Once upon a time there lived a jay. Every year she built her nest, laid eggs and hatched chicks.
But as soon as the chicks grew up, a red-haired animal with ears straight and sharp, like skewers, approached the tree.
- Jay, hey, jay! - he called. - Throw me your chicks! And if you don’t throw it off, I’ll climb the tree myself and eat both the chicks and you...
The poor jay didn't know what to do. She thought and thought, could not come up with anything, and every time she gave her chicks to the red beast. The beast ate them and, satisfied, left. And the jay could only be sad about the dead children.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she went to the wise raven and complained about her fate.
- My brother raven, my dark days have come! I don’t know how to get rid of grief! - she said, sobbing.
- What happened to you? - asked the raven.
“Every year I hatch chicks, but as soon as they fledge, a red-haired animal with red eyes, with straight and sharp ears like skewers, comes to my tree and scares me: “Jay, hey, jay!” Drop your chicks to me, and if you don’t drop them, I’ll climb the tree myself and eat not only them, but you too!” Involuntarily, I have to give away the chicks. He eats them and leaves.
- You stupid jay! - said the important raven. “This red animal is a fox, and she is a famous deceiver.” Don't be afraid of her threats: she cannot climb a tree. Don't cry and go home. If a fox ever comes to your tree and demands your chicks, you answer: “No matter how it is!” She will threaten, and you repeat again: “No matter how it is, no matter what!” - and sit quietly.
“Thanks for the advice, I’ll do that,” said the satisfied jay and flew home.
The jay's chicks have hatched again. And again the fox appeared under the tree and said:
- Hey, jay, throw me your chicks! If you don’t throw me off, I’ll climb the tree myself and eat not only the chicks, but you too!
- No matter how it is! - the jay shouted from the nest. The fox became so angry that sparks fell from her eyes.
- Throw away, I tell you, the chicks! Or do you want me to climb a tree and tear you to pieces?!
- No matter how it is! No matter how it is! - the jay shouted, sticking its head out of the nest and did not move from its place.
The fox gnashed his teeth in anger and walked away from the tree. She guessed: “Only a raven could teach her this!” Let me go catch him and destroy him!”
The fox found a hole filled with liquid clay, climbed into it, and got all dirty. She went out onto the main road and lay down, pretending to be dead. The raven sees a dead fox lying in the mud.
“Now I’ve got you!” he thought, sank to the ground not far from the fox and began to carefully observe his enemy.
The fox didn't move, didn't even breathe. Her eyes were closed. Raven decided that she was dead. He flew up, sat on her stomach and, dancing with joy, said:
- Ah, so this is how you are doing! What now! Should you rip open your stomach first or peck out your eyes?
And the fox quietly raised his paw and grabbed the bird with his claws:
- No, now tell me: should you twist your head or swallow it whole, head and feathers?
Breathing slightly in her claws, the raven answered:
- I agree, little fox, and so and so... Now you will eat me, just listen to my advice first. You know that my bones are as strong as stone...
- What advice? — the fox was wary.
- Push me headfirst off a cliff. I will fall to the bottom of the gorge, hit the rocks, and my bones will become soft and sweet, like a chicken's.
Lisa liked the advice. She dragged the raven to the edge of the gorge and pushed it down.
Having flown a little, the raven sat down on a rock ledge and croaked:
- Kar-kar!
- Well, fall down onto the stones! - the fox screamed.
- No matter how it is! - The raven croaked and laughed.
Lost in anger, the fox jumped on the raven. But he flapped his wings and flew away. The fox fell to the bottom of the gorge and was broken. So the smart raven helped the jay and outwitted the fox.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru