Once upon a time, there was a little mouse who loved listening to stories from the elders in his community. His favorite tale was about the mysterious Far Off Lands, a story that filled his dreams each night.
One day, the little mouse thought to himself, “I must see the Far Off Lands!” That very morning, he set out on his adventure. He traveled nearly all day, only stopping for rest, food, and drink. Then, he reached a riverbank, and his heart sank. “How will I ever get across this river?” he wondered.
Suddenly, a gravelly voice called out to him, “Don’t you know how to swim?” The mouse turned to see a frog among the cattails.
“Swim? What’s that?” asked the mouse.
The frog jumped into the water, kicking her legs. “This is swimming, silly!” she replied.
“Why do you want to cross the river?” she asked.
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“I’ve been dreaming of the Far Off Lands for nights. I have to see it!” the mouse explained.
“My name is Magic Frog,” said the frog. “I’ll help you. Bend down low and jump as far as you can.”
The mouse jumped and felt an unusual strength in his legs, allowing him to leap much farther than ever before.
“Thank you, Magic Frog! That medicine helped me!” exclaimed the mouse.
Magic Frog warned, “You will encounter many challenges, but if you keep hope alive, you’ll reach the Far Off Lands. You shall now be called Jumping Mouse.” She waved goodbye and hopped back into the cattails.
Jumping Mouse cleared the river with ease and continued on his journey, keeping Magic Frog’s words in mind. At night, he found a safe spot, dug a hole, and went to sleep.
The following day, he came across a vast prairie. As he walked, he stumbled upon what he first thought was a large boulder. As he approached, he realized it was actually a buffalo lying on the ground.
“My friend, why are you lying here like you’re dying?” asked Jumping Mouse.
“I am indeed dying,” said the buffalo. “I drank from a poisoned pool and lost my sight. I can’t find water or food. I’m just waiting for the end.”
Jumping Mouse replied, “I am Jumping Mouse. Magic Frog granted me some medicine powers. I can help. From now on, you shall be known as Eyes of a Mouse.”
At that moment, the buffalo blinked in surprise and joy. “Thank you, my small friend,” he said. “Climb onto my back, and I’ll carry you to the edge of the prairie.”
Jumping Mouse climbed on, and they made their way across the prairie. Upon reaching the edge, Eyes of a Mouse said, “I can go no further. How will you cross the mountains without your sight?”
Jumping Mouse responded confidently, “There will be a way; hope lives within me.” He waved goodbye and turned toward the mountains, eager to continue.
The next morning, Jumping Mouse awoke to sunshine and began to navigate the mountain path, using his other senses. Suddenly, he bumped into something soft—he had accidentally run into a wolf.
“H-h-hello? I’m Jumping Mouse. Who are you?” he stammered.
“I am a wolf,” came the reply.
“Why are you sitting here in the path?” asked Jumping Mouse.
The wolf sighed, “I used to be very proud and had a great sense of smell. Because of my pride, I lost that gift. Now, I can’t find food and will surely die.”
Feeling sorry for the wolf, Jumping Mouse said, “I have a little medicine left. Let me help you. I name you Nose of a Mouse.”
The wolf inhaled deeply and gasped in delight. “I can smell again!” he howled joyously, dancing in circles. While Jumping Mouse heard the wolf’s joy, he sadly realized that he could no longer smell anything himself.
“This gift you have given me is incredible,” said Nose of a Mouse. “Let me repay you. Climb onto my back, and I’ll take you over the mountains.”
Jumping Mouse hopped on, and they trekked over the peaks together. Once they reached the other side, the wolf knelt down so Jumping Mouse could climb off. “I can go no further; I belong to the mountains. What will you do without your smell or sight?”
“Hope is alive inside me,” replied Jumping Mouse. They said their goodbyes, and Nose of a Mouse ran back into the mountains.
Finally, Jumping Mouse found himself in the Far Off Lands. “I can hear the leaves rustling, feel the sunshine, and sense the breeze,” he said. Yet, he realized he would never be the same and started to cry in despair.
“Jumping Mouse,” a gravelly voice echoed. “Is that you, Magic Frog?” he asked, realizing it was indeed her.
“Yes,” she confirmed. “You have endured so much and shown great generosity on your journey. You have nothing to fear.”
With that, Magic Frog instructed him, “Jump high, Jumping Mouse, jump HIGH!”
Jumping Mouse leapt into the air, and suddenly he felt himself transforming. His paws grew powerful, and he soared through the sky, feeling the wind beneath him. When he looked down, he saw the mountains far below. Breathing in deeply, he caught the scents of pine and earth.
From below, Magic Frog called out, “Jumping Mouse, I give you a new name. You are now called Eagle, and you will live in the Far Off Lands forever!”
And so, the little mouse’s dream came true in a way he never expected.