The Wolf and the Crane

A wolf once gorged himself on a feast of fresh prey, but in his haste, a sharp bone became lodged deep in his throat. He paced back and forth, howling in agony, unable to swallow or breathe with ease. Panic set in as he realized he was choking to death. Seeing a crane wading nearby in a shallow stream, the wolf called out, offering a handsome reward if the bird would only reach into his throat and pull out the painful bone.

The crane, known for her long, slender neck and delicate beak, was wary of the wolf’s sharp teeth. However, the promise of a rich reward and a sense of pity overcame her caution. She carefully instructed the wolf to open his jaws as wide as he could. With great precision, she inserted her head into his cavernous mouth and, with a quick, deft movement, extracted the bone that had caused him so much distress.

Relieved and breathing freely once more, the wolf began to trot away into the forest. The crane, having watched him turn his back, called out politely, 'Sir Wolf, you have forgotten the reward you promised me.' The wolf stopped, turned his head, and bared his teeth in a cruel, mocking grin. 'You ungrateful bird!' he growled. 'Is it not enough that I allowed you to take your head out of my mouth unharmed? You should be thankful you are still alive, rather than asking for payment for a service you were lucky to perform.' With that, the wolf vanished into the shadows, leaving the crane to contemplate the folly of trusting the word of a predator.