The Stag and the Vine

A stag was being pursued by hunters and their hounds through the forest. As the barking grew louder and the danger came closer, the stag desperately searched for a place to hide.

Spotting a thick grove of grapevines, the stag quickly leaped over a low wall and concealed himself among the dense foliage. The vines grew so thickly that they completely hid him from view.

Soon the hunters arrived with their dogs, searching everywhere for their quarry. They looked behind trees, under bushes, and around rocks, but the thick vines concealed the stag so well that they passed right by his hiding place without seeing him.

The stag remained perfectly still, hardly daring to breathe, as the hunters and their hounds searched the area thoroughly. After what seemed like hours, the sounds of the hunt grew fainter and finally disappeared entirely.

“They’re gone!” thought the stag with relief. “I’m safe at last!”

Feeling secure in his hiding place, the stag began to relax. As he waited to make sure the hunters were truly gone, he noticed the sweet, ripe grapes hanging all around him.

“Well,” he said to himself, “since I’m here anyway, I might as well enjoy these delicious grapes. After all that running, I’ve worked up quite an appetite.”

The stag began to eat the grapes hungrily, then started munching on the tender vine leaves as well. They were so tasty that he couldn’t resist eating more and more.

As he fed, the stag began to move around carelessly, shaking the vines and making noise. In his eagerness to eat, he forgot all about staying hidden and quiet.

“These vines have been quite helpful,” he thought as he chewed, “but now that the danger is past, I might as well make the most of this feast.”

But the hunters had not gone as far as the stag believed. Hearing the rustling and movement in the vineyard, they returned to investigate.

This time, with the vines shaking and moving, they easily spotted the stag among the leaves. Before he could escape, they had captured him.

As the hunters closed in, the stag realized his mistake too late.

“Foolish me,” he said sadly. “The vines that saved my life deserved my gratitude, not my greed. Instead of being thankful for their protection, I repaid their kindness by destroying them. My ingratitude has been my downfall.”

Moral: We should be grateful to those who help us in times of need. Turning against our benefactors or taking advantage of their kindness often leads to our own destruction.