The Stag and the Vine
Aesop's Fables
In a green, leafy forest, lived a speedy deer named Dash. Dash had long legs for running and big, gentle eyes.
One sunny morning, while Dash was nibbling on some tasty grass, he heard a scary sound – TWANG! And then, WOOF WOOF!
"Oh dear!" thought Dash. "Hunters and their dogs!"
Dash knew he had to run, and fast! His heart went thump-thump-thump. He bounded away, his hooves barely touching the ground. He zigzagged through the trees, looking for a place to hide.
Then, he spotted it – a big, bushy grapevine, full of thick green leaves. "Perfect!" he whispered to himself and dove right in. The leaves were so dense, they covered him like a cozy green blanket. Dash held his breath.
Soon, the hunters and their noisy dogs came by.
"Where did that deer go?" one hunter grumbled, scratching his head.
"He just vanished!" said another.
They looked around, sniffed the air, but they couldn't see Dash hidden so well in the grapevine. After a while, they gave up and stomped away, their dogs trotting sadly behind them.
"Phew!" Dash sighed with relief. "I'm safe! That was close."
He felt a little bit hungry after all that running and hiding. And those grapevine leaves, the very ones that had hidden him, looked so juicy and green.
"Hmm," thought Dash. "Just a little nibble won't hurt. I'm sure the vine won't mind."
So, Dash started to munch on the leaves. Munch, munch, rustle, rustle went the leaves. He ate one, then another, then a few more.
But one of the hunters, who hadn't gone too far, had very sharp ears.
"Wait a minute!" he whispered to his friend. "Did you hear that rustling sound?"
"It sounds like something is moving in that grapevine!" the other hunter replied.
Quietly, they tiptoed back.
And there, peeking out from the now much thinner leaves, was Dash, still munching away!
"Oh no!" thought Dash, his eyes wide with surprise. He had eaten so many leaves that his hiding spot wasn't a secret anymore.
The hunters easily saw him.
Poor Dash! He realized too late. The kind grapevine had offered him safety, but by nibbling its leaves, he had given away his own hiding place. He learned that day that it's not very wise to harm the friend who helps you.
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