Once upon a time not too long ago, a pair of badgers and a pair of rabbits were traveling together when they came across two wolf pups all alone. It turned out that they were orphans and much too young to on their own. The gentle hearted rabbits didn't want to hurt anyone, even wolves, and especially not two helpless youngsters. Following some discussion they persuaded the badgers to agree with them. After all, the pups couldn't help being born wolves, now could they?
So what to do with them? They talked it over and finally decided that the rabbits would take one pup and the badgers would take the other. Now, as a general rule, badgers don't care for wolves at all, but they decided to keep their pup and raise it themselves. They would teach him proper manners and decent behavior.
The rabbits, on the other hand, said to each other, "A wolf is a wolf." So although they were very nervous and frightened, they took their orphan to a nearby den of wolves so that he could be fostered appropriately by his own kind. The wolves were very impressed by this act of bravery by the otherwise timid-natured rabbits, and so they allowed them to depart unharmed.
Well, time passed and both pups grew, the first with the badgers and the second with his foster family of wolves. The first pup had a happy childhood and was much admired by the badgers for his good, unwolf-like behavior. He walked proud and solitary instead of skulking about in menacing packs. Then one day when he was old enough, he decided to travel and see more of the world, and off he went down the road.
As he was walking along, he came upon a group of raccoons. Well, he had met raccoons before while he was growing up, and they'd always been on good terms with the badgers. The raccoons, however, were unfamiliar with him and to them he was nothing more than a bold and dangerous wolf, walking towards them as though he owned the road! Naturally, when he drew near, they attacked him.
A single raccoon is no match for a sturdy wolf, but an entire group is quite another matter, and they took the young fellow by surprise. He attempted to defend himself, as any proud badger would, but he also tried to dissuade them, pleading with them to listen. But the raccoons would have none of his outrageous lies, and they killed that wolf right there in the road.
The second pup grew up with the wolves, toughened by the hardships of such a life, but one might imagine he considered himself to be happy. He became strong and wily and he learned to be a successful hunter. One day while he was out with the pack, he came across a rabbit.
Never had he seen such a thing, for the silly creature was sitting straight up, right out in the open, and waving at him like a long lost friend! Well, he was nobody's fool and he knew a good opportunity when he saw one. He feasted on rabbit that day, laughing together with his friends at what a foolish bunny she had been.
2002
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