Desta, a humble donkey with wise, twinkling eyes, plods quietly along the dusty path, his hooves leaving gentle prints in the earth. He stops to admire the meskel flowers, their yellow petals shining bright amidst the green. Nearby, a group of elders gather under the shade of an acacia, sharing injera and laughter.
Hyena, with his chest puffed out, boasts to the crowd, "No one is smarter than me! I know every secret of the plateau, even where treasures hide. Who dares challenge my wit?"
Desta listens quietly, his ears flicking as he contemplates the hyena’s words.
Desta[/@ch_1], daring him to prove his intelligence. The church bells chime again, signaling midday, as birds flutter among the meskel flowers.]
"Donkey, do you think you’re clever enough to find the hidden treasure—a magical injera basket said to appear only for the wisest?"
"True wisdom is not loud, but gentle," replies Desta, remembering the elders’ proverb: “Patience is the key that unlocks every door.”
Desta[/@ch_1] set off together, searching the teff fields and rocky hills. Birds sing overhead, and butterflies flit among the flowers. The animals follow, excited to see who will find the treasure first. The landscape glows with afternoon warmth, and shadows lengthen.]
Hyena rushes ahead, digging under every stone and chasing every shadow, growing frustrated as he finds only old roots and pebbles. Desta walks slowly, greeting neighbors and sharing small bites of injera with them. Each time he helps or listens, the elders smile and the church bells seem to ring brighter.
Desta[/@ch_1] approach.]
"I searched everywhere! How can this humble donkey find what the clever hyena could not?"
"Kindness and wisdom open doors that pride cannot," says Desta, as the elders invite him to share the magical injera basket. The basket glows, filling everyone with joy and laughter.
Desta[/@ch_1]’s gentle wisdom.]
"I see now that true intelligence comes from kindness and humility, not trickery," admits the hyena.
"As the elders say, ‘A wise heart is richer than gold,’" replies Desta. All the animals celebrate together, sharing the magical injera and the beauty of their land, while the stars twinkle above the ancient churches.
