56-57-58 Vegetarian wolf
56
Thunder said to the Bloodshot Eye: “First, you will give a speech among the animals and tell everyone that you intend to fight the lion for the leadership of the entire forest. This way, the Broken Claw will learn from the forest animals that you plan to fight him. But for now, we won’t engage him in battle. That means you will wait until the psychological pressure completely wears the lion down. We will keep delaying the start of the fight until the lion exhausts himself with endless thoughts and worries.”
Freckled said: “Perhaps this way, there won’t even be a fight at all!”
This time, he grinned at the Bloodshot Eye.
The Bloodshot Eye said: “It sounds like a well-calculated plan!”
Thunder continued: “On the other hand, we must continue to deny the lion carcasses. The lion needs to become hungry so he can grow thin and weak. By the day of the fight, he should have no strength left.”
Wrinkled Ear suddenly shouted: “This is great! It couldn’t get any better, Thunder! The plan you devised is the best plan.”
Then he turned to the Bloodshot Eye and said: “This way, you can easily defeat the lion without any hassle and become the king of the jungle, Bloodshot Eye!”
The Bloodshot Eye was also very pleased with the wolf’s plan.
He said to Wrinkled Ear: “Then you should immediately go tell Silver Hoof that they must not give any carcasses to the lion anymore.”
Wrinkled Ear, happy and excited, set off to find Silver Hoof.
Thunder said to the Bloodshot Eye: “Well! Now go prepare yourself for an exciting speech!”
At that moment, the hyena started laughing loudly and obnoxiously.
The Bloodshot Eye climbed up the rock and told the animals to gather. After a certain number of forest inhabitants had assembled at the base of the rock, the Bloodshot Eye began to speak: “Everyone, listen carefully to what I’m saying and inform the other animals! I want to fight the lion for the throne! The Broken Claw must come and fight me in front of all the animals of the forest, and if he can’t defeat me, he must step aside, and I will become the king of the jungle!”
He paused and looked at the attendees. Then he asked: “Does anyone have anything to say?”
Of course, he thought that after saying these words, the animals would start cheering and applauding. The Bloodshot Eye believed he could gain popularity like Sheba. But he couldn’t grasp the reality. He viewed everything selfishly and egocentrically, which completely blinded him to the truth.
When he saw that no one was speaking, he said: “Alright then! Now go tell the others what I said!”
The animals dispersed, whispering to each other. The Bloodshot Eye came down from the rock. Thunder was standing beside the rock, deep in thought.
The Bloodshot Eye asked: “So! How was it?”
Thunder stopped thinking, raised his head, and said: “Not bad! But don’t think you’ve become the king of the jungle just with one speech. The main work is still ahead!”
57
The news of Bloodshot Eye’s speech and claim to the throne spread from mouth to mouth in the forest until it reached Sheba. Hearing all of Bloodshot Eye’s claims and greed made Sheba furious. However, she maintained her composure.
The Stallion asked: “So what should we do now, Sheba?”
Sheba replied: “I want to deliver this news to the lion myself.”
Then she immediately set off and hurried toward the lion’s den. The path to the lion’s den was a bit long, but it didn’t take long for Sheba to reach it. She stood outside the cave and shouted: “Broken Claw! It’s me, Sheba!”
A voice came from inside the cave. A little later, Broken Claw emerged and stood at the mouth of the cave. Hunger and weakness had made him thin and sickly.
Broken Claw said: “What’s wrong, Sheba?”
Sheba said: “Just now, Bloodshot Eye spoke to the animals of the forest and said he wants to fight you for the throne of the forest! I wanted to come and inform you myself before anyone else.”
Upon hearing this, Broken Claw became so angry that his face turned dark. He let out a loud roar, shouting and clawing at the rocks.
Sheba said: “Getting angry won’t help, Broken Claw. The wolf and Bloodshot Eye have plotted something bad against you. They have intended to bring harm to you from the very beginning.”
Broken Claw stepped forward a few paces. Sheba, just to be cautious, jumped and moved aside, standing again at a safe distance from him. Broken Claw, noticing Sheba’s fear and caution, turned his gaze away and said: “It’s all my fault that I ended up like this. I shouldn’t have shown any kindness to that damned Thunder from the start. Now he’s conspiring against me with that ridiculous Spotted? They want to make a cow the king of this jungle in my place!”
Then, involuntarily and out of regret, he let out a bitter sneer. A strange feeling of loneliness filled his heart. He spat on the ground and said: “Curse this world!”
Sheba, feeling sorry for Broken Claw, said: “The problem is all of us, the Wolf and the Hyena, and that Bloodshot Eye and Silver Hoof.”
The lion said: “You’re right, Gazelle! The main problem is these four animals. If we get rid of them, there will be no more issues!”
Sheba said: “Then you better help me defeat them. You could be a great help.”
Broken Claw replied: “What can we do? I’m sure on the day of the battle, the Wolf and the Hyena and the other buffaloes will come at me and finish me off! On the other hand, if I refuse the fight, I’ll be carrying a great shame.”
Sheba said: “For Bloodshot Eye, it will also bring a lot of honor and benefits. If you don’t fight him and back down, Bloodshot Eye will easily become the king of the jungle and then tell everyone that he deserved to be the king!”
Broken Claw asked: “So what should we do now?”
Sheba said: “Wait a bit; I’ll come back to you and tell you what I’m thinking.”
Sheba said this and immediately jumped, disappearing from his sight before the lion could notice.
58
When Sheba reached her herd, she saw Stallion engaged in a very serious discussion with Gladiator, Tawny, Swift, and Purple.
Stallion was saying: “We need to separate our herds from the others. We have to go somewhere else.”
Gladiator replied: “That’s not an easy task, Stallion! Our young ones might die from hunger or exhaustion!”
Stallion said: “It’s better than being hunted down one by one by wolves and hyenas.”
When Sheba arrived, everyone turned to her and gathered around her.
Sheba said: “I heard what you were discussing. It’s still too early for migration. There are things we need to do first.”
Everyone was happy that Sheba had come back to them with a solid plan.
Purple asked: “It’s clear you have a good plan in mind, Sheba!”
Sheba replied: “I hope it works.”
Swift said: “I’m ready to do whatever it takes.”
Tawny added: “Count on me too, Sheba!”
Without wasting any time, Sheba said: “Your task is to find some of the animals that support us.”
Swift immediately responded: “That’s easy, Sheba. Just tell us what to do next.”
Sheba said: “You need to go find the carcasses. We have to locate them before the Bloodshot Eye’s group does.”
Everyone was astonished upon hearing Sheba’s plan.
Tosan asked: “Why do we need to find the carcasses, Sheba?”
Sheba replied: “Because we shouldn’t let the wolf and hyena have food ready for them.”
Gladia said: “Well, what good does that do, Hero Sheba?”
Sheba answered: “First of all, it deals a good blow to our enemies, even if it has no other benefits.”
Gladia said: “That’s true. Well done, Sheba. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
Tosan said: “But it seems there’s an even more important benefit to this, Sheba!”
Hanayi excitedly exclaimed: “Of course there is! Sheba always has an amazing plan that surprises everyone.”
Tizpa said: “Alright, Sheba. Tell us exactly what you want to achieve.”
Sheba said: “We need to make the wolf or the hyena violate the peace treaty.”
Everyone fell silent, pondering Sheba’s words. Then a sense of excitement filled the group.
Arghavani and Gladya said simultaneously: “What a brilliant idea!”
Tosan immediately said: “This way, we can fight against the false peace treaty and get rid of it! Well done, Sheba!”
Hanayi said: “Then let’s get to work right away.”
Everyone wanted to rush ahead, but suddenly Sheba said: “Wait!”
They stopped again and turned to Sheba.
Sheba said: “There’s one more thing.”
Tosan asked: “What is it, Sheba? Is there anything else we need to do?”
Sheba replied: “Yes, Tosan! You need to carry out whatever you do as secretly as possible. For that reason, you should choose the best individuals.”
Once again, Tosan, Gladya, and Sheba’s three close friends pondered his words. There was no need for further questions, as they realized the importance of the matter and that Sheba’s advice was completely logical and mature.
