Week 1 Story: Too Big and Powerful

A long time ago in a jungle, far, far, away, there was Tiger, Monkey, Cobra, and Jaguar. The four of them were best friends and did everything together, from hanging out to hunting down their prey together. As they grew up, year-by-year, they always respected each other and shared the spoils of their hunt in four equal parts. But as the years went on and everyone began to reach maturity, Monkey, Cobra, and Jaguar started to realize that Tiger did not stop growing, even as everyone else did. So, Monkey, Cobra, and Jaguar decided to meet and talk about Tiger’s continued growth.

“Tiger hasn’t stopped growing, even though all of us have,” said Jaguar. Then Monkey said, “oh I wouldn’t worry about it, Tiger’s our friend!” To which Cobra responded, “Monkey’sss right! Tiger isss our friend and he’d never do anythhhing to hurt usss.” But Jaguar was not convinced by Monkey and Cobra’s arguments. Jaguar took it upon himself to confront Tiger.

“Tiger!” growled Jaguar, “you have grown too big and you cannot stay here amongst us!” “Why not?” Tiger asked in surprise. Then Jaguar responded, “Because you are too big and powerful and one day you might turn against those who are smaller than you!” “No,” growled Tiger, “You, Monkey, and Cobra are my dearest friends!” but still, Jaguar would not listen to reason, so he attempted to pounce on Tiger, but Tiger, reacting out of self-defense, struck Jaguar with his paw. After doing this, Tiger, astonished by what happened, ran off deep into the jungle.

“Look friends,” cried Jaguar, “Tiger has turned against us, just like I said that he would!” Both Monkey and Cobra were taken aback by the obvious scratch left by Tiger upon Jaguar’s face. “I cannot believe this…Tiger was such a good friend to all of us,” Monkey said quietly to himself. Then Cobra hissed, “we cannot let Tiger get away with thisss, he musst be stopped before he caussess more harm!” But Jaguar had a different plan in mind. “Listen to me now, friends,” said Jaguar, “we cannot harm Tiger alone, but if we take control of the Jungle and its resources, then Tiger will be forced to submit to us.” To this, both Monkey and Cobra agreed, and they continued to carry out their plan over the course of many years.

Now, after many years had passed, Tiger was hunting his prey, but unknown to him he had passed into Jaguar, Monkey, and Cobra’s territory. “What are you doing in our territory,” growled Jaguar. Surprised to hear Jaguar’s voice after so many years, Tiger turned around and greeted his old friend, “Hello, Jaguar, it is nice to see you after so long.” “I can’t say that it is nice to see you Tiger,” Jaguar said, “but let us go on a hunt together one last time.”

So, Jaguar called Monkey and Cobra to join in the hunt with them and told them that now was the time to get back at Tiger for what he had done so long ago. The four of them quickly found and killed their prey and divided it up into four equal parts. Then, Jaguar, Monkey, and Cobra quickly surrounded the food and Jaguar growled, “all of this food is ours and you have no right to it because you are in our territory.” Saddened by what his friends had become, Tiger turned and in a low growl said –

“You may share the labors of the great, but you will not share the spoil.”

                                                   A tiger face-palming itself 

                                                               Sad Tiger

 

Author's Note: In the traditional story, there was a Lion, Fox, Jackal, and Wolf who went out hunting, but were not allowed to share in the spoils of the hunt with the Lion. The Lion claimed all four portions of the Stag, that was hunted, and dared the other animals to try and take some of the food. Upon being challenged, the Fox walked away saying, "you may share the labors of the great, but you will not share the spoil." For my story, I wanted to flip the script and make the other animals the bad guys. Although Tiger was bigger and more powerful, it was ultimately the other animals who became "great" by taking over the jungle and asserting their power over the other animals.

Bibliography: This story is based on the fable "The Lion's Share" in the book Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs.