The Twelve Princesses

 The Wise Bird

There was a tall, strong tree in the depths of a forest. A flock of wild geese had made this tree their home as they felt safe here. The oldest of the geese was also wisest. One day, the wise bird saw a small creeper growing at the base of the tree.

He said to the other geese, "We should destroy that creeper."

"Destroy the creeper?" the other geese exclaimed. "Why, old bird? It is just small creeper."

"It might be small now, "the wisest bird replied, "but it shall soon grow and creep up this tree which is our home. Then it shall not only be larger but also thick and powerful."

"But how will that harm us?" the geese asked

The old bird explained, "Anyone can climb up this tree with aid of the creeper then. A hunter can climb up and kill us all. Destroy the creeper while it is young and tender. You will not be able to cut it once it is hard."

But the geese did not destroy the creeper. Slowly, the creeper grew and clawed its way up the tree. It was now as strong s a powerful rope.

Then one morning, when the geese had gone hunting, a hunter arrived near the tree.

"I must catch the wild geese that live on this tree", he planned. "I shall do so today evening itself."

The hunter climbed the tree with ease, thanks to the creeper. He reached the top and cast his net.

"There! The trap is set", the hunter said and climb down.

The geese came back in the evening but did not see the net. They flew in and were trapped.

"Help!", they cried as they struggled to break free.

"It's too late now!" the wise bird said. "We are all caught in hunter's  net. I have told you to destroy the creeper long ago but you didn't pay attention to me. We shall all be killed by the hunter tomorrow."

"We are very sorry we didn't listen to you ,wise bird" , said the geese "But please save us . We beg of you"

"Listen carefully! Play dead and lie still when the hunter arrives", said the wise geese." The hunter will throw us to the ground and pretend to be dead even after that . He will climb down  after we are thrown the last of us down to collect all. Then only we shall fly away."

The hunter came the next morning and climbed up the tree and started throwing them out of the nest and onto the ground one by one. The birds fell on the ground and lay still. After he had finished, the hunter started climbing down.

"But.. but, the dead geese are flying away!" the surprised hunter exclaimed as he stare at the flying geese