A lion wandered through the forest. It was very hot, and he was tired and thirsty. In the noonday sun the forest was still. The lion thought of the water hole with its cool water. He walked towards it. Elsewhere in the forest, a leopard had the same idea. Both reached the spot at the same time.
When he saw the leopard, the lion stopped. ``What are you doing here?’’ he roared proudly. Lions, after all, are kings of the jungle.
The leopard coughed softly as leopards do. `Who does he think he is?’’ he muttered to himself. Then, cheekily, and in a louder voice, he said, `I could ask you the same thing.’
The lion pretended not to hear this. `Step aside and let me drink,’ he commanded.
``Well, why do not you wait till I finish,’’ said the leopard, `1after all, I was here first.’
The lion was tired and thirsty. ``Get out of my way,’’ he roared. ``Why should I?” said the leopard angrily.
The lion was really angry. He lifted a powerful paw and aimed a blow at the leopard’s head. The leopard was smaller. But he was also quicker. He moved aside and sank his teeth into the lion’s neck. They jumped this way and that. Their roars and grunts filled the air. The dust flew. They fought fiercely. They were ready o kill each other.
After a while, they stopped to get their breath back. Suddenly, they felt movement in the air above them. They looked up. There, high above them, they saw something that made them go cold with fear. Vultures! The big birds circled silently and patiently. They could wait. It did no matter who won the fight- the lion or the leopard. In the end, the vultures would win.
The two animals looked at each other. The same thought was in both minds. They said nothing. They got up and walked towards the water. And there- side by side –they drank.
Moral of the story
1) Fight does not solve problems.
2) When we fight with someone, other people benefit.
3) We must not think that we are better than other people.
• Vultures: - large birds that eat the flesh of dead animals.
• Muttered: - spoke in a way so that others could not hear.
• Cheekily:- rudely, without showing respect