"It is a glorious day to be out. I want to go run in the meadow." Sade Fox said as she breathed in the morning air. Sade left her den and went looking for something to do. She got food, rolled around in the grass, and ran through the meadow. Sade loved how the brisk air tickled her fur.
It was a fabulous summer day, perfect for a dip in the water. Sade enjoyed dreaming about making new friends. Sometimes, she gets lonely playing by herself.
As Sade approached the watering hole, she noticed a lion lurking in the tall grass behind her. She wasn't the least bit scared. Instead, she was delighted to see someone else. She thought it would be nice to sneak up on him instead.
"Hello there! I'm Sade! What's your name? I saw you in the grass. Do you want to play?" Sade yelled. The lion raised his head and said, "I thought you were lunch. I'm not interested in playing with a fox." The lion began to walk to the watering hole, and Sade followed.
"What do you want, fox? Stop following me." He said. "Oh, I want a friend. What's your name?" Said Sade.
"Fred, now go away. I'm starving, and I'm thinking about eating you." The lion said.
"It's ok, Fred. I'm not scared of you. I encountered the worst predators than you." Sade said.
At that moment, Fred began to chase the fox around. His stomach ached from hunger, and all he could think about was eating the fox. There was something Fred didn't know about her, and she was just as sly and sneaky as he was. Sade thought Fred was playing with her, and she laughed. "What is so funny?" Asked Fred. Sade just giggled even more. She lost the lion and climbed a tree to rest.
She thought to herself, "Whew, he is fast." She watched from the tree branch as Fred slowly disappeared. After a while, Sade went looking for her lion friend.
She jumped down from the tree when she thought the coast was clear. Then, without warning, the lion emerged from the tall grass and pounced on the fox. "Oh no, you got me. Haaaaaaa!" Sade said, laughing. Fred wasn't sure why the silly fox laughed when she was about to be eaten. He shrugged, then opened his mouth and gulped her up.
That's when Sade realized the lion was not playing with her. She was his lunch. "Let me out! Let me out! Please don't eat me! I taste terrible!" Sade pleaded. Fred tilted his back and tried to bite down. Sade thought it was the end, and then she got an idea. She bit the lion's tongue as hard as possible, and then he spat her.
"Ow! I'm going?? Said Fred in pain.
"Wait!" Sade interrupted. "If I find you a new meal, would you promise not to eat me?"
"Maybe. It depends on how good a bargain it is. You have ten minutes, or you are the meal."
Sade was thrilled that the lion accepted her bargain. She went by the watering hole to clear her head and ran into a herd of gazelles. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head. "That's it; I got it. I will tell Fred the lion about the gazelle, and in exchange, Fred will spare my life."
Fred approached her and asked if she had anything for him. Sade pointed out that she found a gazelle for him. The lion was impressed. He told the fox to leave his sight. He was ready to consume his meal.
Being as sly as she was, the fox slowly alerted the gazelle. She warned them a lion was coming, but none listened. They thought she wanted the watering hole to herself. Sade kept trying to warn the animals, but none cared to listen. Finally, she gave up and went on her way.
Sade realized it was nightfall. Therefore, it wasn't safe for her to be out at night. What can be worse than a hungry lion? Scary noises in the night made her fur stand tall. Although Sade kept telling herself that she was brave, that brush with death frightened her.
Between the howling and rustling of the trees, this little fox was scared. Next thing you know, she was running for dear life because a coyote was on her tail. "Help! Help! I have to find someplace to hide." Shouted Sade.
Fred, the lion, was resting when he heard the fox's cry for help. He yawned and said, "I guess I can lend a paw. After all, she did help me." He stalked around before running off into the night. The lion caught up to the coyote, who had the fox cornered. "Please don't eat me!" Begged Sade.
The lion just growled and snarled at the fox. She closed her eyes. "Roar
! Roar! Roar! Back away!" Fred roared. The coyote ran away, terrified of the beast behind him. "Please don't eat me!" Sade said, shivering. The lion assured the fox that he would save her, not eat her. She opened her eyes and hugged the lion.
From that day on, the fox and the lion became friends. Whenever she was in need, he was there to help, no matter what.
