Leo puffed out his chest and opened his mouth wide. A tiny squeak came out.
He looked at the grass trembling in the wind. A beetle stopped chewing to stare. He thought he sounded ridiculous.
Leo stomped one paw on the hot dirt and tried again. But the sound was just a soft whisper under the chirping crickets. His ears drooped low. He slumped down.
Suddenly the ground shook with heavy thuds. A shadow loomed over the sleeping lions nearby. Dust kicked up into the air.
Leo leaped between his family and the dark shape. He let out a loud clear ROAR that echoed off the distant rocks! His fur stood straight up.
The shadow was just a small confused meerkat holding a shiny stone. The meerkat dropped the rock and scurried away into a burrow.
The little meerkat disappeared into its burrow with a quick dash of sandy legs.
Leo smiled and his tail wagged slowly.