The Python and the Millipede's Children

The Python and the Millipede were neighbours, and both had many children. The Python's children were strong and beautiful, while the Millipede's children were numerous but small. The Python grew arrogant and began to bully the Millipede, often stealing food meant for her children. "You are weak, and your children are a legion of insects," the Python would hiss. "My children are true royalty of the forest." The Millipede endured the insults in silence. One day, a great army of driver ants swept through the forest, devouring everything in their path. The Python's children, though strong, were attacked one by one and overwhelmed. The Millipede, however, gathered all of her hundreds of children together. They moved as one, a single, rippling, living carpet. The driver ants, seeing this strange, massive creature with a thousand legs, were confused and intimidated, and the great army parted to let them pass. The Millipede had saved all of her children. She had taught the Python a powerful lesson: there is a strength in numbers and unity that can overcome even the most fearsome individual power.