Stubbornness leads to mutual disaster

One sunny afternoon, a clam emerged from the riverbank, spreading its shell wide to soak in the warm sunlight. Nearby, a hungry snipe spotted the exposed clam and swooped down, aiming to snatch its tender flesh. But the clam was quick—it snapped its shell shut, trapping the snipe’s beak in a tight grip.

The snipe, unable to free itself, hissed, "If the sun stays hot and no rain falls for two days, you’ll dry out and die!"

Unshaken, the clam retorted, "And if I don’t let you go, you’ll starve before then!"

Neither would back down. Their fierce standoff lasted so long that a passing fisherman noticed them—and with a swift motion, he captured them both.