The Tale of How the Deer Got Its Horns
A long time ago, in a dense and vibrant forest of Central Sulawesi, the deer did not have horns. Instead, it was the dogs who proudly wore the majestic horns on their heads. This is the story of how that all changed.
On one particularly scorching day, a pair of deer, husband and wife, made their way to a riverbank to drink. The sun blazed high in the sky, and the heat shimmered across the water's surface.
As they reached the river and bent down to quench their thirst, the female deer noticed something in the distance. Her large eyes widened as she spotted a striking figure moving toward them through the trees.
“My husband, who is that coming toward us?” she whispered excitedly, her eyes fixed on the approaching creature. “Wow! He looks so handsome with those beautiful horns.”
The male deer raised his head, casting a sideways glance at his wife. His brow furrowed with jealousy as he saw her admiring gaze.
"Oh, him? That’s just my friend—the dog,” the male deer replied with a slight edge to his voice. “But did you say he’s more handsome than me?”
The female deer giggled softly and nuzzled her husband’s side. “Of course not, dear. You are still the most handsome. But you have to admit, his horns do look magnificent. Imagine how regal *you* would look with those horns on your head.”
The male deer’s jealousy quickly turned to cunning as an idea took root in his mind. “If it’s horns you want,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes, “then horns you shall have. Wait here.”
He trotted over to the dog, who was now close enough for a friendly conversation.
“Hi there, my friend! How have you been?” asked the stag, putting on his most charming smile.
The dog wagged his tail. “I’m doing well, thank you! And you?”
“Well, not so great, actually. You see,” the stag began, lowering his voice, “my wife over there... she thinks I’m not fast enough. She says I can’t run like the other male deer. It’s been weighing on me, and I was wondering... would you mind if we had a little running match? You know, so I can practice.”
The dog looked at the stag with sympathy and nodded. “Oh, don’t worry, my friend. Let’s race. I’m sure you’ll show your wife just how fast you really are.”
And with that, the two animals positioned themselves by the river’s edge, ready to begin.
“On three!” the stag called. “One, two, three—go!”
They dashed off, racing along the riverbank. The stag ran with all his might, determination burning in his chest. He pushed himself to the limit, and in the end, he won the race by a few strides.
Breathing heavily, the dog stopped and grinned. “Well done! You were incredible!”
The stag, pretending to look concerned, gave a friendly smile. “You know, my friend, I think the only reason I won is because of those heavy horns weighing you down. They must make it difficult for you to run at your best.”
The dog raised an eyebrow. “Do you really think so?”
The stag nodded eagerly. “Absolutely. What if you let me try wearing your horns for the next race? That way, you can see how fast you are without them, and I can see if the horns really make a difference.”
The dog hesitated for a moment but then shrugged. “Alright, but please be careful with them. They’re very precious to me.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle them with care,” the stag assured him as he carefully took the horns and placed them on his own head.
The moment the horns settled onto his brow, the stag felt an undeniable sense of pride. He gazed at his reflection in the river, admiring how grand and powerful he looked.
“My wife was right,” he thought to himself. “I look magnificent.”
Without a word, he and the dog readied themselves for the second race. But as soon as the signal was given, the stag bolted, running faster than he had ever run before. He didn’t stop at the finish line. He didn’t slow down. Instead, he ran even faster, determined to keep the horns for himself.
The dog barked in confusion and anger. “Hey! Where are you going? Come back! Bring back my horns!”
But the stag did not turn around. He disappeared into the forest, the dog’s horns firmly on his head.
From that day forward, dogs have chased after deer, trying to get their horns back. But the deer have always been too fast, their stolen horns a symbol of their cleverness. ***
Moral Message:
The moral of the story is the importance of honesty and not taking advantage of others for personal gain. Cunning used for selfish purposes, like the deer did, leads to negative consequences such as resentment and distrust that can last a long time.
Please Read More Stories!
