The Kite and the Doves

For many years, a flock of doves had lived in constant terror of a kite that circled high above their nesting grounds. Every time the predator descended, the doves barely escaped with their lives, their wings fluttering in panicked synchronization as they dove into the safety of their hidden crannies. The kite, however, was crafty. He realized that as long as the doves were wary, he could never catch them off guard.

One day, the kite changed his tactics. Instead of attacking, he landed near the doves with a soft, feigned expression of benevolence. 'Why do we live in such mutual hostility?' he cooed, his voice dripping with false sweetness. 'I am tired of hunting, and you are surely tired of fearing me. Let us form an alliance! If you choose me as your king, I will protect you from all other birds of prey, and we shall live in peace and prosperity forever.'

The doves, exhausted by their constant state of alarm, looked at one another and saw a chance for relief. They foolishly believed the kite’s honeyed words and agreed to his proposal. They welcomed him into their flock, treating him with the respect due to a monarch. But the peace lasted only as long as it took for the kite to settle in. Once he felt secure and his presence was no longer questioned, he began to seize and devour the doves one by one whenever he felt hungry.

The survivors, now dwindling in number and realizing their terrible mistake, gathered in a corner of their coop, trembling with grief and regret. One of the oldest doves, whose feathers were gray with age, looked at the others with a heavy heart. 'We have brought this upon ourselves,' she sighed. 'We feared a foe we could see, but we invited a tyrant into our home to rule us. Our gullibility has cost us more than our caution ever did.'