STORY - The true friends

                 It happened a long, long time ago. Four friends lived in lovely forest. They were-----a mouse, a fawn, a crow and a turtle. Very close friends they were, inspite of being different creatures. Everyone of them was ever ready to do anything for the others. The four would talk, play, tell stories, gossip and frolic around. There was a clear water pond in the forest. It was the home of the turtle. The crow lived on a tree that grew nearby. The mouse had his hole under that very tree. The fawn had made the nearby bushes his home.

                    During the day, the turtle swam in the water or basked on the sandy bank. The rest of the three would set out in the morning in search of the food. They returned by the sunset time after the day long outing. That is when, all the four would get together and play and make merry around.

                        One day the crow and the mouse returned as usual. But the fawn failed to appear. The rest of the three waited anxiously for him.  They were to worried to play.

                           The turtle said with a heavy heart, “The fawn used to return earlier than you two. Why   is he not back? My heart is sinking, friends.”

                         The mouse sounded scared, “It is very serious. I think our friend is in some deep trouble. What shall we do?”

                          The crow looked at the sky and sighed, “Pals, I could have flown in the direction he went this morning to scout the area. But it is getting dark. Nothing will be visible down below. We shall have to wait till the morning. I will fly out and bring some news about our friend.”

                      The turtle shook his head sadly, “I think I won’t be able to sleep. I am worried seek about our dear fawn. I want to start out right away because I move very slowly. You two came in the morning.”

                     The mouse said, “I will go with the turtle. I can see in the dark. You come in the morning, friend crow.”

                      Thus, the turtle and the mouse departed. The crow spent the night alone restlessly. As soon as the down broke, the crow flew up. He kept flying keeping a watch below. At one place, He kept flying keeping a watch below. At one place, he spotted the turtle and the mouse moving along.

                        The crow crowed and signalled to his friends that he would be flying ahead. It was clear that turtle and the mouse had, so far, failed to locate the fawn.

                       Now, as the crow flew, he began calling out, “O friend fawn! Where are you?  Answer to my call, please.”  

                   After a little more flying, the crow heard a whimpering sound. The sound was like that of the fawn. The crow flew down towards the source of that sound. He found their friend fawn, trapped in a hunter’s net.

                    The weeping fawn told the crow how he got caught in the hunter’s net. The crow was very sad at the fate of his friend. The fawn sobbed, “Dear friend crow, the hunter would come any time to kill me. Say good by to the friend turtle and the mouse on my behalf.”

                  The crow said, Do not despair, friend. We shall free you at all costs.”

                 The fawn was doubtful, “How would you do it?” The crow spread its wings and revealed, “Listen, I will fly in our friend mouse. He will gnaw at the threads of the net and free you.” The face to the fawn brightened up with hope. He urged, “Then, make it fast, friend, please.”

                  The crow flew and caught up with the turtle and the mouse. The crow informed them, “Friends, our friend is in the trap of hunter. It is question of life and death. If we do not free our friend before the arrival of the hunter, he will be dead.” The turtle stammered, “W...what should we do?” The clever mouse had already understood what the crow wanted. He said, “Friend crow, do not hesitate. Get me on your back and fly me to our friend. I won’t fall down.”

                Thus they flew. It took a little time for the sharp teeth of the mouse to free the trapped fawn. The fawn embraced his friends and thanked them in a chocked voice. Just then the turtle also arrived and joined the rejoicing. The fawn said, “You also came, dear turtle friend. How lucky I am to have so true friends!”

                 All the four began dancing to celebrate. Suddenly the fawn warned, “Friends, look, the cruel hunter who laid the trap, is coming! Go into the hiding quick!”

                  The mouse dashed into a nearby hole. The crow flew up to perch on a high branch of a tree. The fawn leapt into a bush and disappeared. The turtle was too slow to go very far. The hunter saw his trap cut into pieces. He know that some animal had been trapped and how the net got cut. He saw the turtle moving away slowly.

                   The hunter’s eyes twinkled, “Ah! Something is better than nothing. This turtle will make my family’s dinner today.”

                  He grabbed the turtle and put in his bag. Then he collected his net and began returning to his home.

                  The crow, at once called out to the fawn and the mouse, “Buddies, our friend turtle is in trouble. The hunter is taking him away in his bag.”

                   The mouse urged, “We must save our friend somehow. Any ideas?”

                   This time the fawn came up with the solution, “Friends, we shall trick the hunter. I will pass by the hunter acting to be lame by one leg. The hunter will come after me taking me for an easy kill. To hunt me, he will drop his bag. I will fool him away for some time. In the mean time the mouse must nibble a hole in the bag and free the turtle friend.”

                   The plan was good. The hunter ran for the lame fawn tossing down his bag. The fawn led the hunter away towards the dense bushes. Once there, the fawn raced out of the sight. The hunter was shocked. He returned and found his bag empty handed

.

    Moral :- The true friends are the best solutions to one’s problems and troubles.