Friends Indeed

The Friends by the Lake

Upon the bank of a lake in a forest lived four friends: a deer, a crow, a tortoise, and a mouse.

The Trap

One day, the deer was caught in a trap set by a hunter. The crow, who discovered his friend in that unfortunate state, quickly flew to inform the other two. Following the crow’s advice, the mouse rushed to the scene and, using his sharp teeth, bit through the trap to free the imprisoned deer. The tortoise also arrived, feeling anxious about the deer’s fate.

The Hunter Approaches

Soon after, they spotted the hunter approaching. The freed deer quickly ran away, while the mouse scurried into a nearby hole, and the crow flew up to a tree. However, the poor tortoise could neither run nor hide. Although the hunter was disappointed to have lost the deer, he was pleased to find the tortoise. He picked up the round, bony creature, tied him to his bow, and walked homeward.

The Plan

Meanwhile, the deer, crow, and mouse held a meeting. “We can’t just stand by while our dear friend is taken to the hunter’s kitchen,” one of them exclaimed. “No, we can’t,” agreed the others. They seriously discussed the problem and quickly devised a clever plan.

The Deception

As the hunter passed by the lake, he was delighted to see what he thought was a deer lying still near the water. He assumed it was dead, especially since a crow was pecking at its eyes. “If one deer got away, here is his cousin to bring me joy!” mused the hunter, setting down his bow to approach the deer.

The Rescue

At that moment, the waiting mouse set to work on the knot that tied the tortoise to the bow. Just as the hunter was about to touch the deer, the crow flew away and let out a piercing caw. The deer sprang up, kicked the hunter with its hind legs, and then dashed away.

A Disappointed Hunter

“Who ever heard of a dead deer kicking a hunter?” the man murmured as he sighed and turned to retrieve his bow along with the tortoise.

He managed to pick up the bow, but the tortoise had escaped into the water.

A Happy Reunion

“Strange is the way of a tortoise!” the hunter muttered as he walked away, thoroughly disappointed. Meanwhile, the four friends reunited and continued to live happily together.