Guarani was a jaguar who lived in the jungles of South America long, long ago. She, like the rest of her people, was a beautiful tawny yellow, with no spots. Guarani considered herself special, though. For she was very vain and was a boaster. And, like many boasters, she could not do everything she said she could.
So, one day, the animals of the forest were having a jumping contest to see who could jump the highest. Guarani, who was also very lazy, sat beneath a great tree, lazing about and eating coconuts. Boar tried it, but, being very stocky, could not jump very high. Guarani yawned. Monkey tried, she was better, but still fell short of the desired 6 feet.
"Pitiful," Guarani said loudly, so that all could hear her. "Why, just the other day, I jumped for practice and touched the moon! You silly little animals are nothing compared to me."
Toucan, enraged, snapped back, "Yeah? Well let's see you
"Maybe I will!" she huffed back.
"Fine. If you can, do it now, so that all can see your greatness," said Toucan sarcastically. At this, Guarani shrank back, as she very well knew that she had not done,
"Well, you see, when I did it," Guarani started to whine, trying to do anything to get out of it, "I twisted my paw
"Oh, come on," said Boar, teasing. "Such a marvelous creature as you, the great Guarani, would not be stopped by a little twinge in the foot!" Boar could see that Guarani was weakening. "Besides, I know of a wonderful grove; one that has many kinds of fruits and berries, always ripe, always plenty, hanging in bunches just off the ground! I could show you such a place, if you were to touch the moon . . ."
Guarani could hold back no longer; even she could not say no to such a marvelous prize. So, she gritted her teeth and leaped off the ground, her powerful legs propelling her into the skies. When she was about halfway there, she thought, "Hey, this is easy! That grove is mine for sure . . ."
But just then, she stared to slow down. Frantic, she clawed at the stars, pushing them behind her for momentum. These stars fell to Earth and burned her People's beautiful coats. The Jaguars yelped and hid, and to this day, they stay to the shadows to hide their ruined coats.
Alas, Guarani never made it to the moon. She still tries, though. Every now and then, she will reach another star and send it shooting across the sky in her futile attempt to reach the moon. This is why the Jaguars will never eat the hated fruit, and why, to this day, they hunt down the boar to revenge for the shame he brought their clan many a year ago. |
