Once upon a time, in a beautiful forest filled with big trees, colorful flowers, and chirping birds, a man traveled with his camel. The camel got really sick one day, and the man, who was in a big hurry, decided to leave it behind.
The camel didn’t mind too much. It started eating yummy grass, crunchy leaves, and sweet berries. Soon, it felt strong and happy, walking around the forest with a big smile.
In that same forest lived three best friends: a lion, a fox, and a crow. They loved hanging out, sharing snacks, and playing together. One sunny morning, they spotted the camel chewing on some green bushes. “Hey, who are you?” the fox asked, wagging its tail. The camel looked up and said, “My owner left me here when I was sick, but I’m all better now!”
The lion, who was big and strong, nodded. The crow flapped its wings and chirped, “That’s cool! Want to be our friend?” The camel nodded, and just like that, the four became super tight, running around the forest, laughing, and having the best time.
They had so much fun together. The lion would tell stories about his adventures, the fox would show them cool hiding spots, the crow would fly up high to point out pretty views, and the camel would carry them on its back when they got tired. Life in the forest was awesome for the new buddies.
But one day, something bad happened. The lion, who was great at catching food like deer and rabbits, got hurt. He was chasing a fast deer and tripped, hurting his leg. He limped back to his cozy den and couldn’t go out to hunt.
Without the lion’s food, the fox, crow, and camel got really hungry. Their tummies grumbled, and they felt super weak. The lion called his friends to his den and said, “Guys, we’re starving. Fox, go look for food in the east part of the forest. Crow, check the west. Camel, walk south. Please find something we can eat.”
The fox ran through the trees, sniffing for anything to eat. The crow flew over hills, looking for berries or nuts. The camel walked through wide fields, searching for plants. But the forest was empty that day.
They couldn’t find a single thing to eat—not even a tiny apple. Feeling sad and tired, they met up again. “What do we do now?” the crow asked, flapping its wings. They decided to go back and tell the lion the bad news.
Back at the lion’s den, the friends stood in a line. The crow spoke first, “Lion, I looked everywhere but found nothing. You can eat me if it helps.” The fox shook its head and said, “No way, Crow, you’re too small. I’m bigger, so eat me.” The camel, who was kind and wanted to help, said, “Wait, I’m the biggest. If you eat me, it’ll fill up Lion and you guys too.”
The camel thought it was being a good friend, but as soon as it said those words, the lion roared and the fox jumped. They pounced on the camel and ate it right away. The camel had trusted its new pals with all its heart, but the lion and fox were only thinking about their own empty tummies. They didn’t care about their friend.
Moral: Be careful who you trust. Some people might act like your friends, but they could have selfish ideas that hurt you when you’re not expecting it.
