Vishnu Sharma | India
The Lion and the Jackal
A lion spares a jackal's life, they become friends, but the jackal's arrogance leads to his death.

Once upon a time, in a dense forest, a powerful lion ruled over all the animals. He was feared and respected by everyone, and none dared to cross his path. The lion was known for his fierce hunting skills, and he would go out every day to catch his prey.
One day, while returning from his hunt along the riverbank, the lion saw a jackal. The poor creature was trembling with fear and fell at the lion's feet, begging for mercy. Moved by the jackal's plight, the lion decided to spare his life. He took the jackal under his protection and made him his servant.
The jackal served the lion with utmost loyalty and dedication. He would accompany the lion on his hunts and was rewarded with the leftover prey. Over time, the two animals developed a deep bond of friendship, and the jackal became stronger and healthier.
However, the jackal's newfound strength also made him arrogant. He started boasting about his abilities and claimed that he was as strong as the lion himself. He also wanted to prove his worth by hunting an elephant and eating it. Despite the lion's warnings about the dangers of such a task, the jackal did not listen.
Determined to prove his worth, the jackal climbed a nearby tree and waited for an elephant to pass by. When he saw one, he jumped down from the tree, but he landed in the wrong place. The elephant saw him and stepped on him, killing him instantly.
The lion was devastated by the loss of his friend, the jackal. He realized that the jackal's arrogance had led to his downfall and that he should never have underestimated the dangers of the forest.



















