The Fox & The Badger

In the forest, there once lived a wise fox who earned her reputation as a problem solver. When the animals of the forest had a conflict they had to resolve, they asked the fox to share her insights. Through many seasons, she did her best to keep the peace in the forest.

One day, on a stroll through the forest, she noticed a young badger struggling to dig a tunnel. The soil was still dry from the previous summer's drought. She saw the badger scraping at the surface with his claws, barely making a dent. She wanted to help.

Worried about the badger's claws, she approached the badger. “You should soak the dirt with water first. It will loosen the dirt, and your claws won’t feel like you’re digging through stone,” she advised. The badger kept digging. “Thanks, but I want to figure it out on my own,” he grunted.

The fox politely smiled and walked away. “I suppose the badger wants to do it his own way,” she thought. However, over the next few days, the fox couldn’t help but notice the tunnel wasn’t getting deeper, and the badger was growing tired.

He was too proud to admit he should have listened to the fox. At some point, his efforts stopped being about digging the tunnel, but instead, protecting his reputation. He didn't want to look like a fool. Wanting to prove himself right, he kept his head down and continued to dig.

One night, without saying a word, the fox came to the tunnel up one evening with a bucket of water. She poured the water into the hole where he was digging and began to dig with him. When the water ran dry, she got up to get some more.

The badger frequently paused to look at the fox, expecting her to say, "I told you so." But she didn't say a word, and neither did he. The two dug late into the night until the tunnel was complete. When they were done, the badger asked the fox, "Why did you decide to help me when I didn't take your advice?"

The fox smiled and replied, “I found that the best advice I can give isn’t always what I say, but what I can do for others.” The badger was confused. Most of his conversations ended in arguments. He was unsure of how to respond. He awkwardly murmured, "Thank you," and waddled home.

Later that night, feeling inspired by the fox, the badger looked at himself in the mirror and wondered when he had become so stubborn. He tried to remember a time before he became this way. As he tossed and turned through the night, he decided he'd had enough of being stubborn, and it was about time he changed his ways.

When the badger saw the fox the following night, he apologized for not listening to her advice. He apologized for not saying anything sooner. He explained he didn't mean any disrespect. As he continued, he stumbled over his words, telling her how she inspired him to better himself. The fox laughed and replied, "You have nothing to apologize for. I'm happy to be your friend just as you are."