The Clever Mouse and the Cat

Haiga says

Let's settle in and begin.

Under a great banyan tree in the heart of the forest lived a clever little mouse, whose home was a snug burrow with a hundred tiny doorways, and up in the very same tree lived a sleek cat, who spent his days lazily watching birds from the branches.

Theme · Trust carefully — even a helpful alliance has its limits.

Source · Folk-lore of the Telugus — G. R. Subramiah Pantulu · Simplified and softened retelling of the classic 'The Cat and the Mouse' tale from Folk-lore of the Telugus. The lengthy philosophical dialogue and frightening hunter imagery are trimmed for ages 6–8, while the core lesson about cautious trust is kept intact.