Come Hear What Happened to This Ridiculous Lion

Every morning, the lion wandered through the forest looking for something to frighten.

A deer drinking quietly? ROAR.

A family of monkeys having breakfast? ROAR.

A tortoise crossing a path? Definitely — ROAR.

The lion believed the whole forest belonged to him.

The trees. The water. The animals. Possibly even the clouds.

And he was enormously pleased with himself.

At last, the animals gathered beneath an old tree.

“This cannot continue,” they said.

They needed a plan — but who could possibly stand up to a lion?

Then, from somewhere near the roots, came a small voice:

“I have an idea.”

The next day, a rabbit went to see the lion.

He did not hurry.

By the time he arrived, the lion was furious.

But the rabbit had come carrying something more useful than strength: a plan.

The rabbit lowered his voice.

“There is another lion in your forest,” he said, “and he claims to be the real king.”

The lion's pride was exactly what the rabbit needed to hear.

The rabbit led him to an old stone well.

The lion peered into the dark water — and there, below, another lion seemed to stare back.

He bared his teeth.

The other lion did the same.

With one enormous roar, the lion leapt.

The water broke into ripples.

And when the forest grew quiet again, the animals understood: the lion had fought exactly one enemy that day — himself.