by Ian Whybrow
“The sound of a lioness with a bad temper is louder than thunder,” Radiant said by way of conversation as they chewed their meal. “But five of them! Gosh! I’ve had a few shocks in my time, but never anything like that!”
She was surprised to find that Mimi had nuzzled up to her and was running her paws through her fur, tenderly searching out fleas. “I just thought I’d say,” said Mimi, clearing her throat with a little nervous cough, “that I think you’ve been… you know… and it was awfully brave of you to…”
“Oh gosh! Stop!” cried Radiant. “You’ll have me blubbering in a minute!” She gave Mimi a lick and a squeeze. “Lucky I’m not the blubbering sort, eh? I’m just proud and happy to be part of the mob. And I do hope you’re happy to have me. Are you?”
“I…” stammered Mimi.
“WE!” chorused the others. “WE’re all glad WE’ve got you!”
Mimi was at a loss for words, so she took off her headdress and placed it on Radiant’s head. “You have it. It suits you…” she managed to whisper.
Uncle was as happy as a barking gecko to see that they had become friends, and just to prove it, he dashed around and gave them all a good, loving squirt.
“I’m glad Griff found his mama,” said Skeema.
“I wish we’d found ours,” said Little Dream, sadly. “Pity we never got the chance to ask the jackals where they saw her.”
“If it was dear Fragrant, Dreamie,” cautioned Uncle, mildly.
“Well, that dreadful she-jackal mistook Mimi for her, whoever she was,” said Radiant. “So the question is, does Mimi look anything like her mama?”
“Well, now that you mention it, I must admit, she’s the spitting image of her,” Uncle said, nodding.
“Then it must be Mama they saw!” said Little Dream, eyes wide and sparkly. “And one day we will find her, I’m sure of it.”
“Hurrumph,” said Uncle. “That’s the stuff, Dreamie! Never say never, what-what!”
“I wonder…” said Little Dream, jumping up and running toward the path that led up to the cave.
“Wait for me, for me!” wailed Mimi as she chased after him, racing Skeema up the path.
“What now, kits?” puffed Uncle, following them into the echoing chamber, Radiant at his side.
When his eyes got used to the dark, he was astonished by what the kits had led him to. On the cave wall were a mass of red shapes, all outlined in black.
“By all that tugs and tickles the brain!” said Uncle, his jaw dropping open. “Those shapes look remarkably like desert animals! Elephants, look, Radiant—and giraffes!”
“Look at this one!” squealed Little Dream. “It wasn’t here before.”
“Well I’m bitten!” exclaimed Uncle. The shape he was looking at reminded him of a young Blah-blah male. He was squatting down, pointing with his spear at some tiny pawprints. And behind him, looking at the pawprints too, were… one-two-three-four-five…
“Meerkats!” they all shouted, smiling around at each other. They looked at the picture in silent awe.
“I wonder what’s going to happen to them next,” whispered Little Dream.
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