Storytelling for Week 4: Consequence of No Good Deed

The lion and the crane never got along. The truth is, they just existed within the same area. The crane was very aware that the lion could hurt him severely, or even eat him, and for this reason he often kept his distance. However, today was different. As the crane felt a shift in the weather, the wind blowing cool around him, the sky a bit darker, he heard a quiet struggle not far off from where he was resting. The crane took flight, following the strange sound. Eventually the lion came into the crane's view. It was very apparent that there was something wrong with him. Curious, the crane flew in closer to the lion, making sure to continue to keep his distance.

The crane settled on a tree above the lion and asked him what was wrong. The lion grunted and explained to him that there was something stuck in his arm, something too large and too deep for his large paw to get out himself. He had been trying to get it out for hours before giving up and attempting to endure the terrible pain. After hearing this, the crane offered to help the lion on the condition that he does not eat him. The lion quickly agreed, eager to have the large object taken out of his arm and be relieved of his agony. So the crane slowly flew in closer and used his large, thin enough beak to get the object out. The thing causing the lion pain turned out to be a bone from meat he had been eating earlier that day.

Taking a deep breath and sigh of relief, the lion shortly thanked the crane and began to leave. The crane called out to lion asking what he would get in return for helping him. Turning around for a short few seconds, the lion reminded the crane that he spared his life by not agreeing to eat him. And, with that, he continued walking on.

However, this was not the last the crane and lion would see of each other. The lion seemed to get himself into all kinds of trouble pretty often. He was always needing, and seeking, help. Lucky for him, the crane was always around to help him out. Though, every time he helped the lion, he would ask for a favor in return, and the lion would just brush it off. On another gloomy day, the lion came into the worst trouble he had been in. He had gotten in an attack with another animal and he had many open wounds with various things stuck in them. Again, he had asked the crane for his help as he was certain he would not survive without it. The crane was near by, watching. As it appeared to the lion, he was no where to be found. Little time passed and the fate that the lion had predicted overcame him.

The Lion and the Crane
Source: Mythology and Folklore UnTextbook

Authors Note: For this retelling of "The Lion and the Crane," I chose to keep the main parts of the story the same, but I expanded on more aspects. I gave the story a little more of a background, edited parts of the plot, eliminated the dialogue and continued the ending. In this version, the lion doesn't get away with not returning any favors of the crane. He was selfish and sought help only for his benefit. So, in the end, this bad part of who he was, was what caused his ultimate demise.

Bibliography: "The Lion and the Crane" by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten, from Indian Fairy Tales (1912).
Web Source: Mythology and Folklore UnTextbook