The alpha predators of each habitat, from all over the globe, gathered together in one place to determine who was the top predator of the world. To win, and become the alpha predator of the world, the species would need to frighten off the other predators, until they were the last ones there.

The wolves surrounded the others, growling, bearing their teeth, and barking.

The tigers growled and presented their sharp teeth.

The polar bears stood on their hind legs, showing their size and claws while they growled.

The cheetahs ran through the brush and around the others in the blink of an eye.

The crocodiles snaked along the rivers and snapped their jaws shut, created splashes.

Each act was frightening. Each species shuddered along to the performances, but remained rigid in their belief that they were the superior predator.

Now, it was the humans turn. The other species glanced around at the others, trying not to erupt in laughter. There was nothing scary about the humans; they weren’t large in size, they didn’t have claws or sharp teeth, and they couldn’t run faster than the others.

One human stepped forward and began to speak. The other animals gathered closer to listen.

The story the human told was an awful thing full of fear and slaughter, disease and blood. A story of murderous mischief. And when the telling was done, the other animals quickly agreed that the humans had won.

“Okay you win,” they said, “but what you said just now – it isn’t so funny. It doesn’t sound so good. We are doing okay without it. We can get along without that kind of thing. Take it back. Call that story back.”

But, of course, it was too late. For once a story is told, it cannot be called back. Once told, it is loose in the world.

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I chose to change the witches to predator animal species because I think it would be very fitting if each alpha predator type were competing to see which species is the ultimate alpha. I think it relates more to childrens stories and would be an interesting change. However, I do not think that animals are evil in any sense of the matter, only humans, which is why I decided to change the story so that the humans invent and bring evil into the world. This is also a play on what humans are knowingly doing to the earth and the animal’s habitats.

Through the telling of this story, I have learned that even after writing and memorizing the story, the details change depending on who I’m telling it to. Maybe I’ll include more animals and more descriptions of their frightful presentations, maybe I’ll focus more on what the human’s story involved and how the other species reacted. I learned that as a storyteller, you cater the story’s details to the audience.