Once upon a time the Lord God was going to hold a banquet to determine the placement of the animals in the heavens. Dragon was sure he would get a good placement, but for one little problem. He was afraid he was just not distinctive enough for the God to notice.

"I'm very clever, but then so is Rat." He mused worridly, "And I have great claws, but then so does Tiger." He tapped his claws agaist the mountain he called home in agitation. "I'm strong, but Ox is stronger still. My scales are beautiful, but the Snake's are shinier and brighter..." He shook his head and growled in frustration, "I'm fast, but so are Horse and Rabbit and Horse has her fine mane and Rabbit is so pleasant and friendly too."

"It's not that I am ugly... I just need something to give myself a little more something." Dragon decided. "I know, Rooster! Rooster has a his fine cockcomb, and his beautiful feathers, he doesn't need his antlers too! I'll ask to borrow them for the banquet. Surely with his fine horns the God will notice me and give me a good placement!"

So Dragon went to Centipede and asked him to go to Rooster and ask him for his horns. Centipede climbed down the mountain and went straight away to Rooster.

"Rooster, I come from Dragon who wishes to borrow your fine antlers for God's banquet." Centipede said formally. "I guarentee he will return them."

Rooster considered this thoughtfully. "Why does Dragon need them? He is clever, quick, strong, has lovely scales and claws..." He ruffled his feathers uncomfortably, "It's not that I mind so much, but I would feel awfully naked without them."

"Well," Centipede said thoughtfully, "It's true that he is all those things, but Rat is also clever, Rabbit is quick, and Ox is strong."

Rooster nodded, "And now that I think of it Tiger has claws, and Snake's scales are surely the prettiest." He shook his head sympathetically. "It would be a shame if Dragon was overlooked. He works very hard you know. He makes sure that rain falls on the humans fields when it should, and he shepherds the moon across the night sky."

He glanced at himself in a mirror on the wall and preened, "There aren't any other animals with feathers as fine as mine." He shook the plumage of his tail proudly. He shook his head so his cockscomb fell rakishly over his head, "And even without my horns I'm sure that the God will notice me. Besides, I have my lovely singing voice..." Rooster nodded to himself one last time. "Fine then, I'll let Dragon borrow them, just until after the banquet." He quickly unscrewed them and handed them to Centipede.

He regretted it almost immediately feeling much smaller and less impressive without his horns. "You will tell Dragon to return them right away, won't you?"

"Of course!" Centipede promised. "Just call out in the morning for them as Dragon is putting away the moon and he'll be sure to return them."

The day of the banquet came and went, and Rooster was sadly dissapointed. Dragon had gotten Fifth place, and he'd only gotten Tenth. The fine antlers he'd lent to the Dragon had surely played some part in that he was sure.

"Well," he sighed to himself. "I'm sure that wasn't the only reason, and tenth place is better than no place I suppose." His wife wasn't so forgiving.

"How foolish!" She scolded, "Giving away your antlers like that. You could have gotten a much higher placement, I'm sure! And on top of that," She clucked angrily, "Dragon hasn't even returned them or stopped by to say thank you."

"Dragon is a very busy person," placated the Rooster even though he wasn't so sure himself. "I'm sure he's just forgotten. I'll remind him tomorrow."

The next morning he called up to the sky, just before dawn, "Dragon, please return my horns!" Even though he called ten times over Dragon didn't reply.

"See, see, see..." His wife, the chicken, clucked.

"I'll just go to Centipede tomorrow." Rooster assured her, "He'll get this straightened out for us."

But the Centipede only had empty promises for the Rooster, "Don't worry." He placated. "Dragon is very busy right now, did you hear that God put him in charge of the rain now? I'm sure he just hasn't had time to return them. Please be a little patient."

"But what if he doesnt-" Rooster started.

"Well, I don't see what you expect me to do about it." Centipede shrugged losing patience. "I haven't got your antlers."

Furious with his uncaring attitude he ordered all members of his family to gobble up the centipede on sight.

But he still hoped for the return of his horns and calls each morning to the sky, "Lung-k'o-k'o-huan-huan-wo!" (Dragon, please return my horns!)

And his wife continues to scold him for his too kind nature, constantly muttering "k'o, k'o, k'o, k'o." (horns, horns, horns) as she goes about her daily work.

As to Dragon no one knows why he hasn't returned the Rooster's antlers. Perhaps he is to busy to stop by to return them, or perhaps he can't hear the Rooster's cry in his high celestial home and doesn't even know the Rooster wants them back. Or perhaps he still feels he needs them and will be too plain without them. Even the best people are prone to vanity now and then.

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