The Rabbit Who Wasn't Dinner

The lion stretched, yawning wide to show his impressive teeth. He’d been napping in the sun, but his stomach rumbled. Lunchtime! He scanned the savanna with his golden eyes, searching for a tasty snack. And there, hopping near a patch of tall grass, was a plump rabbit, nibbling on clover.

The lion grinned. “Lunch is served!” he thought, a glint in his eye. He crept closer, his powerful paws barely making a sound on the dry grass. The rabbit, oblivious to the danger lurking nearby, continued munching. The lion crouched low, ready to pounce.

Just as he was about to spring, the rabbit stopped and sniffed the air. Its nose twitched, and its ears perked up. “Hmm,” it muttered to itself, “something smells…delicious!”

The lion froze. What was that? The rabbit hopped closer to the lion, sniffing the air curiously. The lion held his breath, hoping the rabbit wouldn’t notice him. But the rabbit, with a mischievous glint in its eye, hopped right in front of the lion and sniffed his nose!

The lion was startled. He blinked, unsure what to do. The rabbit, instead of running away, hopped around the lion, sniffing him curiously. “You smell…interesting,” the rabbit said, “like sunshine and dust.”

The lion, confused, could only stare. The rabbit, seeing his chance, hopped away, giggling. “See ya later, big guy!” he called over his shoulder.

The lion watched in disbelief as the rabbit hopped away, then burst out laughing. “That little rascal!” he chuckled. “He outsmarted me!” He shook his head, defeated but amused. Maybe he’d try catching a gazelle for lunch instead. Rabbits were clearly more trouble than they were worth.

Here is another story of an obsessive rabbit and the lion.