Kale had met the cheetah lady at a waterhole a couple of times before and it was at a waterhole she met her now. She’d been good wading in the shallows collecting a water weed that was the basis of a good cure for fever. They tasted bitter and muddy but Kale was getting good at collecting them without damaging them, so she didn’t have to taste it so much. Besides it may be bitter medicine but it was medicine all the same.
Mouth full, she’d turned back towards her precious bags and there Farli had been, sitting and smiling, waiting for the healer.
*
“Hello! I wondered if maybe you remembered me. My name is Farli. It’s just a remember meeting you at a sort of party and again that time, which your charming son Banazir…and I wondered if maybe you’d be so kind as to look me over, please.” She’d smelt the dog first and the potent medicinal odar of her collecting bags second and followed the scent. However when she’d seen the dog hard at work she’d decided she could wait patiently rather than rudely interrupt.
“I’ve not been feeling myself lately.”
*
“Yes! Yes I do remember you!” Kale beamed at the cheetah, as full of pep and energy as always. She’d draped the gathered weeds across a flat rock to dry, because damp she could hardly jam them into the right skin pouch. That task done she sat down without shrugging on her belt. The cheetah seemed friendly and kindly had remembered both Kale herself and her son. Kale most definitely had time to take a looksee at any ill creature, but friendly and kind ones especially.
“What’s been the problem?”
*
“Well I’ve been oddly down a few times, a little tired and…oh it’s embarrassing haven’t entered my heat cycle. I expected it sometime this season and nothing.” Farli waved a paw as if dismissively but it was clear that she was a little flustered by that. Whether simply by admission.
“I’m terribly worried there’s something wrong with me. I know worrying is a waste of energy but as I said I’m been down and I just can’t seem to help it these days. But then again I could be with cub. I had a lover recently but…my first litter if I am. I’m not sure how I should know.”
*
“I’m sure we can get to bottom of this Farli. ” The black and white wild dog reassured her new patient and reached out a paw every now and then. to adjust the quickly drying weeds as they spoked. “And it’s an old wives tale that all mothers just ‘know’ when they’re with pup – with cub even. I had an inkling that I was pregnant only after I started putting on weight. But alternatively if you aren’t and yet you havn’t started your cycle, we should find out what’s stopped it. You’re too glossy coated and while skinny you’re a good size for a cheetah….so it can’t be caused by famine.”
*
“And before you ask, no red root for me either. I know a side affect of eating those can be to make one tired and cranky and risks infertility – so I don’t indulge.”
Farli wasn’t very good at medicine, she was no healer, but she was a very social creature and met up with other party animals at waterholes when she could. So she knew of the red root craze and that Kale was likely to ask. But the golden cheetah preferred real funa and natural highs to eating red root.
*
“How about red berries? I know the Achana especially are fond of those. Harmless things and actually quite good for you – but eat too many…” Kale mimed flopped over with a paw to her head, causing both females to laugh. She poked at her waterweeds once more and found them dry and just a bit brittle to the claw. Time to pack them away and get moving.
*
“I haven’t travelled that way in a long while.” Farli sat once they’d finished having their giggle. Despite her worries and the serious nature of their talk, the bubbly wild dog and the cool cheetah were still in good spirits. She reached out to pick up the gourd flask, offering to take it up. For the wild dog had a lot to carry and seemed to be off.
*
“Mmm, well. In that case you’re better come to my place now and we’ll see what we can do. Banazir and myself will be in the area for a while yet, the harvest here has been very good.” Kale bustled about a moment, getting into the straps that held her belts and bags and bottles.
“So I can keep an eye – maybe two! - on you until you feel better.”
*
“Thankyou Kale. You’re a kind dog.” The cheetah beamed and as she was passed something else, could only nod and take it. Even if Kale couldn’t help her, Farli was grateful for her kindness thus far. She felt less gloomy with her.
*
“Carry this for me? –- thanks – you are a dear. Just with this it’s a bit of a struggle.”
All the medicinal goods and packages shared between them (though Kale, being their owner and fully healthy carried the most) the two females headed away from the water and towards where the wild dog was staying. Walimg alongside each other. Comfortable as old friends. The healer had the confidence of her patient and Kale was always full of energy.
“Now, tell me. If it is that you’re with cub, conceived before that ‘missed’ cycle really kicked in, would that be bad news?”
*
“Oh well…I hadn’t planned, we hadn’t, but I believe in going where life takes you. I’d welcome children, even if I didn’t mean to have them, cherish them.”
“And the father?”
“…”
END
