Speaker 1: Yea. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,
where you suggest the animal for us to write a
story about. My name's Josephine and I've got a brand
new animal story here just for you. Animal Tales Premium
members get an extra story every Friday. Find out how
to listen to them by visiting Animaltales Dot uk and remember,
for a tiny fee, all stories are advert free. Hudson
is from the UK and he would like a story
with a cheetah, a leopard, a jaguar and a snow leopard.
You can learn more about these creatures in the Animal
Facts after the story. Now settle back acts and I'll
begin hear Me Raw. Nervously, Hudson lifted up his badge.
The security guard smiled and waved him through. He was
in The young cheetah couldn't believe he was actually here.
Hudson was at hear Me Raw, the biggest music festival
in the entire Animal Kingdom. It was huge, with all
sorts of amazing musicians, bands and singers. The problem for
Hudson was that everyone wanted to go and watch the
musical acts, meaning actually getting a ticket was almost impossible.
So in the end, Hudson had got himself a job
there instead. It was nothing fancy. He was supposed to
take things to where they were needed and help set up.
He already had some equipment in a van outside, although
he wasn't sure exactly where it needed to go. Although
it was early, the festival's sight was already busy. The
stages had been built and last minute checks were happening.
Food trucks and stalls were setting up, the smell of
burghers and waffles wafting through the air everywhere. There were
festival employees running around with jobs to do. Hey you
cheeah boy, called an important looking rhino. Er. Yes, answered
Hudson quickly. I'm Hudson. However, that was all he managed
to say, as the rhino quickly cut him off. Do
you work for me? The rhino asked, Um, I think so,
Hudson stuttered, Good names Jonah, follow me. The rhino was
already marching away. Hudson had to jog to keep up
with the rhino's mighty strides. As they walked, the rhino
barked out a series of orders to various members of
the festival staff before turning his attention back to Hudson.
The guy I had lined up to help me called
in sick. So I need you to take over, Jonah said,
er okay, nodded Hudson. What is it you need me
to do. We've got some huge stars performing here, animals
that have been making music for decades. It's going to
be your job to make sure they're comfortable and fetch
them anything they need. Got it? What about the van,
Hudson asked, remembering the equipment he was supposed to deliver.
I was supposed to drop some things off. That can wait.
Our stars are more important, Jonah said. They're all in
the lodge. Do you know where that is? It's behind
the main stage. Just get them what they need and
don't mess anything up. This has to go perfectly well,
don't just stand there. Off you go. Before Hudson could protest,
Jonah the Rhino marched off in the opposite direction to
the lodge. Hudson gulped, wondering what had just happened. He
didn't even know who these big stars were. He was
just supposed to be delivering instruments and helping set up.
But he realized he'd been given a job to do,
and he was determined to do it well. Even if
he wasn't entirely sure what he was supposed to do.
The lodge was easy to find behind the main stage.
It was the only permanent structure on the festival site.
Stepping inside, he was greeted by a huge lounge area
with several comfortable looking sofas, a TV, and a bookcase
with a small kitchenette at the back. Relaxing on the
sofas were he presumed the three superstars he was supposed
to be looking after. And what superstars they were. It
was three of the most famous musicians in the world,
Paul mc catney, Mick Jaguar and David Snowy. Here they
were right before Hudson, just sat around chatting before their
big show. Hudson tried to stay calm. He'd never been
close to a famous person before, let alone three mega
famous stars like these. Excuse me, Hudson managed to say,
my name's Hudson. I've been asked to fetch anything you
might need. Hi, Hudson, excellent timing, said Paul mc catney.
Paul was a leopard and played piano in the group.
I'd love some tea tea, repeated Hudson, got it. I
could do with a black coffee, said Mick Jaguar, he
usually played maraccas, and a bag of sour sweets if
you can get them. You know, those really sour candies,
the kind that hurt your tongue. All that sounds good,
said David Snowy, the snow Leopard, he played guitar. I'd
like a bowl of gummy bears, but just the red ones.
You you want a bowl of only red gummy bears,
Hudson said, puzzled. Strawberry's my favorite, the snow Leopard said.
Can you do that for me? Hudson nodded. If that's
what was wanted, that's what he would get, of course,
he said. So that's tea, black coffee, sour sweets, and
red gummy bears, said Hudson. Will you still be in
the lodge when I get back. Our stuff's on its way,
said Paul McCartney. So if for not here, we'll be
practicing behind the main stage. Hudson nodded to show that
he understood, with the big cats calling out their thanks
as he left. Tea, black coffee, sour sweets, red gummy bears.
He repeated, over and over, if he could get this
done quickly, then perhaps there would still be time to
get back to the equipment in the van. He made
straight for a truck with a big tea cup on
its roof. A cup of tea, please, he said to
the flamingo running the cart. Certainly, replied the flamingo what kind?
She gestured to her sign, which listed black, green fruity, Earl, gray, Chai,
Cammer mile, jasmine, English breakfast, and peppermint. Hudson felt his
heart sink. He didn't know which one he was supposed
to get. Um. I don't know, oh, he admitted. I
guess I'd better have all of them and a black
coffee please. The festival ground was already filling up with
the public, so he was extra careful carrying his overloaded
cardboard carrier full of hot drinks. Now he needed someplace
that sold sweets and candies. Would there be anywhere at
the festival like that? He needn't have worried. Finding a
wagon called Blockbuster Sweets a short time later. May I
have some of your sourest sweets? Please? He asked politely.
It's your lucky day, said the crocodile running the wagon.
Surrow is our speciality. What's your favorite? Oh? I don't know,
said Hudson. He didn't say, I'll take whatever's best. Ha. Well,
they're all good, the crocodile insisted. Here try some. Before
Hudson could protest, the crocodile pushed a boiled candy between
his lips. The sour taste hit him immediately, sucking in
his cheeks and making his tongue go numb. They taste great,
he squeaked. I'll take a bag full. Cheater boy, what
are you doing, snapped Jonah as he strode past. It's
Hudson said, Hudson, I'm just getting things for the acts,
like you said. Well, don't dawdle, the rhino demanded. The
public's here, and there's still plenty of work to be done. Yes,
Jonah nodded Hudson, but the rhino was already distracted by
some one else. Hudson turned his attention back to the
crocodile and asked, you wouldn't happen to have some red
gummy bears, would you? Red, yellow, green, orange. I've got
them all, they're all mixed in together, the croc replied.
Hudson sighed, okay, then I'd better have a really big bag,
then overloaded with hot drinks and sweets. Hudson visibly staggered
back to the lodge. The crowds were getting thick, with
people slowring his progress. Eventually, arms fall. Hudson pushed through
the lodge's door to be confronted by an argument. It
was between Paul McCartney, Mick Jaguar, David Snowy and Jonah.
Where's our stuff? Said David Snowy. We can't perform without it,
Paul McCartney added forcefully, you said it was on the way,
snapped Mick Jaguar. Look, I'm sure it will be here
any second, said Jonah, holding up his hands. But we're
you on soon, can tinued Mick Jaguar. We haven't even
done a sound check. If you can't get this sorted,
we can't perform. Look Fellers, said the Rhino with a
worried smile. Leave it with me. I'll make some calls.
The band members sank back onto their sofas, looking very grumpy.
Hudson set down what he was carrying on the table
before them. Oh is that my tea? Asked Paul McCartney,
cheering up. H which one is it? I got all
of them, said Hudson, worrying that he'd made a mistake.
Now that's service, Paul McCartney said, what a fabulous choice.
He picked up two teas and took a swig of each.
Is my coffee there, asked Mick Jaguar Hudson passed it over,
along with the sour sweets. The jag immediately dropped several
of the sour candies into the hot coffee and took
a long slurp Oh yeah, he yowled, That's exactly what
I needed. Did you get my sweets, kid, David Snowy asked,
I did, the Cheetah replied, handing him the gummy bears.
I had to pick all the red ones out myself.
It took a while. David Snowy looked very pleased. Good lad,
he beamed. At least this part of the day has
gone right. Bad news, said Jonah as he finished on
his phone. Look, Fellers, I don't know how to tell
you this. Your instruments have gone missing. What stolen? Said
a wide eyed Paul McCartney. Let's not be hasty, now,
fretted the Rhino. Let's just say misplaced. What are we
going to do, David Snowy asked, we can't perform without
our instruments. Paul needs his piano, Mick needs his moracas,
and I need my guitar. I'm sorry, Fellers, said Jonah,
looking dreadful. I just don't know where they are. Er
I do, said Hudson. Those items are in the van
that Jonah called me away from so I could get
your drinks and sweets. Meek, said Jonah quietly. I did
do that, didn't I, ay Man? No harm done, said
a jovial Paul mc cotney. Sure, the instruments are really important,
but we also needed our coffee, tea and sweets. Hudson
here did a great job doing that. And what's more,
he knows where our missing stuff is and just in time,
added Mick Jaguar. We're on soon. Without being asked, Hudson
was already racing to the door. I'll be right back,
he shouted. Ten minutes later, Paul McCartney, Mick Jaguar and
David Snowy got ready to step out onto the main stage,
where their instruments were now waiting for them. Good work, kid,
David Snowy said to Hudson proudly. But you haven't had
time to rehearse or do a sound check, Hudson fretted.
The three band members laughed, Gid, We've been playing for decades,
chuckled Paul McCartney. We could perform these songs in our sleep.
And with that they ran on to the stage, with
a crowd erupting into thunderous roars at the sight of
the mega famous band and on the wings of the stage,
Impossibly the greatest spot there was to watch, stood Hudson.
As the band launched into their first song, Hudson felt
a gentle tap on his shoulder. I'm sorry about to day, kid,
said Jonah the Rhino. That was all my fault. It
all worked out fine in the end, said Hudson, and
I got to meet three of the most famous animals
in the world. Hey, they know my name, They sure do,
smiled Jonah. You know you handled yourself well today. Would
you like to do more of this sort of thing,
perhaps meet more megastars. You're clearly very good at it.
There are three very happy musicians out there right now
to prove it. I'd love to, Hudson replied, but I'm
afraid I can't now, If you'll excuse me, I just
need to disappear for a while. But you'll miss the show,
said Jonah. Where are you going to get a round
of burghers for the band ready for when they come
off stage, explained Hudson. And It's okay if I miss
a bit. Now, I'll have plenty of chances to see
them on their world tour. They've asked me to be
their personal assistant. Animals that all the creatures Hudson were
crested for this story are members of the cat family,
and all of them have spots, rosettes, and blotches marking
their fur. It's thought that two thirds of all wild
cat species have markings of this kind. Their patterned fur
helps to camouflage them, making them hard to see while hunting.
And just like no two humans have the same fingerprints,
no two cats have the same pattern of spots. Thank
you for your suggestions, Hudson. We hope that you all
enjoyed the story. Wherever you're listening in the world, discover
our Animal Tales books at animaltales dot uk. Great bedtime reading,
especially if you've discovered the joy of reading for yourself.
Make sure you join us next time for another great
animal tale. Good Bye,