It is said that the tiger and the buffalo used to be great friends. They lived next door and loved each other very much. The buffalo praised the tiger to everyone, and he more than once invited the buffalo to walk with him and have fun. During these walks, the tiger always sat on the buffalo's back, and the buffalo was very proud of this.
One day, friends went for a walk and met a herd of cows. Seeing the buffalo and the tiger, the cows asked:
- Why are you together? - We are friends! - answered the buffalo. - You don’t really fit together! - said the cows.
But the tiger and buffalo no longer heard this, as they rushed forward. Soon they reached a herd of horses.
“Why are you walking together?” the horses asked when they saw them. - Yes, we are friends! - the buffalo answered for both of them again. - Strange friendship, we don’t like it! - the horses shouted to them, but the tiger and buffalo, not listening to them, ran even faster.
Then they met a flock of sheep. Looking at them, the sheep asked:
- What are you two doing together?
The buffalo already knew that they would also say: “You are not suitable for each other!” or “We don’t like this kind of friendship!” So he immediately shouted:
- We are friends, but what does it matter to you?
And, without waiting for an answer, he rushed past. Soon after this, the tiger and buffalo moved to different places: the tiger moved to the mountains, and the buffalo began to live on the banks of the river. And they stopped dating.
But one day the buffalo wanted to see the tiger, and at that time the tiger decided to visit the buffalo. And both, without saying a word, set off on their journey.
Each of them passed seven days and seven nights without rest. On the eighth day in the morning they met, and both were very surprised. Old friends started talking.
- Brother, where are you going? - asked the tiger. - I'm coming to see you, brother! - answered the buffalo. - Where are you going? - And I’m coming to visit you! - said the tiger. They chose a place by the road, sat down to rest, and chatted about this and that. Suddenly the tiger said: “Brother, I walked for seven days and seven nights, didn’t eat anything, my stomach is empty.”
Come on brother, I'll eat you! And the buffalo answered him:
- Dear brother, I also spent seven days and seven nights on the road, I’m also terribly hungry, but what can I do? Let's better go home, and let everyone look for something for lunch.
But the tiger insists:
- Let me, brother, eat you! - We are friends! - the buffalo is surprised. - How can you eat me?!
And the tiger was already salivating from hunger:
- Brother, let me ask you for the third time! You are my older brother, so you have to feed me! If you let me, I’ll eat you, if you don’t let me, I’ll eat you anyway! “Well, since you want to eat so much, I agree,” the buffalo answered calmly. “But first you must fight me!” If you win, you can eat me, if you lose, there is nothing to do: you will remain hungry! Agree?
Hearing this, the tiger became very happy. He considered himself the king of beasts, but how could anyone overcome the king?!
And both began to prepare for the fight. They prepared for seven days. The tiger went to the mountains, collected more vines and wrapped them around his body. And the buffalo went to the field and climbed into a hole with liquid clay. He lay there, rolled around, and then got out and began to bask in the sun. When the clay dried, the buffalo lay down in the hole again. He did this until he was covered with a clay crust in several layers.
On the eighth day, the tiger and buffalo met at the appointed place.
- Well, brother, who will attack first - you or me? - asked the buffalo. - Of course I am! - answered the tiger. - Fine! First you bite me three times, and then I will butt you three times!
The tiger got ready, opened his mouth and bit the buffalo with all his might. But he didn’t even feel anything: after all, the tiger only bit off a piece of clay. The tiger bit the buffalo a second time - and again only a lump of dry clay fell off. The third time the tiger rushed at the buffalo - and the third time clay fell from the sides of the buffalo, but he himself remained safe and sound.
It was the buffalo's turn. He hit the tiger with his long horn - the vines on the tiger burst. He hit it a second time - all the vines fell to the ground. He hit him a third time and gutted him. Here the tiger died.
And the buffalo looked at him and said: “I understand now that you need to choose your friends carefully!” From now on, I will order my children and grandchildren to be friends with tigers!
Since then, the buffalo and the tiger have been enemies. If a buffalo sees a tiger, it butts it with its horns, and if a tiger notices a buffalo, it avoids it, afraid to bite!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru