Once upon a time Nonrot the Smartstalk came to his friend Bigtwig the chief, and told him that the Plantwe were becoming too plentiful. Bigtwig said that there was a lot of soil, but Nonrot replied that soil will become bad of too many Plants will grow from it. Then Bigtwig said that not even a Sapling would just stop growing, but Nonrot replied that they didn't have to and could just go somehwhere. Finally Bigtwig said that they were plants and plants stay in one place and eat one kind of fly, but Nonrot said that they were actually Plantwe
1), and could move if they wanted. This debate went on for very long, until Nonrot said that there is one way to solve their disagreement, and if Bigtwig could solve his riddle, than he would go away and not bother him with his nonsence again, but if Bigtwig cold not, than he would do something. Bigtwig agreed and was asked this:
*moves* *but* *isn't* *water* *grows* *but* *isn't* *shadow* *eats* *but* *isn't* *locust*. *what* *is* *it* *?*
Bigtwing thought until sundown and asked if it was the sun, because it moves across the sky, and eats the puddles on the ground, but Nonrot said no, because sun doesn't grow. then Bigtwig thought until sunrise and asked if it was a lily, because lilies float down the river, and grow, but Nonrot said that lilies don't eat. Bigtwing thought until noon, and said he gives up. "*It* *is* *you*"
2) said Nonrot, and Bigtwig agreed to help.
Bigtwing wanted to go ahead all at once and settle a new territory, but Nonrot told him that if all the Plantwe went away to a different location that there would be too many of them there, and it would all be pointless, instead he suggested they send out scouts who could find out if it was better there. Bigtwing then rounded up a few Plantwe and told them to go into the desert to the east
3), but Nonrot said there would be no water there, then Bigtwig said then he shall send them into the southern sea, but Nonrot said there was too much water. Bigtwig said that if Nonrot was going to make fun of him, he can do it all by himself. Nonrot said he was sorry, and they should send the scouts along the riverbanks, because the would be water there, but also soil...
-- excerpt from "the collected olfactorial tales of ancient Plantwe".
what is going on:
There is an expedition sent to R22 (from S23) and U25 (from T26). 150 Plantwe each. These Plantwe are fit 5-6 year olds, and in fact most of them are the pride of their respective tribes.
in addition to that Plantwe try to deal with salt water environments, without much direct success.
offscreen are much more mundane efforts to develop food preservation techniques, to make movement of large numbers of Plantwe possible.
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1)
the smells *Plantwe* and *plantmany* (plants) are very similar and many Plantsmalls confuse them, this teaches the difference as well as being a pun of sorts - translator's note
2)
when the story told, at this point the storyteller often takes a few guesses from the audience before telling them the answer.
3)
It is unclear which desert is mentioned in this tale, perhaps it's was added in the later renditions?