Ziz was a bug. A bug like any other bug, except he was very quarrelsome: out of boredom he loved to pick fights:
Whack, take that in the face! — he'd wave his legs in front of the ladybug — he had six of them.
Or:
Whack, wipe that smile off! — the little bug would threaten with all six of his tiny fists.
Whack, look at my moves! — the bug would box rapidly in front of the ant's nose and laugh. — You can't do that!
Because of this behaviour, the bug was nicknamed Stink.
The insects disliked meeting Stink, because these encounters often ended in fights. Stink fought desperately and viciously, dealing blows to his opponent.
But avoiding these meetings was impossible: Stink would lurk in the shade of a tree, or suddenly jump out to scare, or suddenly swoop down, knocking them off their feet.
The insects grew tired of Stink the bully, and decided to leave their home place and abandon the meadow.
One day Stink flew out of his home — a green leaf rolled into a tube — and headed to the meadow where insects usually went about their business on hot days. But for some reason, there was no one on the field. Stink flew around the meadow three times, lengthwise and crosswise, but didn't see a single living soul. "Where did everyone go?" Stink thought disappointedly.
Hey you, cowardly arthropods! Where did you all go? — Stink shouted, but no one answered.
Then he shouted louder:
Come out!
In response — silence. Stink shouted even louder, even louder, even more…
Stink shouted and waved his legs for a long time, he even turned red from the effort, but no one answered. The bug felt unbearably lonely and sad:
How will I live alone? Oh, how scary, — and Stink burst into bitter tears.
Who's flooding my burrow? — poked out the field mouse with her sharp little nose (she lived underground and didn't know about the insects' conspiracy).
Stop crying, your tears are causing a flood in my house.
I'm miserable, everyone has abandoned me! — sobbed the little bug.
Tears won't solve your problems, go to the Forest Keeper, ask him for advice, — and the mouse disappeared underground.
With nothing else to do, Stink cleaned his wings and set off on a journey to the Forest Keeper, into the magical forest. For three days he flew without stopping, and finally reached the magical place. The Forest Keeper welcomed the bug warmly, fed and gave him a drink. Stink told the Forest Keeper about his problem:
Everyone has abandoned me, I'm all alone.
Perhaps you did something wrong? — asked the Forest Keeper.
No, everything was fine.
Perhaps you hurt someone's feelings?
I didn't hurt anyone.
Perhaps you teased someone?
Well, just a little bit.
A little bit yesterday, a little bit today, and in the end it adds up to a lot.
I won't do it anymore, I don't even notice when I get angry, — whimpered Stink.
Alright, I'll help you with your sorrow. But there's one condition.
What?
When you tease and get angry, you will emit an unpleasant rotten smell as a warning to you and those around you. Remember at that moment how you were alone, and calm down.
Alright, — sighed the little bug, — thank you very much, from now on I will control myself.
Good luck!
And the Forest Keeper disappeared, and Stink found himself on his native meadow, densely populated with insects. Little bugs buzzed as they flew, worms crawled in the shade of the grass, beautiful butterflies fluttered in the air, fuzzy bumblebees collected nectar from flowers, hardworking ants strengthened their anthill. Stink was happy to be among his familiar acquaintances.
From that day on, Stink didn't bully or get angry. He learned to smile warmly, speak polite words, give way, make agreements, have pleasant conversations, and make friends.
But still, sometimes Stink emits an unpleasant smell, though this happens very rarely — only in cases of danger. In such situations, Stink cannot control himself.
