Leo was a little lion with a very big pride rock. It was the perfect height for looking at the sunset, the perfect warmth for naps, and the perfect place to practice his mighty ROAR! Leo loved his pride rock, and he didn’t want anyone else to use it.
One sunny morning, Zara the zebra trotted up to Leo. “Can I play near your pride rock?” she asked. Leo shook his mane. “No! This is *my* pride rock. You can play somewhere else.” Zara’s ears drooped, and she walked away sadly.
Next, Bartholomew the baboon bounced over. “Leo, can we play a game of chase around your pride rock?” Leo frowned. “No, Bartholomew! It’s too special. Go play with the monkeys.” Bartholomew sighed and scampered off.
Leo sat on his pride rock, but he didn’t feel very happy. He had the best spot, but he was all alone. He tried to roar, but it sounded small and lonely. He watched Zara and Bartholomew playing tag with the monkeys, and they looked like they were having so much fun.
Suddenly, Leo realized something. Having a pride rock was fun, but having friends to share it with would be even better! He ran to Zara and Bartholomew. “Wait!” he called. “Maybe… maybe we can all play together! You can play *around* the pride rock, and I’ll be the king watching over the game!”
Zara and Bartholomew’s faces lit up. They raced around the pride rock, laughing and giggling. Leo roared with delight – a big, happy roar this time! He discovered that sharing his pride rock didn’t make it less special; it made playtime much more fun.
As the sun began to set, Leo, Zara, and Bartholomew sat together on and around the pride rock, watching the colors change. Leo snuggled close to his new friends. He learned that sharing and kindness make everything brighter, and that a pride rock is even more wonderful when you share it with those you care about.
From that day on, Leo’s pride rock wasn’t just *his* pride rock. It was a place for friendship, laughter, and happy roars for everyone.