The lion who could fly

Once there was an old lion. He could not catch his prey. One day, he prayed to God and asked, "God, please give me a boon." Suddenly, Lord Indra came and asked, "What boon do you want, Lion?" The lion replied, "I want to fly". When Indra heard this, he burst out laughing and said "No lion has ever wanted to fly, but I will still grant your boon". When he said these words, beautiful and feathery orange wings sprouted on his back. First the lion tried to flap his wings just as he saw the birds do it. After that, his feet was lifting off the ground. He was a flying lion!

Before Lord Indra vanished, he told that the spell would wear off when he was dead, but in his next life, Indra would make the lion a hunting bird. Then, after some practice of flying, he could catch his prey. One day, Arjun, the best archer in the world came to the forest where the lion lived. When Arjun saw the lion flying, he thought it would make a tasty lunch, so he aimed his arrow at the lion. The lion could not see him, for he was having his lunch in the air. When the arrow killed him, he thought Lord Indra would make him a hunting bird. Indra name the bird a 'huntabi'. Also he had his mother born with him! He was very happy. After that, he prayed again and told Lord Indra, "Thank you for giving me this wonderful life, God". Then, his family lived as happily as can be forever.

The End.

Written in Jun '15