The Talking Cave

Deep inside a forest, a lone jackal had chosen a cozy cave as his residence. He had, of course, very little time to stay there except at night, as he constantly roamed in search of food.

The Aging Tiger

A certain tiger in the forest had grown very old. Once, he enjoyed a hearty breakfast of choice rabbits, a full-sized deer for lunch, and a travelling salesman or the king’s constable for dinner. But now, after recovering from a massive heart attack, he could only pursue turtles, which rarely visited the forest.

A Chance Encounter

One evening, he stumbled upon the jackal’s cave. As he entered, the scent confirmed the presence of a jackal. “Let me quietly lie here. I will have a good rest, and at the right moment, supper will just walk into my mouth,” he thought as he sprawled on the cave floor.

The Jackal’s Return

Late in the evening, the jackal returned home, whistling merrily as he walked. Dreaming of a restful sleep, he was about to enter the cave when he noticed a pair of large footprints leading toward it. Initially, he thought they were his own and felt flattered, thinking, “Pity that I don’t have a mirror! It seems I have grown as big as a tiger!”

A Frightening Realization

But as soon as he uttered the word ‘tiger,’ his heart sank. He realized that while his body might have grown, his courage certainly had not. “That means these are not my footprints!” he concluded.

Confrontation at the Cave

He hesitated, glancing at the cave with trepidation, and shouted, “Hello, Cave! Whenever I return, you welcome me with ‘Welcome, Jackal dear!’ Why are you silent today? It seems you are frightened. What is the matter?”

The Tiger’s Reply

The tiger listened intently to the jackal’s words and deduced that the cave must be terrified of him. So, without delay, he roared, “Welcome, Jackal dear! Welcome by all means!”

The Jackal’s Escape

The jackal ran for his life. “A talking cave, huh? Never heard of it!” he exclaimed, thanking his lucky stars for his quick wit and presence of mind.