It is told among the Betsileo people of Madagascar that once, long ago, a hedgehog and a wild cat swore a blood pact, binding their lives together as brothers. The ceremony was solemn, and once their vows were sealed, the wild cat invited his new blood-brother into his home. There, the cat laid out a meal of roasted fowl, savory and plentiful, and together the two friends ate until they were filled with delight.
When the feast ended, the hedgehog said:
“Come, now it is my turn to host you.”
But instead of leading the wild cat to his own humble dwelling, the hedgehog guided him to a private estate, where lemon trees grew in abundance, their golden fruits glistening in the sun.
“Here are my fruits,” said the hedgehog proudly. “Climb the tree and eat your fill, brother.”
The wild cat, pleased, purred in reply:
“Let us climb together.”
“I cannot,” answered the hedgehog slyly, “but go up without fear. All this is for you.”
Trusting the hedgehog’s words, the wild cat scrambled eagerly up the lemon tree, stretching out his paws to pluck the tart, fragrant fruit.
Meanwhile, on the ground below, the hedgehog moved with a strange purpose. From his pouch he drew sharp-pointed stakes and began planting them in a circle around the tree, forming a cruel, spiked fence.
“What are you doing there, brother?” asked the cat suspiciously from above.
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“I am making rice-pestles for our children,” replied the hedgehog calmly, continuing his work.
The wild cat thought nothing of it and went on eating. But soon the hedgehog cried out suddenly:
“Someone is coming!”
Startled and fearful, the wild cat leapt down from the tree, straight onto the hidden stakes. His body was pierced, and in an instant, he fell dead upon the ground.
The hedgehog, not wasting a moment, cut off the cat’s thigh. Carrying the flesh, he went to the home of his fallen companion’s kin and proclaimed:
“Brothers of my blood-brother, I invite you to a great feast at my house. Here is your share.”
The wild cats, unsuspecting, accepted the offering with joy. They roasted the meat and ate, licking their lips in satisfaction.
Then the hedgehog mocked them, shouting with glee:
“O short-mouthed ones! You have eaten the bones of your own kind!”
Fury swept through the wild cats as the truth dawned upon them.
“Let us kill him!” they cried. “He has tricked us into devouring our brother’s flesh!”
But the hedgehog, still clever, said:
“Do not kill me here. Take me instead to that great rock yonder. Princes come here to make merry, and this place must not be polluted with blood.”
The wild cats, blinded by rage yet still respecting his words, carried him to the great rock. But as they prepared to strike, the hedgehog slipped swiftly into a narrow crevice in the stone. From within the safety of the rock’s hollow, his mocking voice rang out:
“Eh! Short-mouthed ones, you have eaten the bones of your brother!”
The wild cats clawed and scratched, but the hedgehog was beyond their reach. His taunts only deepened their anger, but at last, exhausted and defeated, they slunk away in shame.
The hedgehog, overjoyed at having escaped death through cunning and chance, leapt about merrily, squealing in triumph.
From that day forth, hedgehogs and wild cats became sworn enemies. And the last words of the dying wild cat were carried down to his descendants:
“Beware of the hedgehog, my children. He made us eat one of our own ancestors. Do not bear offspring, lest such sacrilege happen again.”
Thus, to this very day, enmity lies between hedgehogs and wild cats, born of betrayal, blood, and deception.
Moral Lesson
This tale warns of the dangers of trusting too easily, even in the bonds of sworn friendship. The wild cat, though strong and proud, allowed himself to be deceived by the hedgehog’s cunning words. Betrayal often comes not from strangers but from those who claim brotherhood.
At the same time, the story reminds us that cruelty and deceit, though clever in the short term, create enmities that endure for generations. Deception may grant temporary triumph, but it also sows lasting discord and mistrust.
Knowledge Check
1. Who were the main characters in the story?
The hedgehog and the wild cat, who swore a blood pact of brotherhood.
2. What trick did the hedgehog use against the wild cat?
He surrounded the lemon tree with sharp stakes, causing the wild cat to fall upon them and die.
3. Why did the wild cats unknowingly eat their own kin?
The hedgehog cut off the thigh of the dead wild cat and offered it to his kin as a feast.
4. What was the hedgehog’s escape plan when the wild cats tried to kill him?
He convinced them to carry him to a rock, then slipped into a crevice for safety.
5. What lasting enmity was explained in this folktale?
It explains why hedgehogs and wild cats remain enemies to this day.
6. What is the central lesson of this Malagasy folktale?
That misplaced trust and betrayal can destroy friendships and create enduring hostility.
Source: Betsileo folktale, Madagascar.
