How the Cheetah Got His Spots

This is a work of fiction. No real people, places or events were used. Copyright 2011 Plot Roach.

How the Cheetah Got His Spots

By Plot Roach

When the earth was new and the first people came to live on the land, the moon presented herself before them, shining and white. At first they were pleased with her color, for it was not one that they had seen in their wanderings. The moon was a beautiful maiden, as pale as the first rays of sunlight. But soon they began to scorn her, for she did not seem to fit into their world. The grass was green, the sky blue and the mountains the many hues of brown. How could such a white creature live among them? In the eyes of the first people, this paleness was a curse, for if any hunter were to stalk his prey in the wild grasslands, surely the animal would see him and bound away.

The moon was disgusted with herself, being of such an odd color. She grew thin until she was but a sliver of herself. The people grew scared, for if she disappeared entirely, they would be unable to hunt by her light at night.

A man stood up among them, scorned by his own people for he was darker than the night itself. It was said that the night sky, upon seeing him, blushed from embarrassment and bright freckles of light decorated its face. Thus the first stars sprang forth into this new world.

The dark man protested his love for the moon, singing to her of his plight. And how that even if they were cast aside by the first people, they could find companionship and maybe love with one another. The moon soon grew back to her ample size, allowing them to hunt once again by the moon’s light. The first people were grateful to the man and the moon, but still they were not accepted as members of the tribe.

The people complained of the unnatural bond between the dark man and the pale moon to the shaman, and he sought to correct this mistake before the bond between man and moon could bear fruit. For the first people believed nothing good could come of such a union.

So the shaman went to the man during the day, when the moon was asleep, and told him of how the mighty lion had stolen her away for his own. If the man wished to rescue his heavenly bride, and allow the people to continue hunting by her light, he must face this monster to steal her back.

So the dark man took his spear and headed for the lion’s home, vowing to take back his beloved. It was many miles before he would reach the creature, but the shaman was sure that the man would meet his death long before the moon woke from her slumber.

The dark man faced the lion and challenged him to a duel to the death, the winner would take the lion’s bride. The lion, incensed that the man would take his lionesses, rose to the challenge and soon the dusk was painted with their blood.

The moon rose as the last rays of sunlight swept themselves from the land. She searched for her lover among the first people, yet none would tell her where he was at. It was only when she paused at a pool of water to admire her reflection did she hear the gossip of two women and learn the fate of her mortal beloved.

Though she traveled through the night sky, she had no wings to fly or feet to run with, so she asked all of the animals of the land to help her find her man before it was too late. Most turned away from her, believing her to be as much an abomination as the first people saw her. But the cheetah, a swift lean cat the color of the dry sands of the earth pledged himself to her and shot away into the night to find the dark man. The moon reached down from the sky and blessed him with her magic.

The cheetah had been fast before her blessing, but now raced so fast that the color left the tip of his tail because it could not hold on to such a fast creature. But no matter how fast he was, death was faster. By the time the cheetah had come to the battleground of man and lion, it was too late. The lion licked the last of the man’s blood from his fangs and hissed at this new intruder. “Have you come for my wives as well?” he roared.

“No, dear friend. I only came to tell you that the fight was staged by the first people to be rid of the moon’s lover.” the cheetah panted. “But I am too late and now the moon will be without her man.”

The lion was so angry at the peoples’ lie that he vowed forever to be their enemy, killing them when he could and roaring throughout the night when he could not. He became so jealous that he chased his sons out of his pride, and that is why no lion will tolerate a male lion near his wives.

The cheetah waited by the man’s corpse and told the moon what had happened when she was finally able to arrive. He buried the man’s corpse and stood watch over the grave for three days and nights so that the earth would take him completely and he would find peace. The moon in her sadness released the last of her magic, showering the cheetah with her tears. As each drop fell upon his hide, a dark stain appeared.

She wanders the earth, remembering her lover and growing full and beautiful. Then she sees her reflection and thinks of what the people did to trick her and grows thin again. The cheetah still retains his swiftness, though he wears the sorrow of the moon forever upon his coat. And no matter how fast he is, he still cannot outrun death.