In a quiet village surrounded by dusty fields, there lived a farmer who owned forty ducks. Every morning, he guided them through the narrow streets toward the village pond. The pond was old and muddy. Women washed clothes there, children splashed in the shallow water, and buffaloes stood lazily near the edges. The water was brown, and the air often smelled of wet earth and soap. Yet the ducks knew no other life. They swam in circles, pecked at worms in the mud, and returned each evening to the small duck house beside the farmer’s barn.
Among the flock were three inseparable friends. They had grown up together since they were tiny ducklings, and wherever one went, the other two followed. While the other ducks seemed content with their simple routine, these three often stared beyond the fields toward the distant hills. They wondered what lay beyond the village paths and dusty roads. Sometimes they imagined rivers wider than the pond and trees taller than the temple tower. Deep inside, they longed for adventure, though they did not yet know where it would lead them.
One warm afternoon, a wild goose landed on the pond with a splash of silver water. The ducks hurried around the stranger, amazed by his strong wings and graceful neck. The goose spoke of a great forest not far from the village. He described shining lakes with water so clear that the sky itself seemed to float inside them. He told stories of green reeds swaying in the breeze, dragonflies dancing over the surface, and fish darting beneath the water like flashes of light. The three young ducks listened with wide eyes. That night, even inside their little duck house, they could think of nothing else.
The next evening, while the farmer was leading the flock home, the three friends quietly slipped away from the line. Their hearts beat fast as they crossed the muddy road and entered the forest. At first, every sound frightened them. Leaves rustled under their feet, birds cried from hidden branches, and shadows stretched between the trees. But as they walked deeper, the forest slowly revealed its beauty. Sunlight streamed through the leaves like golden ribbons. Rabbits hopped through soft grass, and deer lifted their heads calmly as the ducks passed by.
Then they found it.
A beautiful lake rested in the center of the forest like a piece of the sky fallen upon the earth. Crystal clear water sparkled beneath the evening sun. Tall reeds bent gently in the wind, and patches of green algae floated along the edges. Tiny silver fish flickered beneath the surface. Colorful insects hovered above the water, and water lilies opened their pale petals toward the fading light. The ducks cried happily and jumped into the lake at once. They swam through the cool water, chased fish, and laughed with joy. For the first time in their lives, they felt truly free.
But hidden behind the reeds, a fox watched them carefully.
The fox had never seen such healthy ducks wandering alone. His sharp eyes gleamed with hunger, yet he did not rush toward them. Instead, he stepped softly to the edge of the lake and called out in a warm, gentle voice. “Who are you, beautiful creatures?” he asked. Startled, the ducks quickly huddled together in the middle of the lake. “We are ducks from the nearby village,” they replied nervously. The fox smiled kindly. “Village ducks?” he said in amazement. “I thought you were angels. Your feathers shine like moonlight.”
The ducks had never heard such praise before.
The fox continued speaking sweetly. He admired the way they swam across the water and the way they walked proudly upon the land. He called them wise, elegant, and special. He promised to introduce them to every animal in the forest so they could all live together happily. Two of the ducks felt proud and excited. Slowly, they drifted closer to the shore, enchanted by his words. But the youngest duck remained uneasy. He noticed the fox’s sharp claws digging into the mud. He saw the long teeth hidden behind the fox’s smile. Fear stirred quietly inside him. “Stay back,” he whispered to his friends. “Something is wrong.”
But the others did not listen.
The moment they came close enough, the fox lunged forward like lightning. Water exploded into the air as he seized both ducks by their necks. Terrified cries echoed across the lake. The youngest duck froze in horror as the fox dragged his friends toward the trees. Because the third duck remained far from the shore, the fox ignored him and disappeared into the forest with his catch. Trembling with fear, the surviving duck hid among the reeds until the forest became quiet again. Then, with tears in his eyes, he ran as fast as he could back toward the village.
Meanwhile, the farmer had already noticed that three ducks were missing. Worried, he took his loyal guard dog and followed the ducks’ footprints along the muddy path leading into the forest. As they walked deeper among the trees, the frightened duck suddenly appeared, squawking wildly and flapping his wings. The farmer immediately sensed danger. The duck hurried ahead, turning often to make sure the farmer followed. Guided by the desperate little bird, the farmer and his dog finally reached the fox’s den.
There, beside the entrance, lay the two injured ducks.
The fox was preparing to call the other foxes for a feast when the guard dog burst forward with a fierce bark. Startled, the fox leaped backward and vanished into the forest shadows. The farmer quickly wrapped the wounded ducks in his coat and carried them gently home. Their injuries slowly healed, and before long, the three friends were together once again beside the old village pond.
The pond was still muddy. The water was still brown. Yet now the ducks understood something they had never known before.
The Moral of the Story
Not every beautiful place is safe….
Not every sweet voice is kind…….