The Four Friends and the Hunter

In a vast forest, there was a serene river. Near its bank stood a grand old jamun tree where a crow named Laghupatanaka lived. At the base of the same tree, a mouse named Hiranyaka lived in a deep burrow. In a nearby lake lived a tortoise named Mantharaka. These three were the best of friends and met every afternoon to share stories. One day, a deer named Chitrangada came running to them, looking terrified. The crow flew up to check for any pursuing hunters but saw no one. The tortoise comforted the deer, saying, 'Do not be afraid, friend. You are safe with us.' The deer explained he was escaping a hunter and asked to join their group. The three friends happily welcomed him. One evening, Chitrangada did not return from grazing. Worried, the crow flew over the forest and spotted the deer trapped in a hunter's net. He quickly informed the others. The mouse said, 'Take me there, and I will gnaw through the net.' The crow carried the mouse to the spot. With his sharp teeth, the mouse cut the net and freed the deer. Just then, the tortoise also arrived, moving slowly. At that very moment, the hunter appeared. The crow flew away, the mouse hid in a hole, and the deer ran into the thickets. However, the slow tortoise was captured by the frustrated hunter and tied in a bag. To save their friend, the others hatched a plan. The deer lay down on the hunter's path, pretending to be dead, while the crow pecked at his eyes. Thinking he had found a dead deer, the hunter dropped the bag with the tortoise and ran toward the deer. Immediately, the mouse gnawed the bag and freed the tortoise, who slipped into the water. As the hunter reached the deer, the crow gave a signal, and the deer sprang to life and vanished. The hunter returned to find the bag empty. The four friends had saved each other through unity and cleverness.