Once upon a time, there was a lion who was king of the jungle. Zak, as he was called, was loved and respected by all. He was brave and fair, and everyone came to him for help and advice.
One day, his character changed, and he became a cruel and abusive lion. Those who once respected him now feared him. His thunderous roar intimidated the inhabitants of the jungle. No one dared contradict him, not even the strongest animals, like elephants or buffalo. Everyone lowered their heads when he passed by. No one wanted to bother him. They were so afraid that no one remembered the kind Zak anymore.
The mothers kept their cubs away from King Zak and always told them:
"My little ones, don't do anything that might anger our king!"
So they all lived hidden, afraid of being punished for any mischief.
But among the monkeys, there was a little girl named Lita. She was curious, playful, and above all, brave. She didn't understand why everyone had to be afraid of Zak.
"Mom, isn't a king supposed to protect? Why are you all scared when Zak is around?" she asked her mother.
"Shhh, Lita, don't say that out loud," she replied, looking around fearfully.
One day, Lita found a young jaguar caught in a trap and asked him why he was there. The little one answered that he had disobeyed an order from the king.
Lita felt sorry for him and wanted to free him.
"Don't do that!" a toucan warned her. "Leave him there, Zak has punished him! He says he's very dangerous and would attack us. He wants him to serve as an example. Everyone must obey his orders!"
But Lita couldn't ignore the jaguar's suffering. With her small hands, she untied the knots and set him free. The jaguar, surprised, didn't attack her. Instead, he said, "Thank you, little one. I won't forget it."
That night, Zak summoned Lita before all the animals.
"You disobeyed my orders! That jaguar was a traitor!" he roared.
But Lita, trembling, replied:
"I couldn't let him suffer. You are the king, no doubt, but authority doesn't give one the right to cruelty."
Zak lunged at her, but before he could reach her, a pack of jaguars, monkeys, birds, and even elephants intervened.
The young jaguar, now free from the lion's claws, said:
"This little one has more nobility than you, Zak. We no longer fear you."
The lion's roar faded. For the first time, Zak felt alone. He understood that respect isn't imposed through fear, but earned through justice.
From then on, the jungle was ruled by a council of animals, with Lita as a symbol of courage and kindness.
Moral: Power without compassion becomes tyranny. True strength comes from kindness, honesty, and respect.