“I used to be so certain about things,” Shenzi said. “My birth was the dawn of a new era. I was going to be the mate of Roh’khim. I used to know where I’d be a moon from now, a year from now, eight years.... Now it’s all upside down. And frankly, I don’t have a clue where I’m going to be five minutes from now.”

“Welcome to real life.”

Shenzi sighed. “Why was I born?”

“For the best possible reason. Jal and I loved each other, and we wanted pups. Before Melmokh came into our lives, that was our plan. You were conceived out of our love for each other. No one can take that away from you, Missy.”

She shuddered as the toxin began to work. “Tell me about my okhim again.”

“You would have loved him. He was looking so forward to being there to see you born. He was funny and sweet and as loyal to me as the sunrise is to the morning. The moon we spent together was the greatest of my life.”

“Only one moon?” she said, tight-lipped with the odd sensations in her stomach and abdomen.

“Yes, my sweet daughter.”

“I’m not a sweet daughter. I’m surprised you followed me to this hell hole after what I did to you.”

“Who said I followed you?” She smiled. “Ed needed someone to look after him.

“Oh!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh!!” Her eyes widened. “I’m having contractions!”

“Already?”

“Oh gods!!” She rolled over on her side and her back legs began to twitch. “Muti, I’m scared! Are you sure she said five?”

“Honey tree, that’s what she said!”

Shenzi panted heavily. The fur on her sides was moist with perspiration and she groaned. Fabana got the stick and put it between Shenzi’s jaws. Those powerful jaws could snap a small bone like a twig and grind the marrow from even the largest tibia. They notched the wood as she began to gnaw desperately.

“Honey, you have to push. Bear down.”

“But I...oh gods! Oh gods!! I’m being torn in half!!”

“Shenzi!” Fabana started to the water to see if it was cool.

“Muti! Don’t leave me!”

“I’m here, Honey!”

For several minutes, she experienced one contraction after another with no apparent effect. Then she began to bleed.

“It’s happening,” Fabana said.

“Is this what giving birth feels like?”

“No. This is unnatural. It’s not what Roh’kash intended.”

She shrieked a stifled cry, biting on the stick so hard it cracked. Fay nearly went crazy, kissing her daughter and stammering prayers to Roh’kash. Then when it seemed she could take no more, Shenzi’s water broke and moments later a single pup was expelled with a great deal of blood.

Shenzi rested a moment, then through sheer willpower she struggled to her feet and wobbled unsteadily to the water to wash off. Shenzi lingered in the water a moment, eyes closed as she relished the cool flow over her body. Reluctantly, she paced slowly out of the water and walked carefully towards the red stain on the sand, her eyes swimming as she took in the tiny form lying motionless on the ground. The pup had broken free from the afterbirth, small but well formed. Shenzi’s skin crawled as she saw it stir. “Muti!” she cried. “Look!”

Fabana gasped in horror as the pup’s head lifted waveringly, seeking them out with blind eyes. “I’ll get you,” it silently but clearly mouthed. “I’ll kill you!”

It trembled, crumpled over, and collapsed lifelessly into the dust.

Though afraid to touch it after this supernatural curse, Fabana dug a hole and pushed it and the afterbirth into it, covering it too deeply for most scavengers to dig up. After all, they did not want to attract any danger while they had to remain there.

For the next night and day, Shenzi drifted in and out of consciousness as the toxin circulated through her body. Sometimes she would have chills, and her okash would snuggle next to her, patting her with a paw and speaking words of encouragement and love.

Finally by the fourth day Shenzi could walk slowly but properly, and Fabana insisted that they must leave Redrock Kopje to find the others.

Shenzi was horribly weak and wobbly. Vultures, seeing her unsteady gait, begin to circle. But Fabana glared at the birds from time to time and they kept a safe distance.

Fay insisted that Skulk must know nothing of the abortion, so she kept Shenzi walking for long periods of time, resting only when necessary. “You are weak, but you must seem strong.” And little by little over the two day trip, Shenzi got her strength back.

When they rejoined the others by Elephant Kopje, Shenzi gracefully hid her remaining weakness.

“You must have had bad hunting,” Skulk said.

“No,” Shenzi quickly replied. “We fasted.”

Skulk glanced at Fabana. “Both of you?”

“Just her,” Fabana said.

“I did it for you,” Shenzi told Skulk, rubbing down his side. “In a few days there will be a full moon. They say pledging under a full moon means love will last forever.”

“At last? After all this time?” He nuzzled her passionately. “You promise?”

“I promise.”

Skulk pawed her gently. “I love you Shenzi.”

She smiled. Surely he would not be as skilled in pleasuring as was the Makei. But his love filled a hole deep inside of her, something the Makei never would or could try to address. “I love you too. You’ll never just know how much.”

CHAPTER 69: AMOR VINCIT OMNIA

Gur’bruk and Kambra gazed wearily upon the savanna before them as they padded over the ground with sore paws. Searching the horizon eagerly, they spotted Antelope Kopje in the distance, and soon afterwards the Clan Acacia. “Home!” Kambra muttered, her hackles standing up. “Dearest Roh’kash, I never thought I’d see it again!”

“Yes, old girl.”

“I wonder who’s in our old place.”

“I wonder how Bath and Mer’bel are.”

Kambra briefly whined. “So do I, but I’m scared. Will they want to see us? What if they’re dead? We don’t really know anything!”

“Don’t be foolish, dear. You’re just nervous, but everything’s going to be all right--God willing.”

They headed to the invisible line that marked the territory of the clan. In the bushes there were subtle sounds around that they recognized as sentries calling to each other.

“Maida elekhvor,” Kambra said.

One of the sentries stepped out. It was Ber. “That’s an old password, but....” He looked at them carefully. “Are you spirits?”

“What do you think?” Kambra asked.

Ber scratched behind his ear awkwardly. “Gur’bruk, how are you? Those things I said about your son--I mean--Gur’mekh paid for what he did, and I’m just trying to say that....”

“That you’ve missed us?” She pawed his face. “We’ve missed you too. You are glad to see us, aren’t you?”

Ber’s tail began to wag so hard that his whole back end began to shake. He nuzzled her warmly and cried, “Yes, yes! Welcome home, old friends! Oh gods, it’s good to see you again!”

“I take it we may pass?”

“Of course. I’ll take full responsibility. When you want in, remember that the new watchword is ‘elim galberet’ cause some of the new guards may not know you. We have a new Roh’mach, and he’s much kinder than the last two. He knows all about the makei, and I doubt he’ll honor the ban.”

“Who’s in charge now?” Gur’bruk asked.

“Uhuru. You knew him as Krull.”

“Krull? Your grandson Krull?”

Ber practically beamed. “Yes sir, none other!”

“I hope you don’t mind if we go say hello to the family.”

“By all means! But don’t be a stranger!” Ber nuzzled them both lovingly. “I’m so glad that we put the past behind us!”

Gur’bruk said, “I know what it feels like to lose a son. I’m so sorry, Ber! I just want you to know that.”

Ber nodded. “And I’m sorry about Gur’mekh. He loved you a great deal.”

“We’ll pay our respects to Lenti if she’ll see us.”

He shook his head. “Perhaps she’s looking down on you now.”