The Travelers and the stones
There were at one time, four travelers heading west. One evening, they set up camp near a wide river they could fish from and rest well for the next day's journey. As they sat by the fire roasting their fish and singing songs one traveler looked upon the calm waters of the river, arose, and proposed a wager to her friends. “I wager you three that I can fetch a stone that could cross the breadth of that river.” she said pointing at the still body of water. The other three looked at one another and took the challenge, each departing their own way to find a stone capable of winning the bet.
The first traveler knew that fire, in its roaring power, could forge powerful weapons and tools. He asked the fire the company was camped around to produce him a stone worth crossing the mighty river beyond and the fire obliged. A flame burst forth as an arm and placed into the traveler's hand, a stone. The stone was beautiful in shape, dense and firm in structure, and glimmering to the eyes. However, when the traveler made to toss the stone across the river, it turned into ash and dissolved into the water the second it touched the surface. Thus the first traveler lost the wager. For water quenches fire. Thus the stone forged from fire itself was extinguished. Astonished and frustrated, he walked back to the fireside and stared angrily at the flames.
The second traveler knew that wind was more mighty than fire, for wind puts out fire. Therefore he asked the wind to produce a stone for him that could cross the river’s surface. The wind obeyed and broke from a nearby mountain, a stone and brought it to the traveler. The stone was the most light and wonderfully shaped stone all four travelers had ever seen. “This stone of the wind shall surely glide over the surface of the river.” said the traveler, puffing out his chest. When the stone was cast however, it never touched the surface of the water. Instead it flew off into the distance, swirling up into the sky as it went. Here, the second traveler lost the wager, and walked over to the campfire where the first traveler was, and sulked.
The third traveler thought himself to be the wisest of the lot and said to the second traveler, “You are foolish to ask the wind to take you a stone from the mountain. For the wind stole the stone from the mountain and it was not willingly given. The mountain, the earth itself shall grant me a stone worthy of crossing the banks.” Therefore the third traveler walked to the mountain from which the wind had taken a stone and asked it for a stone that could cross the river. The earth obeyed the command, but not wanting to part with any more of itself than was already lost, produced no more than a pebble to the traveler. Knowing the outcome before he cast the stone, the third traveler watched as the pebble barely made it a yard before falling to the water’s depths. Here, the third traveler joined his fellows by the fire.
The fourth traveler was indeed the wisest of her fellows and also the one who made the wager. For she knew how she could emerge triumphant. She walked up to the river and asked the waters to grant her a stone that could cross its breadth. The waters listened and produced for the traveler a stone perfectly sculpted and smooth. The traveler cast her stone and watched as it skipped to the opposite shore, making beautifully symmetrical arcs as it did. Thus the fourth traveler won the wager.
The following morning the travelers packed their things and built a boat to cross the river and continue their journey west. Upon arriving on the river’s opposite shore, the victorious traveler found the stone which won her the wager and pocketed it as a keepsake. “How did you know that the waters would grant you the stone capable of winning your wager?” asked the traveler who requested the wind grant them a stone. The victorious traveler took out her stone and looking at it responded smiling, “It is wise when faced with a task to ask for help, but even more wise to ask for help from what or who is best suited to help.” The other three travelers looked one to another and their companion continued. “The best stone to cross the water, would be best granted to me by the waters themselves.” she said.
The travelers continued west.