A hungry jackal wandered into a village searching for food among the houses, but the village dogs chased him fiercely. Fleeing in terror, he stumbled and fell into a large vat of blue indigo dye used by the local dyers. When he climbed out, his entire body had turned a deep, brilliant blue.

The jackal returned to the forest in his strange new color, and none of the animals recognized him — they thought he was a rare, wondrous creature they had never seen before. Everyone was afraid, and the jackal decided to use that fear to his advantage, claiming he had been sent from the heavens to be the forest's new king.

The animals believed him — even the lions and tigers — and began serving him, bringing him food every day, while he sat proudly issuing orders left and right, forgetting that underneath it all, he was simply an ordinary jackal.

Then, one quiet night, the blue jackal heard the howls of his fellow jackals in the distance, calling to one another as they always did. Unable to help himself, he forgot his royal role entirely and began howling loudly right along with them.

The animals heard his howl and instantly knew the truth. Ashamed, the blue jackal slipped away from the forest, leaving behind a lesson for anyone who tries to appear as something they are not: the truth always comes out, sooner or later.