How the werebeaver did not have to be lonesome anymore.

Once upon a time there was a very stupid man who went to the other side of the mountain to get salt for his porridge. Much of the day was over by the time he had gotten his salt and as such he took a shortcut through the forest. On the road he met a stranger who greeted him happily and asked him what way he was going. “just through the woods, you see.” said the very stupid man, “just my way then” replied the stranger “shall we not walk together?” To wit the very stupid man agreed.

The day had been warm and with a heavy load the very stupid man became thirsty, so when the duo came upon a pond he wanted to stop and drink but the stranger told him not to do it. “Why shouldn't I drink, I who labour under a heavy load so my fluids escape me by sweat?” the very stupid man asked. “Cows drink from this water” the stranger replied “and if you share water with cows then surely you will become stupid, like a cow.” The very stupid man, who did not think himself so, certainly did not want to become stupid so he turned from the pond and continued down the road.

Yet the day was warm and his load was heavy, so the very stupid man became parched and when the duo came upon a stream he wanted to stop and drink but again the stranger would not let him do it. “Why shouldn't I drink, I who struggle under a heavy load so my clothes are drenched in my sweat?” the very stupid man asked “Goats drink from this stream” the stranger replied “and if you share water with goats then surely you will become smelly, like a goat.” The very stupid man, who already was not well respected in the village, certainly did not want to become smelly like a goat so he turned from the stream and continued down the road.

The day slowly gave way to evening, but yet it was warm and the road had taken to go uphill, so the very stupid man was buth parched and tired. Soon, the duo came upon a ditch and the very stupid man wanted to stop and drink but the stranger stopped him. “Why shouldn't I drink, I who am labouring like a hero and is dying for lack of water!?” the very stupid man pleaded “Because donkeys drink of this ditch” the stranger said “and if you share water with donkeys then surely you will become annoying, like a donkey.” The very stupid man, who had few friends, certainly did not want to become annoying so he turned away from the ditch and continued down the road.

Alas, the evening was warm and the very stupid man was suffering under his heavy load, so when the duo came upon a beautiful lake he practically threw his salt to the ground and ran straight for it. But as he reached the shore he grew nervous and asked the stranger “what about this lake? Surely a beautiful lake like this cannot be sullied by any nasty animal? Would Svarog allow that to happen?” “This lake belongs to the werebeaver” the stranger said “Anyone who bathes or drinks from this will also become a werebeaver and be forced to live with him in his house of sticks and mud. Cursed to turn into a horrible rodentman with an insatiable hunger for gnawing sticks!” The very stupid man groaned and moaned “Is there no water from whence I can drink?” “aha, but there is a trick.” the stranger replied “lean forward , put your arms in front of you and your press your palms together.” and just as he said so did the very stupid man do. “Now... swim!” The stranger laughed as he kicked the very stupid man headfirst into the lake. And that is how The werebeaver did not have to be lonesome no more.