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The Hawks and their Friends

Hawk family befriends Kingfisher, Turtle, and Lion; together they save the hawks from hunters, learning the importance of friendship.
Friendship
Kindness
Teamwork
Jataka Tales - The Hawks and their Friends
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, a family of hawks lived near a beautiful lake surrounded by a lush forest. Mother Hawk, Father Hawk, and their baby hawks led peaceful lives. Not far from them lived three friendly neighbors: Lion, Kingfisher, and Turtle. One day, Mother Hawk suggested to Father Hawk, "Sweetheart, we should make friends with our neighbors. They could help us if we're ever in trouble." Father Hawk agreed and soon befriended the Kingfisher, the Lion, and the Turtle.

One sunny day, a group of men arrived in the forest to hunt. They looked everywhere but found nothing. As the sun started to set, they made their way to the lake and decided to camp under the tree where the Hawk family lived. The buzzing of mosquitoes disturbed their sleep, so they decided to light a fire.

The smoke woke up the baby hawks who started to cry. Hearing their cries, one man pointed at the nest, "Hey, those birds would make a perfect breakfast!" The Hawks overheard and were frightened. Mother Hawk told Father Hawk, "We must ask our friends for help."

Father Hawk flew quickly to the Kingfisher's nest. He woke up Kingfisher and told him about the hunters' plan. The Kingfisher assured him, "Don't worry, my friend. I'll help you." And without wasting any time, the Kingfisher flew to the lake, splashed water with his wings, and put out the fire. But the hunters didn't give up. They kept relighting the fire, and Kingfisher kept extinguishing it. This went on for hours, and soon, Kingfisher grew tired.

Seeing Kingfisher exhausted, Mother Hawk asked Father Hawk to get Turtle's help. Father Hawk went to Turtle and explained their predicament. Turtle, being a good friend, didn't hesitate to lend a hand. He dived into the lake, gathered some mud, and put out the fire.

The hunters noticed Turtle and thought, "Let's forget about the hawks and catch this Turtle instead." They tried to trap him using a makeshift net, but Turtle was too quick and strong. He dived back into the water, leaving the hunters wet, cold, and frustrated.

As dawn approached, the hunters decided to make one more fire to get the young hawks. Mother Hawk urged Father Hawk to seek help from their last friend, Lion. Father Hawk quickly flew to Lion and told him about the dangerous situation. Lion roared, "Don't worry, friend. I'm coming."

When Lion arrived, he let out a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the forest. The hunters, terrified by the sound, ran away as fast as they could, leaving everything behind. Lion, Kingfisher, and Turtle gathered around the tree, relieved that the hunters were gone. The Hawk family thanked their brave friends for saving them.

From then on, the Hawks lived happily and peacefully with their loyal friends by their side, ready to help whenever needed. They learned the importance of friendship and helping each other in times of danger. And so, the beautiful lake and its surroundings remained a haven of peace and friendship for all its inhabitants.

In the wiggly-jiggly land of Chuckling Waters, there lived a family of hawks. Mother Hawk, Father Hawk, and their baby hawks enjoyed laughing at their reflections in the lake below. Their neighbors were quite the characters: a Lion who was a wannabe rockstar; a Kingfisher who fancied himself a water magician; and a Turtle who, let's face it, was just really into mud pies.

"Darling," Mother Hawk said to Father Hawk, "We should be friends with those quirky ones next door. You never know when you might need a good mud pie or a water trick!"

So, the neighbors became the Fab Four of the forest, always up to some silly adventure.

But one day, a group of hunters stumbled in, looking as confused as a cat in a bathtub. They set up camp under the hawks' tree, but the buzzing mosquitoes weren't having it. "Let's make a fire," said one hunter, "to keep the buzzy-buzzers away."

The baby hawks woke up, worried about their cozy nest. One hunter said, "Those birds look tasty!" The hawks knew it was time for a cunning plan, forest-friends style.

First up, Kingfisher, the splash wizard. Father Hawk said, "Hey, Splashy, we've got a hot problem, and we need your cool moves!" Kingfisher made a big show of his splashing, but the hunters just relit the fire.

Kingfisher, puffing and panting, said, "I'm all splashed out. Time for something... muddier?"

That's where Mr. Turtle, the mud-pie master, came in. With a wink and a nod, he started flinging mud like it was the newest game in town. The hunters looked on, utterly baffled, as their fire turned into a mud bath.

They tried to catch Turtle, but he was too quick, leaving the hunters muddy and muddled. Turtle grinned, "Slow and steady wins the mud race!"

Mother Hawk, seeing the hunters' persistence, said, "Darling, it's time for the Rockstar Lion."

Lion, always ready for a performance, strutted to the stage and let out a roar so loud that even the trees started dancing. The hunters, not fans of his musical taste, ran away as fast as they could.

The Fab Four gathered around, laughing and cheering, knowing they'd outsmarted the hunters with their quirky talents.

From then on, they lived happily and goofily, always ready for a laugh, a splash, or a mud pie. They knew that being different and having fun was what made them strong.

And the hunters? Well, they went home, still scratching their heads, wondering if they'd just been part of the strangest show in the forest. But in the land of Chuckling Waters, that's just another day of fun and friendship.

In a forest deep, by a lake's gentle roar,
Lived hawks with a tale, a legend of yore.
Mother Hawk, Father, and chicks so small,
By the tranquil water, they watched the day fall.

Nearby, three creatures made their way:
Lion, Turtle, and Kingfisher in the bright day.
"Should we be friends?" Mother Hawk thought aloud,
"For together, we'd be strong and proud."

One day to the forest, hunters did stride,
Seeking some prey, they searched far and wide.
Under the hawk’s tree, they chose to rest,
Lit a fire, thinking it was for the best.

Smoke rose up, causing chicks to weep,
Mother Hawk whispered, "We need help to keep."
To Kingfisher, Father Hawk did fly,
“Help us, dear friend, or our chicks might die.”

With a splash and a dash, Kingfisher tried,
To douse the flames that reached the sky.
Yet the hunters were stubborn, and they did persist,
Until Kingfisher's wings felt quite tired and missed.

“Let’s call Turtle,” Mother Hawk did plea,
Father Hawk nodded and set himself free.
Turtle, with mud from the lake’s deep core,
Quenched the flames, but the hunters sought more.

They lunged for Turtle, nets in their grip,
But he was too swift, giving them the slip.
The night grew darker, the threat still near,
“To Lion, we must go!” Mother Hawk made it clear.

Lion, hearing the story, began to roar,
Echoes so loud, the hunters ran for the shore.
Terrified and shaken, they fled the scene,
Leaving the lake and forest once again serene.

The hawks, with joy, chirped and sang,
Thanking their friends for the help they gave.
Together they stood, side by side,
In the lovely woods, by the lakeside.

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why did Mother Hawk think it was important to make friends with their neighbors, the Lion, the Kingfisher, and the Turtle?
  2. How did each of the Hawk's friends help them when they were in trouble?
  3. Can you remember a time when your friends helped you, or when you helped a friend in need?
  4. What lessons does this story teach us about the value of friendship and helping each other?
  5. How can we apply the lessons from this story to our own lives to build strong friendships and support others when they are in trouble?

Fable Quotes

True friendship is a shield that protects and saves us in the face of adversity.
Kindness ignites a flame of compassion that extinguishes the fires of harm.
Teamwork is the art of coming together, sharing strengths, and achieving greatness hand in hand.
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