A Leopard and His Spots

The meeting of the Council of Antelopes was duly called to order. The main order of business was how to stop the depredations of ravenous leopards.

"This situation has gone on long enough," complained Pointy Horns. "Far too long, I should say. An antelope doesn't feel safe in her herd anymore."

"Hear, hear!" chorused the assembled horned ones.

"Fear not!" replied the Antelope President. "I have just the solution to our problems. I have found us a powerful ally."

"Ah, that sounds encouraging," said Jumper, and an assenting hopeful murmur ran through the others.

"And here -- ta-da! -- he is!" cried the President with a flourish. "Meet Leo!"

"Um, Leo is a leopard," Pointy Horns pointed out, as the entire Council wheeled to take flight.

"Now, wait just a second!" urged the President. "I know what you're thinking, but hang on! Haven't I told you that Leo is our ally? What better ally can you have against leopards than another leopard? Huh? Huh? He knows how they think! He knows their weaknesses! And he has promised to take off his spots!"

The antelopes hesitated for a moment, and Leo and a few close, personal, spotted friends afforded themselves of the opportunity to lay waste to a goodly portion of the Council.

Sometime later, the survivors were licking their wounds and taking stock. As always happens in these situations, the President had escaped without a scratch.

"Knows how they think, eh? Knows their weaknesses, eh? Promised to take off his spots, eh? A leopard and his spots are never parted. How could you not know that? Now, we have leopards who know where we live!"

"Relax, relax," cooed the President. "Everything is taken care of. I have a new ally, one that will really give those leopards what for!"

The antelopes turned apprehensively in the direction of the President's gaze. A gigantic tiger was ambling into the clearing.

"Don't worry!" cried the President preemptively. "He's promised to take off his stripes!"