The Hawk's Debt

The Hawk and the Hen were neighbours. The Hen was getting her daughter married and wanted to have the finest music. She went to the Hawk, who owned a beautiful flute, and asked to borrow it. The Hawk agreed, on the condition that it be returned without a scratch. During the wedding celebration, the Hen's child, the little chick, was playing with the flute and accidentally dropped it, making a small crack. When the Hawk came to collect his flute, he saw the crack and was furious. "You have broken your promise!" he screeched. "This flute was a gift from my ancestors. As payment for this damage, I will take the one who broke it." And with that, the Hawk swooped down and carried away the little chick. The Hen was heartbroken and cried out that the punishment was too harsh for such a small crack. But the debt had been claimed. And from that day on, the Hawk and his children have always held the Hen's children accountable for that ancient debt, swooping down from the sky to collect their payment.