The Wolf and the Hedgehog
Once upon a time, on the edge of an ancient forest where cool waters flowed, there lived a wolf renowned for his cunning. With his imposing bulk and his sharp teeth, this wolf constantly threatened all the helpless animals around him. In a secluded corner of that same lush forest resided a hedgehog who kept to himself, exceedingly clever and prudent. One day, as dusk was falling, the hungry wolf began to move stealthily along the path in search of a tasty morsel. When he saw the tiny hedgehog suddenly emerge from the bushes, his hungry eyes gleamed with great appetite and arrogance. Laughing out loud with his booming voice, the wolf took a threatening step toward his small rival. "I have been hungry all this time, and at last I have found a crunchy prey to eat as a snack," he roared.
The hedgehog, keeping his composure, calmly raised his quills a little higher and spoke up at once. "I am easy to eat, mighty wolf, but if the spines on my body stick in your throat, you will regret it," he said. The insolent wolf paid no heed to these warnings, mocked the hedgehog and lunged forward eagerly. Thereupon the clever hedgehog used his wits in order to save himself and proposed a wager. "If you want to swallow me, let us first see who rolls down that high hill faster," he said. Sure of his victory, the haughty wolf, without making the slightest concession, accepted this curious offer at once. The two of them climbed together onto the steep rocks and lined up excitedly side by side for the race.
The hedgehog at once curled into a ball and, protected by his sharp quills, began to roll smoothly down the hill. The wolf, blinded by greed, sped up uncontrollably and crashed into hard rocks and pricking brushwood. When he reached the bottom, the defeated wolf, covered all over in wounds and bruises, was groaning wretchedly from the pain. The hedgehog, who had reached the goal without the slightest effort and without even a scratch, looked over the wolf's helpless state and smiled. The battered wolf, accepting his defeat, had no strength left and hurried away from there without even looking back. Those who trust in brute strength and give themselves over to arrogance are always doomed to bow before the victory of a sharp mind. A foolish head makes the feet suffer.