Once there was a tiny tailorbird named Tuni. In the backyard of a village home, on the thorny branches of an eggplant bush, she'd stitched leaves into a little pouch of a nest. Inside, three chicks blinked up at her — too small to fly. Tuni spread her wings over them: “Don't be afraid, my loves. Mother's here.”
In that house lived Mini the cat — big paws, gleaming eyes. She padded up under the eggplant bush, licked her lips and purred, “Ooh! Tender little chicks — I'm invited to a feast today!” The chicks trembled, the little nest shook and rustled. And inside Tuni's chest: thump, thump.
But Tuni didn't fly away in fear. Her heart was pounding, yet she hopped down, bowed her head low, and said in her sweetest voice, “Your Majesty! How beautiful you are! Just seeing you brightens my whole day.” Mini smoothed her whiskers with delight, fluffed up her tail — “Hmm, well, that's true!” — and left without touching the chicks.
After that, day after day Mini came, eyes gleaming: “Today I'll really eat you!” And day after day Tuni bowed low: “Your Majesty, who else is as kind as you?” Pleased, Mini would turn and go. And little by little, little by little, the chicks' wings grew strong — you tell me, who's the clever one here?
Evening came down soft. Through the eggplant leaves, the first star blinked awake. Tuni quietly ran her beak along the chicks' grown-strong wings — tomorrow, they'd fly. “One more night, my loves,” she whispered.
At first light — whoosh! whoosh! whoosh! — the three chicks flew up to the tall palm tree. Mini arrived to find the nest empty, just a few feathers left behind. From the top of the palm, Tuni laughed down, “O Your Majesty! Look up! My chicks are kings of the wind now — you'll never reach them!”
Mini's tail puffed up like a drum with rage! With a hiss she leapt into the eggplant bush — but where were the chicks? Nothing but thorns, thorns everywhere! Pricked all over, she yowled “Oww! Ouch! Oof!” — and tumbled down with a thump.
In the golden afternoon, Tuni sat atop the palm with her three chicks. Below, Mini slunk home with her head down — and from that day on, she never came near them again. The littlest chick asked, “Ma, weren't you scared?” Tuni laughed. “Of course I was! But remember — it's not strength that wins. Even the smallest win by their wits.”