At the first light of dawn, Rooster announced the new day with a hearty “Kukde kook… Kukde kook.” Seeing the radiant red Sun, he proudly strutted into the pen. On his head shone a silvery plume, and behind him trailed a colorful, flowing tail. With confident steps and a lifted chest, he sang aloud:
“We are the rays of the sun. We are the call of the dawn.”
Rooster spent the whole day clucking and strutting about, scratching the ground as if searching for hidden treasure in the barnyard.
One day, Rooster thought to himself: “Across the village, my rooster relatives live. I should go and meet them.”
But at the edge of the village path, he ran into the sly fox! The fox’s eyes lit up with delight. “Ah! Rooster is so plump and round. If I play my cards right, I’ll have a feast.”
The fox approached politely and asked, “Rooster, Rooster, where are you going?”
Rooster answered with pride, “Kukde kook, Kukde kook! I’m going to meet my rooster relatives.”
The fox thought gleefully, “Wonderful! If I go along, I’ll catch not one, but many roosters at once!”
He said aloud, “Excellent! Excellent! One must always meet their kin. Please, take me along too! One plus one is better; I’ll make new acquaintances as well.”
But clever Rooster saw right through the fox’s trickery. Thinking quickly, he replied, “Oh, that’s no problem at all. I’d love that. Kukde kook… Kukde kook… But listen, today a big red dog is coming with me. I’m just waiting for him. Once he arrives, kukde kook, kukde kook, the three of us will go together. Two or three are always better! We’ll have great fun. Kukde kook… Kukde kook…”
Hearing the word dog, the fox trembled. His ancestors had feared dogs, and so did he. Immediately, he changed his words: “Oh! A dog is coming today? Very well, very well. I was only joking earlier when I said I’d join you. Today, I have much work. I’ll come another day instead.” And muttering “Hu-ah… hu-ah… hu-ah,” the frightened fox ran away.
Meanwhile, Rooster kept on strutting proudly, calling out “Kukde kook… Kukde kook…” He reached his rooster relatives, feasted, and enjoyed the day like a king.
