Lion and a Rabbit:

Deep inside the Emerald Forest, where trees touched the sky and sunlight danced between leaves, lived animals of every kind—deer, birds, elephants, monkeys, and even tiny ants. For generations, they lived in peace.
But everything changed the day Raghu, the fiercest lion, became the self-proclaimed King of the Emerald Forest.
Raghu was powerful, with a mane dark as midnight and claws that could slice bark like butter. At first, the animals respected him because of his strength. But soon, fear replaced respect. Raghu began to think strength was everything. He hunted not only when he was hungry but whenever he felt bored or angry.
The forest grew silent. Animals hid in their burrows. Birds stopped singing. Even the wind seemed afraid to blow.
One evening, the animals gathered near the Great Banyan Tree.
“This cannot go on,” said an old deer.
“If Raghu keeps hunting like this, soon none of us will be left,” whispered a mother squirrel.
“Someone must stop him,” cried the parrot.
But everyone knew the truth: no one could fight the lion.
After hours of discussion, the animals made a plan. They decided that instead of letting Raghu hunt freely, they would send one animal to him each day as his meal. It sounded cruel, but it was the only way to save the rest.
When the idea was presented to the lion, Raghu smirked.
“Good,” he said. “At least you now understand your place.”
Every day, one unlucky animal was chosen. Some went crying, some went silently, and some tried to run but were brought back. The forest lived in sorrow.
One afternoon, when the sky shone gold and birds returned to their nests, the forest elders approached Rumi, a small grey rabbit known for her intelligence.
“Rumi,” said the owl gently, “tomorrow is your turn.”
The animals waited for tears or panic—but Rumi simply nodded.
“I may be small,” she said, “but brains are not measured in kilograms.”
The animals were shocked.
“What do you mean?” asked the deer.
“You will see,” Rumi replied with a mysterious smile.
The next morning, Rumi set off slowly toward Raghu’s cave. She hopped leisurely, stopping to nibble grass, smell flowers, and even rest under a mushroom.
By noon, she was still nowhere near the lion’s den.
Back in the cave, Raghu paced without patience.
“Where is my meal? How dare they keep a king waiting!” he roared, shaking the forest. Birds trembled on branches.
Just then, Rumi appeared, tiny and calm.
“You are late,” Raghu growled. “Give me one reason not to tear you apart right now.”
Rumi bowed politely.
“Great King, I tried to come on time. But another lion stopped me.”
Raghu’s eyes widened. “Another lion? In my forest?”
“Yes,” Rumi said, trembling just the right amount to seem convincing. “He said he is the true king. He even claimed that you are weak.”
Raghu’s pride flared like wildfire.
“Impossible! No one challenges me and lives! Take me to him at once!”
Rumi led the furious lion deep into the forest. Instead of following the main path, she guided him through thorny bushes, slippery slopes, and rocky streams.
“Where is he?” Raghu demanded.
“Near the old stone well,” Rumi replied, pointing ahead.
They reached the abandoned well, covered in moss. The water inside was still and dark like a mirror.
Rumi whispered, “He is inside. He claimed he can defeat you.”
Raghu, blinded by rage, marched to the edge and peered inside. At the bottom, he saw the reflection of a lion—his own reflection—but he did not understand.
The reflection roared back because of the echo.
Raghu roared louder.
The echo answered louder.
“He mocks me!” Raghu snarled. Without another thought, he leapt into the well to attack his “enemy.”
With a huge splash, the water swallowed him.
Rumi watched quietly.
A few moments passed. Then silence. The mighty lion, who had terrorized the entire forest, could not climb out. The well was deep, and Raghu was gone.
Rumi hopped to the edge and whispered, “Strength is nothing without wisdom.”
When she returned to the forest, the animals were waiting anxiously.
“Where is the lion?” they cried.
“With the reflection he tried to defeat,” Rumi said playfully, “at the bottom of the old well.”
The forest erupted in cheers. Monkeys jumped from tree to tree. Peacocks danced. Birds filled the sky with songs.
The elephant lifted Rumi on his back and declared,
“From today, Rumi is the Guardian of the Emerald Forest!”
The forest came alive again. The trees felt taller. The wind blew freely. Flowers bloomed brighter than ever.
From that day onward, whenever a young animal complained about being small or weak, the elders would smile and say:
“Do not fear. Remember Rumi—the tiny rabbit who saved an entire forest.”