The Story of the Lion and the Warrior

In the time of the ancients, there was once a strong warrior by the name of Thanis. He was the strongest in the village, with bulging muscles and superior fitness.

He would run up the mountain above their village every morning and watch the sunrise.

He would only take his spear and be on the look out to catch any breakfast on the way and to protect himself from any dangerous lions that may be in the area.

One day, on his way down, he slipped and fell and badly hurt his leg. His spear clattered a few metres away from him so he was both injured and defenceless.

He wondered what he could do. Just then he heard a low growl and noticed an old male lion wondering towards him. His tail swishing from side to side. Thanis greeted the old lion.

"I see you, king of the jungle and plains"

The lion watched him intently, taking the scene in before him and working out what was going on. He could obviously smell the blood from Thanis's leg and noticed the warrior was injured and defenceless.

This would be an easy meal if he wanted it. But the lion was old and wise. He knew the warrior as they had fought in the past when they were both younger.

Both had scars from their previous encounters. But now the lion had the chance to end it once and for all. But instead, the lion moved a bit closer and then lay down close the Thanis.

The two contemplated each other for a moment. Thanis was resigned to his fate. He knew that as he lay there, he would be unable to defend himself.

He considering shouting loudly but he knew this would probably just annoy the old lion and his death would be swifter and more violent. As they both lay there, staring into each other's eyes. Thanis heard the lion speak to him.

"So my friend, here we are once more. I am old and tired and you are injured and without your spear. What is the best outcome of this meeting here today."

Thanis responded out loud, "you certainly have me at a disadvantage lion king. We have fought a few battles in the past and have both lived to tell the tail. I am grateful to you for making me stronger and more resilient.

I am grateful for your teaching to make me a better warrior. You have helped me defend my village and people against many other enemies. Both man and animal. It looks like you hold all the cards in our final battle".

"You didn't answer my question Thanis", responded the lion. "What is the best outcome for this encounter, right here, right now?".

"A swift death if you must", said Thanis. "Or, perhaps a pact to defend each other in the future. To have each other's backs, no matter what. To teach our children respect of each other's species in the future."

"Ah, now you are thinking more clearly", said the lion. "I like your proposal but how do I know you will keep your word. How do I know that when you get back to your village, you will not form a hunting party and come after me".

Thanis thought for a moment and then said, "As you know, there are no guarantees in life, especially not in the wild jungle. But I feel that a love and friendship between you and I is a greater gift than a simple quick meal for either of us. We shall make small offerings of food to you which will greatly help you as you get older. I will get recognised by my people as the one who has a friendship with the great king of the jungle. This is a win win outcome, is it not?".

The lion looked at him for a few moments as he contemplated Thanis's response. Then he grinned. It was a little difficult to distinguish a grin from a snarl but Thanis decided it was definitely a grin.

"I accept your proposal, young warrior. I see you are becoming wise with your years. I hope we live together in this new friendship that will mutually benefit us and do not break our promise to each other when even when we have the opportunity.

Thanis thanked him for his wisdom and acceptance of his proposal. Then, the lion stood up and roared loudly. An earth shattering sound that carried over the whole valley.

He knew it would bring the other villages running as they would know that Thanis was in trouble on his morning run up the mountain.

He waited for a few more moments to make sure it was just the villages coming and no other wild beast would come and take his new friend's life. And then, like magic, he disappeared once more into the undergrowth.

The two kept their promise to each other. Thanis taught others and his children how important lions where to them. They left offers of food, like rabbits for the old lion king every evening.

They would hear him growl with appreciation and then there would be silence once more and he slipped away into the darkness. It became a famous story that was told amongst many ancients and spread to other villages.

Some wanted to trap and trick the lion. Kill him for themselves to make themselves a hero. But Thanis would never allow it and vowed to fight them with all his strength and power should they ever even contemplate it.

And so it came to bear, one of the most powerful stories of how love and friendship between two enemies was more powerful than a continued feud where one of them would have surely died and ended in sadness.