The King And The River Monster

The Lion King of the forest was pacing back and forth, his tail twitching with worry. He had just heard a rumor that a Mighty Lion—someone even bigger and louder than him—was moving into the neighborhood. If this newcomer stayed, the King would have to pack his bags and find a new home.

Stressed out, the King marched down to the river to see his wisest friend, Croc.

"Don't you worry, Your Majesty," Croc said, flashing a toothy, mischievous grin. "Leave it to me. I have a plan to send that big guy packing before he even finishes his first nap."

The Showdown at the River

Later that afternoon, the Mighty Lion arrived. He was dusty from traveling and very, very thirsty. He stomped down to the riverbank and leaned over the water for a long, cool drink.

Lap, lap, lap.

Suddenly, the water began to swirl. Tiny ripples turned into big bubbles. Before the Mighty Lion could blink, SNAP! Something incredibly strong clamped onto his paw and started dragging him toward the deep, dark water.

"Yikes! A river monster!" the Mighty Lion roared, his mane standing on end.

He dug his claws into the muddy bank, pulling back with every ounce of his strength. With a massive LURCH, he broke free, tumbled backward, and didn't even stop to look behind him. He bolted out of the forest so fast he left a cloud of dust in his wake.

A Job Well Done The King watched from behind a bush, his jaw dropping in surprise. Croc crawled out of the water, looking very proud of himself.

"He won't be coming back," Croc chuckled. "Turns out, no matter how big a lion is, nobody wants to wrestle a 'river monster.'"

The King let out a happy roar and thanked Mr. Croc. He realized that having a smart friend was much better than being the biggest lion in the woods.