The Echidna and the Shade Tree

A Dreamtime Story from the Australian Aboriginies told by the Elders and passed on to the young children of their tribe.
Whilst the other animals are busy hunting, the Echidna is left under the Shade Tree to guard the children. But instead of rewarding the Echidna for doing so, the 'other animals' feed him only the scraps left from the tastiest bits.
This myth explains of how the Echidna got its spikes on his back, how it came to eat ants and why until this day, walks awkwardly.