That morning, the Forest Rabbit hopped along the woodland path in a cheerful mood, proud of how he had recently outsmarted the Old Wolf, who ended up burned and left with a badly scorched tail after trying to steal food. The Rabbit felt light and carefree, enjoying his clever victory, until a sudden chill ran through his body.
Almost at the exact moment the thought of the Gray Tiger, the most feared and brutal beast in the forest, crossed his mind, the Rabbit caught sight of the huge animal crouching silently in thick bushes ahead. His heart nearly stopped. The Rabbit froze where he stood, knowing that one careless step would mean instant death.
After a while, the Tiger rose from his hiding place and moved toward a narrow cave carved into the mountainside. The opening was far too small for his massive body, but his hungry eyes burned as he stared deep inside. He paced back and forth in front of the cave, then quietly returned to his hiding spot, clearly waiting for whatever was trapped inside to come out.
The Rabbit immediately understood that someone inside the cave was in terrible danger. Whoever they were, they did not deserve such a fate. Thinking quickly, the Rabbit climbed onto a high tree branch and called down in a friendly voice, asking the Tiger what he was doing there.
The Tiger looked up in surprise and instantly recognized the clever Rabbit whose tricks were known throughout the forest. Although suspicious, his hunger was stronger than his caution. Pretending to be friendly, he admitted that he was starving and had planned to catch two young deer. Unfortunately for him, they had fled into the cave. He then asked whether the Rabbit knew a way to force them out, promising that he would treat the Rabbit kindly afterward.
Sensing a chance to save the deer, the Rabbit calmly explained that waiting outside was completely useless. He said that once the deer smelled a Tiger nearby, they would rather die of hunger than step out of the cave. This made the Tiger anxious and impatient. Frustrated, he asked the Rabbit what he should do instead.
The Rabbit eagerly offered a plan that sounded both clever and convincing. He told the Tiger to pile straw near the cave entrance and set it on fire, then fan the smoke inside, just as humans smoke rats out of their holes. No matter how brave the deer were, they would rush out to escape the smoke. With the fire already burning, the Tiger could enjoy freshly roasted venison. The idea excited the Tiger, but he hesitated, wondering where he could possibly find straw in the forest.
The Rabbit reassured him that it was easy and volunteered to lead the way. When the Tiger worried that the deer might escape while he was gone, the Rabbit quickly suggested rolling a huge rock in front of the cave entrance, claiming that even ten strong deer could not push it aside. Relieved, the Tiger followed the plan without further thought.
Once everything was arranged, the Rabbit jumped down and climbed onto the Tiger’s back, guiding him to a dry field far from the forest where straw lay in abundance. Following the Rabbit’s instructions, the Tiger gathered the straw himself and loaded it onto his own back, tying it securely. The Rabbit then sat on top as the Tiger raced back toward the forest.
After traveling some distance, the Rabbit quietly took out two small stones and struck them together, creating a sharp clicking sound. The Tiger immediately grew nervous and asked what the sound was. In a calm voice, the Rabbit replied that it was the sound of fire being made, and that it would soon be time to smoke the deer out.
At that moment, panic seized the Tiger. Fire was the one thing he feared more than anything else. Imagining the straw on his back bursting into flames, he jumped wildly, shook his body violently, and bolted in terror. Within seconds, the straw flew off in all directions, and the Rabbit leapt safely to the ground.
Thanks to clear thinking, patience, and intelligence, the Forest Rabbit saved the animals hiding in the cave and once again proved that wisdom can overcome brute strength. The story reminds readers that true power lies not in violence, but in cleverness, courage, and the ability to think ahead.