John Burkitt - Shadow of Makei

“You mean it?”

“I don’t say what I don’t mean. You know that.” She nuzzled him. “You will bring my daughter the things she’s been missing in her life. I know we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye....” She smiled, self-consciously, turning her good side to face him. “Still, I will be glad to have you as my son.”

Skulk smiled sheepishly. “Things are going to be better. We’re going to find us a good territory, one where our pups can grow and play. No more of this scrabbling in the badlands. And you’ll see, things can only get better from here. I promise I’ll be the best husband I can be for your Shenzi.”

They arranged to meet at Elephant Kopje in six days. Skulk would remain in charge, even without Fabana to keep Banzai and Ed in line. They knew better than to cross him, and he warned them again just to make sure.

Fabana chatted with Shenzi as they headed off into the south. She described her dream of a white lioness who told her of the fruits that grew by Redrock Kopje. “They taste bitter, but they will end your bitterness. They bring death but they will save your life.”

“Good,” Shenzi said defiantly. “That will rid me of the last of Melmokh.” She tried to be brave about it, but slowly her face fell, her ears and tail fell limp and she trudged along like the dying. Tears began to run down her cheeks.

“I was looking forward to being a mother. I thought I could find happiness and be normal like everyone else.”

“What is inside you is no bringer of happiness. Look forward to being with Skulk. His children will bring you happiness. And so will he, I warrant.”

They only walked about a day and a night to find Redrock Kopje. After gaining the goal so easily, Shenzi asked her okash, “Why did you say we’d be gone for six whole days?”

“You’ll find out. I was warned that we must not rush things.”

The plants grew next to a watering hole at the base of the kopje. It was not a very safe location. Surely others came to drink besides the antelopes and zebras that fled before them. Ones not so likely to flee.

Fabana came with bated breath to the water, then looked around carefully, sniffing and listening to the best of her ability. After many moments passed, she called Shenzi to join her and she searched for the berries.

The fruits were dark green with light stripes. The bush they grew on was covered with thorns, and just the look--and smell--of it was enough to panic someone made of less stern stuff. But Shenzi was determined to change her life for the better and strike a blow at the evil creature that violated her.

“You must eat five--no more, no less.”

Shenzi forced down one. She nearly vomited. “Ooh, these are bitter!”

“You will forget the bitterness soon enough.”

Another went down, her face tightening with disgust. Then three more. Gasping, she wanted to wash them down with water, but Fabana cautioned her against it.

“We must do exactly as we are told. Now then, Missy, I will find you a stick.”

“Why?”

“Something to chew on. You’ll need it, honey tree. If you don’t want to bite clear through your tongue.”

“Oh??” Shenzi settled down to rest by the water. “Muti, I’m afraid.”

“I know. So am I.”

Fabana pulled over a large stick. Then she began to groom Shenzi who smiled to feel the closeness of her muti again.

“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.