Author : Jitendra Kumar

Everyone from the jungle was assembled under the red mountain in Champakvan. Some trembling had happened on the mountain last night. Huge rock pieces were scattering here and there. Golu goat’s house was also badly crushed by a rock piece. He was very scared and was telling that had he has not rushed outside with his family within a minute, then he and his family would have also crushed under that rock piece.

He told, “I heard heavy thunder in the night and flames were coming out from the top of the mountain too. I got scared seeing all that, don’t know what the hell it was.” 

The animals who were already frightened got more scared listening to his story. Jumpy money said, “I think it’s not an ordinary mountain, it’s a volcano.”

All animals supported his opinion. Suddenly, yet again it thundered and rock pieces started falling from the mountain. All animals ran here and there to save their life. Now everyone was convinced that no way it an ordinary mountain, rather it’s a volcano for sure. 

Gilli squirrel said, “If it’s a volcano then it may erupt any moment. We should leave this jungle immediately. Who knows we might get into trouble any time?”

Cheenu rabbit, who was patiently listening to everybody for long, told everyone, “You all are in false impression. This is no way a volcano. Something else is wrong here. When a volcano erupts, lots of smoke and fire comes out. But it seems nothing like that here.”

Jumpy said screamingly, “So am I telling lie? I saw a stream of fire coming out from the mountain top in the night. Was that fire some sort of deception? Or that somebody was cooking on the mountain?” 

Before Cheenu could answer, other animals too started scolding him. Cheenu had to go away from there. But he made up his mind that he will surely uncover this mystery. According to him, some criminal gang was willing to achieve their motive by frightening the animals.

Chancing upon the time, he began to climb the mountain. As Golu goat saw him, he screamed, “Oh! Have you gone mad? Why adamant to risk your life. Simply come down else you will be killed.

Other animals too try to stop him, but he didn’t listen to anyone and kept stepping ahead. Once again some trembling happened and rocky stones started falling down, but saving himself Cheenu reached to the mountain top.

Seeing the situation there, he started shaking out of fear. All plants and trees have burned to ashes. All stones at the mountain top have badly devastated.  This was the reason of what all happened so far. Cheenu was shivering witnessing all this.

There was a dragon in the front tangled in ropes. He was thumping his tail in an attempt to free himself and was spitting out the fire out of bearing severe pain. Due to his tail thumping and fire spitting, there was this tremble on the mountain. Cheenu found it wise enough to run away from there. As soon as he turned to run, a voice in pain was heard, “Wait, stop! Please don’t go away leaving me in this condition. Untie these ropes else I will die.

Cheenu turned and saw. Really that dragon was in very bad condition. Cheenu got merciful on him. Though fearing, he went near to the dragon. The dragon lies down in comfort and Cheenu cut the ropes from his sharp teeth. Dragon got free now and thanked Cheenu a lot.

Cheenu asked him, “How did you fell in this rope trap?”

Dragon told him, “Humans come to the jungle from cities. They throw their waste and go back without cleaning the place. In a similar situation, I got tangled in a tent rope and being unable to fly fell down on this mountain. You are so strong and courageous. If you had not come then I would have died.

Dragon and Cheenu become friends now. Dragon made him sit over him and went flew down from the mountain. Seeing the dragon, animals were in a stampede. But when Cheenu explained the full incident, then everyone came back in their senses. Everybody praised Cheenu.  Dragon apologized to Golu for destroying his house and helped him to build his new house. Soon the dragon became dear to everyone and his friendship with Cheenu became famous everywhere.