The Legend of Snake and Eagle

"Higher!" hissed Snake.

The Eagle turned his head toward the sun.

"Higher!" Snake hissed until the two were so high above the valley that the shade trees looked like tiny, green dots.

"Hmm. I'm feeling warm" Eagle thought to himself, "but we are closer to the sun, and I am carrying extra weight on my head."

Snake had become silent.

"Snake?" Eagle cried. "Snake?"

All at once, Snake's blood began to boil in his skin. He had wanted to fly too close to the sun, and the heat raised his temperature until Snake was aglow. Snake's skin was so hot it singed Eagle's hair off, and in one loud cry, Eagle threw Snake from his head. Snake tumbled to the Earth. When he landed, his legs fell right off and he slithered away.

And to this day, the descendants of Eagle are bald, and the descendants of Snake slither forever on their bellies.