Survival of the Fittest

by Jacqui Murray

  Pup huffed, slapped the cane with a paw, tasted it one last time, and then fixed pleading eyes on his pack leader.

  Zvi shook her head. "I have to crawl down to rescue you—is this how it's going to be? Well, there’s no other option, is there.”

  She looked around, hoping for a vine or an alternate path to the ledge, and saw something.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Much to Pup’s distress, Zvi pulled the pole up and wedged it between two trees. Holding a pup-sized boulder, she hung by one arm from the bamboo. It bent but didn’t break.

  She raced to the cliff, coughing. “The smoke is thicker, Pup. We must hurry.” If this took much longer, neither of them would be able to breathe. “I’ll drop this to the ledge you’re on and come get you.”

  The mixture of hand motions and soothing sounds calmed the wolf. He plopped to his haunches, panted heavily while wagging his fuzzy tail over the dirt. Zvi clutched the pole in her big hands and let it guide her down until her feet touched the ledge. Pup leaped into her arms, almost pitching her over the edge, licking her with his rough tongue and burying his snout into her ample neck.

  "I would never leave you, Pup. We are pack."

  She held his shivering body against her with one arm, wrapped her legs around the pole, and tried to haul them both upward one handed but for every forward movement, they slipped back, their combined bulk simply too heavy. Even grabbing roots to steady herself did no good because they came loose.

  Zvi canted her head. The smoke was thicker already and the reek of fire heavier. Whinnies and screeches were everywhere as was the stench of burning flesh. Her throat tightened and her chest contracted. Her vision darkened at the edges. Was this her day to die? Abandoning the wolf would free both of her arms to climb up the pole.

  She couldn’t live with herself if she did that.

  She closed her eyes and became Eagle, soaring overhead safe from the fire, floating on quiet wings high above the tiny wriggling wolf, tail wagging furiously, head nestled into the chest of the bumbling female. Eagle dipped for a closer look and cawed in fright to see the red earth steadily crumbling below the ledge.

  Eagle’s farsight easily surpassed any other living creature and she zoomed in on the shaking figure and the tiny wolf who would never get any older if his trembling pack leader didn’t do something.

  “The tendons!” Always wound around Zvi’s neck, fibrous and stretchy like the Gazelle they came from.

  With a swoop, Zvi snapped back to reality. Fingers stiff with fear, she unlooped the tendon and secured the wolf to her chest. The pup’s nails dug into her skin but it didn’t hurt. Nothing about Pup could bother her. He was her pack. Now, with both hands free, Zvi clawed her way up the cliff, over the lip, and the two fled.

  Smoke rolled over them like a fog bank, but despite the stench, Zvi picked out the scent.

  “That salty smell is Endless Pond. We must stay in front of it.”

  Pup snorted happily and cavorted as though to say yes.

  The deeper they traveled into the unknown, the better the air but the land continued to shake. When exhaustion stopped Zvi, the two curled into the roots of a tree and slept.

  The next day, Pup greeted her with an exuberant lunge. Zvi endured his roughhousing until he loped outside to do his business. Then, Zvi licked at her many bloody scratches, the result of Pup’s unrestrained play, and smiled, watching as Pup marked the boundaries of his pack’s nest.

  "It’s time to leave, Pup. Here, it still smells of cinder."

  He perked his ears and cocked his head before galumphing after his pack leader. As Zvi searched for food, Pup dodged and pranced, huffing at anything that could mean danger.

  "Stay close to me!"

  Which he didn’t, though he marked his path with continual yapping and barking. Zvi lurched forward, calling, hoping he didn’t go so far that his voice no longer carried. Finally, she rounded a corner and found Pup, hunched at the base of a tree over the unconscious body of a child as though guarding it. The youngster was an Other but much smaller than Zvi with bark-colored skin, scrawny legs, and massive brow ridges. Blood clotted in deep gouges on his chest and raw angry burns dotted his arms.

  None of that bothered Zvi. Her plants would heal those. What almost scared the courage out of her was the snake next to the young male.

  Earth chose that moment to tremble which made the snake hiss, thinking it was being attacked. It struck as Zvi tried to grab the unconscious boy, missing Zvi but biting the boy’s ankle.

  “No!” Zvi walloped the snake with a stick, wanting simply to scare it away.

  Again, her unpredictable strength got her in trouble. The snake stilled, a deep flat groove behind its head almost breaking the serpentine body into two.

  "Oh, snake! I know you intended no harm," Zvi wailed but there was no time for regrets. The boy would die if something wasn’t done, and quickly. She dropped to her knees and sucked the poison from the fang marks, spit it out and repeated until the only taste was blood. Pup panted heavily, so close his fur tickled her face.

  The youngster was too small and vulnerable to recover on his own so Zvi slung him over her shoulder, Pup prancing at her feet, and hurried to a hyaena den they had passed earlier. She approached warily, sniffed, and threw a dirt clod inside. When no growl answered, the small group shuffled across the threshold, Zvi ducking to avoid the roof, the boy in one arm and her makeshift spear in the other.

  Pup growled.

  “It’s empty, well, except for molted fur and old carrion bones.” She laid the boy in the path of a breeze. "Watch him, pup. I need plants," and left.

  Despite the strangeness of the area, Zvi located the necessary herbs, mulched them, and applied a salve to the youngster's wound. Other leaves, she pounded into a flat compress, soaked in water, and laid across his burning forehead. When Sun slept and the air cooled, Zvi moved the youngster to a nest of moss, leaves, and boughs at the back of the cave where the day’s heat had collected. Zvi sat at his side, knapping tools accompanied by the wheezing sound of the youngster’s labored breathes.

  Sun awoke, shining hazy light through the murky sky, but he remained unconscious.

  Chapter 32

  A day and another passed. Zvi found abundant carcasses of animals who ran so hard, it killed them. Zvi collected one each morning with whatever nuts or berries were available and then tended the youngster. Nothing she tried helped, no matter the herb or root or bark, and he remained unconscious, breathing shallow, skin damp.

  This morning, Zvi ducked into the cave carrying a dead hare and a water vine. To her surprise, the boy was not only sitting up but giggling, the wolf licking his neck, enjoying the taste of his stale sweat.

  Her eyes popped open and her cheeks burned with excitement. "You're awake!"

  He turned a red, tired gaze to Zvi while petting the wolf. "Blue eyes in a wolf are unusual. I can’t believe you have a wolf for a friend. I often thought wolves must be sociable with their grinning mouths and wagging tails." He winced. "My head—what happened? And my leg prickles."

  Pup nudged the youngster as Zvi smiled, happy the stranger spoke her language. Well, the hand signals helped a lot.

  "First, d-drink this,” and inserted one end of the water vine into the boy’s mouth.

  He gurgled, swished noisily, and swallowed. “How did you know about these vines? I haven't seen you here. You look nothing like the local tribes. Which is good because—"

  Zvi interrupted his gush of words. "My name is Zvi. What is your n-name?"

  “Seeker," and he started to rattle on about how much he liked Zvi’s name but she interrupted again. "E-eat this. You must get your strength back," and handed the boy named Seeker a chunk of raw meat. Zvi didn’t know how long they could stay in this den but had decided to remain with him—Seeker—until he recovered.

  "Mmm..." The boy chewed, his face lighting up. "I recognize the taste."

  Zvi drooped. "It's s-snake. I killed it by accident."
/>   Seeker stopped mid-chew and looked her up and down. "Yes, you're large enough to do that. I’m not. My family loves snake but they're too fast for even the fleetest hunters in my tribe. One bit my mother..."

  His voice trailed off at the sight of the fang marks on his ankle.

  Zvi flushed. "It's my fault, Seeker. I saw the snake and was trying to get you away when earth shook and threw Snake against you. It bit out of surprise, I think —why would it hurt you? When I-I h-hit it so it would let you go, it d-died."

  Seeker looked his own body over from chest to toes, faltering at his tingling leg, and then motioned, "Why am I not dead?"

  Zvi wouldn’t look at Seeker. “I sucked the v-venom out. I didn’t know what else to do.” Fear washed her body. Saving Seeker at the expense of Snake—was it right to interfere with the animal’s meal? "It was defending itself, as I m-might. I honored its sacrifice by using its b-body for food."

  When Seeker looked confused, Zvi explained in increasingly broken sentences about finding him unconscious. "Do the b-bites hurt? I can give you b-bark to ch-chew."

  Seeker thought for a moment and answered, "No. Not at all."

  Zvi showed Seeker how she washed the bite, crushed the plant leaves and rubbed them over the snakebite, and then covered it with a compress to minimize the swelling.

  "Thank you, Zvi. Do you know why my vision is blurry?"

  That upset Zvi, greatly. She blundered killing the snake—that was obvious—and it blinded her patient.

  "Maybe from the sn-sn-snake bite. The blurry vision I-I mean." The wolf panted, curious eyes fixed on first Zvi and then Seeker.

  Zvi took a deep breath and continued, "But I d-don't know if numb-numbness-ness is ... is ... is... "

  "Normal?" Seeker finished for her. His gaze fixed on hers. "You wonder if numbness is normal from a snakebite?" Calm replaced Seeker's rambling. "Excellent question. Hmmm… I don't know the answer to that either."

  Pup panted, resting his muzzle on Zvi’s foot as she motioned, "Few-few of my tribe... ever... survived... Snake’s bite."

  After a pause, Seeker, motioned, "How did you find me?"

  “Oh, I didn’t. It was Pup.”

  Seeker’s heavy brow puckered and his head cocked. “How did you befriend a wolf?”

  Zvi explained about the explosion, the fires, fleeing, finding the wolf, and then how he led her to Seeker’s unconscious body. Seeker interrupted here and there with a clarifying question but grinned at Pup and seemed impressed with what Zvi thought was a pretty bumbled attempt to help.

  While talking, she cut a ring around each of the hare’s hind feet, slit the pelt, and then peeled upward until it bunched like a collar around the neck. One swift blow chopped off the head, making it easy to pull out the offal and the edible intestines. Then, Zvi tossed pieces to everyone and she devoured the rest.

  By the time her explanation of how Seeker came to be in the hyaena den ended, they had finished eating and Zvi no longer stuttered but Seeker’s cheeks were red with heat and his eyes glassy so she covered him with wet leaves.

  Seeker smiled. “How do you know what to do for sicknesses, Zvi?”

  She flushed. “I wasn’t allowed around my tribe’s healer but Giganto—my friend—taught me.”

  When Seeker remained silent, Zvi asked, “Why do you wear such a small animal skin around your waist?”

  “It is called a loin-skin, to protect my sensitive parts from being scratched and cut while climbing. Your people don’t?”

  Zvi shook her head. “We rarely climb.”

  Seeker tilted his head up and asked, "Zvi, would you look outside for the stars? I lost them after the explosion. If they left, I must too. They guide me." His browed furrowed and he chewed a corner of his lip.

  “Pup—stay with Seeker while I check.” Pup scuttled closer, eyeing the new pack member hopefully, muzzle open in a smile.

  Zvi walked outside and tipped her head. There, glistening overhead, was a field of stars, sparkling and shining.

  “Good. Seeker doesn’t need any more upset.”

  She chopped another water vine for Seeker and dumped the end into his mouth while delivering the good news.

  Seeker threw up.

  The wolf licked up the vomit and sat, swishing his tail against the dirt floor, hoping for more.

  "I drank too fast, that’s all. I know better.”

  The pup nibbled Seeker’s fingers and then twisted his head to the side. "Do you hear it, Zvi? Pup?"

  Zvi strained but heard nothing. Pup slapped his paws to the ground.

  Seeker’s features pinched. "Do you hear Owl?”

  Zvi stood in the mouth of the cave, listening, but shook her head.

  “That’s because Owl left, Zvi. I must, too.”

  “But you are ill, Seeker. Wait until you are well.”

  Seeker shook his head. “Everything that happened—the explosions, the fires, the quaking, and my injuries—are part of a plan. It’s why snake gave up his life for me and you and Pup were there to save me. It’s why you rescued Pup.”

  Zvi liked that a plan explained her life—why her family died and her new people rejected her, why Giganto died.

  Seeker peered out the mouth of the cave, wriggling around as he tried to stand. "You are the answer, Zvi. I’ve been looking for you."

  "Maybe being odd is OK."

  “Odd is preferable, Zvi. Without odd, change can’t happen.”

  Seeker finally lay back in the nest with Pup curled at his side.

  “No one I know would help a stranger, Zvi, especially one injured. Why did you?”

  “Truth, I couldn't not help.” When Seeker didn’t respond, she motioned, "Why did you travel alone? That’s dangerous."

  “I didn’t. The stars are my company.”

  Seeker startled awake which woke Zvi. The youngster sat up, then tried to stand but failed.

  Zvi motioned, “It will take time to get your strength back.”

  “Zvi, I appreciate what you’ve done for me but I must go. There can be no life where there are no stars.”

  Zvi shook her head, trying to clear the sleep away. “I saw the stars. Do you remember me telling you?”

  “But did you really see them, Zvi?” Seeker’s gaze drilled into Zvi as though he saw her thoughts and memories. “I’ll show you what I mean. Would you help me up?”

  Which Zvi did—of course—and they hobbled outside moving at Seeker’s pace, which was about the same as Zvi’s normal walking speed.

  Once outside, Seeker motioned, “Look up, Zvi. What do you see?”

  “Stars everywhere, bright and glinting. There are more here than in the jungle—”

  “But they’re in the wrong position. That big one should be there, and that group,” he pointed, “should be further away—Zvi, I can’t stay.”

  Zvi’s eyes brimmed with tears. Seeker thought it was her fault the stars were broken. Maybe it was. Would pup stay with someone who could break the stars? Her hands shook so, she couldn’t respond.

  Seeker didn’t seem to notice.

  “Tomorrow,” and Seeker wobbled back into the cave, wincing. “We must go.”

  “We?” Zvi lurched toward Seeker. Did he say ‘we’?”

  He continued, “Of course. You are part of this Zvi. Where the stars feel at home, there we will find ours,” and then his eyes rolled up and he toppled into Zvi’s arms.

  “He is burning hot, Pup!” Why is he sick again?

  Days slid by and Seeker remained unconscious. Pup brought food—mostly small rats and mice—while Zvi tended the boy. The snakebite flared swollen and red, but less each day under Zvi’s herbs, and the fever abated. Still, he slept.

  Zvi took the time to search for Seeker’s People but no matter how far she traveled or how tall the tree or cliff she scaled, there was no trace of anyone. The two were alone.

  Seeker only awoke once and then, he asked immediately about the stars. When Zvi admitted they were the same, Seeker again passed out.
/>   “Seeker, I promise, if you recover, I will help you find the stars.” A tear rolled down her face. “You must live, Seeker. Please.”

  Chapter 33

  Zvi awoke to the sounds of Seeker and Pup playing. As soon as her eyes flicked open, Seeker scooted to his feet.

  “We must go. Pup says he will join us. We will go first to my people. I promised to return.”

  This was the first time Seeker had ever mentioned his family. Zvi perked up. “Where do you live?”

  “Far from here, in a jungled lowland that dumps into Endless Pond. It is a long journey but beautiful. I want them to meet you and Pup, the ones who saved my life.”

  Zvi frowned. “I don’t know that area, Seeker. How safe is it? Pup is still too young to defend himself.” Fear laced her hand motions.

  “I will keep you safe.”

  Zvi wasn’t convinced but let it go when Pup woofed a high-pitched growl as though to argue he had grown.

  Zvi sighed in resignation. “Even if they don’t join… us… they will be happy to know you are safe.”

  Seeker motioned benignly, “You have traveled far from your People, too, Zvi. Do they worry about you? Should we also look for them before we leave?”

  Of course Seeker connected that she too was alone. Her whole body drooped like a water-starved plant. “No. And no. After the Explosion, they didn’t even t-try to f-find me… They k-killed Pup’s brother and wanted to k-kill P-Pup also, even when I explained that I’m his pack.”

  Seeker groomed Pup, eating the ticks and discarding the twigs and leaves embedded in the wolf’s fur. “If I stay home, they expect me to hunt. There’s no time for that when so much of life must still be discovered!”

  “What If I hadn’t found you, Seeker?”

  “But you did.” Something offhand and hopeful emerged in his expression. “And why do you think I came this direction, Zvi? I found you, too.”

  Zvi blinked. When she opened her eyes, Seeker was staring into the distance. Zvi turned but all she saw were trees and a misty sky.