What Will A Tiger Do If It Spots A Crocodile

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The sun was high over the golden grass, and Toby the Tiger was very, very thirsty. He padded down to the edge of the sparkling blue river, his orange fur glowing like a campfire.

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Slurp, slurp, slurp! The water was cool and delicious.

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Suddenly... PLOP! A pair of bumpy, yellow eyes poked out of the water. Then a long, green snout. It was Clyde the Crocodile. He floated closer and closer until his nose almost touched Toby’s whiskers.

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Toby froze. Clyde opened his mouth wide, showing off rows and rows of pointy white teeth!

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"Excuse me," Clyde rumbled, his voice sounding like gravel shaking in a tin can. "You are drinking my reflection!"

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Toby blinked. He looked down and saw his own stripes in the water, right next to Clyde’s bumpy chin. "Oh! I’m sorry, Mr. Clyde. I didn't know you were using it."

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Clyde let out a long, bubbly sigh. "It’s quite alright. But if you’re going to drink here, you must tell me a secret from the deep forest. I never get to go there; my belly is too low for the brambles."

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Toby smiled, his long tail swishing in the grass. "It’s a deal! Did you know that the Great Banyan Tree at the center of the woods has a hollow branch where the blue owls keep their library?"

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Clyde’s eyes went wide. "A library? My, my. The river is much more boring than that. All we have here are talkative minnows."

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So, the two sat by the bank—one with stripes and one with scales—sharing stories until the sun turned pink and tucked itself behind the trees.