How the Cheetah Received Her Spots

Do you know how the cheetah received her spots? Well, no one knew, not even the cheetahs knew. It was a mystery. Some cheetahs were curious; some just brushed the mystery away. But, one cheetah was determined. She wished to know how she had received her spots…

It was a beautiful, sunny day in the African Savannah. Elephants cooled off in the river, while monkeys swung playfully on tree branches. Hippos bathed in the mud while lions lazily lounged in the shade, under trees. But a cheetah, by the name of Suma, which means ‘ask’, went to visit her friend, brother leopard.

“Ah, Suma, how are you?”

“I am doing fine brother leopard.”

“Do you have yet another question for me?”

Suma was curious and always asked questions.

“Yes. Do you know how the cheetah received its spots?”

Brother leopard sucked in his breath, for he didn’t know.

“Suma, you know that it is a mystery. No one knows. Go ask sister giraffe, for she can see far and is quite wise.”

Suma nodded. Sister giraffe’s name itself, Busahrah, meant wisdom. So, Suma visited Busahrah and asked her the same question.

“Suma, are you serious about finding out why you received spots?”

“Yes.”

“Then, you must leave the safety of the savannah and journey far away. You will have to fight many obstacles, but, in the end, it will be worth it.”

“Where am I going?”

“You are traveling to Mount Kilimanjaro. You will have to climb to the top.”

Suma gasped.

“But sister giraffe! Only a few, strong animals have traveled to Mount Kilimanjaro!”

The giraffe squinted down at the cheetah.

“Maybe you aren’t ready.”

Suma looked up.

“No, I think I can do this. At least I can try…”

So, after thanking Busahrah, Suma said goodbye to her friends and cheetah family. When the cheetahs asked where she was going and why, some laughed, others were proud. Most thought her insane.

After she was pointed in the direction of the great mountain, she set off. She tried not to glance behind as she left the safety of the savannah. Suma entered the dense jungle. At first, she felt sad and missed her family. But, gradually, Suma felt free and happy. She trotted at a joyful pace. It was like the sun was shining for her!

Then, she stopped. She heard something. It sounded like a mournful cry. Suma inched closer to it. She pushed through the foliage.

“Ah!!!”

“Ah!!!”

The creature had been surprised, which also startled Suma. Suma looked closer. It was a warthog! Alone!

“Brother warthog! Where is your family?”

His face fell.

“My family abandoned me. They said that I was too ugly and smelly.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. So, what is your name, brother warthog?”

“Uki”

Suma frowned. That name meant sadness.

“How about Ekundayo.”

He smiled. It meant “sorrow becomes happiness.”

“Yes, I like that. Where are you going?”

“On a dangerous journey to discover how I got spots.”

“Can I come?”

“It will be hazardous, but you can come if you want.”

So, Ekundayo accompanied Suma on her quest. Ekundayo knew sister jungle and lead Suma out to the grasslands. It felt good to be out in the open. Suma ran as fast as she could in circles. It felt good to let off steam.

“Hey! Watch it!”

Suma looked at her feet. It was a bird!

“Oh, excuse me sister bird!”

“Yah, well, you and your smelly friend almost trampled on me!”

Ekundayo jumped in.

“Hey I’m not that smelly! And why didn’t you fly when Suma almost trampled you?”

“I’m lame, you idiot! I can’t fly! My name is Sibaldili.”

“Your name means ‘I will not change.’”

“I know what my name means, you baboon!”

“Hey, I’m a warthog!”

Suma broke up the argument.

“I’m Suma and he is Ekundayo. Would you like to join us on our quest?”

Before Sibaldili could answer, all three jumped at a cry. Suma looked ahead.

“It’s coming from that river! Come on! Sibaldili, jump on my back! Come Ekundayo, we must help it!”

The trio raced down to the river. It was a baby lion! And it was drowning!

“Quick! Ekundayo, grab my tail!”

He grabbed her tail and Suma jumped into the river. The baby lion was trying to fight the current, but failed. Sibaldili was on Suma’s head trying to calm the lion from afar. Suma swam up to the baby and Sibaldili grabbed it. Ekundayo pulled them in. They all collapsed on the shore, exhausted. They found a safe place and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, the four set out, together. Suma decided that they would call the baby “Chiumbo” or “little one.” Sibaldili looked at Ekundayo.

“Hey, you don’t stink as much since that jump in the river!”

“If I were your size, I would shut my beak!”

Again, Suma interrupted.

“Guys, you will wake Chiumbo!”

Chiumbo woke up and jumped off of Suma’s back. He pranced around and tried to roar. They were approaching higher grasses. Chiumbo and Sibaldili jumped on Suma’s back.

How funny! A cheetah trying to find out how she received her spots, an ugly, friendly, and now cleaner warthog, a spunky bird that could not fly, and a baby lion were traveling together! Suma found it so hilarious! She didn’t find the rest of the day so humorous though. Before they fell asleep that night, they had narrowly escaped a pack of hyenas. Ekundayo fell into a river and Sibaldili only laughed. Then, after all of that, Chiumbo got stuck in an ant hill, a large ant hill. And getting him out was not easy!

The journey had been hard. But, days later, they reached the mountain, alive. It took some time, but eventually, they reached the pinnacle. Sibaldili spoke up.

“So, what now?”

Suma looked at her.

“I don’t know.”

Suma looked around. She could see everything from up there. It became dark and the moon was full.

“Mother moon! Why does sister mountain not talk to me?!”

Mother moon turned to Suma.

“She is overcome with joy. Not many have been brave enough to visit her.”

“Do you know how I received my spots?”

“Sister mountain and I are the only ones who know. We were the only ones present.”

“Oh, please tell me!”

“Both sister mountain and I have decided that you are worthy. For, both of us watched over you on your journey. You brought along the lonely, the lame, and the abandoned young. Together, you summoned the strength to come here. Now listen, because I will not repeat myself…

Long ago, the cheetah had no spots. It was a fast animal, the fastest in the savannah. One day, me and sister mountain looked far up into the sky. To our horror, we saw many stars falling. They would surely destroy all savannahs, grasslands, and jungles that we had. The cheetah overheard our conversation. He wanted to help. We needed all the help we could get.

The stars began to fall. We told the cheetah where they were going and he raced as fast as he could to the spot. The first star fell and landed straight on his back. He let out a roar, for it was painful. He ran to the rest of the spots and caught all of the stars on his back. They were becoming too heavy, so he ran to the river and jumped in it. The stars came off of his back. That is why, when you look in a river, you can see the reflection of stars. When the cheetah came out of the water, there were spots on his fur! The stars had singed his fur! Sister mountain and I thanked him for his bravery. We told him that his spots would represent his nobility and bravery. So, the cheetah went back home. Everyone loved his spots. But, he was too modest to tell them. So, only I, he, and sister mountain knew. Now, I am happy that I titled the cheetah a noble creature. For, I have seen how brave and caring you were on your quest. So, be proud of your history, and your spots.”

Suma was so happy. She now knew the story behind her spots! She thanked mother moon and sister mountain. Suma then took her friends and they journeyed home, together. Suma lived the rest of her life, proud of her spots. She passed the story down to her children. And her children passed it to their children.

That is how the cheetah received and came to know how it received its spots.

The End