The Cat and the Dog's Agreement

In the beginning, the Cat and the Dog lived in the wild. They were enemies and always fought over food. One day, after a long, hard winter, they were both starving. They met over the carcass of a small deer. Instead of fighting, the Dog said, "This is pointless. We expend more energy fighting than we gain from the food. I have an idea. Let us go to the village of Man. I have seen that Man has a warm fire and plenty of food." The Cat was suspicious. "Why should Man help us?" she asked. "We will make a deal," said the Dog. "I will offer him my loyalty and my skill in hunting and guarding. You can offer your silence and your ability to catch the mice that plague his granary." They agreed it was a good plan. They went to the Man's house. The Dog barked to announce his presence and offered his services. The Man accepted. The Cat silently crept into the house and caught a mouse, laying it at the Man's feet. The Man, pleased, also accepted her. They agreed to live in peace under the Man's roof, never to fight each other again for the food he provided. And so the Dog became Man's loyal guard, and the Cat became Man's quiet companion, both keeping the pact they made to escape the hardship of the wild.