"Let's land now, so that we can fill our bellies for the rest of our journey," said one of the birds to their leader.
Another added, "Yes, we've been flying for a great distance and have not had food for quite some time. We won't have the energy to continue unless we eat soon!"
The leader, on the advice of his flock, agreed that they would land and feast on the rice.
As the last grains of rice were being eaten, a large net fell on top of the flock, trapping them.
In a panic, members of the flock tried to flee unsuccessfully.
"Quick! A hunter with a large club is coming! He will surely kill us all!" exclaimed one of the birds.
Again, the birds tried to fly off in different directions, unsuccessfully.
The leader, calmly observing all of this, spoke loudly and quickly got the attention of the flock.
"We must all work together to escape. This will be the only way we will succeed. All of us must beat our wings simultaneously, in synchrony, and we must all fly in the same direction--follow my lead," he said.
In silence, each bird in the flock flapped its wings in synchrony. Remarkably, the entire flock, still covered by the net, rose into the sky, out of reach of the hunter.
The flock of birds cheered at their success together.
The leader of the birds, then said, "Congratulations. Now we must turn our attention to the task of freeing ourselves from this net. Follow my lead, continuing in synchrony. We will seek the help of a community of mice over those hills in the distance."
"How will you know that they will help us?" asked one of the followers.
The leader replied, "I have befriended the leader of these mice. We have helped one another many times over the years. I have no doubt that we can depend on his assistance."
They flew over the nearby hills, and landed in the village of mice. The leader of the mice approached the flock and noticed his friend, the leader of the birds. Understanding what happened, the leader of the mice called several of his villagers to help by gnawing through the net.
An opening was finally created, and the leader of the mice said to the bird leader, "Alas, my friend, you are safe. Please exit through this opening we have created."
The bird leader replied, "I shall let my flock exit first, and I will exit only after them."
All of the birds cleared the net, and the leader of the birds thanked his mouse friend.
Together, the flock returned to their own village...in synchrony.
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