“Daaaaaaad! Dad dad dad dad dad!”
“Shhhh Sam, it’s not even light out yet! Want to scare the elk away before we even see any?”
“No…..”
“It’s just a bit further. Here, let me take your gun and you shimmy on up that ladder. There you go, easy now, stay quiet. Alright, scoot over and I’ll sit on the edge.”
“Hey Dad?”
“What buddy?”
“I’m bored. And cold. And I don’t want to go hunting.”
“Just wait, I promise – Shhhhh! Look Sam!”
“Ohhhh! What do I do?”
“Just leave it; look at how beautiful it is! Ah, there is goes. Look at that. Back to his family I bet!”
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Why do elk have such big antlers? Like, doesn’t it seem like it would bend your head over?”
“Well, it’s kind of a long story kiddo….
Back before any man had even set foot in the Americas, when the forests grew wild and untamed, and survival of the fittest existed in its rawest form, the elk had bare heads. This meant they had little protection against big predators and the herds were quickly dying down. So one day, one brave elk, after witnessing his brother be killed by wolves, decided to sneak away from the herd and find a way to save his family. He wandered for days through the woods, running and hiding from predators, until, eleven days later, he accidentally stumbled into a hole and twisted his ankle. Bellowing in pain, he resigned himself to his fate and sat, waiting for the end to come.
However, the elk was in luck! Up popped a little field mouse, all cute and grey and miniscule.
“Whatcha doing?” piped the mouse.
“Waiting to die,” moped the elk.
“Well... I can help with that!” squeaked the little mouse.
“Yeah right,” replied the elk, “because it’s not like I’m a million times bigger than you.”
But just as he said this, the little mouse began to scuttle around, weaving together grasses and leaves until he had formed a bandage he wrapped around the ankle.
“Wow, that actually does feel better! Thanks little guy. I’ll just head on home now, I’ve done enough damage without accomplishing anything. Want a life? Climb on and I’ll get you back,” said the elk.
“Thanks!” exclaimed the mouse, and he scampered up until he was sitting on the elk’s shoulder as they slowly made their way through the forest. “What were you doing so far out here anyways?”
“Long story...” sighed the elk. “Basically, the same horrible things happening everywhere are happening to the elk. I came out in search of something to help us protect ourselves.”
“Hmmmm that’s tough. I’m pretty sure the only reason I’m still alive is because I’m so small that they don’t even see me!” said the mouse. “Oh wait, I have an idea!”
“Oh yeah? And what’s that?” questioned the moose sarcastically. “Unless you happen to know some mystical giant creature willing to protect the herd, we’re out of options.”
“No, silly!” squealed the mouse, “We’ll just get you your own protection!”
“What do you mean?” replied the elk.
“Well, a few months ago I was foraging for some berries and nuts and just little goodies to bring home to my family, when suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, these wolf pups appear and start chasing me around like I’m some sort of toy! So, of course I hop away as fast as a can, and who do I run into, but a beaver!
This beaver saw my plight and quickly ushered me into this lodge. However, we could still hear the pups scratching away away at the roof.
Seeing my anxiety and knowing I’m a chewer, the beaver pulled out a fresh branch and we both got to gnawing.
“You know,” he said, “I remember a time when things weren’t this bad. The water had always been safe - I could swim out in the open and build as many dams as I wanted, but then, one day, everything changed. I was swimming to my latest project, when out of no where I heard this huge splash behind me. It was bigger than any fish, and I was used to only myself and the fish inhabiting this waterway. Startled, I turned around, and what should I see, but a huge dog head sticking out of the water moving towards me! It was a wolf! They had previously stuck to the land, but now it seemed my precious territory was at risk.”
“What did you do?” I asked.
“The only thing I could,” he replied, “I slapped my tail, dove under water, and swam as quickly as I could back to my lodge! Since then, I’ve only ventured out when resources are at a minimum, which is why I was out and happened to find out. It’s those darn pups, they’re so unpredictable!”
“Well, I cannot thank you enough for saving me!” I squeaked. “I’m quickly discovering, as you’ve found, what it’s like to live in constant fear. Hey, look what all this nervous chewing turned out!”
Looking down, I saw that, out of nerves, we had chewed the bark off the branch until it was completely smooth, and each successive limb was at a point. We laughed at it then, but now that I think about it, I think the prongs could offer some protection!”
“Really?” questioned the elk. “But how could I carry it? Hooves don’t really allow for much holding.”
“Maybe we could strap it to you somehow!” exclaimed the mouse. “Here, turn here, and I’ll get it.” So he scampered down off the elk’s back and ran to the beaver hut, quickly returning dragging the elaborately carved branch.
“We could tie it to your back,” said the mouse.
“But you’re riding there,” retorted the elk.
“Oh right. Hmmm where else could it go?” asked the mouse.
The elk replied, “What if we just stick it to my head?”
“Good thinking! Oh wait, one branch is too heavy, let me quick chew it in half so we can try to balance it,” thought the mouse.
So the mouse quickly split the branch into two pieces and secured them to the elk’s head with a vine. The elk thanked the mouse and they headed off.
On their journey back, something incredible happened! It was as if the branches grew into the elk’s head, and became attached. Over time, more and more elk adopted the practice after discovering the prongs frightened off predators. And that, kiddo, is why the elk have antlers.”
“Well jeez Dad, I hope you don’t expect me to believe all of that!”
“Oh come on now Sam, I swear it’s real!”
“Whatever Dad, but shhhhh! Look, here comes another one!”
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