A long time ago, animals looked different. Kangaroos had no tails, and wombats had high, round heads.
Mirram the Kangaroo and Warreen the Wombat were good friends. They lived together in a bark hut built by Warreen. While they enjoyed each other's company, Mirram preferred sleeping outside and often teased Warreen for always staying indoors.
"Come sleep outside with me, Warreen," said Mirram. "It's wonderful to gaze at the stars and listen to the wind in the trees."
"It's too cold outside," snuffled Warreen. "It might rain! I prefer my warm hut with a cozy fire."
Mirram wouldn't listen. "Your hut is dark and smelly. Sleeping under the stars in the fresh air is far better!"
"No, thank you," replied Warreen. "I'm comfortable here."
Mirram grew impatient. "You're just scared. Afraid of a little breeze."
"I'm not frightened," Warreen insisted. "I simply like my bark hut!"
Mirram kept taunting Warreen until, one night, the wombat agreed to sleep outside. He soon grew cold and waddled back inside, much to Kangaroo's amusement.
They remained friends all summer, though Mirram still occasionally mocked Warreen's hut.
Winter changed everything. As Mirram slept outside, the nights grew colder. At first, he didn't mind. He snuggled against a tree, scoffing at the thought of Warreen in his "smelly" hut. "Wombat wouldn't brave the wind like me," he thought.
The wind grew stronger and colder. Mirram curled into a tight ball, hugging his tree. He told himself the wind couldn't hurt him—he wasn't afraid. When rain began to fall, he muttered, "A little wind and rain won't hurt me. I'm not afraid."