A little kid-goat, grazing along, wandered away from the herd. Nibbling grass, he never noticed he'd strayed deep into the forest! Big trees all around, and dusk coming down. “Where's Ma? Where's the herd?” His little heart gave a flutter.
Suddenly, out from behind a bush stepped a huge tiger! Striped coat, blazing eyes. Everyone fled the moment they saw him — so he'd grown terribly proud. He took a step toward the little goat and licked his lips — “Well, well, little goat! Today my dinner's walked right up on its own. And just where do you think you'll run?”
The goat's heart went thump-thump. A tiger! Surely this was the end! His mind screamed — “Run! Flee!” But he knew: turn his back and run, and the tiger would catch him for certain. So… what now?
The goat took a big breath. Pushing his fear down, he raised his two little horns. Then — one step… another step… he walked straight toward the tiger! In a steady voice he said — “Do you know whose horns are the strongest in this forest? Want to find out?”
The tiger stopped short. What sort of creature was this?! It didn't run from him — it was coming closer? His chest gave a lurch. Flustered, he said — “S-stop! Don't you come near me with those horns!” Bit by bit, the tiger edged backward.
The goat took one more step — thump! And that was that: the tiger's courage ran clean out. “Yikes!” he yelped, and bolted the other way in a single leap! Crashing through the bushes, the great king tiger fled. The little goat blinked — did he really just run?
The moon rose between the trees. Chest puffed with pride, the little goat headed back to the herd. His mother hugged him close — “There's my brave darling! Weren't you even a little scared?” The little goat just smiled. That day he learned — and you can too: keep your courage, and even big fears back away.