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Ari was a lion cub who was afraid of 

everything, literally: the buzzing of flies, the 

thunder, the smell of rain, the sound of falling 

leaves, the texture of the grass, the flowers of 

dandelions because he said that his teeth were 

not so, he would run if he saw a single 

mosquito... everything! It was a strange 

descendant of King of the Jungle.

His best friend was Mauritius, the hummingbird. It 

was a friendship that all distrusted. His mother 

said:

- Ari, why not play with your kind?

And Ari replied:

- Because my kind are bad, like zebras and deer 

hunting and I do not like me. I prefer to play with 

Mauritius who only moves its wings harmless.

The lioness mother sighed and knew 

she could not fight the urge of his 

son, whom she loved 

even a fearful lion.

Mauritius, the hummingbird was very naughty. 

He mocked the fear of Ari and he was always 

bothering. If they were walking through the 

jungle Mauritius hid behind a tree and made 

noises to scare Ari. Ari was furious with 

Mauritius until it tickled and perched on its 

back when Ari was put to rest.

All animals of the jungle resented this strange 

relationship.

- That lion goes astray. If this continues it will 

never be King of the Jungle as his father - said the 

owl.

- Ari is too cowardly to be a lion - exclaimed a deer.

- Imagine how is going to hide Ari in the next 

storm, LOL! - said the hyena with hurtful laughs.

But Ari did not care about those comments. He just 

wanted to play with his friend Mauritius although 

sometimes he also wondered what:

- Ari, you are a lion. Why are you my friend?

- Because you're the only one who does not judge 

me.

Mauritius was thoughtful as accurate answer to 

this. Why he was deemed Ari? Do the Lions are 

only beasts that must roar all the time and attack 

your opponent at the slightest movement? Does a 

lion can not have a heart?

- Will not you be courageous? - asked Mauritius.

- What it is to be courageous? - Ari questioned.

- Someone who is not afraid of thunder, insects, 

sea, embark on a vine ...

- Why you should like it if thunder sound as if the 

sky was falling? Why you should like it if insects 

are so upset when bite us? Why should I throw in a 

vine if I am not a monkey?

Ari was definitely a more reflective than reckless 

lion. Mauritius decided not to make him more 

uncomfortable questions and keep playing with Ari.

The uncomfortable were the other animals. One 

day the elephant was to give a warning Ari's father, 

the King of the Jungle.

- You should put Ari care. If he still playing with 

this guy the hummingbird Ari will end flying like 

him, and Ari is your heir.

- I know, but what I can do? I talk and talk with 

him and Ari still fears of all - recognize the lion.

- You're the parent of a coward - declared the 

elephant, and these words echoed in the ears of 

the King of the Jungle.

- A coward... my son is a coward...

One day, when Ari and Mauritius came fiddling 

through a tortuous path of the forest and 

hiding from each other as they used to, Ari 

looked for Mauritius behind every tree, every 

rock:

- Where are you, Mauritius... I'll find you... - 

hoping to find the rogue Mauritius. But 

Mauritius showed no signs. Ari asked again, 

laughing:

- Mauricio... 1, 2, 3... where are you?

You can only hear the soft evening breeze of 

the jungle that announced the night is coming. 

Mauritius did not appear. Ari started to panic 

because, as usual, also did not like being 

alone.

- Mauritius ... Mauritius! Where are you? It's 

getting late and we go home...

And nothing... pure silence. Suddenly a dark 

laughter was heard. A hyena went behind a 

tree.

- Are you scared, Ari? - asked the hyena ironic.

- He... hello, lady... hyena - Ari's voice trembled.

- Truth that you are cowardly... boo!

Ari wanted to run but his legs were shaking so 

badly he could not move. Ari only hopped Mauritius 

appeared to save him from the evil hyena.

- Are you lost something? - asked the hyena.

- I do not know where my friend Mauritius is.

- Poor little lion... a hummingbird protects the lion. 

But today is your lucky day, look what I found.

The hyena opened his nose, pulled to 

Mauritius its mouth and took him in her 

clutches. Poor Maurice was very weak, 

gnawed by a hyena. Ari was terrified 

for his friend.

- Mauritius! - Ari wanted to approach but this time 

the hyena not laughed but roared. Ari pulled back, 

but feared for the life of Mauritius, did not know 

what to do.

- It really is a great snack for my hungry stomach, 

say goodbye to your friend hummingbird - the 

hyena increasingly challenging him because he 

knew that Ari was a coward would do nothing and 

let his friend die.

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