Our story revolves around a legend told by the indigenous peoples of South America - the tale of a small hummingbird that once lived in the vast rainforest.
One day, a massive fire broke out in the forest, and all the animals fled in panic as the flames, relentless and terrifying, consumed everything in their path. The typically brave jaguar, overcome with panic, joined the exodus. The tapir slinked away to find a secure hiding spot, the turtle retreated into its shell, and the eagle soared high above, escaping the flames.
Amidst the chaos, the jaguar noticed the hummingbird flying overhead. However, it was heading towards the fire, in the opposite direction. This puzzled the jaguar, but without hesitation, he continued running. Soon, he saw the hummingbird flying by again, this time in the same direction as him. This repeated several times, prompting the jaguar to inquire about the peculiar behavior:
"What are you doing, hummingbird?" he asked.
"I'm flying to the small watering hole," replied the hummingbird. "I gather water in my beak and pour it onto the fire.”
“Why?” questioned the jaguar.
"Of course, to extinguish the flames," answered the hummingbird.
"You're crazy," exclaimed the jaguar, bewildered. "Do you believe you can extinguish the fire with your tiny beak alone?"
"No," replied the hummingbird. "I know I can't do it alone, but I must contribute my part."
The jaguar paused, watching the small bird tirelessly scoop water from a puddle into its beak and then fly back towards the encroaching fire, releasing tiny droplets into the roaring flames.
"Brave little thing," he thought, shaking his head before sprinting away from the approaching fire.
Suddenly, the tapir crossed his path.
"Where are you going?" the jaguar asked the tapir. "That's the wrong direction."
The tapir stared at the jaguar with wide eyes. "In that direction lies a large gorge; there's no way forward."
The jaguar hadn't fully understood what the tapir said when the caiman, in a panicked flight, burst through the undergrowth and nearly collided with the jaguar, who swiftly jumped aside.
"Stop!" shouted the jaguar. "You'll plunge into the gorge."
As if struck by lightning, the caiman stopped. Another crashing sound followed, and the capybara, in a wild dash, emerged from behind a bush, headed straight for the group. Once again, the jaguar narrowly avoided being run over, leaping aside. He had to warn of the gorge once more.
Now, the anaconda and the frogs also arrived. The forest animals had coincidentally gathered here, unable to escape the raging flames. They were trapped; there was no way forward or backward.
Panic broke out among the animals, followed by quarrels. No one knew what to do. The caiman remarked that the eagle was in the clear; all it needed to do was spread its wings, and it would be safe. It could even carry them one by one over the gorge, suggested the anaconda. "Never," hissed the jaguar. Besides, the eagle was too cowardly for that anyway.
The jaguar also considered himself lucky; he could simply jump across the gorge, the capybara jealously added.
The jaguar glared fiercely, and the flames of the approaching fire ominously reflected in his eyes. "Even I can't jump across the gorge; it's far too wide." He almost struck the capybara down in anger when the little hummingbird darted past him again.
The hummingbird buzzed with its wings in front of the jaguar, then zoomed to the capybara, the caiman, and finally to the anaconda. All the animals fell silent, staring at the tiny blue bird as it resumed its task of extinguishing the fire. It darted to the small puddle, collected water in its slender beak, hurried back to the approaching wall of fire, and sprinkled tiny droplets into the roaring flames.
"He'll never make it," the capybara said pitifully.
"No," said the jaguar. "But he's doing his part."
"I'll dig a trench, so the fire can't spread," said the capybara.
"I'll help you," said the caiman.
"I know of a larger water source," said the anaconda. "We'll help you bring the water," said the frogs. "We can't extinguish the fire, but perhaps we can hold it back until the trench is ready."
And so, the forest animals scattered, digging a trench, finding and carrying water. With combined efforts, they managed to hold back the flames long enough until the trench was complete, preventing the fire from spreading further.
The fire burned for a while, but it could no longer reach the forest animals. After several hours, a heavy rain began, finally extinguishing the flames.
Tired and exhausted, the forest animals sat together, watching as the raindrops slowly suffocated the last remaining embers.
The little hummingbird approached, settling in front of the jaguar on the rain-soaked ground. The jaguar extended his paw, sheltering the small hummingbird from the falling raindrops.
The jaguar smiled quietly. No, he thought, the little bird hadn't extinguished the fire, but he had saved us all from the raging flames.
Thus concluded the tale of the hummingbird, who, through devotion, inspired the forest animals to stand together for their home. The forest recovered, and the animals lived in peace and harmony, having learned that together, they could achieve anything.
