In a small Bulgarian village, nestled between whispering pine woods and green meadows, stood a crooked little hut at the edge of the road. Inside it lived an old man and his old wife, both bent with age yet full of chatter and warmth. Their thatched roof was so patched that every raindrop found its way in, and the house was always alive with the sound of drip-drip from the ceiling.
One chilly evening, as the wind rattled the shutters and the rain began its steady tapping, the old man turned to his wife beside the flickering hearth.
“Granny,” he asked, “who are you most afraid of?”
The old woman looked up from her spinning wheel and replied,
“There’s nothing worse than the wolf! I can’t stand even the thought of its howl!”
The old man chuckled softly.
“Ah, wife,” he said, shaking his head, “there’s something far worse than any wolf, it’s Drip-Drip, the rain that sneaks through the roof and drips on your head all night. The wolf can be chased away, but Drip-Drip never stops!”
Now, in that very yard, hidden behind the fence, Cousin Wolf was prowling for a chicken dinner. When he heard the old man’s words, his fur bristled and his heart skipped a beat.
“What is this dreadful creature called Drip-Drip?” he thought. “It must be fiercer than all the beasts in the forest! I hope I never meet it!”
But fate, as it often does in tales, had other plans.
That same night, under the cover of darkness, a horse thief crept into the yard. His eyes were sharp, but the night was darker still. Seeing the shape of the wolf in the shadows, he mistook it for a horse. Without hesitation, he leapt onto its back, shouting:
“Steed! Carry me to the forest at once!”
The terrified wolf let out a groan.
“Oh-ho-ho! I’ve been caught by Drip-Drip itself! Heaven help me!”
He bolted into the forest like a whirlwind, crashing through branches and puddles. The thief, clinging tight, was tossed about but dared not let go. As the first light of dawn crept over the trees, he looked down and froze in horror. Beneath him was no horse but a snarling wolf!
With a cry, the thief leapt off and tumbled into a deep pit hidden among the roots of an old oak. The wolf, too frightened to look back, ran until his lungs burned.
On the forest path, he met Cousin Fox, who was trotting along cheerfully.
“Where are you rushing, Cousin Wolf?” asked Fox. “What’s set your tail on fire?”
“Don’t stop, Foxy!” panted the wolf. “That terrible Drip-Drip caught me last night! It rode me through the forest, then fell into a pit! Run before it catches you too!”
The fox, who feared nothing more than being saddled with trouble, turned and sprinted beside him. Soon, they met White Bunny, who stood by a bush, twitching his nose curiously.
“Friends, why the hurry?” he asked.
The fox gasped, “Quit your joking, Bunny! The terrible Drip-Drip jumped into a pit, it rode the wolf half the night! Run, brother, before it saddles you too!”
But Bunny puffed out his chest proudly.
“My soul is that of a hero! Take me there, I’ll see what this monster looks like!”
The wolf and the fox looked at one another, ashamed of their fear. Together, they led Bunny to the pit. The morning light filtered through the trees, and the damp forest air smelled of rain and moss.
“Now listen,” said Bunny. “Wolf, hold Fox’s tail, and Fox, hold me by the legs. Lower me into the pit, I’ll take a look at this dreadful Drip-Drip!”
The two did as told, gripping tightly as Bunny dangled into the darkness. But no sooner had his whiskers brushed the damp air below than the horse thief, startled awake, spotted him. Mistaking Bunny for another threat, he grabbed him by the ears!
Bunny trembled, kicking his legs.
“Pull me up! He’s got me!”
Foxy pulled the Bunny, Wolf pulled Foxy, and everyone yanked with all their might. But the thief held tight until his strength gave out. At last, he let go, and the three friends tumbled backward onto the forest floor.
Panting, they gathered around Bunny.
“What did you see down there?” asked the Wolf, his eyes wide.
“Your Drip-Drip is still in the pit,” said Bunny, shaking himself. “His grip isn’t strong, but he tried to pull me down. I nearly brought him up to show you, but he couldn’t hold on.”
The fox chuckled.
“Your ears have stretched long, Bunny!”
“Indeed,” said the wolf, nodding. “They’re much longer than before.”
Bunny straightened up proudly.
“Well, such ears suit my heroic soul!” he said.
And from that day on, White Bunny’s ears were long, reminding all creatures in the forest that courage and curiosity sometimes leave their mark.
Moral of the Story
Fear often grows from misunderstanding. What we imagine to be terrifying may turn out to be nothing at all and sometimes, courage brings unexpected gifts.
Knowledge Check
1. Who are the main characters in the Bulgarian folktale “Drip-Drip”?
The story features an old couple, Cousin Wolf, Cousin Fox, White Bunny, and a horse thief.
2. What does “Drip-Drip” symbolize in the story?
It represents fear of the unknown — something harmless that becomes terrifying through imagination.
3. How does the wolf mistake the situation?
He overhears the old man and believes “Drip-Drip” is a dreadful creature, not rain leaking from the roof.
4. How did the horse thief mistake the wolf?
He thought the wolf was a horse in the dark and accidentally started the chain of confusion.
5. Why does the bunny end up with long ears?
Because the thief pulled them in the pit, explaining how rabbits got their long ears in folklore.
6. What is the moral lesson of this Bulgarian folktale?
That fear often comes from ignorance, and bravery reveals truth.
Source: Adapted from the Bulgarian folktale “Drip-Drip” in Bulgarian Fairy Tales, detskie-skazki.com/en/bulgarian-fairy-tales/.
Cultural Origin: Bulgaria (Bulgarian folklore)
