Once upon a time in this dense jungle, there lived a mighty lion, the king of the jungle. One day, after a hearty meal, he fell into a deep sleep under a large, shady tree.

Nearby, a little mouse was scurrying about, hunting for food. Unwittingly, the mouse ran across the lion's nose, waking him up with a start.

'How dare you disturb my sleep?' growled the lion, trapping the terrified mouse under his massive paw. 'I will eat you for this!'

The mouse trembled and pleaded, 'Please, mighty lion, spare me! If you let me go, I promise I will help you one day.' The lion laughed and let the mouse go, reminding him of his promise.

A few days later, the lion found himself in a dire situation. He was trapped in a hunter's net, unable to free himself. He roared in frustration and fear, his roar echoing through the jungle.

The little mouse heard the lion's desperate roars from afar. Recognizing the voice of the lion who had spared him, the mouse rushed towards the sound, hoping to be of help.

When the mouse arrived, he was shocked to see the mighty lion trapped. Without wasting any time, he started gnawing at the ropes of the net with his sharp teeth.

The lion watched in surprise as the tiny mouse worked tirelessly. After much effort, the mouse managed to cut through the ropes and free the lion.

'You saved my life, little one,' said the lion, looking at the mouse in awe. 'You kept your promise. I underestimated you.'

'We all have our strengths, mighty lion,' replied the mouse, panting but smiling. 'Size does not define courage or ability.'

From that day forward, the lion and the mouse became great friends. The lion no longer laughed at the size of the mouse, and the mouse was always there to help his friend in need.

And so, the story of the lion and the mouse spread throughout the jungle, reminding everyone that no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.