The Lion In Bad Company

A long time ago, there was a brave young lion who loved to explore the wild jungle alone. One sunny day, he spotted a nervous-looking wolf hiding in the bushes. The wolf saw him too and felt scared. He knew that if he tried to run, the lion would catch him. So, he gathered his courage and walked up to the lion.

"Good sir," the wolf said, "you seem so kind. May I live with you and your family? I can help you around the house." The wolf batted his eyes and added, "I've never met such a fine young lion like you. I'd be honored to serve you."

The lion’s parents had always told him not to trust wolves. But the young lion was charmed by the wolf’s words and invited him to his home. His parents weren’t happy but felt powerless since their son enjoyed the wolf’s company. They feared the wolf might cause trouble someday, and they were right!

One day, the wolf craved the taste of horse meat. He told the lion, "We’ve eaten many things, but never fresh horse meat. I hear it’s delicious." The young lion got curious and asked the wolf to show him where to find horses.

The wolf led him to a pond where small ponies played. The lion hid in the bushes, then leaped on a pony and took it home. His father warned him, "Be careful, son. These ponies belong to the king, and his men are skilled archers. You’re putting yourself in danger." But the young lion didn’t listen. He had grown fond of horse meat and kept hunting more ponies, while the wolf enjoyed the feast with him.

The king soon learned that a lion was stealing his ponies. To protect them, he built a large tank inside the city, but the lion still managed to sneak in. Even when the ponies were moved to the royal stables, the lion climbed over the walls to hunt them.

The king became furious. He ordered his best archer to stop the lion. The next day, as the lion jumped into the royal stables, an arrow struck his side. In pain, he cried out, "My friend, help me!"

But the wolf, hearing the lion’s cry, knew the lion was caught. Without a second thought, he ran away into the forest, leaving the lion behind. The young lion took his last breath, regretting that he hadn’t listened to his parents.