In the dry lands where the wind hums through thorn bushes and the stars seem close enough to touch, the animals once lived in a fragile balance. The sun rose over cracked earth and golden grass, and every creature knew its place, except the Hyena, whose heart carried grudges like stones in a pouch.
It began with a slight, small in the eyes of others, but deep as a wound to Hyena. He had once hunted alongside Jackal, who was sly with words and quick with his paws. One season, during the great hunger, they had trapped a young springbok together. Hyena had done the chasing, his heavy paws thudding against the ground, but Jackal had darted in at the last moment, killing the prey and claiming the best meat for himself.
“Friend,” Jackal had said with a grin, blood on his teeth, “you are strong, but I am clever. And cleverness deserves reward.”
Hyena had laughed then, but inside his belly the fire of anger began to burn. Over many moons, that fire grew until it was a storm in his chest. He wanted more than meat. He wanted Jackal to feel what it was to be cheated.
The Plotting of Revenge
One night, when the moon was a thin silver blade, Hyena crept to Jackal’s den. He called out in a friendly voice, hiding the bitterness that sharpened his words.
“Brother Jackal,” Hyena said, “have you heard of the cave of endless meat? I have seen it with my own eyes in the hills beyond the river. The walls hang with fat cuts of eland and kudu, the ground is scattered with bones, and no hunter guards it. We could feast for a year.”
Jackal’s ears twitched. His greed was a weed that grew fast in any soil. “Show me this cave,” he demanded.
Hyena smiled, though it was not the smile of a friend. “At dawn, we will go.”
The Cave of No Return
The next morning, they crossed the dry riverbed and climbed into a valley where the rocks rose like the backs of sleeping giants. In the shadow of one such rock was a deep, narrow cave. A smell of meat drifted from within—Hyena had made sure of that by dragging old scraps there the night before.
Jackal licked his lips. “Wait here,” Hyena said, “I will guard the entrance while you bring the meat out.”
Jackal slipped into the darkness, paws padding over stone. As soon as he was far inside, Hyena rolled a boulder across the entrance. The sound echoed like a drumbeat of doom.
From inside came Jackal’s voice, sharp with alarm. “Hyena! What is this? Open the cave!”
Hyena crouched beside the boulder, speaking through the cracks. “Do you remember the springbok? Do you remember the taste of the fat you took from me? Sit in there and think of it while the darkness chews your bones.”
Jackal howled and cursed, scratching at the stone until his claws bled, but Hyena only laughed. For two days, he kept the boulder in place. On the third day, a great rain came, and the cave began to flood.
The Twist of Fate
It was then that Hyena’s plan unraveled. The scent of blood and old meat carried through the wet air, and Lion, the king of the plains, came to investigate. He found Hyena at the cave, guarding it like a treasure.
“What have you here?” Lion rumbled.
Hyena bowed low, his tail twitching nervously. “Only a foolish Jackal, trapped for stealing.”
Lion’s golden eyes narrowed. “Then you will share him with me, for justice must be served by the king.” With a sweep of his massive paw, Lion pushed the boulder aside. Jackal stumbled out, wet, shivering, but alive.
When he saw Hyena, his eyes burned brighter than the sun. “You will pay for this,” Jackal hissed, but before he could act, Lion roared.
“This quarrel between you spreads trouble in my land. From this day, you shall never hunt together, and your paths will part forever. Hyena, you will eat only what others leave behind. Jackal, you will live by your wits alone.”
And so it was.
The Last Laugh
Hyena thought he had won—until the seasons turned. The meat others left behind was dry and bitter, the scraps hardly enough to fill his belly. Jackal, free and cunning, found ways to feast without lifting a paw in chase. And every time Hyena saw him, the Jackal’s grin seemed to say, Your revenge was your own punishment.
Moral of the Story
In the ways of the Bushman people, this tale reminds us that revenge is a fire that burns the one who carries it. Hyena’s anger robbed him not only of his friendship but of the good life he once knew. To seek harm for harm is to drink poison and expect the other to fall. Justice is not always in our hands, and bitterness, once planted, will grow until it consumes the heart. Let go before it roots too deep.
Knowledge Check
1. What is the origin of “The Hyena’s Revenge” in African folklore?
This story comes from Bushman (San) oral traditions of Southern Africa, known for their rich animal fables that convey moral lessons through vivid storytelling.
2. How does the story of “The Hyena’s Revenge” reflect Bushman culture?
It reflects the Bushman emphasis on harmony, respect among community members, and the dangers of selfishness and revenge, using animals as symbolic characters to teach human values.
3. What is the main moral lesson in “The Hyena’s Revenge”?
The story teaches that revenge often backfires, causing more harm to the one seeking it than to the intended target.
4. Why is Hyena punished in the story?
Hyena is punished indirectly by losing the right to hunt freely and being forced to survive on scraps after trying to harm Jackal out of spite.
5. How does the character of Jackal typically appear in Bushman folktales?
Jackal is often portrayed as cunning, quick-thinking, and resourceful, sometimes using his intelligence to outwit stronger animals.
6. Why is “The Hyena’s Revenge” considered an animal fable?
It uses talking animals with human-like traits to explore moral themes, making it a traditional animal fable in African oral literature.
