Week 1 Storytelling: The Fox and the Beast

A very young Fox, who had never before seen a Lion, happened to meet one in the forest. A single look was enough to send the Fox off at top speed for the nearest hiding place.

The second time the Fox saw the Lion he stopped behind a tree to look at him a moment before slinking away. But the third time, the Fox went boldly up to the Lion and, without turning a hair, said, "Hello, there, old top."

(Aesop's fable)

The Fox and the Beast

     There was once an arrogant and inconsiderate deer who lived in a magical forest. One day the fox wronged an old woman who happened to be witch. The witch turned the deer into an animal that would be feared by all the other creatures of the forest – a lion. The only way for him to revert back to a deer, he must gain the friendship and trust of another.

     For years, the lion lived a lonely life without any companions. On several occasions, he tried to go up to other creatures and initiate conversations but they all just ran away from him in fear. Finding a friend seemed impossible.     

     The lion thinking that find a friend was impossible decided to go in hiding. He found a cave high up and made it his home and never left it. Soon the lion was forgotten by all the other creatures of the forest. The lion was a thing of the past. 

 A very young Fox, who had never before seen a Lion, happened to meet one in the forest. A single look was enough to send the Fox off at top speed for the nearest hiding place.

    One day a very young and playful fox was wandering through the forest. He came upon a cave he had never seen before. In the cave he saw the lion and ran away in terror.

    A few days later, the fox gained some courage and decided to return to that cave. He stealthily approached the cave and there was the lion again. Instead of running away, he said hello to the lion and introduced himself. The lion not having spoken to anybody for so long forgot how to cordially speak to another. Thus, the lion just stared blankly back at the fox. The fox not knowing how to respond returned home a little still scared. 

 The second time the Fox saw the Lion he stopped behind a tree to look at him a moment before slinking away. But the third time, the Fox went boldly up to the Lion and, without turning a hair, said, "Hello, there, old top."

     For the third time, the fox decided to return to the lion and initiate a conservation again. Unlike the last time, the lion actually responded. The fox enjoyed conversing with lion and so thereafter begin vising the lion every day. Eventually the fox and the lion begin to trust each other and a friendship between the two begin to form.

    One day the lion was sitting in the cave waiting for the fox to come by like he did every day but he never came. Worried, the lion decided to leave the cave and search for the fox. From a distance heard the cry of his friend. The fox was being attacked by the coyotes. The lion ran towards the cries and roared at the coyotes. The coyotes ran away in fear. The fox seeing this realized that the lion saved his life and is a true friend. At that very moment the spell that was casted on the lion was lifted and the lion transformed into a beautiful deer.

(The Fox and the Lion)

Author’s Note. This story is based on the fable “The Fox and the Lion.” This story can be found in the book The Esop for Children by Esop (2006). “The Fox and the Lion” is about a timid fox that approaches a lion and eventually gains courage and tries to befriend the lion. This story reminded me of the story of Beauty and the Beast and how Belle was scared of the Beast at first but eventually warmed up to him and developed feelings for him. For my story, I included a witch that turns a normally nice creature, a deer, into an animal that is feared by others – a lion. In order to turn back into a deer, he must gain the friendship and trust of another. The lion is approached by a fox several times. The lion gains the trust and friendship of a fox when he saves the fox from the danger of coyotes and is transformed back into a deer. This is analogous to the Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Like the Beast, the lion had to learn to love and care for another in order to turn back to his true form. It is the selfless act he does that saves himself.

The title is inspired by the Disney film Beauty and the Beast.

The Esop for Children (2006). Web Source:Sacred Texts Archive.

"The Fox and the Lion"  from The Esop for Children (2006). Web Source: Sacred Texts Archive.