In an ancient forest, all the animals lived peaceful, happy lives. Everything changed when a gray tiger from another region suddenly appeared. It stormed through the trees, roaring so loudly that the entire forest trembled. Terrified by its power, the animals had no choice but to follow its demand: every day, one animal had to sacrifice itself so the tiger could eat. Deer, antelope, weasels, peacocks, and even the clever fox eventually became its meals. Many other creatures fled to distant parts of the forest to survive.
When the day came for the white rabbit to offer himself, the forest was calm and bright. Birds were singing, flowers filled the air with a sweet scent, and the rabbit woke up with a heavy heart. He whispered, “My time has come.” Even the fresh smell of grass could not comfort him. As he walked slowly out of his burrow, he stopped by a well at the forest’s edge. He hopped onto the stone rim and looked down, spotting another white rabbit staring back at him. It twitched its ears when he did. He quickly realized it was his reflection, and at that moment, a bold idea flashed through his mind. He immediately ran to find the old bear.
The bear, respected by all for his wisdom and kindness, listened carefully. After hearing the story, he nodded thoughtfully. The bear told the rabbit, in a calm voice, that the plan had potential. He reminded the rabbit that success would depend on staying calm and following the instructions exactly. The bear whispered the details, and the rabbit’s whiskers quivered with excitement.
The rabbit thanked him and hurried toward the tiger’s cave. Seeing the rabbit arrive late, the tiger growled in anger. The rabbit pretended to tremble as he explained that he had started early but was stopped by another tiger on the way. That tiger claimed the gray tiger was nothing but a bully who only preyed on small animals, and if the gray tiger was truly strong, he should face him directly.
The gray tiger, furious at the insult, roared so loudly that birds burst from the trees. Blinded by rage, he ordered the rabbit to show him where this rival tiger lived. The rabbit, hiding his excitement, guided him step by step through the forest. As they neared the well, the rabbit pointed and said the tiger’s home was right below.
The gray tiger leaped onto the well’s rim and looked down. His reflection glared back at him from the water. Mistaking it for a challenger, he roared, “Who are you?” The echo bounced back with the same angry tone. Enraged, the tiger shouted again, threatening to tear the intruder apart. The echo repeated every word, fueling his fury.
Unable to control his anger, the gray tiger jumped straight into the well, ready to attack. But he found nothing except cold water. He thrashed wildly, roaring in confusion. The more he roared, the more water he swallowed. After struggling for a long time, his voice finally faded, and the forest became silent once more.
From a distance, the rabbit watched the tiger fall for his plan. Overjoyed, he ran to spread the news. Soon, all the animals gathered around the well. Inside lay the gray tiger, lifeless, his eyes still wide with anger. The animals cheered in relief, saying the cruel tiger had received exactly what he deserved.