Fox Tales: The Fox And The Panther

One day a fox met a panther in the middle of the forest. The panther was so baffled at the little foxs' size compared to hers, "My my, you look out of shape little dear," she hissed with a mischievous look. Every body in the forest knew Panther would always challenge the other animals that couldn't climb very well to a tree climbing competition so she could make a big fuss about herself.

"You need to get in shape foxy," said Panther, "I challenge you to a tree climbing race!" Finally, the day had come for the fox and the panther to race up the Great Oak Tree. "At the howl of Wolf we will begin climbing" Panther explained. She shot out her dagger like claws and got ready on her side of the big oak. "Haooooooooooooo," Wolf howled. Panther shot up the first third of the tree while fox struggled up to the fourth. Then panther was at at the half way mark every body cheered.

"For me?!?" Panther thought but then she looked down to see fox close behind her. They were getting to the top part of the tree panther strained forward but her large size and weight was too heavy to go any further so she stopped for if she strained up the tree it would break. She glanced over just to see.... "Wheres fox?" She heard a twig break right on the level she was on, the little fox was scamping up the tree like no tomorrow. This made Panther wonder, "I could have sworn foxes can't climb," she mumbled to herself. She started up the tree trying to beat fox by a hair but it was too late. She heard the audience cheer, fox had made it up the whole tree. Then Fox and Panther scurried down, Fox said, "Good game!" but Panther didn't answer, her brain was discombobulated from trying to figure out how she was beaten by a fox.

"I have a tip for you," said Fox, Panther looked at her, "Never ask a Gray Tree Climbing fox to a tree climbing competition."

"Goodbye Panther," and with that she scampered up small tree and went into her fox hole.

The moral of this story was: Never under-estimate the small.