The sun was blazing in the sky, and not a single cloud floated above the forest. The trees stood still, their leaves drooping from the heat. Birds hid in the shade. Streams were dry. Puddles had vanished.

Flap-flap-flap!

A black crow named Kuro soared over the treetops. His throat was dry, and his wings felt heavy. “Caw. I need water,” he croaked, blinking against the sunlight. “Just one drop!”

He flew past sleepy owls, over dusty fields, and across a patch of thorns. But there was no sign of water anywhere.

Suddenly, a sparkle caught his eye. Far away there was an old abandoned hut at the edge of the forest. Kuro headed for it immediately. When he reached it, he saw it. There, hidden under the hut’s shadow, was an old clay pot.

Kuro peered inside. “Water!” he squawked joyfully. But his beak couldn’t reach it, it was far too low at the bottom of the pot.

He tried tilting the pot. Wobble-wobble! The pot was too stable to topple over.

He stuck his wing in, hoping to wet it and drink from it later, but it was still no use. It couldn’t squeeze in.

“I can’t give up!” he said, hopping back and forth. “Think, Kuro, think!”

He looked around. Just then, a breeze rolled through the clearing, rustling the leaves, and rolling a small pebble near his feet.

Kuro’s eyes lit up. “That’s it!” He flapped excitedly and began gathering pebbles. One by one, plunk, plunk, plunk, he dropped them into the pot. The water inside wobbled and rose: glug-glug-glug!

More pebbles. Thunk! Plunk! Tink! The water rose until it was just below the rim.

Nearby, a sleepy squirrel peeked from her tree. “What are you doing?” she asked.

Kuro didn’t stop. “Making the water rise!”

“Amazing!” gasped the squirrel.

Kuro dropped one last pebble, plonk, and the water reached the top.

“Finally!” he cried. He dipped his beak in and drank, slurp, gulp. “Ahhh.” The cool water flowed down his throat, and he felt alive again.

With a happy caw, Kuro stretched his wings wide and took off into the sky, soaring high over the forest once more.

Moral of the story: no matter how hard the problem, a clever mind and a brave heart can find the way!