Miirihss and Little Worm

A Yahgahn Fable

A long time ago, there was a Duenicallo named Miirihss who never did anything if she didn’t feel that it would be of any benefit to her. Everything she did was done because she felt it useful.

One day, a tiny Grahbahscia worm was trapped in the strong jaws of a predatory vine plant. It called out for help, for it knew that as soon as the plant was truly hungry, it would eat him. Seeing Miirihss, he called out to her, pleading for her to help him.

“And why should I help you, Little Worm?”

“Because it is the right thing to do?”

“I do nothing unless I feel it to be somehow useful for me.”

“I… I might be able to save you someday.”

Miirihss laughed, rolling on the ground. When she finally stopped laughing, she said, “What could a Little Worm possibly do for a big Duenicallo?”

“I do not know yet, but I would pay back any debts I owed you in any way I can.”

“Well, Little Worm, you have given me such a laugh today that I will free you, if that is what you wish. I have not laughed so in a long time.”

And so she bit off the set of jaws that the Little Worm was trapped in, thus freeing the worm. The Little Worm crawled away, and as he did, he said, “I will never forget your kindness! I will repay you some day, I hope.”

Miirihss walked away, chuckling to herself.

Many, many months passed, and Miirihss finally forgot about the Little Worm she had saved. It had been good for a chuckle for many days, but soon grew to be an old joke in her mind, so she forgot.

But one day, Miirihss was hunting, and she got so worked up about the chase—which was the most exiting she’d had in ages—that she got stuck between two close-together trees. Surprised at first, she tried to wriggle free. Not being able to do this, she began to yowl, calling out for help.

Hours passed, and still she called for help. Finally, a Little Worm came up to where her face was, and spoke.

“Hello. Do you remember me?”

Miirihss looked confused. “No. Should I?”

“I am the Little Worm you saved many months ago from the jaws of a predatory vine plant.”

“Oh yes, now I remember. What do you want?”

“You called for help. I am here to help you.”

She snorted. “How could you help me?”

“You are stuck. I will unstick you.”

“Right. Whatever.” She said.

But the Little Worm was determined to help her. He crawled up to where she was stuck as fast as he could, and began to work. She could not see what he was doing, but she tried to look anyway. After many hours and a feeling of something wet on her fur, Miirihss finally was able to wriggle free of the two trees. She bowed her head to the Little Worm.

“Thank you, Little Worm, for your help. I know not what you did, but had it not been for you, I fear that I would have starved to death stuck in that tree like I was. Thank you.”

“You are welcome. If ever you need help again, I will be there for you. Oh, and I freed you by creating much slime in the areas that you were stuck. This slime then made you slippery enough to get out of the trees, for these trees do not have teeth, like that vine did.”

“Again, I thank you, friend. Do you have a name?”

“Alas, I do not. Everyone just calls me ‘Little Worm’ all the time.”

“Well, then, I shall give you a name I feel you deserve, for being so kind and helpful. Your name shall be Grahbahscia, meaning ‘Life-saver.’ ”

And that is how the Grahbahscia worm got its name, and why they are so revered amongst Trelli and Duenicallo. If ever you see such a worm trapped by a predator, help it.

The moral of this story is that no act of kindness goes un-rewarded. Be kind to others, and others shall be kind unto you.

The End