The Thirsty Crow

    By Gordon Jason

    The Thirsty Crow cover image

    08 Mar, 2024

    a black bird with its wings spread out in the desert at sunset with mountains in the background and a sun setting, dau-al-set, an album cover, Dan Mumford, birds

    In the heart of the desert, under the scorching sun and endless sand, a thirsty crow was flying in search of water. Its wings were growing tired, and its throat, parched.

    a bird is flying over a small pond of water in the desert with mountains in the background and a bird flying over the water, serial art, a comic book panel, Dan Mumford, comic cover art

    Suddenly, its sharp eyes spotted a shimmer in the distance. The crow flew closer and found a small pool of water. It was a sight for sore eyes, but there was a problem.

    a black bird with wings spread is in the water and splashes water around it's body and wings, gothic art, a comic book panel, Dirk Crabeth, birds

    The water was too low for the crow to reach. The crow dipped its beak, but it couldn't touch the water. It jumped and fluttered, but the water remained elusive.

    a black bird sitting on top of a pile of rocks in the desert with a sky background and a mountain range, neoplasticism, an album cover, Dan Mumford, birds

    Feeling desperate, the crow looked around. It noticed a pile of small pebbles nearby. An idea sparked in the crow's mind. It could use these pebbles to raise the water level!

    a black bird standing on a rock in a river next to a rock and grass area with a rock in the water, symbolism, a storybook illustration, David Martin, comic cover art

    The crow swooped down, picked up a pebble in its beak, and dropped it into the pool. The water level rose slightly, but not enough for the crow to drink.

    a black bird standing on a rock in a river with rocks and trees in the background and a sunbeam, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Dan Mumford, birds

    Not discouraged, the crow picked up another pebble and dropped it into the pool. Again, the water level rose, but it was still out of reach.

    a black bird sitting on a rock in a river with a mountain in the background and a sky with clouds, space art, an album cover, Dan Mumford, laurie greasley

    The crow kept going, one pebble after another. It was a task that required patience, but the crow was determined to quench its thirst.

    a black bird standing on top of a puddle of water next to a grass covered field and a body of water, environmental art, a comic book panel, Dan Mumford, laurie greasley

    Slowly but surely, the water level began to rise. The crow could see its reflection in the water, and it knew it was getting closer to its goal.

    a black bird is standing in the water and drinking from a faucet that is dripping water from it, environmental art, a storybook illustration, Dan Mumford, highly detailed digital art

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the crow was able to drink. The water was cool and refreshing, just what the crow needed.

    a black bird standing on a body of water with a sunset in the background and clouds in the sky, gothic art, poster art, Dan Mumford, highly detailed digital art

    The crow let out a sigh of relief. It was satisfied and proud. Its hard work and determination had paid off.

    a black bird sitting on a rock near a river and trees with birds flying overhead in the sky above, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Dan Mumford, storybook illustration

    After quenching its thirst, the crow took a moment to rest. It looked at the pool and the pile of pebbles, a symbol of its victory.

    a black bird flying over a body of water with a sun in the background and clouds in the sky, fantasy art, a comic book panel, Dan Mumford, comic cover art

    The crow then flew off, leaving the pool and the pebbles behind. It had a long journey ahead, but it was ready to face any challenges that came its way.

    a black bird with its wings spread out on a rock with a sunset in the background and birds flying around, symbolism, a storybook illustration, Dan Mumford, comic cover art

    As the crow flew away, it looked back one last time. It realized that it had learned a valuable lesson that day. It had learned that with determination and a bit of clever thinking, one can overcome even the toughest of challenges.

    a group of birds flying over a desert landscape at sunset or dawn with a flock of birds flying overhead, gothic art, a detailed matte painting, Amir Zand, birds

    The crow's story spread across the desert. Every creature that heard it was inspired by the crow's determination and cleverness.

    a black bird with outstretched wings in the desert with a sunset in the background and a desert landscape with sand dunes, gothic art, an illustration of, Amir Zand, birds

    From that day forward, the crow was known as the cleverest bird in the desert. Its story served as a reminder that one should never give up, no matter how difficult the situation may seem.

    a painting of a black bird sitting on a rock near a river with lily pads and a forest with birds flying overhead, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Dan Mumford, birds

    The pool became a symbol of the crow's victory. Every creature that passed by it was reminded of the crow's story and the valuable lesson it taught.

    a group of crows standing in the desert with a mountain in the background and a bird flying overhead in the sky, serial art, a detailed matte painting, Chris LaBrooy, birds

    As time passed, the crow's story became a legend in the desert. The young ones were often told the story of the clever crow and the pool.

    a black bird sitting on a rock in a field with trees and a river in the background with a sky background, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Dan Mumford, josan gonzales and dan mumford

    The story of the clever crow served as a source of inspiration for many. It taught them the value of determination, patience, and clever thinking.

    a black bird sitting on a rock near a river and forest at sunset with a full moon in the sky, environmental art, poster art, Dan Mumford, comic cover art

    The crow, now old and wise, often visited the pool. It would look at the pebbles and remember the day it had overcome its biggest challenge.

    a black bird sitting on a branch in a forest with a stream running through it and a sun shining in the background, fantasy art, poster art, Dan Mumford, josan gonzales and dan mumford

    The crow's story was a testament to the power of determination and clever thinking. It was a story of how a simple idea could lead to great success.

    a black crow sitting on a branch in a forest with autumn leaves and trees in the background, with a yellow sky, altermodern, poster art, Dan Mumford, laurie greasley

    The crow's story is a reminder to us all. It tells us that no matter how difficult a situation may seem, with determination and a bit of clever thinking, we can overcome any challenge.

    a black bird sitting on a branch in a forest with flowers and trees in the background, with the sun shining through the trees, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Dan Mumford, josan gonzales and dan mumford

    So, next time you find yourself in a challenging situation, remember the story of the clever crow. Have faith in your abilities, think creatively, and never give up!

    a black bird with outstretched wings standing on a desert landscape with a sunset in the background and a desert landscape with rocks and grass, fantasy art, a detailed matte painting, Dirk Crabeth, birds

    For the crow, the desert was no longer just a vast expanse of sand. It was a place full of potential and opportunities. It was a place where a simple crow could become a legend.

    a black bird with wings spread sitting on a rock in a field with a sunset in the background and clouds in the sky, altermodern, a comic book panel, Dan Mumford, comic cover art

    And so, the crow continued its journey, carrying its story and the valuable lessons it had learned. It was a testament to the power of determination, clever thinking, and the will to never give up.

    a black bird sitting on a rock in a forest with flowers and a stream of water in the foreground, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Anne Stokes, birds

    The crow's story is not just a story, but a life lesson for us all. Let's all strive to be like the crow, showing determination, patience, and cleverness in the face of challenges.