Once upon a time, in a quiet lake surrounded by tall trees and lily pads, lived a proud and patient heron. He had long legs, a sharp beak, and could stand still for hours waiting for fish to swim by.

But one summer, the fish in the lake became fewer and fewer. The heron was worried.

“I don’t want to fly far every day to find food,” he sighed. “There must be an easier way.”

That’s when the heron had an idea. “Maybe the animals in this lake will listen to me,” he thought with a sly grin. “I’ll tell them the lake is drying up!”

The heron flew down and called out to the fish, frogs, and crabs.

“The lake will soon dry up!” he cried. “But don’t worry—I know a secret pond far away with cool, clean water. I can carry you there, one at a time.”

The animals began to panic. “We must leave!” they said.

So the heron started carrying animals—one each day. But instead of taking them to a new pond, he flew behind a big rock and ate them!

All the animals trusted the heron… except for one clever crab.

“I’ll go next,” said the crab. “But I’ll ride on your back—and I’ll hold on tight with my claws!”

The heron didn’t like this idea, but he couldn’t say no without raising suspicion.

So off they flew, the crab gripping the heron’s neck with his strong claws.

As they passed over the trees, the crab looked down and saw bones near the rock.

“This isn’t a new pond!” he cried. “You tricked everyone!”

The heron laughed. “Too bad you’ll be next!”

But before the heron could act, the crab pinched his neck tightly—SNIP!

The heron squawked and crash-landed into the mud.

The crab climbed down safely and hurried back to the lake. He warned everyone, and from that day on, the animals never trusted tricksters again.

Heron? He never fooled anyone ever again—and had to go fishing the honest way.