Kancil, the Clever Mouse-deer Who Outwitted the Crocodile
Once upon a time, in a dense and lush jungle, there lived a clever and cunning mouse-deer named Kancil. Kancil was famous throughout the animal kingdom for his intelligence and resourcefulness. He could outwit anyone who tried to harm him. One day, as Kancil was walking along the riverbank, he saw a group of animals gathered near the water's edge. Curious, Kancil approached to see what was happening. He noticed a crocodile blocking the path across the river. The crocodile had a wicked grin on his face. "What's going on here?" asked Kancil, feigning innocence. The crocodile replied, "I am hungry, Kancil, and I want to eat something delicious. The animals here are too afraid to cross the river, so I'm waiting for something to eat." Kancil, knowing that the crocodile was dangerous, had to think quickly. He said, "Oh, Mr. Crocodile, you shouldn't eat just anything. You deserve the best meal, something truly delicious. I know where you can find the tastiest meat in the jungle." The crocodile's eyes widened with interest. "Tell me, Kancil, where can I find this delicious meat?" Kancil, with a sly smile, said, "Follow me, Mr. Crocodile, and I'll lead you to the King's palace. The King has a grand feast every day with the most delicious food you can imagine." The crocodile agreed and opened his mouth wide to let Kancil climb onto his back. Kancil jumped on, and the crocodile swam across the river towards the King's palace. As they reached the other side, Kancil hopped off and said, "Here we are, Mr. Crocodile. This is the King's palace. Go inside, and you'll have the most exquisite meal." Without thinking twice, the crocodile eagerly swam towards the palace, believing he would have a grand feast. However, the palace guards saw the approaching crocodile and quickly closed the gates. The crocodile was trapped and couldn't reach the delicious meal he had been promised. Kancil chuckled to himself and continued on his way, leaving the crocodile stuck at the palace gates. From that day on, the crocodile realized he had been outwitted by the clever Kancil and never tried to harm him again. In conclusion, the story of Kancil and the crocodile teaches us the importance of wit and intelligence in overcoming challenges. Kancil's quick thinking and resourcefulness saved him from becoming the crocodile's meal. It reminds us that sometimes, brains can triumph over brawn.