A myth for english class. please critique

For english class we have to write a myth that explains something. It can be whatever we want. I chose to do "why the cheetah has spots" and this is what I came up with...

How Cheetah’s Got Their Spots

In the beginning of time the god of animals, Anim, decided to grant each and every animal with a unique gift. The lions received thick manes, the zebras were given black and white stripes, and the giraffes were given long necks. All the animals seemed happy with their gift. All but one.

Chichi the cheetah was moping around the waterhole when his best friend Lily the tiger walked over.

“Why the long face?” she asked, flaunting her new stripes.

“I want stripes,” Chichi said.

“But you can run so fast now. Speed is a wonderful gift.”

“Do I look any better?”

Lily looked confused. “What do you mean?”

“The lions got manes, the parrots got colored feathers, and I’m stuck here looking the same,” Chichi said. Lily tried telling her friend that he looked fine, but Chichi ran away.

Chichi was always a pretty fast runner but now he was the best. The wind was rushing past his face as he bolted back to the animal god. He was going to ask for a new gift. Stripes.

He appeared to be expecting Chichi.

“I knew you’d be back. Word on the street is that you are unsatisfied with your gift. Is this true?” Anim asked.

“Yes. I would like stripes.”

Anim chuckled.

Chichi waited nervously while the animal god thought about his request. Deterred, Chichi slowly started walking away.

“Wait,” Anim said, in his deep voice. “I will grant you your wish of spots, but you must know I am taking away you’re incredible speed for no one gets two gifts.”

Thrilled, Chichi went and kissed Anim’s feet. “Thank you, thank you.”

The next day Chichi couldn’t wait to show Lily his new stripes. He ran from his home to meet her at the waterhole. It took him a very long time to get there, but he wasn’t concerned. Who needs speed when you have stripes? He thought to himself.

Lily was happy for her friend and his new spots. She and a few others were going hunting and they invited Chichi along. He agreed to come.

Lily and the others, who were much faster than Chichi, were ahead of him and catching all the prey. With time, Chichi fell behind greatly. He finally gave up and rested by a tree.

Everyday after that was the same thing. Chichi was always slower than all his other friends. One day while sitting alone, waiting for his friends to finish hunting, he saw Leo the leopard waltzing by.

The last time Chichi had seen Leo the two of them had looked very much alike. They both used to have the same shade of fur with no embellishments. But now Leo was coated in unique spots.

Leo said hello and then continued walking. Chichi admired Leo’s new spots. They were quite beautiful.

“Not what you thought it would be eh?”

Chichi was startled by the deep, familiar voice. He tensed up and looked around for whoever was near. Leo was already far away, so he knew it wasn’t him. Peering into the trees he could see Anim.

Chichi sighed. “No. I’m really slow now.”

“Ah yes, well you asked for stripes. Are they not treating you well?”

“The stripes are fine; I just need to be able to run again.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that,” Anim said slowly, shaking his head.

Chichi broke into sobs. “I’m sorry. I was jealous and selfish and I just wanted what Lily had, but now I realize what I had was amazing. I’d do anything to get it back.”

Anim was pleased with what Chichi had said. “You’ve admitted the truth. You were jealous and selfish. I will give you your gift back.”

“Oh thank you, thank you!”

“I will throw in another surprise gift if you promise to never become jealous of your friends again and accept that life throws at you.”

Chichi started shaking his head. “No, no. I do not deserve that. One gift is enough.”

Pleased with Chichi’s honesty and change of heart Anim decided to go against Chichi’s wishes and grant him a second gift anyway…he gave him spots.