The Wolf and the Dove Gathering Twigs
Once upon a time, at the edge of an old forest where cool waters flowed, there lived a wise dove and a proud wolf. The dove was tenderly gathering twigs and brushwood to build a sturdy nest for the harsh winter that was coming. The wolf, who roamed a hidden corner of the forest, watched this feverish effort with scornful eyes. The wolf, who trusted greatly in his own muscle and his grandeur, approached the tiny bird with an arrogant air. The murmuring wind of the forest whispered a silent prophecy that two different natures would meet. "Hey, little bird, do you think you can pass the winter with these feeble twigs?" roared the wolf. The dove beat her wings gracefully and said, "Every small branch gathered with patience becomes a great shield in the storm."
The arrogant wolf proposed, "Come, let us hold a race; whoever gathers more wood by evening, let him win." The dove silently accepted this unequal challenge and kept gathering twigs, gliding from branch to branch. The wolf, however, for the sake of showing off, tried to lift huge tree logs all at once. Crushed beneath the heavy logs, the wolf was soon drenched in sweat and fell exhausted. The skillful dove, however, undaunted, carried light and sturdy branches with swift steps and completed her nest. The wolf, driven mad by his ambition, set his eye on the dove's labour in order to cover his own failure. "Since you gathered more, then your nest and my meal shall both be you!" he bellowed.
The moment the furious wolf hurled himself onto the nest, the sharp twigs woven with mastery toppled over him like a trap. With a swift movement the dove flew up to a high oak branch and brought herself to safety. Trapped beneath the heavy logs and the piercing branches, the wolf began to struggle helplessly because of his own arrogance. Thanks to her intelligence and her persistence, the dove escaped the danger and greeted the winter season peacefully in her sheltered nest. The wolf, however, who paid the price of his selfishness and his trickery, was left all alone in the freezing cold. Every work woven with labour and with intelligence always overcomes brute force and trickery. Over-cleverness hurts the trickster.