The sun was shining brightly on a quiet jungle morning when a tiny mouse scampered across a soft, mossy path. Her whiskers twitched as she sniffed the air for crumbs, but she didn’t notice the enormous paw stretched out just ahead of her. **Thump!** She ran straight into it and tumbled backward, landing with a squeak. The paw belonged to none other than the Lion, King of the Jungle, who had been napping peacefully until the sudden bump woke him up.

With a loud yawn, the Lion opened one eye and gazed down at the tiny creature quivering near his toes. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he rumbled, his voice deep like distant thunder. The Mouse gulped. "I’m so sorry! Truly, I didn’t mean to bother you," she squeaked, her small voice trembling. The Lion scratched his mane thoughtfully. "Why shouldn’t I gobble you up for disturbing my rest?" he asked, leaning closer. "You’re hardly more than a crumb yourself!"

The Mouse's heart raced, but she stood tall—well, as tall as a mouse could stand—and said, "Oh mighty Lion, perhaps one day I could help you in return! You never know when a small friend might come in handy." The Lion roared with laughter, the sound echoing through the jungle. "You? Help me? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all week! But I’m feeling generous today. Run along, little one." He waved his paw, and the Mouse darted off, grateful to escape with her tail intact.

Days passed, and the jungle buzzed with life. The Lion continued his carefree naps and mighty roars, while the Mouse busied herself gathering seeds and crumbs. But fate had a surprise in store for them both. One afternoon, as the Lion wandered near the edge of the jungle, a cleverly laid hunter’s net sprang up and trapped him! His powerful roars shook the trees, but the ropes held tight. He thrashed and tugged, yet the more he struggled, the tighter the net seemed to cling.

Far away, the Mouse heard the Lion’s cries and her ears perked up. "That sounds like trouble!" she squeaked. Without hesitation, she dashed through the underbrush and soon arrived at the scene. There was the mighty Lion, tangled and helpless. "I told you, big friends sometimes need little ones!" she said with a cheeky grin.

The Lion groaned. "Fine, just get me out of this mess!" Without another word, the Mouse climbed up the net and began nibbling furiously at the ropes. Her tiny teeth worked faster than scissors—snip, snip, snip! Before long, the ropes unraveled, and the Lion sprang free, shaking leaves from his mane.

The Lion stared at the Mouse, stunned. "You… actually saved me," he said, his voice softer than usual. The Mouse puffed out her chest proudly. "Told you I’d come in handy one day!" she chirped. The Lion chuckled, lowering his head to meet her eyes. "You may be small, but you’re braver than most. Thank you, little friend."

From that day on, the Lion and the Mouse shared an unlikely friendship. The Lion taught the Mouse how to roar (though hers sounded more like a squeak), and the Mouse showed the Lion how to find the tastiest jungle berries. They proved that even the smallest of friends can make the biggest difference.

And so, the jungle learned an important lesson: "Kindness always comes back, no matter how small."