The Ostrich and the Lion's Stolen Eggs

A mother Ostrich had a nest full of large, beautiful eggs. A Lion, who was a bully, came and demanded the eggs for himself. The Ostrich, terrified, had no choice but to let him take them. This happened again the next year. The mother Ostrich was heartbroken. She went to the clever Hare for advice. The Hare told her, "When the Lion comes, do not argue. Simply tell him, 'Take them if you must, but know that the one who steals the children of the earth will soon find that the sky has stolen his own children'." The Ostrich did as she was told. The Lion laughed at her strange curse and took the eggs. That night, a spectacular meteor shower lit up the sky. The Lion, who had never seen such a thing, thought the stars were the sky's "children" and that they were falling because of the curse. He was overcome with a superstitious terror. He quickly returned the Ostrich's eggs, begging her to take back the curse. The Ostrich had her children back, and the Lion never bothered her again, having been defeated not by force, but by a clever and prophetic-sounding riddle.