The Tale of the Clever Rabbit and the Fierce Lion
Once upon a time, deep in the African savanna, there was a proud and powerful lion who ruled the animal kingdom. His roar could be heard for miles, and all the animals feared him. The lion hunted freely, and no one dared to challenge his authority. He would roam the plains and the forest, eating any animal he wished, and soon the animal kingdom was in danger of being wiped out.
The animals, desperate to find a solution, held a secret meeting. They agreed that they needed to come up with a plan to stop the lion, but no one was brave enough to face him. After much discussion, a clever and quick-witted rabbit stepped forward.
“I will trick the lion,” said the rabbit confidently. The animals were skeptical. How could such a small and harmless creature defeat the mighty lion? But the rabbit had a plan.
The next day, the rabbit approached the lion, hopping timidly in front of him. “Oh great and mighty Lion,” the rabbit said in a trembling voice. “I come with a message from the other animals. We no longer wish to hide from you. We offer ourselves willingly as your subjects, but we only ask that you hunt us one by one so that our families can say goodbye properly.”
The lion, flattered by the rabbit’s humility and cunning words, agreed. “I am indeed the king of all animals,” he boasted. “And I shall accept this offer. Tell the animals to send one to me every day, and I will hunt only that one.”
The rabbit nodded and hopped away, but deep down, he had a plan to save the animals. The next day, instead of sending one of the other animals to the lion, the rabbit returned himself. The lion, seeing the small rabbit again, was furious.
“Why do you come back alone? Where is my meal?” the lion growled.
“Oh great Lion,” the rabbit said, “I bring bad news. As I was coming to deliver your meal, another lion attacked me and claimed that he, not you, was the true king of the savanna. He wanted to take the animal kingdom for himself. I barely escaped to tell you.”
The lion’s eyes filled with rage. “No one challenges my authority!” he roared. “Take me to this imposter lion at once, and I will show him who the true king is!”
The clever rabbit led the lion deep into the forest, to a large, deep well filled with water. “The imposter lion is hiding in this well,” the rabbit said. “I heard him roaring from within.”
The lion looked into the well, and when he saw his reflection in the water, he thought it was another lion staring back at him. Furious, he roared, and the “other lion” roared back (his own echo). Enraged, the lion jumped into the well to attack his rival, only to drown in the water below.
The rabbit returned to the other animals and told them the good news. The lion was no more, and the animal kingdom was free from his tyranny. All the animals rejoiced and celebrated the cleverness of the rabbit, who had saved them all without using force, but with his wits.
From that day on, the animals lived in peace, and the rabbit was admired for his intelligence and bravery.