching the sky, Rabbit knew that birds could fly very high up and was determined to find a bird who would take him.

However, when Rabbit asked all of the birds to take him up to the moon, they all laughed at him. Owl told him that the moon was too high up and that he was too heavy for them to carry. Discouraged, Rabbit went to the nearby pond to cry. Hearing his cries, Crane flew down to him, settling down beside the sad rabbit. Asking why he was so sad, Rabbit told her that no bird would fly him up to the moon.

Crane was sad that none of the birds would take the curious rabbit to the moon, and so she decided that she would take him up. Holding onto her legs tightly, Crane started her ascent to the moon, Rabbit holding on tightly. It took a long time, but Crane never gave up, and soon they were both on the moon. Rabbit had been so heavy though that Crane's legs had stretched and she now towered over the small rabbit. She bent down to look at Rabbit, whose paws were bleeding from holding on so tightly. Patting her head in thanks, the blood from his paws stained the white feathers of Crane's head, turning them bright red.

Now, Rabbit continues to ride on the moon, and Cranes have long legs and red on their heads.