The Bear and The Two Travelers
Two travelers encounter a bear, one climbs a tree and the other pretends to be dead to survive.
Once upon a time, two travelers were walking through a big, green forest. While they were enjoying their walk, they suddenly saw a big bear coming towards them. They were very scared and started to run as fast as they could.
One traveler was quick and climbed up a tree to hide. But the other traveler wasn't as fast. He remembered hearing that bears won't touch a dead body. So, he decided to fall to the ground and pretend to be dead.
He lay very still, holding his breath and not moving at all. The bear came up to him, sniffed around him from head to toe, and even nudged him a little. But the traveler stayed as still as a log.
Thinking the traveler on the ground was really dead, the bear finally walked away back into the trees.
When the bear was gone, the traveler in the tree climbed down. He went over to his friend on the ground and asked, "What did the bear whisper in your ear?"
The traveler who pretended to be dead sat up and said, "The bear told me to never trust a friend who leaves you alone when danger comes."
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Once upon a time, two travelers were walking through a big, green forest.
While they were enjoying their walk, they suddenly saw a big bear coming towards them.
They were very scared and started to run as fast as they could.
One traveler was quick and climbed up a tree to hide.
But the other traveler wasn't as fast.
He remembered hearing that bears won't touch a dead body.
So, he decided to fall to the ground and pretend to be dead.
He lay very still, holding his breath and not moving at all.
The bear came up to him, sniffed around him from head to toe, and even nudged him a little.
But the traveler stayed as still as a log.
Thinking the traveler on the ground was really dead, the bear finally walked away back into the trees.
When the bear was gone, the traveler in the tree climbed down.
He went over to his friend on the ground and asked, "What did the bear whisper in your ear?"
The traveler who pretended to be dead sat up and said, "The bear told me to never trust a friend who leaves you alone when danger comes."
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Word Finder
Travelers
People who are going from place to place.Forest
A large area full of trees and plants.Suddenly
Happening quickly and unexpectedly.Towards
In the direction of something or someone.Pretend
To act like something is true when it’s not.Breath
The air you take in and let out.Sniffed
Smelled something by taking in air through the nose.Nudged
Gently pushed something or someone.Whisper
To speak very softly and quietly.Danger
The possibility of something bad happening.
Understanding Questions
- What did the two travelers see while they were walking through the forest?
- How did the first traveler react when he saw the bear?
- What strategy did the second traveler use to protect himself from the bear?
- Why did the bear walk away from the traveler on the ground?
- What lesson did the traveler on the ground share after the bear left?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think one of the travelers climbed the tree instead of helping his friend?
- How did the second traveler save himself from the bear?
- What does the story teach us about how to act when we're scared?
- The traveler who was left on the ground said that the bear told him not to trust a friend who deserts you in danger. What does this mean?
- Can you think of a time when you helped a friend or a friend helped you when you were in trouble? How did it make you feel?
Fable Quotes
Never trust a friend who deserts you in times of danger.
True friendship is tested when danger arises and reveals who will stand by your side.
Courage is not absence of fear, but the willingness to act despite it.
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