Greatest of All

It is a well-known fact that cheetahs were once as slow as tortoises and completely spotless.

The cheetah was a timid creature, you see. For it was the lion who ruled the savannah, with his silky mane and sharp teeth. In those days, the cheetah survived on scraps left behind by the prides and slept in burrows beneath the shadows of acacia trees.

One day, the great and wise elephant found a cheetah cub crying beside a pool, staring at his reflection.

“Why do you cry, little cub?” asked the elephant. “The sky is blue, the river is clear and cool. What troubles you so?”

The cub sniffled and hung his head in shame. “I will never be great,” he sighed. “I am too slow. I come last in everything, and the lion cubs laugh at me.”

This saddened the great elephant. He gently booped the little cub’s nose with his long trunk, earning a joyful laugh. “Well then,” said the elephant, “what shall we do about it, little cub?”

The cheetah cub licked his paw thoughtfully. “I will make a wish.”

“And what shall you wish upon?”

“A shooting star.”

The elephant smiled. “That sounds wonderful. However, you will need to be as close as possible for your wish to work.”

The cub had not thought about that.

Later that night, after his denmates had fallen asleep in their burrow, the cheetah cub snuck outside. He waited beneath the cold, dark sky, shivering in the night air. His eyelids were closing, and another yawn escaped his mouth. 

At last, a bright flash shot across the sky. 

The cub leapt onto the nearest branch and began to climb. He was too slow. Already, the star was zipping out of sight. 

Digging his claws in, he gave one almighty push upward with his shaking hind legs and reached the highest branch. He closed his eyes, bowed his head, and wished with all his heart to become the fastest creature in all the lands. 

For a moment, nothing happened. 

Then the star burst into shimmering stardust that rained down over the tree, and wherever the glowing drops touched him, his fur tingled and changed colour. 

“Thank you, thank you!” the cub cried. 

This time, when he climbed down the tree, his legs did not shake. The cub ran around his burrow, once, twice, getting faster with every lap. He couldn’t wait to show his denmates. 

Some still say the lion is the greatest of all creatures. The wise elephant would tell you otherwise. He would say:

“Those who follow their dreams become the greatest of all.”

And that is how the cheetah first gained his spots and speed. Even today, if you look close enough, with sleepy eyes, you might still see a shimmer amongst his spots.