At the edge of a deep forest lived two friends — a squirrel and a hare. They played together, ate together, went everywhere together. Every day the squirrel would puff up his tail and say — “Listen, friend: however big the danger, I'll never leave you alone!” The hare would smile — “I know!”
One day the two went deep into the forest, looking for ripe fruit. On they walked, on and on… the trees grew thick, the light grew dim. Suddenly, from beyond the bushes — thump… thump… thump! The hare's ears shot straight up — “What's that sound?”
The bushes parted — and out stepped a huge bear! A body like a hill, paws like dinner plates. “Oh mama!” squeaked the squirrel — and in the blink of an eye he was at the top of a tree. And the hare? Hares can't climb trees at all. All alone down there — now what?
Then the hare remembered his grandma's words — a bear won't touch you if it thinks you're not alive! Down he flopped. Eyes shut, breath held — not moving one bit. The bear came closer… thump… thump… Inside the hare's chest it went thump-thump, thump-thump.
The bear bent right over the hare. Sniff, sniff — it sniffed his ear, sniffed his cheek. Then it put its mouth close to his ear and whispered something… and slowly, thump thump, padded back into the forest. From the treetop the squirrel watched it all — eyes round as marbles!
As soon as the bear was gone, the squirrel came down — tail drooping, face small. Head bowed, he asked — “Friend… what did the bear whisper in your ear?” The hare sat up, and said slowly — “He said: a real friend is the one who stays beside you on the day of danger.”
Tears came to the squirrel's eyes — “Forgive me, brother. I got so scared, I forgot my own words.” The hare put a paw on his shoulder — “It's all right. From now on, whatever comes — we face it together.” In the golden evening light, the two friends walked home side by side. And they never forgot what the bear had said.