The Elephant and the Hyena's False Friendship

An Elephant and a Hyena were neighbours. A great famine struck the land. The Elephant, who was a diligent farmer, had a secret, lush garden high on the mountain, irrigated by a hidden spring. The Hyena, who was lazy, had nothing. He went to the Elephant, crying with hunger. "Help me, my friend, or my family will perish!" The kind Elephant agreed to lead the Hyena to his secret garden but made him promise not to reveal its location. Every day, the Elephant would lead the Hyena there, and they would eat. But the Hyena was greedy and ungrateful. He began leaving a trail of marked stones so he could find the garden himself. One day, he brought his entire clan, and they devoured everything, destroying the garden. The Elephant, seeing the betrayal and destruction, went to Ruwa, the creator god, for justice. Ruwa punished the Hyena by cursing him with an insatiable hunger and a sloping back, as if forever bowing in shame for his treachery. The Elephant was rewarded with great wisdom and became the guardian of the mountain's secrets.