Fables and their impact

Hey all! This is another AP, this time my second AP for my Stories class! This AP is focused on fables and their effect on us. A fable is categorized as a short story, usually with animal protagonists. There's a moral at the end that can be applied to any generation. The reason they have animal protagonists is because of anthropomorphism. That is the act of giving animals qualities humans usually have. 

The reason fables are so important is because they can teach kids and even adults lessons and it's not just for that generation. They can be retold and changed, and they still can have the same morals and lessons. For this AP, we were tasked to make a fable with a moral, and this is mine! Enjoy!

  The Fox and Rabbit

Picture by AR (me)

Once, during a harsh winter that blanketed the world in white, a lone fox trotted through it all. From the outside, he seemed weary and tired, like he was going to fall down and pass out at any second. On the inside, though, he was alert, ready to pounce on any weak animal that came into his path. He was hungry and needed a meal soon. 

After a while, he came across a snow rabbit, hopping throughout the land. He quickened his pace, trying to catch up to her.

“H-help!” he weakly shouted. “P-please, help me”!

The rabbit turned around, looking then running towards the fox.

“Oh dearie me, you must be in poor condition to be running around here during this time of year. Come back with me and I’ll fix you something.”

The fox’s plan had worked! He smirked to himself, but tried to keep an air of helplessness around himself. 

They walked back to the rabbit’s hole in a tree trunk, which was quite spacious, and settled in for a while. The rabbit went to sort through the numerous herbs, berries, nuts, and other foodstuffs she had, while the fox looked around and tried to think of a way to catch her off guard.

“Maybe I could sneak up on her, or maybe when she’s sleeping…” The fox was scheming and planning, waiting for the perfect chance to strike. 

“I know you foxes can eat things like berries, so here are some I picked up”! The rabbit made her way to the fox, who was huddled up on the opposite side of the hole, and gave him some of the berries, She then made some for herself.

“Thank you, dear rabbit…” the fox said weakly, keeping up the facade of being tired and without strength. He wanted to take his time on the berries, to make sure he had enough space in his stomach for the rabbit. 

After a while, however, the fox had finished his berries. They were oh so delicious, and he loved them so much he nearly asked for seconds, though he had caught himself. 

“I nearly doomed myself! If I had asked for seconds, I would’ve slept  and missed my chance”!  The fox had to be more diligent now, or else he might slip up again. After a while, he decided to try again.

“Oh miss Rabbit…” he began. “You’ve given me food and a place to stay for the night, and I am ever so thankful. Yet, I feel like something is missing.”

“Oh, what is it?” the rabbit perked up, wanting to make sure her guest was well accommodated for. “If it’s nothing too big, I can get it right now.”

“We foxes are somewhat particular about grooming ourselves, so if you could be so kind as to help me? If you’re able to brush me or something then that would be lovely!”

“Oh, of course!” The rabbit moved close to the fox, and started trying her best to help the fox clean himself.

“This is my chance. If I can just do it quickly…”

The fox opened his mouth, but before he could chomp down on her, the rabbit backed off, having finished brushing the fox. 

“How’s that?”

The fox, thinking quickly, faked a yawn, curling up into a ball.

“Ah, yes, it was excellent, thank you. It made me quite sleepy to boot, so I might rest for the night.”

The rabbit made her way to her bed. “All right then, good night!”

The next morning, the fox awoke to the rabbit making breakfast for the both of them. Seeing her use her resources to feed and take care of him… To think he was going to eat her! He decided, then and there, to not only not eat her, but to tell her the truth.

“Miss rabbit, can I tell you something?” The fox strolled over to the rabbit.

“Of course, what do you need?”

He gulped, all the nervousness coming at him at once. He had never needed to do this, so it was something he had no experience in. Yet, despite that, he pushed on.

“So, when you found me, I… wasn’t actually weak, starving, or anything. I was trying… trying to eat you.”

The rabbit looked at him and laughed. “I knew there was something off! Foxes don’t usually come to us rabbits for help.”

“Are you… mad at me?”

“I would be if you tried to cover it up. But, you didn’t, and that takes some courage.”

The fox sighed, happy that he finally got that off his chest. 

From then on, even after the winter, the fox and rabbit hung out and stayed friends. They would share stories, help each other, and be there in the other’s time of need. Even as they grew old, they remained friends and cared deeply for one another.

Moral: Honesty can go a long way and can build things you never thought of.