One sunny afternoon, a thirsty stag trotted through the woods. "Oh, I could really use a drink!" he thought. Soon, he found a clear, cool pond. As he bent down to sip the water, he saw himself, like in a mirror.

"Wow!" he whispered, looking at his reflection. "My antlers are amazing! So big and branching, like a crown on my head. They are truly splendid!" He tossed his head proudly, making the antlers look even grander.

Then, his eyes moved down to his legs reflected in the water. "Ugh," he sighed. "But look at my legs. So thin and knobbly. They don't look strong or special at all. I wish they were as wonderful as my antlers."

Just then, he heard a twig snap. Rustle, rustle... A hungry lion peeked out from behind the bushes!

The stag's heart jumped. "Oh dear!" he cried, and without a second thought, he turned and bolted. His thin, knobbly legs, the ones he didn't like, pumped like pistons. Faster and faster he ran, leaving the lion far behind in the open field. He was so quick!

"Phew," he thought, "my legs are pretty good after all!"

But as he dashed into a thicker part of the forest, his magnificent antlers, the ones he loved so much, got tangled in the low branches of a tree. He tugged and pulled, but he was stuck!

The lion, panting, soon caught up.

"Oh no," thought the stag sadly, as the lion came closer. "My speedy legs were trying to save me, but my beautiful antlers, the ones I was so proud of, have trapped me."

And the stag learned that day that sometimes the things we don't value much can be our greatest help, while the things we boast about can sometimes get us into trouble.

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