How the Wild Hogs Protected their Young
Sharptooth watched the wild hogs every day.
She learned many things from them.
They were peaceable creatures when not disturbed.
They lived on fruits, wild nuts, and roots.
When they had eaten all they wanted, they went down to the river or lake.
They hid in the reedy marshes.
They hid in the thorny thickets.
But they always kept together.
Sharptooth watched them from a tree.
There were tiny little pigs with long, light stripes.
They kept close to their mothers.
There were larger pigs that had lost their stripes.
They, too, stayed with their mothers.
There were wild boars about three years old.
“There were larger pigs that had lost their stripes”
They did not go far from their mothers.
They were not strong enough yet to protect themselves.
There were many full-grown hogs.
There were fierce boars with long tusks.
Sharptooth watched them eating acorns.
A pack of hyenas was watching, too.
They were hiding in the underbrush.
They were lying in wait for the smaller pigs.
But the old hogs scented danger.
They gathered the little pigs together.
The stronger ones stood in a circle around them.
Their white tusks glistened in the sunlight.
They were ready to fight for their young.
The hyenas were afraid.
They sneaked away in the underbrush.
The little pigs were safe.