The Lion’s Share

The parched jungle, where the story begins.

It was a hot, dry summer. In the jungle, everything looked parched, and even the branches of the trees seemed to droop in sympathy with their wilted foliage. Water was certainly scarce, and in all the jungle, there appeared to be only one small muddy pond for the animals to slake their thirst.

Lying in the shade of a bush at the edge of this pond was our old friend Brer Fox. He had quenched his thirst with the muddy water, but his mind, for days, had been filled with thoughts of all the succulent things he would like to eat. He was sure that his bones rattled inside his skin as he dragged his weary body through the jungle, looking for food.

A sly fox crouching under a bush, a wolf drinking water, and a confident leopard approaching near a muddy pond in a dry jungle.
The cunning fox, the hungry wolf, and the majestic leopard meet at the pond

Then who should come loping to the pond but the wily old Wolf, looking just as lean and hungry as Brer Fox. In between taking gulps of water, the Wolf eyed the Fox and, in a grumpy voice, said, “I suppose you are resting after having a heavy meal?”

“A heavy meal!” replied the Fox, feeling insulted. “All I have had for the past two days is one skinny chicken.”

“Then you were lucky,” growled the Wolf. “It must be nearly a week since I managed to catch a goat, which turned out to be all skin and bones.”

“Bah,” said a voice. Turning around, the Wolf and the Fox were surprised to see their friend, the lordly Leopard, coming towards them.

“All you two ever do is think of food,” snarled the Leopard.

“That’s all very well,” muttered the Wolf. “But you feed on the delicious flesh of boars and deer.”

“Very ordinary food,” replied the Leopard, shaking its head. “Now, for a great Delicacy, give me the brains of a rogue elephant every time.”

Brer Fox, with his mouth watering at the mere talk of such wonderful food, didn’t stop using his cunning brain. Cocking one eyebrow at the Leopard, he said in a meek voice, “Why don’t we call on the King of the Forest? And if we all hunt together, we should kill an elephant and have a gigantic feast.”

Both the Leopard and the Wolf thought this was a fine idea, so the three of them made their way to the mountain cave in which the majestic Lion lived.

A majestic lion sits on a stone throne inside a mountain cave, while a fox, wolf, and leopard approach humbly. Sunlight streams through cracks in the grand cave.
The lion, king of the forest, hears their plan.

Squatting humbly in front of the Lion, the Fox explained how the four of them, with their combined strength and cunning, should go on an elephant hunt.

The Lion pondered for a while, then agreed to accompany them, provided they did the stalking, whilst he, with his superior strength, would kill the prey.

They searched all through the forest, but not a sign of an elephant was to be seen. Then, towards evening, a deer broke cover, which the Leopard quickly killed. The Wolf and Fox, with slavering jaws, quickly divided the carcass into four equal parts and were ready to start eating their share, when the Lion intervened.

“Not so fast, my friends,” he roared. “I am entitled to the lion’s share, which is two parts of the kill. Then the third part goes to my lioness. Now, as to the fourth part, that will go to the one of you three who beats me in a fight.”

A cunning fox, a hungry wolf, and a confident leopard surrounding a freshly killed deer in a lush jungle clearing, with the lion roaring nearby
The lion claims his share, leaving no room for argument.

One look at the Lion’s massive jaws was enough for our three friends, and without a word, they turned and slunk off into the forest. Their thoughts as to what they would have dearly loved to have told the Lion had better be left unsaid.

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