Page 52 - Animals of the Sakhalin Region in myths and legends

Once met Osprey and Loon. The first flew high, was proud and picky
about food. And the second ate whatever, flying slowly. When Gagara

offered friendship to Skopa, she was very angry, but said nothing.
The osprey was cunning and figured out how to put the second bird in
place. She offered to go to one village.
The osprey arrived there much faster and warned the residents
about Gagara, saying that she would bring food with her, but in no
case should you try it, because this is the poison with which Gagara

wants to kill everyone.
Satisfied with their plan, the Osprey flew away. Soon Gagara
appeared, but everyone was wary of her. When she shared her food,
the residents pretended to eat, but they themselves secretly threw
everything away. Bad rumors spread throughout the village. Some,
seeing Gagara, shouted in horror, others demanded that she get out.
The loon flew away.

Later, Osprey flew in and asked if Gagara had come. Residents
said that everything was as she predicted. Then the Osprey decided to
impersonate the Great Prophet and told one resident that if he saw a
big bird flying over the village, he would expect trouble.
Indeed, a few days later he saw a bird flying high. He immediately
called the Skopa, and she told about a supposedly great danger. To be

saved, all residents need to go as far as possible and close their ears,
otherwise a huge creature will eat them, and whoever hears its roar
will fall dead.
The man did everything as ordered, but did not cover his ears. And
there was a distant cry, but it was not at all as terrible as the Osprey
described it. After a while, the scouts told that there was no monster,
and everyone returned to the village.
The Osprey returned to find out if they had obeyed her, and asked

where the beast had gone. But the man replied that she knew better.
The Osprey realized that she had been exposed. She flew away and
never came back.

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