"The Lion and the Clever Rabbit"

Long ago, deep in a vast and ancient jungle, there lived a lion named Barafu. His golden mane flowed like fire in the wind, and his roar thundered across the treetops. The animals of the forest called him King Barafu, but not out of love — out of fear.

Barafu was powerful, but he was also cruel. Every day, he would hunt not for hunger, but for sport. He would chase the gazelles until they fell with exhaustion, swipe his giant paws at the monkeys swinging through the trees, and roar so loudly that even the owls stopped hooting at night.

The jungle was no longer a place of peace. The streams ran quiet, the birds sang less, and the once-lively animal gatherings became whispers in the dark.

One day, the animals held a secret meeting near the Old Baobab Tree.

“We can’t live like this anymore,” said the wise tortoise, Tukani.

“If we do nothing, he will kill us all,” chirped the parrot.

So the animals sent a delegation to Barafu’s den — an old cave shaded by thorn trees.

“O mighty King,” said the deer nervously, “we ask for mercy. If you promise to stop hunting us, we will send one animal to your cave every day. You won’t need to chase us — your meal will come to you.”

Barafu narrowed his eyes. “One a day?” he growled.

The animals nodded.

“Hmph. Fine. But if your offering is late, or if I go hungry even once... I’ll tear five of you apart!”

The animals agreed. What choice did they have?

For many days, the system worked. Each day, an animal — old, weak, or unlucky — would walk the lonely path to Barafu’s cave. And each day, Barafu would feast and sleep.

But peace built on fear is fragile.

On the thirteenth day, it was the turn of a young rabbit named Juma. He was small, with snowy fur and clever eyes. When the messenger bird came with the dreaded announcement — “Today, it’s your turn” — Juma didn’t panic. He sat quietly under a bush and thought.

“If I go like the others, I’ll be eaten. But maybe... I can outwit the king.”

He wandered through the jungle, thinking of a plan. And by the time the sun stood high in the sky, he had it.

Juma arrived at Barafu’s cave very, very late.

The lion leapt up from his resting place, fur bristling, claws out.

“You dare make me wait?” he bellowed.

Juma bowed low. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was on my way with five other rabbits, but we were stopped by another lion who lives in a cave near the Mirror Lake. He claimed he is the true king of the jungle and that we should bow to him instead. He took the others, and I barely escaped.”

Barafu’s eyes blazed with fury.

“Another lion? Calling himself king? Where is he?!”

“If you follow me, Your Majesty,” said Juma, “I’ll show you.”

And so the great lion followed the tiny rabbit through thick vines, over roots, and past curious chameleons, until they reached a large, still lake that sparkled like glass.

“There,” Juma whispered. “He lives in that cave — beneath the water.”

Barafu padded to the edge and looked down.

There, staring up at him, was a lion. His mane was wild, his eyes fierce. Barafu growled — and the other lion growled back.

He bared his teeth. So did the stranger.

With a furious roar, Barafu leapt into the lake to challenge his rival…

…and vanished beneath the rippling surface.

The jungle grew quiet.

A few bubbles rose.

Then silence.

Juma waited a few minutes, just to be sure. Then he hopped back to the jungle, where the animals waited in fear and sorrow.

But when they saw Juma returning — alive and smiling — their eyes widened.

“You survived?” gasped the hedgehog.

“Where’s the lion?” asked the warthog.

Juma grinned. “He fought the only king who could match his pride — his own reflection.”

Cheers erupted across the forest. Birds sang louder than they had in weeks. Drums of celebration echoed through the trees as news spread: the tyrant was gone, and the jungle was free.

From that day forward, Juma was known as Juma the Brave, and the animals no longer feared their home.

The jungle grew bright again. Flowers bloomed. Streams danced over stones. And the Old Baobab Tree stood tall as ever, proud of the day a clever rabbit tamed a king with nothing but brains, courage, and a little bit of trickery.