The Hound, large, hairy, ferocious, and always hungry, met a bat upon the eternal road upon which we all travel. Being a hungry hound, the first question that came to the hound’s mind was, of course, can I eat you?
That’s complicated, replied the Bat, because, as you can see, (at this point she opened her wings and flew about the head of the hound), I am what is know as a Spice Bat. Spice Bats are a very rare and consequently, a protected species. There are very few of us left, due to loss of habitat, the crashing of the population of Spice Frogs (our only source of nourishment), deforestation and the upcycling of our ancestral caves as clandestine venues for rave parties, which I personally find most offensive as the music is so unimaginative. Anyway, where was I, ah yes, so you are prohibited by law from consuming me.
I, on the other hand, may consume you, as there are no laws in the jungle which pertain to species which are not in danger of extinction. As you may have guessed, as I am a Spice Bat, my food of choice is the delicious Spice Frog, but I am seriously thinking of changing my dietary habits and eating Hound. This is partly because I have sympathy for the predicament of the Spice Frog and partly because I am miffed about your rather insensitive approach to the whole subject.
The Hound, somewhat taken aback by this eloquent reply, and getting hungrier by the moment, said, I see, just as a matter of interest, what sort of punishment or sanction would the devouring, and I use this word intentionally as that is my manner of eating, be. Is it by any chance a monetary fine or a custodial sentence? I assume that capital punishment is not in consideration as I had hoped that we had all got passed that sort of uncivilised behavior.
I suspect that I should first fly up to this high bough before answering, said the Spice Bat. As I understand it, a small fine is considered commensurate with the intentional destruction of an animal that is a member, such as myself, of a protected species. Personally, I would have preferred a long custodial sentence as that would enable the endangered animal to get a good head start in any hunting or chasing scenarios, but none the less, I do feel that a fine is at least a deterrent and gives some would be devourers, food for thought, as it were.
The Hound, now hungry beyond all measure said, Where do I pay, and leapt as high as he could, intending to capture the bat, consume it and shoulder the consequences.
The Hound’s jaws snapped shut on thin air as the bat once more took to the air. The hound fell to earth only to find himself confronted by an enormous frog; a frog so large that it could swallow the hound in one gulp.
Addressing the hound in a sonorous voice the frog said, Are you by any chance attempting to break the law?
When The Blue Knight presented his story to the Elders of the City of Az, they said, after some consideration.
Now you have gone too far the other way. We quite understand your impulse to consider the plight of endangered species and fully commend your attempts to highlight the ridiculously ineffectual sanctions that are intended to protect them, but children, in our opinion at least, need a clearer, perhaps even an obvious moral message to take away. Some of us began to feel empathy for the Hound and his unsatisfied hunger.
Well at least my story has started a conversation, said the Blue Knight.
The Guardians of the Cave 