Zeus, the king of all the gods, was having a very big party! It wasn't just any party; it was his wedding day, and he was marrying the lovely Hera.
Invitations went out to all the animals, big and small. "Please come," the invitations said, "and bring a wonderful gift!"

Oh, what a party it was! The lion brought a shiny golden mane-brush. The eagle brought the fluffiest cloud for Hera to rest on. Even the little squirrel brought the tastiest acorn from the tallest tree.

Then, slithering quietly through the crowd, came a snake. In its mouth, the snake held a beautiful, sweet-smelling rose. It looked like a very nice gift.

Zeus, being very wise, looked closely at the snake. He smiled a little and said, "Thank you for the rose, Snake. It is very pretty."
But then Zeus thought for a moment. He knew that snakes, while sometimes charming, could also be a little bit tricky and carry a hidden danger.

So, Zeus announced to everyone, "This snake brings a lovely flower, but we must remember its true nature. From this day on, even when a snake offers something that seems sweet, its true self, and the potential for a little bit of danger, will always be there, right in its mouth!"

And so, even though the snake tried to offer a kind gift, Zeus reminded everyone that a creature's true nature is hard to hide, no matter how nicely it's presented.

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