Basic Instinct finally sheds her burden, birthing four sacs over the course of an hour. They are connected to an old tree that has fallen, the massive roots the perfect cradle for young Kimeti. She stands back; tired, relieved and completely disgusted. Disgusted not only by what she had created but also in herself. The doe could have laid her clutch somewhere safe. She could have given birth to them on the land of The Mothers Club and let Peep take over. But she doesn’t want them to live that life. She doesn’t want to arrive on tribe lands with food and see her own children at play. Having them inside her had been bad enough and now she never wants to see them ever again.
Basic Instinct did not and would never have a mother’s instinct.
She feels sick.
"You horrible and selfish doe," she says out loud for only her benefit but she can’t bring herself to make the decision to tell anyone that might care that they exist. In a few days it would be as though they’d never been born at all; just a memory. It would be better that way. If they were strong, they would survive.
"I’m sorry…"
In some strange way she means the words, even as she walks away.
They are left alone.
But not for long.
The alligator catches their scent but does not approach.
The boar gives the area a wide berth as it trundles past; hairs on its back lifting in alarm.
Even the birds avoid the fallen tree and its cargo.
Then the foals emerge, one after the other, spilling out blindly to the ground. It is only now that No Mercy steps forth and stands over the newborns, his grandchildren, his mouth stretched into an unpleasant grin. He has been waiting a long time for this and now it’s his chance. He’s sick of green; he has decided this. He has had enough of the colour that covers his own body and plagues his kin. No, he’ll take the red one.
It is with surprising gentleness that the buck nudges the young male away from his siblings, urging him to stay by his side. The foal follows blindly, stumbling and desperate to stick to the warm, protective body that is the first thing he knows. They disappear appear into the swamp and leave the others behind.
And when No Mercy hears his new foals name for the first time, he laughs.