The animals that did not eat flesh lived in fear. Lion hunted without mercy and killed many of their friends. Buffalo, giraffe, eland, and the others talked and worried, but none could find a way to stop him.
Tiny Titi heard their trouble and offered help. The large animals laughed at her. How could such a small bird overcome the lion when the strongest among them had failed? Titi asked only for permission to try. At last Elephant, who was wise, allowed her to act while the others continued to think.
Titi flew until she found Lion. She perched on a branch and greeted him as king of the forest, then mocked him because he could not catch a bird. Lion had caught many animals, but he had never been challenged like this. His pride burned hotter than his hunger.
Titi sang that even if Lion ate her, she would speak from his stomach. Lion did not believe it. He caught her and put her into his mouth. But when he tried to swallow, Titi bit his tongue sharply. Lion breathed in with surprise, and Titi slipped whole into his stomach.
Lion thought he had won. He roamed the forest singing about how easily he had caught the bird. But whenever he approached buffalo, eland, duiker, impala, kudu, or buck, Titi called from inside him: Run away! The lion wants to eat you!
The animals fled before Lion could strike. Day after day he found no food. His pride had swallowed the very voice that warned his prey. He grew thin and weak until at last he died. Then Titi came out of his mouth and carried the news through the forest.
The animals gathered and honored the tiny bird. From then on, she was welcome to ride on the backs of the four-footed animals, for the smallest among them had saved them all.