Alone, the youthful son of Tae did stride,
Down the Ackleberry Forest's leafy path.
The dew yet glistened upon stubborn oaks,
Made by a burrowed acorn's aftermath.

By and by, the feet plodded on,
Through silky earth, nettles, and leaves, now dry.
When stopped, did they, once a soft noise arose
High above, in the vast ocean called "sky".

Ever so slowly, the bear's head turned up
Sighting a shadow against the sun's rays.
Larger, closer, more visible it grew
'Til a flit'ring trill bounced out of the haze.

"Norben!" sang out the cheery, youthful trill.
"How is it you move with naught but two feet?
'Tis faster to dart through the cool blue skies,
Than to wander in this treacherous heat.

"And Tae, though he may have been yet so wise,
Was certainly not by any means agile.
His sons now are forced to be plump and slow.
To trudge to Estelbar takes quite the while!

"What of your fur? I trust you to be warm.
Is there need whence this Tzarin month does come?"
Norben's brow furrowed. He looked at his friend.
Scratching his ear, he let out a low hum.

"You must understand, Yuln, the way things go!
Us bears were meant to walk on this hard ground.
For what is there in the depths of the sky?
A way to grow herbs has yet to be found.

"And why I am so hefty, you do ask.
I beg of you, Yuln, to budge that huge stone!
Strength always is better than naught but speed.
Easily, I could snap â€"any- trill's bones.

"As for my fur, 'tis not hard to discern.
While I sweat and burn in this arid time,
Come Estar, I am much better off than you!
Who flees for warmth at a Solstice bell’s chime.

"So really, Yuln, am I so wrong a tae'dae?
I miss nothing in the sky; most life lives here.
My arms be strong, what more can I ask of?
Trill? A tiny race of the lowest tier."

With that, the proud beast lumbered down the path,
Leaving a puzzled Yuln staring in awe.
Norben looked to his side, and, lacking strain,
Picked up the boulder with only one paw.