A very long time ago, in the hot, sunny land of Africa, there was a great big plain called the High Veldt. Everything on the High Veldt was sandy-yellow — the sand was yellow, the rocks were yellow, and even the grass was yellowish-brown. It was the most sandy-yellow place you ever did see!
Living on the High Veldt was a Leopard. But this Leopard didn't look like the leopards you see today — oh no! He was completely sandy-yellow all over, from his nose to his tail. Right next to him lived his best friend, an Ethiopian Hunter, who was sandy-brownish too. Together, they were almost invisible on the yellow plain!
The Giraffe and the Zebra also lived on the High Veldt, and they were sandy-yellow too. The poor Giraffe and Zebra could never hide from the Leopard and the Ethiopian, because everyone was the same color! 'I can see you perfectly!' the Leopard would purr. The Giraffe and Zebra trembled with worry. Something had to change.
One dark night, the Giraffe and the Zebra decided to run far, far away. They ran and ran until they found a great, tall forest full of trees and shadows. The sunlight came through the branches in stripes and patches and splotches. It was dark and stripy and spotty and patchy — not sandy-yellow at all!
And in that forest, something magical happened! The Giraffe stood very still among the tall trees, and slowly, golden-brown patches appeared all over her long neck and body — just like the patches of sunlight on the forest floor! The Zebra hid among the stripy shadows, and dark black stripes grew across his white coat! Now they were perfectly hidden among the trees.
Back on the empty High Veldt, the Leopard and the Ethiopian were very confused. 'Where has everyone gone?' asked the Leopard, sniffing the air. 'I can't find the Giraffe or the Zebra anywhere!' They searched and searched, but the yellow plain was completely empty. 'We need help,' said the Ethiopian. 'Let us go ask wise old Bavian.'
Bavian was the wisest baboon in all of Africa. He sat on a high rocky cliff, watching everything. 'Bavian, where did the animals go?' asked the Ethiopian. Bavian scratched his chin and smiled a big toothy grin. 'They went to the forest! But you won't find them looking like that,' he said. 'You need to change yourselves — get some spots and colors!'
The Leopard and the Ethiopian walked into the dark, spotty, stripy forest. They could hear the animals rustling nearby, but they couldn't see a thing! The Ethiopian had a wonderful idea. He found some special dark mud and rubbed it all over his skin until it turned a beautiful deep, dark color. 'Now I match the shadows!' he said proudly.
Then the Ethiopian looked at his friend the Leopard. 'Your turn!' he said with a smile. He dipped all five fingertips into the dark mud, and pressed them — one, two, three, four, five — all over the Leopard's sandy coat. Everywhere his fingers touched, a beautiful dark spot appeared! Soon the Leopard was covered head to tail in the most gorgeous golden spots you have ever seen!
And just like that, the Leopard could disappear into the spotty, patchy forest! He and the Ethiopian could hunt side by side once more, hidden among the trees and shadows. The Giraffe kept her patches and the Zebra kept his stripes, and they all lived happily in the beautiful forest together. And that, dear child, is how the Leopard got his beautiful spots — and he still has them today!
