The Wolf & the Crane

Deep in the forest, there lived a greedy Wolf who was always searching for his next meal. One day, after successfully hunting down a large animal, the Wolf sat down to feast. He tore into the juicy meat with his sharp fangs, devouring piece after piece, not caring to chew slowly. His hunger was overwhelming, and in his haste, he swallowed a large bone without thinking.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his throat. The bone had lodged itself tightly, and the Wolf began to choke. He coughed and gagged, trying desperately to spit it out, but it wouldn’t budge. He couldn’t swallow, he couldn’t breathe properly, and most terrifying of all—he couldn’t eat any more!

“What am I going to do?” he thought in panic. “I’m the mightiest Wolf in the forest, but even I cannot get this bone out by myself. I need help!”

In great distress, the Wolf ran through the forest, searching for someone who could save him. After a while, he stumbled upon the Crane, who was calmly standing near a stream, her long, graceful neck reaching down to catch fish.

With no time to waste, the Wolf called out, “Crane! Crane! Please, help me!”

Startled by the Wolf’s approach, the Crane backed away. She knew that the Wolf was dangerous, but when she saw the agony in his eyes, she hesitated.

“What is it?” the Crane asked cautiously, eyeing the Wolf's sharp teeth.

“A bone is stuck in my throat,” the Wolf explained, his voice hoarse with pain. “With your long neck and slender beak, you could reach inside and pull it out for me! Please, I beg you!”

The Crane tilted her head thoughtfully. She knew that helping the Wolf was risky—after all, who in their right mind would put their head into the mouth of a creature known for eating anything in sight? But then the Wolf made a tempting offer.

“If you help me, I will reward you handsomely. You’ll be the richest bird in the entire forest!”

The Crane’s eyes gleamed with greed. She imagined herself living a life of luxury, with all the fish she could ever want. The idea was too enticing to resist. So, despite her fear, the Crane agreed.

“All right,” she said, “I’ll help you. But you must keep your mouth wide open, and don’t bite down.”

The Wolf, desperate for relief, nodded and lay down, opening his mouth as wide as he could. The Crane took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She gingerly stepped closer, her heart racing as she peered into the Wolf’s throat. Carefully, she slid her long, slender beak deep into the Wolf’s gaping mouth, feeling around for the bone.

After a tense moment, she felt it—the bone was wedged in tight. With a quick, delicate movement, the Crane grabbed the bone and gently pulled it out.

“There!” she said triumphantly, stepping back with the bone in her beak. “It’s out!”

The Wolf immediately felt relief as the pain in his throat vanished. He stood up, shook himself off, and began to walk away without so much as a thank you.

“Wait!” cried the Crane. “What about my reward? You promised me a handsome reward for my help!”

The Wolf paused and turned around, his yellow eyes gleaming with mischief. He let out a low, menacing growl. “Your reward?” he snarled, baring his sharp teeth. “Isn’t it enough that I didn’t bite your head off when it was in my mouth?”

The Crane stood frozen in shock, realizing she had been tricked. The Wolf had no intention of rewarding her for her help. With a final wicked grin, the Wolf slunk back into the forest, leaving the Crane standing there, regretful for letting her greed blind her to the danger.

From that day on, the Crane learned to be wiser and not to trust those who offer rewards too good to be true.