In a remote part of the countryside, there existed a fox known for his wily nature. His keen eyes and sharp senses led him to a secret garden, hidden away from prying eyes. This enchanted garden was a treasure trove of the most delectable fruits – plump cherries, succulent plums, and golden pears, all bathed in the warm, golden light of the sun.
The fox was irresistibly drawn to this bounty of nature, and he devised various ingenious schemes to partake in the garden's delights. On one fine morning, with the sun's rays dancing through the leaves, he contemplated a novel approach. Rather than relying on his usual tactics, he decided to embrace a new strategy. The fox would craft a disguise, one that would grant him access to the garden without arousing suspicion.
As he approached the garden's vicinity, he began to transform himself into an unexpected character. Cloaked in a cloak of feathers, he took on the appearance of a colorful parrot, a creature the likes of which had never been seen in these parts. With a coat of vibrant feathers and a keen sense of mimicry, he believed he could flutter his way into the garden and feast upon its bounties undetected.
Little did he know that this day was destined to be unlike any other, and he was about to embark on a remarkable adventure filled with unforeseen twists.
So went the day for the parrot-fox, until one morning, the gardener caught sight of him, perched on a tree branch and pecking at a juicy cherry. The gardener, startled by the peculiar sight, approached the "parrot" and tried to shoo it away.
The "parrot" fluttered its wings and squawked in protest, mimicking a bird in distress. The gardener, thinking it was just a harmless parrot, attempted to catch it, but the fox parrot outwitted him and took flight, landing in another part of the garden.
The gardener pursued the parrot-fox with a determined resolve, but each time he got close, the clever creature would mimic the calls of other birds and fly to safety. The chase continued until the parrot-fox, trying to escape through the garden's wall, discovered that the gardener had recently sealed the hole with fresh mud plaster.
Trapped and cornered, the fox decided to put on an even grander performance. He dropped to the ground, spread his feathers wide, and closed his eyes, simulating a parrot's demise.
The gardener, convinced that the parrot-fox had met its end, approached cautiously. He prodded the "lifeless" parrot with a stick, but the fox didn't flinch. Believing the parrot-fox to be dead, the gardener picked it up and tossed it out of the garden.
Days passed, and the fox couldn't find another way back into the garden. With each day, his hunger grew, and he hatched a new plan. The fox decided to visit a lion he knew lived in a nearby forest in hopes of sharing some of the lion's leftovers. He embarked on a journey to reach the lion's den, which was nestled in a cave near the forest.
Upon arriving at the lion's den, the fox called out, "Hello, dear lion! It's the fox, paying you a visit, my old friend."
The lion emerged and greeted the fox, "Hello, fox! What brings you here, and how have you been?"
The fox replied, "I've traveled quite a distance to visit you, my friend, for what are friends for if not to visit one another once in a while? But don't ask me how I am doing; I bear many burdens and much sadness today."
The lion, mildly concerned, inquired, "What has happened, fox?"
"The truth is, I haven't had a meal in days, and my stomach is empty because I couldn't find any food on my way here," the fox said. "Do you have anything to eat? I've come a long way to see you, and I'm famished."
The lion, with regret, confessed, "I'm sorry, fox, but I have no food to offer. I recently devoured a plump boar, leaving me with nothing to share. However, if you can wait a bit, I'll hunt in the forest tomorrow and see what I can find."
The fox, too hungry to wait another day, thanked the lion and suggested, "My dear lion, I don't wish to trouble you. I happen to know of a simple and naive donkey that works at a grain mill nearby. Maybe I can persuade him to join us, and we'll both have a good meal."
The lion agreed with the fox's plan, so the fox decided to lead the donkey to the lion's den.
The fox went to a nearby village where a donkey tirelessly toiled at a grain mill, moving a heavy millstone day in and day out. As the fox approached the donkey, he greeted him, "Hello, donkey! It's a pleasure to see you."
The donkey, grateful for the visit, asked, "How have you been, fox?"
The fox, with a deceptive smile, replied, "I've never been better, donkey! I'm on my way to a hidden paradise I recently discovered. It's a land where the grass is always green, there's plenty to eat, and no work is required. But don't concern yourself with my well-being. Let me ask you, dear donkey, why do you spend your days tirelessly moving that millstone in circles? Is this how you plan to spend your life?"
The donkey contemplated for a moment and replied, "I must work to earn my keep. I turn the millstone every day from dawn till dusk, and in return, the miller provides me with some food and a safe place to sleep. It's hard work, but I find contentment in it."
The fox pretended to ponder deeply while absently flicking his tail, and then he eagerly suggested, "But I have a proposition for you, donkey! Why don't you accompany me to my secret paradise? I could use the company, and there, you'll never have to move a millstone again, my dearest friend!"
The donkey paused and contemplated the offer. After some thought, he agreed to go with the fox. The fox chewed through the rope that tied the donkey to the millstone and said, "My dear friend, you know I've been walking a long way to reach this place. Would you mind if I ride on your back while I guide you to our secret land?"
The donkey, being a cooperative creature, agreed to this arrangement. With the fox on his back, they began their journey toward the forest. Along the way, the fox whispered many false tales about the imaginary paradise he had supposedly found, hoping to keep the donkey distracted.
As they approached the lion's den, the donkey caught sight of the lion hiding in the bushes and realized the trap that had been set for him. He thought, "How can I walk into my own doom with my own four feet? I must find a way to escape this trap before it's too late." Without hesitation, the donkey turned around and started heading back to the mill.
The perplexed fox questioned, "Why have you turned back now, donkey?"
"Oh, my goodness! I've forgotten something very important, and I must retrieve it immediately, for I cannot go anywhere without it!" exclaimed the donkey.
Frustrated, the fox demanded, "What have you forgotten that's so important?"
"A book of advice that my father left me. I must sleep with it under my pillow every night, or I'll have terrible dreams," replied the donkey, hastening his pace to get away from the lion's hiding place as quickly as possible.
The fox realized he couldn't stop the determined donkey, so he played along and proposed, "No problem. We'll fetch your book, donkey, and then we can return here tomorrow. But tell me, what advice did your father write in this book that's so crucial?"
The donkey, growing breathless, answered, "There were five pieces of advice. The first was 'Never go anywhere without this book of wisdom,' but I've forgotten the other four. I'll remember them as soon as we get back to the mill."
As soon as the donkey reached the safety of the mill, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the fox, saying, "Ah! Now I remember the other advice my father gave me. The second was 'There's no shame in honest work.' The third was 'Be thankful for what you have.' The fourth was 'Never befriend tricksters, for in the end, they'll trick you too.' But the fifth and most important thing my father told me was... 'Don't go close to lions!'"
Having said that, the donkey shooed the fox off of his back and carried on with his on duties. Thanking the heavens in gratitude for what he had at this moment and leaving the cunning fox in daze as to what had just occurred.