African Folklore
Jackal and Hyena were together, it is said, when a white cloud rose in the distance. Jackal quickly descended upon it, and ate of the cloud as if it were delicious fat.
When he had his fill and he wanted to come down, he said to Hyena, “My dear sister, as I am going to share the cloud with thee, please catch me well.” So she caught him, and broke his fall. Then she also went up and ate there, high up on the top of the cloud.
When she was satisfied, she said, “My dear greyish brother, now catch me. well.” The greyish rogue said to his friend, the Hyena , “My dear sister, I shall catch thee well. Come therefore down from the cloud.”
He held up his hands, and she came down from the cloud, and when she was near, Jackal cried out (painfully jumping to one side), “My sister, do not take it ill. Oh me! Oh me! A thorn has pricked me and sticks in me. “Thus she fell down from above, and was sadly hurt.
Since that day, it is said that Hyena’s hind feet have been shorter and smaller than the front ones.
Credit: Sacred-Texts