~The Eagle's Children~
Long ago there was a youth, a hunter. He would travel for days in the forests, seeking animals so as to procure provisions for the long Winter. He was expert in the use of the bow, and his arrows would never miss their mark. The land in which he lived in was mountainous and rocky, thus the terrain made travel rather difficult. It was always an arduous task to navigate the cliffs and the sheer limestone walls of the mountain to get to a plateau where the animals lived. Once there, he could have his full of game, but when he completed his hunt then he would have to travel an equally arduous path to get back to his village.
One day as he was hunting, he noticed a large eagle flying, circling atop a mountain, holding a snake in it's talons. Then in an instant the eagle was gone, out of sight, as it likely landed on the peak. The youth became curious as to the possibility of there being the eagle's nest, and so proceeded the arduous task of climbing the mountain. When he finally arrived at the summit, he saw that the great bird had flown away again, probably to seek more food for it's child. The eagle left the snake in the nest for it's offspring, a small eaglet, to eat. On closer inspection the youth noticed that the snake was still slithering and moving, and it opened it's mouth to reveal it's fangs, ready to pounce on the little eaglet and inject of it's venom into the poor bird, so as to kill it. Immediately, the youth took out his bow and attached an arrow on the string. her took careful aim and let loose the arrow just as the serpent was about to strike, which sped straight and caught the snake just under it's head, killing it instantly. With that, the youth took the eaglet and began to go down the mountain with his new prize. Just to imagine that he would actually have an eagle as a friend and companion would earn the respect of all his fellow hunters, for this was truly a great omen.
When he reached the valley below, he heard a great whir of wind, caused by that same large eagle which brought the snake to the nest. She was hovering above him now, circling round and round, then landing there in front of the young man who was breathing rapidly due to the physical strain of the trip down the mountain.
The eagle spoke to him:
"Who do you think you are, little man? Where do you think you are going with my child? Why did you steal my offspring from the nest I myself constructed?"
The youth responded without hesitation:
"The child is mine. I saved it from a terrible serpent. You left the eaglet there in the nest alone but you did not realize that you didn't kill the serpent. He was alive and slithering after you left, and would have eaten your child had it not been for my quick action with my bow."
The great eagle paused and stood silently for a moment, knowing well that this young lad actually did save it's offspring from the clutches of death. She looked at the youth, from head to toe and up and down, studying him in every detail so as to assess his being.
Then again, the eagle spoke:
"I never before trusted any human being, for men break their word and are the followers of greed alone. However, you are a brave youth, and I see that you are noble and worthy. Give me back my child and I will reward you with the sharpness of my eyes and the strength of my powerful wings. You shall know what freedom is, as I do, and you shall always yearn for freedom. You will inherit the qualities of the eagle, and you shall be called by my name".
The youth handed over the eaglet to the mother, and the two flew away, back to the nest atop the great mountain. As time passed the youth became a man and a great hunter of the forests. The eaglet grew into a great and majestic eagle as it's mother had been, and never forgot who saved it's life. He flew and searched all over for the one who saved him in it's young days, and after finding the youth, now grown into a man, the two became inseparable comrades. Everywhere the grown hunter went the eagle would follow to inform him where to find game to hunt. So successful was the hunter in fact, having gained the respect and admiration of his fellow villagers that they choose him to be their chief. When war broke out, the eagle guided and advised him, always flying above his head and his army. He gained a reputation as a great warrior and a king and his eagle friend whom he had saved in youth was always near. The people, knowing well his exploits in youth, named him Shqiptar, meaning Son of the Eagle. Indeed, the eagle mother was correct in her prophesy that he would be called by her name. The tale spread to all the villages and settlements in the land, and the land itself was called Shqiperia, Land of the Eagle. The banner that the now appointed chief Shqiptar chose as his own was emblazoned with an eagle bearing two heads, symbolizing this ever watchful and vigilant king of all the birds, who looks north and south, east and west. Noble, dignified, and a keeper of the word to all.
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