Truth - The Birds, The Beasts, and The Bat. Tell fibs and you have no friends

An Aesop's Fable
The Birds, The Beasts, and The Bat
Don't forget -- the deceitful have no friends!

Many years ago, the birds and the beasts declared war against each other.  No compromise was possible, and so they went at it tooth and claw.

It was a terrible battle.  Many a hare and many a mouse died.  Chickens and geese fell by the score -- and the victor always stopped for a feast.




Now the bat had not openly joined either group as he did not want to be caught on the losing side.  So when the birds asked which side he was on the bat quickly replied, "I have wings, I am on your side of course."  And when the beasts asked who he supported, the bat responded, "with my sharp teeth and fur, it is obvious I am on the side of the beasts."  The truth of it was that he did little to help either group spending most of his time telling tales about the other.

When the battle was over, the conduct of the bat was discussed at the peace conference.  The birds and beasts all turned angrily against the bat when they realized how many times the bat had changed sides and spread rumors.

Since then the bat lives in fear of the beasts and the birds -- hiding in dark towers and deserted ruins, flying out only in the night.