Once, in the land of the Nuba people, a Hyena and a Hare went hunting together. The Hyena was large, muscular, and feared by most animals, while the Hare was small, clever, and quick-witted. Though very different in body and mind, the two agreed to join forces in search of food. Strength and cunning, they thought, would surely make a powerful partnership.
After a long day of chasing and tracking, their teamwork bore fruit: they caught a large prey. The animal lay before them, heavy and plentiful, promising enough meat to satisfy both. But as soon as they laid it down, a quarrel began.
The Hyena, puffing out her chest and planting her paws on the carcass, declared, “This prey belongs entirely to me. Without my strength to bring it down and carry it, you would have nothing at all.”
The Hare’s eyes flashed with anger. Though small in size, his sharp tongue matched his sharp mind. “Hyena,” he retorted, “you boast of your strength, but without my cunning you would never have caught this prey. I led it into your jaws. The meat should not be yours alone.”
Their voices rose, echoing through the bush. For a long time, the two argued back and forth, neither willing to give way.
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Finally, the Hare paused, twitching his whiskers with a sly glint in his eyes. “Let us settle this,” he said. “We will divide the prey, but with one condition: the one who lies shall die.”
The Hyena burst into raucous laughter, baring her sharp teeth. She thought little of the Hare’s words. With a greedy snarl, she seized the entire animal, dragging it toward herself. “All of it is mine!” she barked. “I need no judge and no witness.”
But the Hare was not done. Determined to expose the Hyena’s deceit, he summoned all the animals of the forest. The antelope, the jackal, the monkey, the warthog, and many others gathered to hear his complaint.
Standing before them, the Hare recounted everything that had happened: how he had used his wit to lure the prey into Hyena’s path, how Hyena had claimed all the spoils, and how she had laughed at fairness itself.
The animals turned their gaze upon the Hyena. They saw the truth in the Hare’s words and the greed in Hyena’s eyes. Murmurs of anger spread through the gathering. One by one, the animals condemned her actions. “She has broken trust,” they cried. “She has mocked justice. She is unworthy of our company.”
From that day forward, the Hyena was cast out. She roamed the bush alone, despised by all creatures. Her strength remained, but it brought her no friends, no allies, and no respect.
Moral Lesson
This tale reminds us that strength without fairness leads only to downfall. Greed may bring momentary gain, but in the end it isolates and destroys. The Hyena, though powerful, lost the trust of the community because she refused to share justly. The Hare, with his wit and commitment to truth, showed that justice cannot be silenced by brute force.
The lesson is clear: justice and fairness bind communities together, while greed and dishonesty tear them apart.
Knowledge Check
Who were the two main characters in the story?
– The Hyena (representing strength) and the Hare (representing cunning).
What caused the quarrel between the Hyena and the Hare?
– The division of their large prey after a successful hunt.
What condition did the Hare propose to settle their dispute?
– That they divide the prey, but the one who lies shall die.
How did the Hyena react to the Hare’s proposal?
– She laughed, ignored fairness, and seized the entire prey for herself.
What did the Hare do to expose the Hyena’s greed?
– He called all the animals together and told them the truth.
What lesson does the story teach?
– That greed and dishonesty lead to isolation, while fairness ensures respect and unity.
Source: Nuba people (Kordofan, Sudan).
