Kima's head was clouded. She couldn't remember how many days she had been moving, or how far she had gone. It had been a stupid idea. When she had realized she was bearing cubs she had begun to make notes to herself, arrows pointing in the directions she thought she might seek help. They had helped at first, but this morning there were two. What good were they to her if she couldn't even remember how to do them properly. She was frustrated with herself. Beside the arrows were etched seven little lines. At least she had gotten that part right. Her throat caught as she looked to the seven squirming little cubs at her side. She had to protect them. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she lost one. Had she already?
Sadiki really shouldn't have expected more from Bubu. After their boys had grown, she'd disappeared for a while and had mysteriously returned with a handful of cubs. One was female, the rest were boys. That wasn't fair. Sadiki wanted a daughter, and he wanted his own daughter. Not one that Bubu brought back to the pride, one that belonged to someone else.
Cranky, upset and furious that he WAS upset, Sadiki escaped into the roguelands for a bit. His own sons were grown and strong, and thus far hadn't shown any signs of having the sight. That put Sadiki's mind at ease.
His nostrils flared gently as he picked up a scent. Tantalizingly familiar but he couldn't put a paw on it. Sadiki frowned as he picked up the pace -- with this almost-familiar scent there lingered a new smell, one he definetly didn't recognize.
As the breeze came past her something lit up in her mind. She wasn't sure what it meant, only that it put her fur on edge. There was little to nothing she remembered of her past, she had spent so much energy on these cubs. They weren't even walking yet, she wasn't sure what to think for the future. She could only keep going. She would find someone for them. "Who's out there?" she called with a hint of fear in her voice. Her vision was deteriorating, she couldn't see far beyond a few yards. Quickly she tightened her body around the cubs, trying not to shake.
That voice -- Sadiki recognized that voice. It was a voice that filled him with sadness for memories of long ago, a voice that made him feel like second chances really did exist. Kima.
He moved faster, calling out though he knew the likelihood that she would remember him was almost nonexistant. "Kima! It's Sadiki." The desperation, the childish hope he heard in his own voice was so embarassing, so infuriating. What could he do, though? He had to admit, he was surpised she was still alive.
He caught sight of her, approaching carefully. She hunched over something and Sadiki didn't want to frighten her. It was probably a meal, nothing more, and she was likely frightened that he wanted it.
"I won't hurt you," he whispered softly.
Sadiki. The name echoed through her mind before being lost into the cloud. The downside of her fixation had been that so much of what she had clung to before had disappeared. She knew that she had heard the name before, and as he came into her vision she recognized him, but she did not know why. "Sadiki," she repeated, her eyes searching for something in him. She would just have to trust his words, she was in no position to run. "Don't touch them," she said quietly as he approached, "They need help. I need to find them help."
Touch them? Sadiki frowned warily as he peered over her body.
That was definitely NOT food.
He couldn't tell exactly how many cubs writhed against her, and there was no denying that these were her children. There were a few that looked almost identical to Kima, though admittedly with more stripes. Sadiki was stunned. It was obvious, too, that they were hungry and weak. How had this happened?
"I can help," he said softly, though he didn't know how. "I can help you, Kima. Just... stay calm. I'll figure something out." He wasn't going to leave her behind, that was certain.
His words acted as a panacea for her and for a moment her body relaxed. She remembered him, somewhere in the back of her mind. Calm. She almost smiled, her mind coming together briefly as it occured to her. "Sadiki," she said again, this time connecting him to the past encounter, "Sadiki my dear." Her paws shook lightly as she removed one of the cubs from the bunch, a dark boy with freckled cheeks, and pushed him toward the cheetah. "There's seven of them," she said softly, licking the cub's head, "Always seven."
Sadiki drew the small, trembling ball of fur closer to him, his eyes watching Kima closely. He had to get her somewhere safe, he had to do it now. She was easy prey for any predator that came along. How had she gotten here with seven cubs? They were close to the pride land that Sadiki called home. He didn't know what to believe. Had the gods brought her to him?
"Can you walk, Kima?" He hoped she could. How many could he carry at once? He was terrified that if he left her here she would disappear, vanish into thin air. Even if she couldn't walk, if he could somehow convince her to stay here, somehow MAKE her remember his words and commands, he could take back one cub and bring help back with him. Bubu could help feed the babies, he was certain she wouldn't say no.
She nodded, getting to her feet as she began to shake again. In the past she had moved slowly, taking a few steps with one cub and then returning for the next. It was slow going, but it ensured that she would never leave one behind. In her confusion though it was likely she had gone back the wrong direction before. "Where are we going?" she asked softly as she lifted one of the cubs, wavering a bit. It wouldn't do well to drop one. She set it down again, watching him. Something in her called to take the one he had back, but where would she go? He had family, she didn't. They'd be alright, he was help.
This would be easier. This way he could keep an eye on her.
"We're going somewhere safe. A new home, Kima. A place where your cubs will be safe. I'll take care of you," he said gruffly, gritting his teeth. "I'll take care of you all. Just follow me." He didn't want to give her long commands -- he remembered from his mother, short and succinct orders were best. Easier to remember, easier to follow.
"Pick up one cub, take it as far as you can." He would do the same, though he would make sure they didn't get out of sight of the cubs. It would take a while, and it would be tiring, but these babies needed shelter and food or they wouldn't last another day or two.
Again she nodded, her head lolling a bit as she looked at the cubs. Pick one, they were all squirming. Shushing them softly she nuzzled the bunch, choosing one of the girls after a moment. They were soft hearted, she could tell. She could only hope that they weren't sick. Time would tell. Time. She stumbled slightly as she straightened up, turning to face him with the cub hanging slack in her jaws. Like he had said she began to walk past him, assuming that the direction from which he had come was the proper one. One, two, three. She just had to make it a little further for them. When she had reached her vision's edge and could barely see the other cubs, she stopped, turning to him for direction.
Sadiki was right behind her, nodding with encouragement. He carefully placed the cub he carried at her feet, speaking gently. "Now wait. I'll get the others." He paused, feeling like he should repeat the order, "Wait here, Kima." His eyes were soft as he watched her before he dashed back towards the squirming pile of cubs, grasping another firmly in his jaws. He quickly trotted the cub back to Kima, repeating his firm plea of "Stay here, Kima."
Back and forth, back and forth, until all of the cubs were reunited with their mother once more.
"Again, Kima. To safety."
She picked up a different cub this time, not wanting to show any sort of favoritism. With the new cub situated in her jaws she began to move again, trying her best to stay in a straight line. Everything would be alright. She had found help, that was all she had promised them. When she reached her far point she sat down, wanting desperately to follow his direction. She would wait, she could do that. There wasn't much time left.
When she moved again, Sadiki followed with another cub. As he had done before, Sadiki took off running to trot back to her carefully with one more cub clasped in his mouth. They were making progress. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless. It would take time, it would take redirection on his part and patience most of all, but this was a second chance for Sadiki. He would never leave Kima's side.
He would rescue her, keep her safe, and raise these cubs as his own.
As long as they kept on in the direction they were going, moving at the same pace they had been, they would make good time.
