The Wildcat and the Nightjar
The Wildcat and the Nightjar were amicable companions.
Upon a certain day, the Wildcat did utter, with a menacing growl, “I am minded to devour thee!”
The Nightjar, seized by apprehension, did take flight, wings aflutter, and retreated hence.
The Wildcat, in response, did merely emit a sound of amusement, declaring, “Verily, I did but jest, my esteemed friend.”
Thereafter, she added, with a tone of gravity, “Yet, in earnest, one of my kittens suffers from an ailment. I stand in need of two feathers from thy person, for the compounding of a medicinal draught.”
The Nightjar, thus reassured, did tenderly relinquish two of her feathers, avowing, “I am replete with joy to render assistance.”
The Wildcat did reiterate the selfsame entreaty upon the subsequent day, and again upon the day following, and yet again thereafter.
In the fullness of time, the Nightjar found herself devoid of feathers, and thereby rendered incapable of aerial locomotion.
It was at this juncture that the Wildcat did seize the Nightjar and did unceremoniously consume her.
The Pious Cat and the Mouse
There once existed a feline creature who did feign a profound piety, comporting himself as if he were a veritable saint of great repute.
A murine specimen, seeking sagacity, did approach this purportedly holy cat.
“Pray, enlighten me, O Cat!” squeaked the mouse in supplication.
“Approach nearer,” quoth the cat, “for my auditory faculties are somewhat diminished. Approach yet nearer, I implore!”
“Verily, he is devout in his obeisance to the Almighty,” mused the mouse within his own thoughts. “Surely,
I have naught to apprehend.” Thus, the mouse did draw nigh enough to vociferate directly into the cat’s auricle, whereupon the cat did seize him with alacrity.
“O, Holy One!” shrieked the mouse in utter dismay. “Whither hath thy devotion absconded?”
“It doth wax and wane, as is its wont,” declared the cat as he summarily swallowed the hapless mouse.
The Leopard and the Dog
The Leopard, being desirous of securing suitable tutelage for her three cubs, did appoint the Dog to the office of nurse. ‘I shall recompense thee with flesh,’ she declared, ‘yet thou must, on no account, gnaw upon the bones.’
For a season, all progressed favourably, until such time as the Dog, driven by an exceeding hunger, did transgress the prohibition and gnaw upon the bones. A splinter, thus dislodged, did fly into the air, striking one of the cubs and causing its untimely demise.
When the Leopard did summon her cubs for their nourishment, the Dog, with cunning artifice, did twice present the first cub, thereby deceiving her.
Upon the accidental slaying of a second cub, the Dog, seized by apprehension, did abscond and conceal himself.
In due course, the Leopard did discover the Dog engaged in the consumption of a veritable heap of bones. Enraged by this perfidy and mindful of the deaths of her cubs, she did inflict upon him a mortal blow, thus exacting vengeance for her grievous loss.
The Woman and the Rabbit
A certain woman, being desirous of procuring a nurse for her infant offspring, found herself in want of a suitable candidate.
Quoth the Rabbit, with an air of utmost sincerity, “I profess a profound affection for babes; I shall gladly undertake the office of nanny.”
Yet, 'tis to be lamented that the Rabbit's attention didst soon wane, and a sense of ennui didst pervade his very being whilst attending to his charge.
Anon, a most delectable odour didst assail his nostrils, leading him forthwith to the kitchen, where, with a surreptitious glance, he didst espy a pot containing a savoury goat stew!
Without demur, the Rabbit didst partake of the stew.
Yea, he consumed the entirety thereof.
Then didst it dawn upon him that the woman, upon her return, wouldst be incensed to discover the stew utterly depleted; wherefore, in a fit of dreadful ingenuity, he didst dismember the babe and reconstitute it as further stew.
The Rabbit, with a flourish, didst leave a missive, stating thus: “I have taken the babe hence for a constitutional.”
The parents, returning to their abode, didst partake of the stew with gusto.
The Rabbit, however, didst never venture to return.
The Hare and the Antelope
The Hare, harbouring designs upon the Antelope's horns for the fabrication of a trumpet, didst inveigle her into the bonds of matrimony.
“Now, prithee, let us institute a feast of affection!” quoth the Hare. “I shall ensconce myself within yon pot and simmer o'er the flames, and thereafter, thou shalt follow suit.”
The Hare did seat himself within the pot, the water therein being yet cold. When the water did attain a tepid warmth, he didst clamber forth.
Then did the Antelope enter into the vessel. “'Tis indeed possessing of warmth,” she didst remark.
The Hare, with sudden vehemence, didst slam the lid shut upon the pot. “Pray apprise me when the heat doth become excessive,” quoth he.
Anon, the Antelope didst vociferate, “'Tis exceeding hot! I beseech thee, liberate me!”
Yet the Hare, with obdurate heart, didst refuse her egress.
After he had feasted upon her flesh, he did fashion a trumpet from her horns, thereby fulfilling his initial design.