The Lion’s Share

A lion lived in a large forest with a fox, a jackal, and a wolf.

The three smaller animals often searched for food separately.

One summer, however, food became difficult to find.

The grass dried beneath the hot sun, and many animals moved to distant parts of the forest.

One morning, the lion gathered the fox, the jackal, and the wolf beneath a large tree.

— Hunting alone is becoming difficult, — said the lion. — We should work together.

The fox listened carefully.

— How will we divide whatever we find? — she asked.

— Equally, of course, — replied the lion. — Each of us will receive a fair share.

The jackal and the wolf agreed.

Working together seemed safer and more successful than searching alone.

The four animals entered the forest.

The fox searched for tracks.

The jackal listened for movement among the bushes.

The wolf followed scents along the ground.

The lion used his strength to move through the thick plants.

After several hours, the fox discovered fresh hoofprints near a stream.

The jackal heard branches moving in the distance.

The wolf followed the scent and led the group toward a grassy clearing.

There they found a deer.

The animals surrounded it carefully and prevented it from escaping.

Together, they successfully completed the hunt.

The fox, the jackal, and the wolf were pleased.

Each of them had contributed to the work.

— We made an excellent team, — said the jackal.

— Now we can divide the food into four equal portions, — added the wolf.

The lion looked at the food and then at his companions.

— Yes, — he said slowly. — Let us divide it.

The animals separated the food into four equal shares.

The lion stepped toward the first portion.

— This share belongs to me because I am the lion and the ruler of this forest.

The fox, the jackal, and the wolf looked at one another.

The lion placed his paw on the second share.

— This portion is also mine because I am the strongest member of our group.

The wolf opened his mouth to object but quickly closed it again.

The lion moved toward the third share.

— I will take this one because I led the hunt.

The fox remembered that she had discovered the tracks, but she remained silent.

Only one portion was left.

The lion stood beside it and looked directly at the other animals.

— As for the final share, I would be interested to see who is brave enough to claim it against me.

The forest became completely quiet.

The fox, the jackal, and the wolf understood the threat.

Although they had all worked together, the lion intended to keep everything.

The three animals slowly stepped away.

They were hungry, disappointed, and angry with themselves for trusting the lion’s promise.

After they had moved a safe distance away, the jackal said:

— He called us partners only while he needed our help.

— Once the work was finished, he used his power to take the reward, — said the wolf.

The fox nodded.

— We should have considered whether someone who holds all the power can truly be an equal partner.

The next day, the three animals formed a new team without the lion.

Before beginning, they agreed on clear responsibilities and divided everything fairly after every successful search.

Their meals were sometimes smaller, but each animal received the share that had been promised.

The lion, meanwhile, soon discovered that strength alone did not make him a good partner.

The other animals no longer trusted his invitations or promises.

He had gained one large meal but lost the cooperation and trust of those who had helped him.