The Zebra and the First Man's Choice

Nkai offered the first man a choice between two animals. The first was the wild and beautiful Zebra, with its intricate stripes. The second was the plain, dusty-brown wild Horse. Nkai said, "One is beautiful but cannot be tamed. The other is plain, but it will be your loyal servant." The first man, thinking of practical matters, chose the plain Horse. He tamed it, and it helped him herd his cattle and travel great distances. The Zebra was left to run wild on the plains forever, beautiful to look at but of no use to man. The story is a parable used to explain why some animals are domestic and others are wild. It frames the choice not as one of conquest, but as a wise, pragmatic decision made by the founding ancestor, who chose loyalty and usefulness over simple beauty.