The hot sun beat down on the golden grass. Leo pounced! He grabbed the sparkling stone from Zola’s paws. 'Mine!' he roared, his tail lashing hard.
Zola’s ears flattened. He stomped away, kicking up a cloud of dusty sand. Leo sat alone, holding the stone tight.
Leo strutted alone, holding the stone high. The heat shimmered. 'All mine,' he thought. But his throat felt dry.
A blue butterfly fluttered by. Leo chased it, but the stone was too heavy. Clatter! It fell into the dry grass.
Leo picked up the stone. He looked at his reflection in the crystal. He looked very small all by himself.
The wind whispered through the grass. Leo marched his paws forward. He knew what he had to do.
Leo found Zola by the acacia tree. His chin was high. He held out the stone, paw open. 'Here,' he said.
Zola sniffed the stone. Then he gently placed his paw on Leo’s. 'Together?' Leo nodded, a big grin spreading across his face.
They lay side by side on the warm grass. Shoulders touching, they watched the stone glitter in the sunset.
The golden light warmed their fur. The savannah felt loud and full again. Leo purred.