Panic. Panic. Panic. Panic.
It was the only word that allowed itself into her mind. Every few seconds she forgot Mpaji was even beside her- and it took accidentally bumping into the slave now and then to reaffirm his presence and to clam down her manic state. Somewhat. Ideas were flying in her mind at rapid pace. Kidondo on the sand, no, no, no, now they’re cubs and mother is bringing them to meet father, but now he’s dead, and then it’s back again and she’s standing in the gorge; but even then she can smell her mother has been ill, and this time she has feathers and the world changes beneath her.
“Can’t, head,” She mumbled, shaking it back and forth. Have to focus! She thought miserably. The panic was making her already troubled mind crackle with electricity. A broken seer made even more wild by the force of emotion all around her. She staggered occasionally, as if sick.
And then, suddenly, she was back- if only for a moment. “My sons!” She said again, looking wearily to Mpaji. “Oh, oh…” Mpaji’s children too. She’d said she’d help them. But then, she was back again leaning over the rocks and telling Uzulu how the sun was in the sky, back when she’d first met him.
No, no. I’ve been there before, she reminded herself. That’s not happening.
“Where could they be?” She turned to Mpaji, back again. “Everyone’s moving. I can-“ She shook her head. “Why is everyone moving so loud!?”
No screaming, she thought. Nerves. Kaanga panted, and sucked in breath. "Tell Kaanga what to do, she doesn't know-" She wept to him.
