The Bat
Once upon a time, in a thick forest beyond the green valleys, there lived a great many animals, large and small. For long years the gliding birds of the sky and the strong four-footed beasts of the earth lived together in friendship. But one day a small quarrel grew into a great war between the winged ones and those of the land. The bat, that cunning dweller of the forest, could not decide whose side to take in this fight. He had a selfish heart that always wished to stand with the winning side. On the first day of the war the birds attacked in flocks and seized the advantage, so the bat at once beat his wings. He flew over to the birds and shouted, "I am one of you as well; look, I can fly freely in the sky!"
But the next day the land animals charged forward bravely and forced the birds to retreat. Seeing this, the cunning bat wasted no time and took refuge with the leader of the land animals. Showing his sharp teeth and his fur, he said, "I too am a mammal that bears living young, just like you." Day after day the bat crossed over to whichever side looked stronger, and changed his loyalty at once. The more he changed sides, the more he rejoiced inwardly, believing he had done something very clever. While trying to win the trust of both sides, he failed to see that he was gathering great hatred instead. At last both sides grew weary of this senseless war and decided to make peace.
Gathered in the square of celebration, the forest dwellers spoke of the bat's fickleness and hypocrisy. Both the birds and the land animals drove this cunning creature, who had betrayed them, out from among them. Filled with shame, the bat no longer dared to show himself in the light of day. From that day on he was forced to hide in deep, dark caves so that no one would see him. Only when night fell and everyone was asleep did he begin to fly secretly in the pitch darkness. False friendships won through hypocrisy leave a person utterly alone in the dark at the end. Whoever sets his sail by the wind will drown in the storm at last.