The Hares at the Pond

Three hares lived beside a meadow where every sudden sound made them jump. A snapping twig or flapping wing could send them racing beneath the hedge before they looked around.

One morning, distant horses galloped across a neighbouring field. The ground trembled softly beneath the hares' paws. They hurried toward the pond, searching for somewhere quiet to gather their thoughts.

The pond looked peaceful, with reeds leaning over the edge. The hares approached together, their ears still raised. They hoped the water would help them feel less worried about everything.

Before they reached the bank, several frogs suddenly leapt from the grass into the water. Their quick splashes startled the hares, who froze and watched round ripples spread across the pond.

One hare realised that the frogs had jumped because they saw the hares approaching. To the little frogs, three bounding hares had seemed like a sudden, enormous surprise beside their home.

The hares looked at one another. They had never imagined that anyone might be nervous about them. Being frightened did not mean they were the smallest or weakest creatures everywhere.

They sat quietly on the grass instead of running again. After a while, a frog's head appeared among the reeds. The hares kept still, letting their neighbour choose a comfortable distance.

The frogs returned slowly to the warm stones at the edge. The hares noticed how much calmer everything became when nobody rushed. Even the loud horses were only distant shapes now.

The hares decided to look before fleeing whenever they could do so safely. They would still hide from real danger, but a noise could also be wind, a bird, or a neighbour.

At sunset, the meadow felt less frightening. The hares and frogs rested near their own homes. Each had learned something about the other, and a little understanding had made room for courage.