It is strange how our perception of life can change through time and experience. In youth, we are grasshoppers, small in stature and green in wisdom, yet capable of exploring an endless field towards our future. In nature, however, life is not kind, for some of us will be devoured, some of us will not live to reach adulthood, and some of us will go the distance only to be crushed in the end. In addition, the longer we live, the more we realize how powerless we are and the more we begin to understand how insignificant our life can be. On the other hand, if life is so cruel, so meaningless, then why is it that those that are wise enough to realize this, often chose to live rather than to die. I believe, young grasshopper, that this can be explained in two ways, one is that we are afraid, we have lived for so long that we have gotten used to it, and as much as we hate to admit it, we are a species that is slow and at times resistant to change, especially ones that bring with it uncertainty and, more to the point, the unknown. In addition, the other reason might be that each of us tends to cling to a hope and it is perhaps this dream and the desire to see it fulfilled, that humanity, as a whole, have been able to progress. In this, it is interesting to consider, that if we did not share the commonality of pain and suffering, if we could not dream of a better tomorrow, then none of us might be alive today.
In terms of dreams, some may be large enough to span galaxies and others may be small enough to fit in the palm of our hands. In that sense, it is not difficult to imagine that creatures, aside from humans, are capable of having dreams, perhaps simple ones, such as surviving to the next day or finding something to eat. It can be argued that this is instinct, but what is instinct without desire, and what is desire if not an unfulfilled dream. In any case, can it be denied, that pain and suffering can be felt by any species regardless of what it might be. In principle, we are not that different from other animals, for we tend to do the same things: we live, we survive, we create kids, we die and we leave the future to our children. It is not exactly the same, given the capricious nature of life, but I think you get the idea. It is therefore, imperative, while reading this story, that you think not on the basis of beast versus man. In fact, ignore the notion of names, in regards to human versus nonhuman, and instead, contemplate the nature of their lives. In this book, there are three tales, the first deals with the native man, the second speaks for mr. mouse, and the final part, should only be read, after you determine which character you resemble and which character you would rather be. If you do so, then you might discover something interesting near the end, but that is entirely up to you. In any case, I shall stop the introduction and get things rolling with the first chapter for the native man.
