Vegetarian wolf 64-63
63
A few days passed in this manner, and every day, thanks to the vultures, Thunder and Gray had plenty of food. The vultures were upset to see this situation and didn’t know what to do. After enduring several days of hunger, when they had completely fallen into a pitiful state, they finally realized that the best solution to their problem was to go and ask Sheba for help. For this reason, a messenger, the leader of the vultures, went to find Sheba and found him next to a waterfall. Sheba was drinking water from the pool below the waterfall when he saw the reflection of the vulture in the water. He lifted his head and noticed that the messenger was approaching him. The messenger perched on a branch of the nearest tree.
Sheba said: “What’s wrong, messenger? You seem upset!”
The vulture replied: “For several days now, as soon as we find the carcass of a dead animal and are about to start eating, Silver Hoof and those buffaloes attack us and chase us away!”
Upon hearing the vulture’s words, Sheba was shocked. He hadn’t expected to hear such a thing. He wondered if Silver Hoof had figured out their plan and if this was a reaction to their scheme.
He said to the vulture: “I’m sorry to hear this, messenger! That wicked Silver Hoof is stealing your food and giving it to the Wolf and Hyena. The worst part is that the Bloodshot Eye and Silver Hoof have made a pact with the Wolf and Hyena to ensure that from now on, the carcasses do not fall into your hands and are kept for the predatory animals.”
Upon hearing this, the Vulture’s sadness deepened, and he lowered his head, as if grief were overwhelming him. When Sheba saw this scene, she felt very upset. She felt sorry for the Vulture. She knew they were poor birds and did not deserve the suffering they were enduring.
She said: “But don’t worry, Piki!”
Piki lifted his head.
Sheba continued: “I will eventually make the Bloodshot Eye, Silver Hoof, the Wolf, and the Hyena pay for their deeds. I promise you.”
Sheba was very saddened and lost in thought. After a moment, she took a sip of water and lifted her head. She turned to the Vulture and said: “But you also need to help me in this, Piki!”
The Vulture nodded in agreement and said: “I will do whatever you say, Sheba.”
Hearing this from the Vulture made Sheba happy.
64
When Sheba and her three friends went to see Gladia and Tosan, they found that the two were once again discussing migration. Tosan insisted that they needed to lead the herd of deer out of the jungle soon. Gladia kept saying that as long as they were alive, they would not abandon them and would support them until the end. Hearing their words made Sheba both sad and happy. She was sad because the herd she had been born and raised in had become very vulnerable, and she was happy because Gladia was a devoted and wise deer who had always been their best friend and supporter.
Sheba asked, “Have there been any updates on the fight between the Bloodshot Eye and the Broken Claw?”
Tosan replied, “Not yet.”
Arghavani said, “It’s obvious that it’s a trick. The Bloodshot Eye wanted to show off and tell the jungle animals how powerful he is. That’s all.”
Gladia said, “No, actually, Arghavani! This is very serious.”
Arghavani responded, “Then why is there no news about the fight? It’s been ten days since the news spread.”
Gladia explained, “The Bloodshot Eye wants to break the Broken Claw mentally and crush his spirit. He wants the thought of the fight to wear him down. That’s why he’s delaying the battle.”
Sheba, Tosan, and Sheba’s friends praised Gladia for her insightful observations.
Swiftfoot said: “Really, no one but you deserves to lead our herd, Gladiator.”
Hanaei replied: “So, in that case, the Bloodshot Eye is smarter than I thought.”
Tosan said: “No, actually, Hanaei. The Bloodshot Eye is more foolish than that.”
Violet said: “It’s clear that all of this is the wicked and malicious plan of that Wolf.”
Hanaei realized that he had been looking at the situation very naively.
He said: “So it might take a long time for them to fight each other.”
Sheba said: “I feel like there’s something in the middle that we still haven’t realized.”
Sheba fell silent, as if pondering her own words.
Tosan said: “There are many things we still don’t know.”
Sheba replied: “No, what I mean is that there’s something we should have known. But due to our negligence, we haven’t noticed it yet.”
Violet said: “That’s completely obvious! Thunder has taught the Bloodshot Eye to tell the animals that he wants to fight the Lion and become the king of the jungle. Then they want to delay the fight long enough to weaken the Broken Claw with fear and worry. This way, the Bloodshot Eye can defeat him more easily.”
Sheba said: “What you said is true. But it seems we’ve overlooked an important point. And no matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure out what it is.”
Swiftfoot said: “Maybe there isn’t any point at all, and this is the whole reality we’ve heard about.”
The words of Sheba’s friends did not ease her heart. She was sure that her feelings were not lying to her. She had overlooked something and didn’t realize what it was. Until once again, Gladia, with her knowledge, experience, and wisdom, brought her and the others out of the darkness.
Gladia said: “Thunder and the Bloodshot Eye are not just content with putting the Broken Claw under psychological pressure. The fact that they are prolonging the fight is just one aspect of the matter. But this prolongation of the fight is for an even more important reason.”
They all listened carefully to Gladia’s words.
Sheba immediately asked: “What is it, Gladia? What is this important reason that I can’t seem to grasp no matter how much I think?”
Gladia replied: “Hunger and weakness!”
She paused briefly and continued: “They want the Lion to become weak from hunger. Or even if he does become weak, they want him to get sick and near death. This way, they aim to make it so that the Lion either dies from hunger and illness on his own, or if he survives, defeating him will be very easy.”
Sheba said: “So…”
She was completely lost in thought. She had lowered her head and was searching for something in her mind.
She continued: “In that case…”
She paused and said: “In that case, they won’t give the lion the carcasses of dead animals anymore!”
At that moment, Sheba raised her head and said: “Did I guess right, Gladiator?”
Gladiator replied: “It has to be that way. Why should they give the lion carcasses? Especially when they are going to fight him and destroy him!”
Purple said: “The Broken Claw is our only way to defeat the Bloodshot Eye and end this false peace treaty.”
Swiftfoot also said: “What Purple means is that we need to help the lion. We should find him a carcass, right?”
Then she looked at all of them to see if she had guessed correctly. It seemed that no one had anything to say. Everyone was thinking about what they should say.
Henna said: “If we do this, it means we accept the peace treaty. Because we agreed to find carcasses for the hunters!”
Purple said: “If we act according to the peace treaty, the Bloodshot Eye will take advantage of it. He will tell all the animals that Sheba is outwardly opposing the peace treaty and considers it false, but secretly he will act according to it himself!”
A long silence fell among them. Everything they were saying was true, and they needed to consider more aspects of the situation. However, the Stallion proposed a solution that brought Sheba and the others out of their indecision.
The Stallion said: “The best course of action is to secretly help the lion. We need to do this discreetly; we also need to ensure that the lion doesn’t get too much food.”
Everyone was surprised by his words.
Sheba asked: “I don’t understand your point, Stallion! Why should we make sure the lion doesn’t get too much food?”
The Stallion replied: “Because if the lion eats well and becomes strong, the Bloodshot Eye won’t fight him anymore.”
Gladiator immediately said: “Well done, Stallion. What a wise thing you’ve said.”
Sheba understood the Stallion’s point as well.
He said: “You’ve clarified things for me, Stallion. Thank you.”
Then Sheba turned to everyone and said: “Now I know what I need to do.”
And she immediately said goodbye to them and left.
After Sheba’s departure, the Purple, the Tawny, and the Swift, who hadn’t fully understood the situation, began to interrogate the Stallion and Gladiator. The two patiently explained everything to them so they could fully grasp the matter.
