Civilized Jungle

By Kiarash Karimian Dowlatabad

Chapter 1 – The animal kingdom

“No way! I’m faster than that Hyena! They can’t even touch my tail! Plus, I’ve got kicks that’ll knock any beast to the ground!”

The Horse neighed and stomped his hooves. “Why on earth would I agree to such a ridiculous plan?!”

Wait—oops.

I think I started this story in the middle of my thoughts again.

Let’s rewind and start from the beginning…

Once upon a time…

Around one of the 333 billion stars in the Milky Way, there was a little planet, spinning in peace. On that planet, life had evolved beautifully. Mammals roamed the land, but for some reason, monkeys hadn’t quite turned into humans. Instead, all animals had evolved. They could talk, think, and build civilizations—jungle by jungle, tribe by tribe.

In one of these jungles—just across from the great Mesopotamian jungles—a kind and modern Lion ruled as king. This Lion was all about progress. He never hunted. In fact, he barely ate at all so he wouldn’t have to kill anyone. He fasted, meditated, and only when his hunger became unbearable would he help animals who were already dying—old, sick, or ones with Stage 4 jungle cancer—cross over in peace. A sort of noble euthanasia, you could say.

Thanks to him, the jungle was full of chubby, happy herbivores. No predators. No danger. No stress. The animals grazed, danced, read poems by the pond, and discussed philosophy under the trees. They got so lazy and fat, they didn’t even exercise anymore. Life was sweet. Peaceful. Safe. Boring? Maybe. But who cared?

Then one day, a Hyena, who had escaped a not-so-nice jungle nearby, swam across the river and found a hiding spot in the Mesopotamian Jungle.

As he recovered, something strange caught his eye.

A fat gazelle was munching grass next to an even fatter sheep. The sheep would eat for thirty minutes, lie under the sun to nap, then lazily roll to the next patch of grass. His tail fat dragged behind him like a royal robe.

The Hyena blinked in disbelief and slowly crept closer.

The Gazelle looked up and… smiled. “Hello there, Mr. Hyena!”

“Uh… hi,” the Hyena mumbled.

What the heck?!

In every jungle he knew, gazelles would scream and run the moment they saw him. He’d never even gotten close. Usually, he just got scraps left behind by lions or leopards—tough, dry leftovers. But here? A gazelle was just… smiling?

Terrified he might spook them, he shuffled closer to the sheep instead and whispered, “Hey, uh… do you guys have lions or leopards here? Or is everyone just… herbivores?”

The sheep’s eyes lit up. “Oh, absolutely! Our king is a Lion! But don’t worry—he doesn’t eat anyone. As for the other carnivores, they all migrated away after we voted to ban hunting. It’s illegal here. ... No predators allowed. Well... except for Vulture. She's gone vegan, so we let her stay."

"We're a progressive jungle, we respect all animals' rights—if they eat grass," he added proudly.

The Hyena was amazed by the Sheep's chaotic talk, looked at the delecious fat of its tail and, although his mouth was watering, stopped his passion for slaughter and said, "Are all the animals in this jungle are like that..."

The sheep interrupted the hyena with a laugh and said, "It's okay... I won't sue you because you're a newcomer... No one here has the right to comment on the size of another's tail or make fun of the contents of another's tripe. In this civilized jungle we accept every animal as it is… Except for carnivores..."

Hyena looked at the Gezzelle, she barely looked up around to see what was happening around, while Sheep was still talking:

"...and of course, except for that stuck-up gorilla with his old-fashioned ideas about the jungle needing omnivors or even carnivors… we’ve all boycotted him! Only the horse still bothers arguing with him.” He burst out laughing with a deep sense of satisfaction. Then, with a curious look, he asked, “By the way, what do you eat? I haven’t seen a hyena since the day I was born!”

Hyena shot a quick glance at the plants around and said, “I’m on a celery and strawberry diet! Too bad this place doesn’t have any of that.” While thinking to himself how this sheep’s head hadn’t exploded from all these contradictions, he quickly asked a question to stop the sheep from rambling on: "Even the Lion doesn't hunt?"

“Never! He only eats animals that are already dead,” the sheep said with pride. “A true role model!”

The Hyena chuckled loudly and said: "In a jungle where a Lion lives like a Hyena... Maybe a Hyena can behave like the Lion and become a king."

He stood up, dusted himself off, and eyed the sheep’s giant tail fat wobbling as he laughed.

This guy wasn’t running anywhere.

In a flash, the Hyena lunged—not at the sheep, but the gazelle.

The gazelle took about ten steps before the Hyena caught him.

The sheep? He didn’t even stand up. When he finally did, he slapped a hoof to his chest, gasping in terror.

The Hyena turned to him and said, “That gazelle will keep me fed for a week. But if you want to live, you’re going to work for me.”

The sheep—shaking, soaked in his own fear-sweat—nodded frantically. “Anything you say, sir! Just don’t eat me!”

The Hyena gave him a task, made him swear to secrecy, and promised to spare him—as long as he followed orders.

Then he sent word to his old gang—the Fox, the Jackal, and the Yellow Wild Dog—troublemakers from across the river who were about to make their move…

Chapter 2 – Let’s not be a sheep

“Comrades!” the Hyena declared dramatically. “We all come from the same roots! Sure, we may look different, but deep down, we’re united in purpose. And now—I’ve discovered a treasure. A paradise full of slow, fat prey. Juicy meat like you’ve never dreamed of. And guess what? I’m ready to share it... with you, my dear friends.”

He led his gang toward what was left of the gazelle he’d stashed in the bushes.

The hungry Wild Dog was practically hypnotized by the smell of meat. Without waiting for the pitch, he shouted, “I’m in!” and sank his teeth into a gazelle leg.

The Jackal, suspicious by nature, held back. He drooled a little, sniffing the fresh, fatty, and far too tempting meat. Still, he narrowed his eyes. “I know you, Hyena. What's the catch? What do you want in return?”

So the Hyena told them everything—what he’d seen and what the Sheep had told him. The Fox, munching on a bit of gazelle neck, paused to think.

“So… your plan is to just lie in wait back here while the Sheep brings us clueless animals to hunt, one by one?”

The Hyena puffed up with pride. “Exactly! Genius, right?”

The Fox raised an eyebrow. “You do realize you could’ve done that alone? Why drag us into it?”

“Well,” the Hyena replied, “I figured we could split the workload. One of you grabs the prey, two bring it across the river, and then I’ll divide the meat evenly.”

The Jackal rubbed his paws together, eyes sparkling. “Nice! Everyone works. Everyone eats. I like it!”

Before the Fox could point out the flaws in this ‘even’ deal, the Hyena gave him a subtle nod—his way of saying, I’ll make it up to you during the meat split. The Fox smirked knowingly. Yeah, right.

“Don’t worry about the Sheep,” the Hyena added, laughing. “That guy nearly fainted at the sight of blood. He’ll do whatever it takes to stay alive. In fact, from what I’ve seen, he’ll do anything to keep himself cozy... He is a sheep, after all…”

But the Fox who knew well about the Hyena’s promises had a better idea. “Why sit around and hope that lazy fluff-ball manages to trick someone into coming here? We should just go in and pick our own prey! I mean, seriously—this place is paradise. A weak king and a bunch of clueless herbivores!”

The others blinked in surprise.

“He chased away all the other predators, didn’t he?” the Fox continued. “Now it’s just him and a herd of fat, gullible grazers.”

“You mean fight the Lion?” The Jackal gulped. “He’s the king! The Lion! You know... claws, teeth... roar?”

“Didn’t the Hyena just say he’s been living off corpses and half-dead animals?” the Fox countered. “He probably has cancer by now! Any creature that goes against its own nature is doomed.”

The Hyena, intrigued, tried to downplay it. “Look, I might have made a sarcastic jab at that idiot sheep, but I didn’t mean we should literally attack the Lion and become king.”

The Jackal preferred waiting for an easy meal, and the Wild Dog agreed—he wasn’t into complicated plans. So, the Fox’s proposal was rejected. For now.

A week passed.

No sign of the Sheep.

They’d already gnawed the gazelle bones clean three days ago and were starving. The Fox kept reminding them, “Told you so,” which the Hyena hated.

The Jackal hated it even more because... the Fox was always right.

As they argued, the Wild Dog—who’d secretly wandered into the jungle a few times to gather intel—announced, “Shh! I hear something!”

They all froze and ducked behind the bushes, afraid the Sheep had betrayed them to the Lion.

But no—it was just the Sheep.

And he’d brought... a Chicken.

Their joy turned to disappointment in two seconds flat.

“This?! After a whole week?!” the Hyena snapped.

The Fox smirked. The Jackal and Wild Dog exchanged annoyed glances.

“That tiny thing won’t even feed the Fox!” the Hyena growled.

The Sheep, unfazed, defended himself. “Hey, I tried! No one wanted to graze near the river. They said the walk was too long. Sure, the grass might taste better over here, but an hour of walking? Not worth it!”

“It’s a ten-minute walk at most!” barked the Wild Dog.

 “For you, with your athletic body!” the Sheep huffed. “For us? More like two hours! I even lied and said it was one hour just to trick this Chicken into coming. Told her she had a date with a rooster across the river.”

The Chicken, finally catching on, squawked, “Wait—what’s going on here?!”

She didn’t finish the sentence. The Fox pounced, biting her head clean off.

The scent of blood hit the air. Hungry carnivores perked up.

Before the Wild Dog could demand his share, the Jackal snatched the chicken carcass and dashed into the bushes.

“Hey!” shouted the Wild Dog. “What happened to equality, huh?! Sharing?!”

The Fox, licking blood from his muzzle, just shrugged.

“So now what?” the Wild Dog muttered.

The Fox looked at the Hyena. The Hyena looked at the Sheep.

The Sheep, still munching grass like nothing happened, muttered, “When I’m done chewing, I’ll see if I can find someone bigger for next time.”

The Hyena’s eye twitched. He was starving, furious, and now even more tempted by the scent of fresh blood.

The Fox, seeing his perfect opportunity, said, “Why wait? Let’s just eat this idiot now and make real plans with full bellies.”

The Wild Dog sniffed the Sheep’s fat tail and nodded.

“Come on, that’s not funny!” the Sheep cried. “Mr. Hyena promised not to hurt me!”

“I said I wouldn’t kill you,” the Hyena said coolly. “But if someone else does... well, I’m too hungry to argue.”

And with that, the Wild Dog lunged.

The Sheep screamed and flailed. The Hyena and Fox laughed at his stupidity.

But the Fox had more than one reason to laugh.

He had planned it all.

The scent of chicken blood had triggered the predators’ instincts. He knew the Jackal—who was against fighting the Lion—would steal the chicken and disappear. And once the Sheep was gone, the others would have no choice but to follow his plan.

As the Sheep’s blood soaked the grass, the Hyena and Fox joined the Wild Dog in the feast.

The Fox, chewing on a piece of liver, thought to himself:

This is what happens when you trust a Hyena’s promise.

Chapter 3 – The Fall of the King

"Whenever we’re hungry, we’ll feast on fresh, fatty meat—from all sorts of animals!" The Wild Dog jumped up and down, practically drooling with joy as the Fox described his vision of a carnivore’s paradise.

“In the summer, we’ll have birds to fan us cool. In the winter, we’ll snuggle into sheep’s wool—warm and, best of all, tasty!”

The Jackal, realizing he had no better option, agreed. Better to challenge a progressive but weak lion than return to the blood-soaked dictatorship of their old jungle. The Fox noticed the Hyena’s hesitation and leaned in close:

“You’re the strongest and most capable among us. Ever thought about being king?”

The Hyena’s eyes sparkled. That was all the motivation he needed.

Following the directions the Sheep had given, they crept toward the Lion’s grove and hid among the bushes to observe. Having trained in guerrilla-style tactics back in their old jungle, the group moved with silent coordination.

The faint rustle of grass—he was coming.

They crouched, muscles tense, ready to pounce if the Lion wasn’t as weak as expected. The plan was simple: each of them would target a weak spot, wound the Lion, and retreat. The Fox believed the underfed Lion would succumb to infection and grow weaker; then, they’d finish the job later.

But as the heavy footsteps grew louder, doubt crept into the Fox’s mind.

What if the Lion isn’t as weak as we thought?

If he still had strength, he could easily kill one or two of them.

I’ll wait, the Fox decided. Let the others go first. If they survive, I’ll blind him and run.

Suddenly, the Lion stepped into view.

The Fox froze.

For a moment, predator and prey locked eyes in silence.

Then—bursting laughter.

The Hyena and Wild Dog howled with amusement.

“This? This is the mighty Lion? He looks like he’s dying from a bad diet!”

He was worse than they imagined—thin, weak, almost bald. His mane had fallen out, his ribs showed through his skin, and he looked like he hadn’t eaten anything solid in weeks. Even the Jackal, who had started to run away, came back when he heard the laughter.

Trying not to be left out, he interrupted the Fox, saying, “Why are we even negotiating? This creature isn’t fit to rule—or live. He’s probably a puppet of some far-off, plant-eating superpower trying to turn this jungle vegetarian too! Let’s kill him now and declare the birth of a new meat-eating kingdom to send a powerful message to all colonialists!”

The Lion roared in rage—only to collapse into a coughing fit.

That was the moment the Hyena gave the order: “Attack!”

And that’s when they realized:

Even a sick, peace-loving Lion… is still a Lion.

In the first second, the Lion lashed out at the big-mouthed Jackal, smashing him so hard he flew into a tree and passed out.

The Hyena had been all bark and no bite—he darted in, then jumped back every time the Lion moved. But seeing the Lion distracted, he lunged from behind.

The Wild Dog seized the moment and bit down hard on a very sensitive area under the Lion’s tail—and didn’t let go. The Lion roared in agony, sat back on the Wild Dog, and with one swipe of his paw, tore into the Hyena’s shoulder.

The Fox, waiting for the right moment, pounced—blinding the Lion in one eye before retreating again. The Lion, badly wounded but still ferocious, managed to kill the Wild Dog, but that part of the Lion’s body stayed clamped in the Wild Dog's jaws. Every time he moved, pain shot through him.

With the Wild Dog dead, the rest of them fled.

The Lion collapsed, breathing heavily. Blood poured from his wounds. He licked his injuries, but he knew—they weren’t going to heal.

The Fox turned back to look.

The Lion, soaked in blood, was swiping at the air blindly, groaning in pain. The Fox called to the Jackal, who was stumbling around in circles like a drunken goat. The Hyena, panting and injured, caught up to them.

 “Why are you standing here?” the Hyena gasped. “We need to hide!”

“I have a plan,” said the Fox. He turned to the Hyena. “No need to worry about the Lion anymore. Our brave friend the Wild Dog gave him a… low blow… a painful farewell gift before his proud death. And I blinded him myself.”

The Hyena glanced over his shoulder, making sure the Lion wasn’t following, then puffed out his chest and interrupted,

“I also tore a chunk from his neck. If you hadn’t run, I would’ve finished him!”

The Fox smirked. “I might believe you if I didn’t see you with my own eyes… You were clinging to his tail.”

He glanced at the Jackal—his eyes looking in two different directions. Trying not to laugh, the Fox continued,

“The Lion’s done for now. Without proper food, he’ll either bleed out in two or three days or be too weak to fight. When the time comes, we’ll finish him like a helpless lamb. But right now, we can’t let our fallen brother’s blood or our own wounds be in vain.”

The Jackal blinked both ways at once and groaned, “Don’t count on me for a rematch. I’m seeing double… or maybe triple…”

The Fox snorted. “That’s not new. You’ve always had scrambled brains. It’s just more obvious now.”

He turned to the Hyena.

“Let’s go to the heart of the jungle!”

The Hyena, still bleeding from his shoulder, objected.

“These animals are loyal to the Lion. They’ll tear us apart!”

The Fox grinned. “Do you think I’m walking into a death trap? I didn’t misjudge the Lion—and I haven’t misjudged the stupidity of this jungle either. Just follow my lead.

Especially you, cross-eyed woke wannabe Jackal.

Chapter 4 – Crocodile Tears and Bloodied Lies

"Help! Somebody help us!"

The Fox screamed at the top of his lungs in the middle of the jungle.

The animals, already alarmed by the sounds of battle near the grove, quickly gathered in the main clearing.

"Look what your wild king has done to us!" the Fox cried. "Your Lion has gone mad! He killed our poor, innocent friend!"

He held up his paw, soaked in blood from the Lion’s eye, pretending it was the Wild Dog’s blood from the attack.

The Hyena sat down and began sobbing, licking his wounded shoulder. The Jackal threw up right there and started moaning about the pounding in his skull.

The jungle animals were stunned. The kind-hearted Lion? Violent? Impossible!

The Fox gave a dramatic account:

“We were caught off guard! We heard this was a peaceful, civilized jungle. I brought my carnivore friends here to show them your ways… to convince them to become vegetarians. But…”

His voice broke, and he began to cry.

The Hyena picked up the story.

“Yesterday, as we crossed the river, we found gazelle bones! At least ten days old!”

The Soft-Hearted Deer fainted at the news of her missing friend.

“I haven’t seen the Gazelle in a week,” said the Horse. “I assumed she went on a trip.”

“I saw her,” added the Vulture. “Last time I flew over the mountain, she was near the river… with the Sheep.”

The Jackal, noticing a feather stuck to his belly, quickly tucked it under his tail. He groaned: “Oh no… Then that sheep carcass we found near the grove must’ve been from another one of your jungle friends…”

Shock rippled through the crowd.

Then whispers started to rise.

The Gorilla, looking thoughtful, spoke first:

“I’ve always opposed this ‘one-voice’ policy. Only allowing herbivores to stay? Maybe the Lion had secret motives behind banning hunting.”

A few animals shot sharp looks his way.

“Wasn’t this regressive guy supposed to be boycotted?” whispered the Panda.

“How dare he show up here?” asked the Squirrel.

“If Mr. Horse hadn’t invited him to his philosophy circle,” said the Zebra, “he would’ve migrated like the rest. Then we’d have a progressive society, free of backward thoughts.”

The argument about the Gorilla’s presence and the “awakened society” became so heated that everyone forgot about the Lion—or the danger.

The Jackal, wide-eyed, whispered to the Hyena, “I thought life was supposed to be an animal’s most valuable possession?”

The Hyena stared blankly at the debates swirling around them. The Donkey was now declaring:

“We must think independently—but all the same way!”

The Fox glanced at his crew and muttered, “They’re even dumber than I thought. What in the world is ideological democracy?”

Suddenly, the hot-headed Gorilla exploded.

“You fools! Your lives are in danger! I hope the Lion really has gone wild and eats every last one of you!”

He spat on the ground and stormed off.

Gasps. Silence.

How rude! The Gorilla had spit on the ground. Unforgivable.

The Fox seized the moment to steer the conversation back.

“Brothers and sisters… your Lion King is hunting. Yes—hunting! He’s already killed the Sheep and the Gazelle. And he won’t stop there…”

At the word hunting, the jungle fell completely silent. Not even the crickets dared chirp.

The Rabbit stood up in protest. She reminded everyone of the Lion’s kindness, his sacrifices, the lake he built for them, and the way he gave them the right to vote—unlike the tyrants in neighboring jungles.

The Hyena cut her off and before she could finish, the Fox jumped in:

“By the way, has anyone seen Ms. Hen lately?”

He gave the Jackal a look. The Jackal, understanding the cue, pulled the feather out from under his tail and shouted: “I found this stuck behind the Rabbit’s big floppy ears! Maybe she ate the Hen!”

The animals turned to each other, confused.

The Fox and Hyena felt panic rising. What if no one believed the Jackal’s ridiculous accusation?

Quick-thinking, the Hyena clutched his injured shoulder, leaned dramatically on the Donkey beside him, and moaned, “Look what your savage Lion did to a group of harmless tourists! Poor Wild Dog… his neck was torn apart…”

He burst into tears.

The Donkey, moved by the Hyena’s sobs, hugged him. The Deer and Squirrel were overwhelmed and began crying too.

The Fox joined in, wailing a tragic ode for the Gazelle, the Hen, and the Sheep—sprinkled with praise for the brave Wild Dog and condemnation of the cruel, heartless Lion. Soon, every animal in the jungle—big and small—was sobbing. Only the Rabbit stood still, utterly confused.

When the crying finally settled, the Hyena said:

“I once met an ancient Tortoise on the other side of the river. He’s hundreds of years old and very wise. He told me himself—rabbits are actually meat-eaters. That’s what their sharp front teeth are for!”

The Fox used the moment to whisper into the Donkey’s ear:

“From your calm demeanor, I can tell you’re a thoughtful and educated creature. I’m sure you’re familiar with the wise Tortoise.”

The Donkey, swelling with pride, stood tall.

“Yes! The poor Hyena speaks the truth. I’ve met the Tortoise too.”

The Rabbit looked around—everyone was buying it. The Deer. The Squirrel. Even the Zebra.

They believed this nonsense? If this keeps up, they’ll accuse me of working with the Lion and have me executed!

The Rabbit panicked and bolted into the depths of the jungle.

The Fox smiled.

“The truth always comes out. Her words gave her away. That feather exposed her! She was the Lion’s accomplice all along.”

Then, to make sure no one went snooping around and found out the real story, the Fox warned:

“Your king has surrendered to his savage instincts. He doesn’t care who you are—he’ll kill and eat everyone. For your own safety, stay far away from the grove for a few days. Unless you want to end up like the Sheep or the Gazelle.”

The animals, frightened and grieving, fled to their homes—too scared to risk crossing paths with a so-called “wild” Lion.

Meanwhile, the Hyena, Jackal, and Fox headed back to the river to finish the Sheep carcass and recover their energy. They also needed to coordinate their story better—so the Jackal wouldn’t mess things up again.

“You stupid Jackal!” barked the Fox. “I think the Lion knocked out the last brain cell you had!”

But he stopped mid-rant.

There, beside the Sheep’s body, sat the Vulture.

She was inspecting the corpse closely.

Peering into its belly. Examining the bite marks.

If the Vulture figured out what really happened and told the jungle, it would ruin everything.

The three carnivores lunged toward her with all their strength.

Chapter Five: The Vulture's Bargain

"Thank you, really. After all these years, I finally got to eat real meat! I almost died pretending to be a herbivore and chewing on sick carcasses..." the Vulture said, laughing as the three were jumping up and struggling to climb up the tree she sat on.

She flapped her wings proudly to show off her ability to fly, silently mocking them.

Seeing that, the Fox sighed and sat down. "Fresh meat tastes amazing… this is just smelly leftovers. We left this one for the flies. You can have it—take the whole thing!"

The Hyena was about to protest, "But I need that meat!" while the Jackal began to grumble about bribery—but both fell silent as the Fox flicked his tail, signaling them to hold back. The Hyena sat grumpily, and the Jackal ducked behind a tree.

The Vulture saw right through them and cackled. "What a schemer you are! You want me to come down for the carcass so your buddy back there can ambush me, huh?"

The Fox replied calmly, "I thought your sharp eyes and flying skills might be useful to spread the news. But you’re just too paranoid…"

The Hyena jumped in, "After that hit to the head, the Jackal’s not himself anymore. He just went behind the tree to… uh, relieve himself."

The Vulture’s eyes lit up. "So… does this mean I can join your little gang?"

"Why not?" said the Fox. "You’re a meat-eater like us. If you work with us, you’ll get fresh, warm meat whenever you want! And we’ll give you a grand title too… like Soaring Vulture… as we’ll do for every other member of our team. For instance, this Jackal… We’ll call him the Thinker."

Drooling, the Vulture flapped her wings and glided down from the tree. "From up there, I saw how the Hyena tore into the Gazelle. I didn’t report you because I figured I’d get some leftovers. But this… this is way better—fresh meat and a title! What do you think of the name 'Talontide the Great'?"

Before she could finish, the Fox leaped onto her back. The Jackal and the Hyena pinned her wings and bared their teeth.

"We could kill you right now," said the Fox. "But we won’t. We’re letting you go so you understand that your broad wings won’t protect you from our sly claws. You can either join us and thrive… or get plucked."

The Vulture, thoroughly frightened and humbled, swore loyalty—and they let her go.

The four of them returned to the leftover sheep carcass. Once they were full, they tended to the Hyena’s wound, then sent the Vulture off to gather news from inside the jungle while the others rested.

But not even thirty minutes had passed when the Vulture returned, flapping wildly.

"The Lion—he’s dragging himself to the jungle’s main clearing!"

The Jackal, half-asleep, jumped up in terror at the word "Lion."

"Stay right where you are!" barked the Fox. His voice froze the Jackal in place. The Fox walked over calmly. "Where do you think you’re going, brother?"

"To the Mesopotamia! Didn’t you hear what the Vulture said? The Lion’s heading to the clearing!"

The Hyena sighed and turned to the Vulture. "Go warn the animals near the clearing. Tell them the Lion’s hunting again. Make sure no one talks to him before he dies—otherwise our plan falls apart."

Then he glanced at the Jackal, who, because of his crossed eyes, was looking at the Vulture while speaking to the Fox, and added, "This isn’t even the main clearing, you coward. The Lion won’t make it. He’s bleeding out. Pity… he should’ve stayed in his den."

The Jackal blinked in both directions, confused.

The Vulture was already rolling on the ground laughing, but with a glare from the Hyena, she took off into the sky again.

The Fox came back to the Jackal, who was still mumbling threats to the Vulture: "It will come a day that I recovered and it won’t be a good day for you, darling!"

The Fox put a paw on the Jackal’s shoulder. "Brother, didn’t you hear? The Lion’s crawling. He’s almost dead."

"Oh," said the Jackal, relaxing. "I didn’t catch the rest after she said 'Lion.' My whole body went numb. But if you say he’s dying… well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go finish the king off!"

A hundred meters from the jungle’s main clearing, the Horse and the Gorilla were deep in a philosophical debate by the pond when the Hyena’s howls and the Lion’s groans caught their attention. As they rushed to the clearing, the Fox approached them and quietly muttered,

"Innocent blood always finds its way back…"

Their jaws dropped when they saw the Lion’s battered state. The Horse stepped forward, wanting to help, but the Fox blocked his path.

"Where do you think you’re going, brother? This is a fight among carnivores. It has nothing to do with grass-eaters like us."

The Horse frowned. "But he’s the king of our jungle—and he’s always been fair to us…"

The Fox quickly cut him off. "Just yesterday it was revealed he ate the gazelle and the sheep!"

"There’s no proof it was him," the Horse said, frustrated. "Maybe we should’ve listened more carefully to what the Rabbit had to say."

He stepped forward again, but the Fox stopped him.

"Have you forgotten? Ten days ago there wasn’t a single predator in the jungle who could’ve taken down that gazelle. And if we start talking about the Rabbit again, we’ll be here arguing until sunset…"

The Fox’s eyes darted between the Horse and the Gorilla—stalling them from intervening—while keeping tabs on the Hyena and the Jackal in case the balance of power shifted.

Then he turned to the Gorilla and said,

"Didn’t you once say the Lion probably had secret motives behind banning hunting? Wasn’t it you who got boycotted for just criticizing the dictator?"

The Gorilla’s expression darkened. He thumped his chest hard several times and roared,

"Any Lion who loses to a Jackal and a Hyena doesn’t deserve to be king. I’m leaving—I can’t watch this pathetic scene."

With his head down, he walked away.

The Horse, though visibly shaken, hesitated. "But he’s defended the rights of herbivores for years…"

"Maybe that was just weakness talking," the Fox interrupted again. "Maybe he only acted like that because he was too old and frail to hunt. And then, when he couldn’t resist anymore, he started with the sheep and the gazelle. If he had more strength, maybe you’d be next. But no matter how strong the Jackal or Hyena get, they could never match you."

Then, glancing around, the Fox leaned in close and whispered in the Horse’s ear,

"I’m sure the Great Hyena won’t forget your neutrality…"

The Horse looked at the Lion, saw the tear in his eye and the pain in his gaze, then lowered his head and bolted toward the plains. He ran through the fields for hours, feeling the wind whip through his mane—trying to outrun the scene he’d just witnessed, trying to forget.

Once the Horse had gone, the Lion gave up. He no longer resisted. He welcomed death. Whatever slim chance he had to survive, he’d already thrown away—just to try and warn the others. He had no reason left to live.

The Hyena asked why he’d even left the thicket. "You should’ve stayed hidden. No one would’ve seen your humiliation—your weakness. Your death."

The Lion answered,

"I didn’t care what happened to me. I only cared what would happen to this jungle."

He asked to die beneath the old poplar tree. But the Jackal ignored his wish and tore open his throat.

Chapter Six: The Puppet master Behind the Throne

I’m the smallest and weakest of the group. Even if I manage to convince Hyena and Jackal, there’s no way Horse, Cow, Gorilla, or even Donkey would accept a puny animal like me as king. Besides, both Hyena and Jackal are unreliable and could try to take me down the first chance they get. So I’d better become the power behind the throne.

With that plan in mind, Fox decided to keep quiet and let the other two present their ideas first. He’d side with whoever seemed easier to control—then quietly take the reins from behind the scenes.

The three gathered by the river, under the old sycamore tree. Hyena and Jackal laid out their proposals for running the jungle. Jackal pitched a three-animal ruling council with some theories about equality rights for animals and the brotherhood of living creatures. Hyena suggested a carnivore-led regime that pretended to care about herbivores, with himself as leader and the other two as ministers.

Fox quickly saw how naïve and ridiculous Jackal’s ideas were. If they followed Jackal, the whole system would collapse in no time.

Hyena declared, “Now that we’ve seized control, we need to guard it with tooth and claw. There are animals out there who were too scared to face Lion, but still think they’re more worthy than us.”

Fox nodded subtly and whispered so only the three of them could hear, “I agree. Take Horse, for instance. He’s bigger and stronger than all three of us. What if he regrets abandoning Lion and changes his mind?”

Then Fox spoke louder: “Jackal, my dear friend, we’ll milk your slogans for all they’re worth. But come on—how can you talk about sharing with animals you plan to eat three days from now?

Hyena continued, "Even the dumbest critters in this jungle will laugh at us."

Jackal lectured in condemnation of exploitation.

Fox laughed in reply, "Seriously! If we want to worry about the exploitation of jungle animals and their rights, how can we eat them? How on earth can we ever justify it?”

Hyena seized the moment. “Exactly! That chicken feather incident nearly ruined everything!”

Fox went on, “That’s why I’m voting for Hyena—as long as he follows my guidance and sticks to my plan.”

Without missing a beat, Hyena offered his paw. “Deal! Wasn’t it your plan that got us this far? From now on, we’ll follow it to the letter. Our end goal is the same: unlimited access to fresh, delicious meat without any hassle. Each of us just has to play our role. I guess I’ll have to take on the ‘burden’ of leadership!”

Jackal chimed in, “Fine. Then I’ll be your minister.”

Fox sighed. “Brother, no offense, but after that blow you took from Lion, your wonky eyes might make the government look weak. And let’s face it, we’re still on shaky ground. A cross-eyed minister could bring everything down. Better to appoint someone else—for now—so we have someone to blame if things go south.”

Hyena quickly backed Fox up.

 “So what, I’m just being pushed aside now?” Jackal grumbled. “Next thing I know, you’ll drown me in the river!” “What happened to equal shares? We haven’t even started ruling and you’re already dividing the power!”

Fox answered calmly, “Exactly why I need to stay behind the scenes—so I can win over the public without looking like I’m scheming. Maybe I won’t even take an official title.”

Jackal, clearly hurt, muttered, “I fought beside you for this power. Took a nasty blow. And don’t forget—I was the one who tore Lion’s throat out.”

Fox replied, “Yeah, and in your haste, you ruined everything. That lion was so weak by then, a kitten could’ve taken him down. I wanted to cut a deal—convince him to endorse our rule and step down with dignity. You rushed it.”

He sighed and added dramatically, “I even told Hyena…”

Hyena, caught off guard, stuttered, “Y-yes… Fox told me… when you were asleep with that headache!”

Jackal snapped, “What do you think I am, Donkey? I may be concussed, but I’m not stupid. I’m still one of you.”

Hyena swore, “Come on, buddy! I swear on our cause—your share is always safe!”

Fox didn’t give Jackal time to stew. “In fact, take half of my share too. Honestly, I’m so small, I can’t finish it all anyway. Just promise you’ll support our decisions during the public assembly.”

And to sweeten the deal, Fox played one last card: “You hate Vulture, right? Hyena wanted him as minister, but we’ll pick someone else—just for you.”

Jackal and Fox looked at Hyena.

Hyena, flustered but quick on his feet, said, “Oh… yeah… When you were asleep, I told Vulture I’d make him my minister, but for you, I’ll change my mind. He can stay our messenger.”

“I took a short nap and I lost my position?” Jackal grumbled. But after Hyena’s promise, Jackal finally looked satisfied.

To avoid being outfoxed, Hyena asked Fox to go over the entire plan with him one last time as they walked to the main field.

“After we badmouth Lion and Rabbit, Vulture will testify that Lion attacked us. We’ll present Hyena as the lone hero who defeated him using mysterious supernatural powers. That way, big animals like Horse and Gorilla will hesitate to challenge him.”

“You’re not giving me any credit?” Jackal whined again.

“Don’t worry,” Hyena assured him. “As king, I’ll sing your praises in every speech.”

Fox joined in: “After our brave brother Yellow Wild Dog passed away—” he choked up and closed his eyes dramatically.

Jackal, moved by emotion, lowered his head in silent tribute. Fox gave Hyena a quick signal to go behind a tree and start howling in grief to amplify the mood.

With Hyena wailing in the background, Fox continued, “It was our fallen comrade who dealt the deadliest blow. And I, of course, blinded Lion…”

Then he whispered to Jackal, “Brother, you were unconscious the whole time. Best accept this before Hyena starts pushing back.”

Jackal sighed. He knew his old friend well—and Fox had a point.

Fox gave a little cough to cue Hyena to return and told Jackal, “You need rest. Wouldn’t it be nice to live in peace on the far side of the river, with free food and no stress?”

Jackal grinned. “What could be better?”

Fox sealed the deal: “You’ll relax and heal in the Mesopotamian Jungle. Vulture will deliver your weekly meat share. Once you’re fully recovered, you’ll come back and join us.”

Jackal felt mostly reassured. More than anything, he was glad Vulture didn’t get promoted and Fox stayed in the background.

Hyena guaranteed the promises, and the three stacked their paws together, renewing their alliance.

Fox then explained the plan in detail, assigning each of them their roles.

“This is a make-or-break day,” Hyena said. “We all have to give it our best. If we do this right, we’ll rule this jungle forever.”

And with that, they headed toward the main field, where Vulture had gathered the jungle animals.

An hour later, in a totally free referendum, 98% of the animals voted to recognize all dietary preferences. A new Pro-herbivorous Omnivorous government was born, with Hyena as the leader.

Fox and Jackal gave passionate speeches about Lion’s brutal attacks and Hyena’s heroic defeat of him. Hyena humbly accepted the title “The Great,” a name Jackal himself had suggested.

Thanks to Jackal’s fiery speeches, and Donkey’s relentless effort, a new constitution was drafted. Given the new libertarian constitution, the animals agreed they needed a neutral judge—Fox was nominated by Hyena. Donkey voted first, and others followed, swayed by Donkey's supposed friendship with the wise Tortoise that Fox had mentioned before. Fox became the jungle’s supreme judge.

Then, on Fox’s suggestion, Hyena appointed Horse as his minister, to cheering crowds. Rabbit, meanwhile, was tried in absentia for defending the old regime and sentenced to death. Gorilla’s social ban was lifted, and everyone was told to make peace with him.

Now, everyone—except Rabbit—seemed thrilled with the new order. Horse and Gorilla smiled at each other, Donkey struck deep-thinking poses, and everything was going just the way Fox, Hyena, and Jackal had planned.

But soon, they’d get hungry. And with the new law still making hunting illegal and punishable by death, they'd need to get creative.

Chapter Seven: When the curtain is pulled back

“Reliable documents have surfaced showing that our former king was actually a puppet of a bloodthirsty Tiger from a faraway jungle. That’s why he promoted vegetarianism here—to fatten us up for the Tiger’s next meal!” shouted the Jackal from the main square of the jungle.

The animals gasped in horror. The Squirrel, who had grown so fat he couldn’t fit into the hole of his treehouse and had to sleep outside, peed himself in fear.

“And the Vulture brings news from the snowy lands beyond the mountains,” the Fox continued, taking over from the Jackal. The Vulture nodded in confirmation and added:

“A young, powerful Bear has killed the ruling Snow Leopard and is expanding her territory to raise her cubs safely!”

The frightened Deer fainted and collapsed onto the back of the Ewe who was calmly chewing her cud.

The Vulture added, “From above, I saw the Bear heading into nearby lands, hunting animals. She might come here next—”

The Jackal interrupted, “—That Tiger of the far away lands is even worse! The Bear hunts one animal to feed her cubs, but the Tiger wants to eat all of us at once!”

The Squirrel whimpered, “Curse that cruel Lion for making us so fat…”

Seeing the jungle shaking with fear, the Fox jumped into his well-rehearsed role: “But fear not! Under our great leader, the Mighty Hyena, with his supernatural powers, we are protected!”

The Hyena puffed up his chest and raised an eyebrow proudly. The Fox went on, “I once saw him slice a Leopard clean in half with a single strike!”

A wave of courage rushed through the crowd.

But behind the bushes, the Rabbit—who knew exactly what trick the Fox was pulling—couldn’t take it anymore. He leapt out to expose their lies.

He didn’t make it far.

The Jackal sank his teeth into the Rabbit’s throat mid-air. The Rabbit’s eyes bulged in disbelief as he took his final breath. How could they dare hunt right in front of everyone? was his last thought.

“Hunting…”

“Hunting?”

“HUNTING?!”

The crowd murmured the word in growing shock.

“What have you done, you idiot?!” the Horse neighed and kicked at the Jackal, who dropped the Rabbit’s body and raised his hands in surrender.

“But… but he was sentenced to death!” the Jackal shouted in panic.

“That’s not the same as hunting!” roared the Gorilla.

Before anyone else could speak, the Hyena calmly raised a paw, pointed it at the Jackal, and moved it as he pushed the Jackal remotely. The Jackal staggered backward, slamming into a tree with a howl and collapsing to the ground.

“Mercy, Mighty Hyena…” he moaned.

The jungle animals were stunned. They had never seen such a display. Even from the distance you could hear the Gorilla's heart pounding.

“You think this jungle has no law?” the Hyena bellowed. He then turned to the Fox, deepening his voice. “Give a fair judgment so our citizens will be satisfied!”

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

The Fox bowed deeply and asked for permission to speak. The Hyena nodded grandly. The animals were mesmerized by the image the Fox and Jackal had built for the Hyena.

Facing the crowd, the Fox spoke:

“Just before this unfortunate event, we were talking about our jungle’s safety. You saw for yourselves the supernatural power of our great leader. But… that power is fading.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

 “The Mighty Hyena’s powers are fueled only by fresh meat. If he doesn’t eat, he will weaken. One day, he may no longer be able to protect us from our enemies…”

“No, Fox!” the Hyena interrupted. “Did you forget? I came here to live in solitude and peace to be a vegetarian. You forced leadership on me! Don't you remember what I said that day? ‘Truly, you should shed tears of blood for the jungle in which even the possibility of someone like me being considered for its leadership arises.’” His voice trembled. Pointing to his wounded shoulder, he added, “If I still have any power, I’ll use it to defend the jungle. If not… I have a humble soul, an imperfect body, and a bit of honor, which you yourselves granted me. All of these I will sacrifice for you and this civilized jungle!”

He began to cry.

Soon, the whole jungle was in tears. The Cow and Donkey competed to see who could sob louder.

While pretending to cry into his paws, the Fox signaled the Jackal with his tail. The Jackal limped forward and threw himself at the Hyena’s feet.

“Oh Mighty Hyena, I offer my life for you!” he cried, begging for forgiveness.

Peeking through his paws and seeing the crowd softened, the Fox seized the moment:

“My fellow jungle animals! I have a solution. Let’s exile the Jackal across the river. That way, if enemies attack, he can sacrifice himself, giving us time to bring fresh meat to the Mighty Hyena and restore his powers!”

The animals applauded the clever plan.

The Fox added, “We should also assign someone to sacrifice himself, empowering the Mighty Hyena, if the enemy gets past the Jackal.”

Everyone looked at one another. No one volunteered.

The Hyena said, “Don’t expect these poor creatures to risk their valuable lives. They're busy with their own affairs. Let them keep their heads in their own troughs, munching on their fodder. I know a Crocodile across the river. Let’s have the Vulture go fetch him. He can guard the river and keep enemies out.”

The crowd cheered wildly, then chanted the Hyena’s name:

"HYENA! HYENA! HYENA..."

In between, the Donkey chanted:

"Enemy in fear… Hyena is LEADER…"

And the whole animals repeated it for hours.

That night, the Fox and Hyena sat beneath the old poplar tree, feasting on the Rabbit. The Vulture arrived to claim her share, and also to take some meat to the Jackal across the river.

The Hyena tossed her a leftover Rabbit ear. “That’s your share. There wasn’t much meat anyway. If the Jackal complains, make up a story… say you dropped it in the river.”

The Fox, stuffed and satisfied, added, “No—say the Minister ruled that the body of an executed animal must be thrown into the river. Let the Jackal believe none of us got any.”

He grinned at the Hyena. “That’ll make him blame the Horse instead.”

They both chuckled.

The Vulture, seeing their laughter, said, “Give me that hidden Rabbit thigh you’re saving, and I’ll reward you with a magical fruit that multiplies joy!”

“How on earth could she see that in the dark?” The Fox was stunned. “Damn it! He will never ever trust me anymore!”

But the Hyena, keeping his cool, acted like he had intentionally saved it for sharing. The Hyena pretended so well that even the Fox himself believed it.

“What magic fruit?!” the Hyena snapped. “I was just tricking those herbivore idiots. Did you really think I wanted to become a peaceful vegetarian sage?”

The Vulture soared off and soon returned with a few ripe marula fruits. “Try these! The magic is real. Works for both carnivores and herbivores.”

Within minutes, the Fox burst into uncontrollable laughter. He laughed at how jungle animals considered hunting a horrific sin but had no problem with executions—just because they didn’t witness the blood. The Vulture who lived a life among them claimed it was because executions were hidden, while hunting was messy, shockingly blooded, and with naked violence.

When the Vulture had finished her share of Rabbit, the Fox gave her a mission: find the Crocodile and invite him to guard the river in the name of the Mighty Hyena—the one who defeated the Lion and has supernatural powers.

“Make sure you tell him everything,” the Fox said. “With lots of dramatic flair.”

When the Vulture left, the Hyena complained: “Seriously? We don’t need another mouth to feed! You don’t really believe that Tiger or Bear is coming here, do you? We made the imaginary ENEMY to reach the devotee animal plan. You’re not buying your own lies, are you?”

The Fox, slurring from too much marula, replied, “No, brother… The Crocodile has many uses. In fact, he’s not there to stop some imaginary enemy. He’s there to make sure our delicious prey doesn’t escape.”

The Hyena raised an eyebrow, secretly impressed.

“And,” he added, “he’ll make sure no one crosses the river and discovers the other side is empty.”

The Fox popped the last marula fruit in his mouth, sucked it dry, and said with a grin, “Good student…”

Then, whispering, “Only the Vulture should deliver news from the outside. Our news.”

The Fox and the Hyena, drinking the sap of marula fruit, laughed through the night until sunrise—giggling at the outrageous lies they’d sold to the naïve animals of the jungle and the ridiculous schemes they’d cooked up.

At the dawn, the Hyena glanced at the Fox, whose eyes were bloodshot and his heavy eyelids could barely fight off sleep. He had meant to complain about that measly rabbit leg the Fox hid earlier, saying how much it had bothered him. But instead, he started off with a compliment.

"I really liked your clever idea about the Crocodile," he said. "By the way, what did you mean when you said the Crocodile had multiple uses?"

The Fox, now half-asleep, rested his head on his paws and closed his eyes.

"We could use him as an executioner too..." he mumbled softly. Then, almost in a whisper, as if speaking to no one in particular, added:

"Who knows... maybe I do want to become the real king someday..."

He hiccupped—and drifted off to sleep

Chapter Eight: One Must Fall

"No way! I'm faster than the Hyena! They can't even touch my tail! Plus, I've got kicks that'll knock any beast to the ground!" The Horse neighed and stomped his hooves. "Why on earth would I agree to such a ridiculous plan?"

The Horse and the Gorilla were arguing by the pond. The Gorilla had suggested the Horse resign from his position as minister before getting tangled in the Hyena's power games, but the Horse was firmly against it. The Gorilla was suspicious, fearing the Fox might be scheming to take the Horse's place. The Horse, however, just boasted of his kick's power and a gallop so fast that even the Hyena's supernatural powers wouldn't be enough to catch him.

The Gorilla believed the Horse should step down and join him in forming a new alliance outside the government. That way, if the Hyena ever abused his power, they could confront him together. But the Horse thought he could help the jungle animals better from within the system. He wanted to make sure not everyone blindly obeyed every order the Hyena gave as jungle leader.

Meanwhile, disagreements were spreading through the rest of the jungle too. The animals were supposed to choose someone to sacrifice themselves—but no one wanted to get hurt for the comfort of others.

According to the latest report from the Vulture, the Bear had reached the Mesopotamian jungles and had already killed the Jackal. The Crocodile, however, was still guarding the river, helping jungle animals avoid crossing and falling prey to predators beyond the border.

The Donkey had told everyone—citing an anonymous "credible source"—that the Crocodile had even chased away a Cheetah trying to cross the river and hunt. The Cheetah species had supposedly gone extinct in the area for decades, but the Donkey insisted the Crocodile's presence alone was a powerful deterrent.

Still, the Bear was far more savage than any Cheetah, and the Crocodile likely wouldn't stand a chance. Worse yet, the Vulture had overheard that the Tiger from the faraway jungle was planning to crown a puppet Lion as the next king of the civilized jungle. The only option left was to empower the Great Mighty Hyena. According to the Fox, the Hyena would grow weak unless he ate a jungle animal soon. Without strength, he couldn’t defend them from the Bear or the Tiger.

And so, a vote was called to decide who would become the Hyena's meal—so that his mystical, super-animal powers could be reawakened and save the jungle.

But the Mighty Hyena rejected the Fox's plan.

"My dear Fox," he said. "I understand what you're saying. But we cannot ask our citizens to make such an unreasonable sacrifice. I will face the enemy with whatever strength I have left. This jungle is our homeland... and a homeland means everything to us... If no one else knows that, you certainly do. My ancestors have lived here for thousands of years. Look at my profile—don’t I resemble the ancient legendary Lion king of kings from this side of the Mesopotamian jungles?"

The Donkey didn’t even let the Fox respond: "Yes! I even heard that from the wise old Tortoise once!"

The Fox said nervously, "But if you go to war without full power and—God forbid—you’re killed, then the Bear, or worse, the Tiger and his puppet predators, will come hunt us down..."

Fear swept through the jungle like a cold wind. Everyone trembled, but even the Donkey wasn’t ready to offer himself—or any of his friends—as a sacrifice.

The Fox turned to the Hyena:

"Oh, brave and noble Hyena! If you insist on going in any condition, even when no one is ready to make a sacrifice like you are, at least let me and one of the powerful ones go with you. It wouldn’t be fair to send you alone with half power against the enemy."

The Hyena thought for a moment.

"Yes... you’re right. And, let’s take the fight across the river, where we won’t risk crushing any Mice, Squirrels, or weaker creatures underfoot."

The Vulture quickly flew over to the Fox and sat beside him in the middle of the main clearing. She puffed her chest, and with her head held high said, "Sir! I’m also ready to defend our jungle!"

Cheers erupted throughout the jungle.

The Fox added:

"We’re forming a strong team! I suggest our powerful minister join us too—it’s the only way we’ll be sure of victory!" And immediately began chanting:

"Mi-ni-ster! Mi-ni-ster!"

The Vulture joined in. Then the Donkey. Then the Ewe. Soon the whole jungle was shouting the Horse’s name, begging him to join the battle alongside the Hyena. All eyes were on him.

The Horse had no way out. Surrounded by cheers, he accepted.

There was celebration all around.

But no one noticed the Gorilla silently take his bunch of bananas, climb a tree, and disappear into the jungle.

With the Hyena's orders, they set off before dawn.

The Hyena and the Horse stepped into the river. The Fox begged the Horse to let him ride on his back to avoid being swept away. The Vulture flew above them. As they reached deeper water and the sun began to rise, the Horse felt something grab his leg. The Fox, noticing his slowing pace, pleaded to sit on the Horse's head—claiming he was afraid of water. In the morning light, the Horse saw the shadow of the Jackal waiting for them. That’s when he realized—it was a trap.

He felt the Crocodile's teeth sinking into his flank. He tried to swim to shallower water, but the Fox clawed at his eyes and jumped off. The Horse struggled in the water, kicking wildly in vain when the Hyena bit his neck. Then the Jackal joined in, and there was no chance left. The Horse could only hit the Hyena with his hoof.

The Hyena's rib broke. But the Hyena didn't let go. No superpower! Not even an invulnerable body! Just persistence. The Horse remembered the Gorilla's request... But he couldn't breathe anymore.

Sunlight poured over the grass by the riverbank as the Fox, now full, enjoyed the view. He smiled, knowing he no longer had to hide bits of meat in secret spots. Aside from the Gorilla, no strong or clever animals were left to make trouble.

By noon, the Vulture flew ahead to spread the news: the Horse had been killed by the distant jungle’s Tiger and his minions. Terror swept the jungle.

When the animals saw the Hyena's broken rib and the Fox limping, they could barely swallow. The Vulture said the battle had been so fierce and terrifying that she fled immediately:

"If I weren't born with the wings, my bones would be buried with the Horse. He sacrificed himself for our jungle."

The Fox added, limping dramatically:

"If the Great Hyena hadn’t used his last bit of supernatural strength to pull me from a Leopard's jaws, I wouldn’t be here. He killed two Leopards and a Lion. If his strength hadn’t run out, he would’ve taken down the Tiger himself."

The Hyena, wincing in pain, humbly said it was his duty—and that he’d defend the jungle to his last breath.

Then the Fox turned to the crowd:

"Civilized creatures of the jungle! The enemy has only retreated to recover. They’ll return. Though we lost the Horse, the Great Hyena's leadership—and, well, a little bit of me—landed a hard blow on the enemy. We may have won this round, but we must prepare for the next. And that means feeding the Hyena, so his power can return."

That night, the birds flapped their wings to cool them down and ease their exhaustion. Meanwhile, in the other corner of the jungle, the animals were trying to decide which one of them would devote themselves to being slaughtered... so the Hyena's powers could return and protect them from their future predators.

Chapter Nine: The kingdom of deception

"I have it on good authority that the Great Hyena only regains his supernatural powers by eating herbivores. Otherwise, I’d offer myself right now! I was just with him an hour ago and begged him to accept my humble meat. But after much insistence, he finally said only the pure meat of real herbivores works. Mine is no good—I’ve eaten meat before.”

Since no on had agreed to sacrifice themselves for the jungle, at the Fox's request, the Vulture d informed all the jungle animals to gather in the main clearing to discuss the solution the Fox had devised.

That’s how the Fox continued his speech. “Since we’re a modern and civilized jungle, I suggest we go with a democratic method—let’s vote to choose who’ll sacrifice themselves for the safety of the jungle.”

Then, hoping to trap the Gorilla, he turned to him and said, “Of course… unless a noble and grateful animal volunteers himself out of appreciation for the Great Hyena’s past kindness.”

The Vulture and the Donkey followed the Fox’s gaze. Slowly, the other animals turned to stare at the Gorilla.

The Gorilla looked around in confusion. “Sorry, do I owe you guys something? Why are you looking at me like that? Why would I throw myself to the wolves for the same animals who shunned me just a while ago?”

The Deer spat, “Ugh. You deserved to be shunned.”

The Mouse added, “We never should’ve forgiven him. He should’ve stayed canceled.”

The Squirrel sighed, “Another one of that rascal of a Lion’s mistakes. Should’ve made him leave too.”

The Donkey said, “Hey, this is a free jungle, right? So let’s just vote him out.” He raised his hoof.

“Idiots!” the Gorilla roared. “Doesn't this remind you of the way you doomed that poor Horse? I’m the only one strong enough to stand up to the Fox and the Hyena. If you sacrifice me too, you’ll be defenseless!”

One by one, the animals raised their hands.

The Gorilla looked over the crowd of raised hands, gave a bitter laugh, and spat on the ground. Then, without saying another word, he climbed a tree. From a high branch, he gave a final, bitter glance at the shocked population, performed a chest-beating, let out a deafening roar, and swung to the next branch, and the next—until he crossed the river, flying over the Crocodile’s head, and vanished into the distant jungles of Mesopotamia.

The Fox, who was throwing a party in his heart, put on a sad face and said just loud enough for the others to hear, “What a shame…”

The Vulture whispered with a grin, “Let’s vote for the Donkey next. He’s fat, gullible, and easy to trick—won’t even kick.”

The Fox glared at him. “You’re even dumber than he is. He’s our golden goose! Whenever we need him, we push him forward and let him hype the crowd. Watch…”

He turned to the Donkey and said, “Dear Donkey, everyone in the jungle knows how wise you are. Please, lead us. Start a campaign to decide which animal deserves to sacrifice their body for the safety of the jungle and prevent us from being hunted by the enemy. Please accept this important and noble task!”

The Donkey was over the moon about such a responsibility, glowing with pride, and lowered his head in false humility. But with the Fox’s encouragement, he began to bray loudly in agreement. The other animals, eager to show their support, brayed along until the noise echoed all the way to the greedy Tiger in the faraway jungle.

As they all brayed, the Fox whispered to the Vulture, “When you take the Jackal’s meat ration to him this time, tell him it’s time to return. Tell him to do what I requested and reach us as soon as possible. It's time he should come back and take his rightful place as Minister.”

The Fox then explained, “Tell him there’s no need to take the long way over the shallow part of the river. I’ve already arranged everything with the Crocodile. The Jackal can ride him through the deep, but shorter, part of the river and be back in the jungle by midnight.”

The Vulture grinned.

On the Fox’s signal, the Donkey pulled a ballot from the voting box with the name "Pig" on it. The Vulture, who adored pork, smiled again. It was turning into a lucky day.

Everything was in her interest.

That afternoon, as she flew to deliver the meat to the Jackal, she was still glowing with pride—the Great Hyena had publicly called her “the high flyer”! And when she got back, she’d be awarded the title “Sharp-claw” for reporting that several wolves and leopards had been defeated by a mere wave of the Hyena’s paw.

When the Vulture arrived, she relayed everything the Fox had told her. The Jackal’s eyes lit up with joy at the thought of becoming Minister. “I know flying all this way must’ve drained you. For this good news, I’ll give you half of the pig meat. I know how much you love pork,” he said with a sly grin.

The Vulture bent down to eat—and realized too late she’d been tricked. She tried to take off, but the Jackal made sure her head came off even faster.

The Jackal spat out the blood and snarled, “Told you the day I got better would be your worst day.”

Then, as agreed with the Fox, he grabbed the Vulture’s feathers in his mouth and headed for the river.

As he struggled through the deep water, trying to keep his head above the surface, the Jackal felt bitter. The Fox and the Hyena were getting all that fresh meat without him. He didn’t even get to enjoy the pork! And the Fox had been right—the Crocodile had to wrest the feathers out of the Jackal’s mouth after drowning him just to make the story work.

The Fox later used those feathers to convince the other animals that the Great Hyena had vaporized the Vulture mid-air after discovering her betrayal and spying for the Tiger of faraway jungles.

Years passed. Every week, the Fox would declare how vital the Hyena’s supernatural powers were for the jungle’s safety. Every week, the Donkey’s campaigns produced another volunteer’s name for “sacrifice.” And any animal who dared protest would be sentenced to death—by neutral Judge Fox, of course.

The Fox kept announcing victories against distant enemies—battles no one had ever seen—and warned that the Great Mighty Hyena needed more strength to keep the peace. The Hyena lived deep in the thicket. No animal dared approach. They feared his powers might disintegrate them on sight. Only the Fox was allowed in to “receive orders,” which meant, of course, that he ruled the jungle now.

But slowly, the jungle population began to shrink.

The Fox thought the fewer animals meant more meat for him. "Maybe it's time for me to become the real king," he mused. As long as the legend of the Mighty Hyena lived on, he could rule forever.

One day, the Fox invited the Hyena to a special place on the far side of the river—the spot where they had first plotted everything with the Jackal and the Wild Dog. They sat by the river, shared a few marula fruits, and toasted to old times.

The Fox, as usual, overdid it with the marula juice and lay beside the water, pretending to be drunk.

The Hyena squeezed a fruit between his teeth and asked, “You know you’re the only one who knows I’m not really some mythical jungle superhero, right?”

The Fox replied, “Of course. I made you. I gave the death orders for anyone who found out.”

But just as he was talking, he spotted the Crocodile’s eyes on the surface of the water. To make sure the ambush worked, he waved the Hyena closer. “Wow, the water’s so clear today. Come look.”

In his head, the Fox was already planning his coronation speech. He was proud of his accurate planning and his cunning nature. Soon, he’d rule the jungle outright. After that, he’d deal with the Crocodile too.

But suddenly, the Fox found himself between the Crocodile’s jaws. “You fool! Did you forget our deal? I promised you’d be Minister!”

As the Crocodile dragged him under, he replied, “Nice offer, but don’t forget—the Great and Mighty Hyena has powers. He’s defeated lions and leopards. If I go against him, he’ll slice me in half with a glance!”

The Fox wanted to scream, “Idiot, I made that all up!” But water filled his mouth, and he only heard the Hyena’s voice from the shore: “Sorry, old friend… but there’s always someone higher up.”

And so, no one was left who knew the Hyena was just an ordinary, cowardly animal.

Years passed, and the once-proud jungle—boasting a civilization thousands of years old—fell into ruin.

The Hyena now mocked the very idea of a “civilized jungle,” blaming it for the foolishness and stupidity of its residents. He no longer cared if others discovered he wasn’t originally from this jungle; in fact, being a native of the so-called civilized jungle had become a source of shame for him.

The herbivores were nearly extinct, and the jungle had turned into the Hyena’s private hunting ground. No one remembered that there was once a time when this jungle was truly civilized—ruled by a kind-hearted Lion.

Chapter Ten: The End

Well, I could’ve ended the story right there. The ending would’ve seemed dark and realistic.

But you’re wrong—our story doesn’t end just yet. There’s still a little left:

One autumn day, as the Hyena was strolling toward the old poplar tree in search of prey, he came upon a strange sight.

First, a strong wind began to blow, and within seconds, every leaf from the poplar tree fell to the ground.

Then a massive, flat, gray, disc-shaped object descended from the sky and settled beside the tree.

The Hyena crept closer to see what kind of creature this was.

“Judging by the way it knocked down all the leaves with its wind, it must be a very large herbivore,” he guessed.

“Maybe it’s one of those elephants the Vulture once claimed live in warm jungles…”

He began scanning the area, looking for the Crocodile to join him in hunting the creature.

But then, the gray object opened, and a large, round, translucent, jelly-like animal emerged.

Inside it, the Crocodile could be seen—fully intact—being digested.

The Hyena leapt into a deep hole behind the scorched old poplar tree and hid.

The jelly-like creature looked around slowly, then returned inside the gray object, which sealed behind it.

But the Hyena didn’t dare crawl out.

From the hole, he spotted the Donkey, happily munching on the fallen leaves, delighted by the leafy mess.

The Hyena hesitated—after all, he had tried to hunt the Donkey several times before.

But after a moment, he called out to him from the hole:

"Dear Donkey! My wise friend! Oh, noble Donkey..."

The Donkey looked around in confusion but saw no one.

"Fellow jungle-dweller..." the Hyena’s voice echoed.

The Donkey finally found the source of the voice and approached the hole.

"Who are you?" he asked.

The Hyena replied gently and kindly, "A humble servant of the civilized jungle..."

The Donkey, who hadn’t heard that phrase in years, asked, “Who?”

The Hyena whispered softly, “The Mighty Hyena…”

The Donkey turned to run, but the Hyena pleaded:

“Please don’t go, my dear jungle friend… I know you’re upset about the past. Disagreements happen between fellow jungle-dwellers. So I bit your tail once—I'll make it up to you.”

The Donkey protested:

“You bit off my tail once. Another time, you ripped off one of my ears. And the last time, you bit my leg and ate part of it. It still hasn’t healed properly…”

The Hyena, now with a friendly tone and apologetic voice, said:

“But you’re alive, aren’t you? You’re such a wise and noble animal—please forgive me. I have something important to tell you. It’s about our jungle—our homeland—where we were all born.”

The Donkey asked, “Then why are you hiding in a hole?”

The Hyena answered, “I’m not hiding. I’m lying in ambush!”

The Donkey looked around and asked, “For whom?”

Annoyed, the Hyena snapped: “Why all the questions? Don’t you see that giant gray thing? I’m waiting for it to open again so I can pounce and kill whatever comes out.

It’s an enemy! It’s come to conquer our jungle and rip it to pieces. We must unite and stop it!”

Then, in a commanding tone, he said:

“Go tell the animals of our civilized jungle! Tell them a dangerous enemy has come to divide the jungle.

It might’ve even been sent by that traitor Gorilla—the one who abandoned his home during the jungle’s time of need and fled across the river.”

Half an hour later, the Donkey headed toward the jungle, braying loudly along the way to alert everyone.

That evening, flames erupted from the bottom of the massive gray disc.

The jungle animals gathered around the hole beneath the old poplar tree and chanted:

 “We are not animals who run when the jungle burns.

We are trees—and our roots run deep in this soil!”

It seemed the object was frightened by their unity.

It trembled.

Then suddenly, its fire intensified.

It lifted off the ground—

Rising high—

And flew away.

Those jungle animals who hadn’t been burned by the flames below roared in celebration.

The Hyena crawled out of the charred hole beneath the poplar tree and stared at the herbivores hopping around in front of him.

His mouth watered.

He couldn’t decide which one to eat for dinner.

But just as he was making his pick, thousands of gray discs descended across the jungle.

The hunters from planet Kepler-452, in the Centaurus Galaxy, had found themselves a new world.

They burned the trees—

And ate every last animal on the planet.

By Kiarash Karimian Dowlatabad