Placate the Lion

The wolf went in fear of the lion. Until finally the wolf crawled to the lion on his belly and begged to be allowed to hunt for the lion if only he, the wolf, would be allowed to keep his life and eat of the leftover scraps.

The lion gave his regal assent.

The wolf hunted well and faithfully and though lean himself fed the lion his fill.  The king of beasts, under this rich diet, grew even bigger and stronger and more fierce.

The lion laid all day in a comfortable cave eating meat and roaring and cracking bones.

What happened next was not an unfortunate side effect of the lion’s activity. It was the result of the lion’s will.  So great was his authority that he could over time exert command even on his own body.

So, over time, at his own will, his hindquarters and other unneeded organs became vestigial.  His mouth and his organs of digestion became even greater.   His mane, which he valued very much, became even grander and more magnificent.  His teeth were longer and sharper. The claws of his front paws grew more greatly savage. His vocal cords grew and his lungs expanded.

To impressively receive the tribute of the wolf and to luxuriate in his own magnificence nothing more efficient nor optimized than the lion could be imagined.

Then the wolf left.