MEERKAT SAGA
well to start off, this is a chapter story i wrote after watching the documentary 'a meerkat family saga.' slot of the story lines are based on the documentary and the characters are too. i just want to note that the meerkat family saga is not copyright me. as for a little info on meerkats so you can understand the story better, meerkats live in the kalahari desert, south africa. they are knee high. the babies are called pups and this is a tragic story. i do warn that you may cry because it is filled with drama, devtion and loss. it is my frist story, so please reveiw nicely! thanks!
chapter 1: The saga begins
Digger had dug yet another great hole in the sand. The sides around it caved in but with another mighty shovel of his claws, he sent it all back, over the top of his sister, Grace. He had shovelled through the dry sand and fortunately found a scorpion burrow. With a snap of his jaws, scooped it up and ate greedily. Mother and father had proudly observed the area, making sure no rival meerkats charted their patch of land. Digger's family of over 20 dug with complete confidence. Mother had soon dropped to all fours and ravenously dug in the sands, to luckily find a giant millipede. Mother was late in pregnancy and was son to give birth. Grace and Digger played around a little before getting back to hunting. "Grace stop it, you're acting like a pup," Digger giggled, nudging his younger sister gently. "Oh, come on, Digs. I was only playin' around," Grace pleaded as Digger carried on with what comes best, digging. "I know you were," Digger joked, pouncing on Grace after lifting his head from his duty.
Mother crouched in agony. She was to give birth soon and so the family had to leave their day's foraging and head for home, father leading the way.
Like always, Digger and Grace strode behind, nipping each other playfully. "I wish life would always be like this," Digger laughed, running ahead. "Young, restless, happy. Yeah, life can be sweet."
By midnight, mother had given birth to a young, blind litter of 4 hairless pups that were less than 30grams and were about the size of your thumb. Father and mother nose nudged proudly as the group slept soundly around them. The night was silent and all was heard were snores and mumbles made by sleep-talking group members. Digger slept by himself on the edge of the burrow, curled up warmly. His drowsy eyes kept themselves shut and his light, easy breathing made the entire night peaceful and relaxing.
By morning, Digger was last to wake to a frenzy of hard workers and groomers. Digger eventually got up and instantly started to dig out the sand that had slid down during the night. Mother's pups were resting, still suckling her milk. Grace had lacked in her duties and sat at the entrance, looking into the horizon. She was a little day dreamer, Grace was. Her warm blue eyes glittered every time she felt dreamy or had a great sensation spread over her.
Digger had marched up to Grace and started to groom her, leaving his first job. They were very close brother and sister, since they were the only ones of their litter. Both were around a year old and were the youngest juveniles in the group. Eventually, mother, father and the entire family joined in, except for the rogue sister, Ginger. She liked to be a rogue and played heaps and heaps, sometimes a little too much.
By the time grooming had finished, the group set out for foraging where Digger got his hands on a giant scorpion. Grace was toying around with him and stole the prize meal and ran away to eat it, laughing. Ginger walked on by the side, snatching Digger's food as well. "Hey, come on guys! Stop it," Digger complained, jumping at his skink he caught. Ginger and Grace laughed.
Digger pouted and bulldozed through the sand, grabbing a beetle and scoffing it down. He then snapped up baby scorpions one by one and got the hiccups from eating too fast. "Did mother ever tell you not to eat your food too fast," Ginger giggled. Digger was annoyed.
By midday the sun had climbed high in the sky and the heat soon became too intense so the family settled down for a nap. A sentry remained. Grace shuffled her snout into the sand, groaning with tiredness. Mother and father slept near each other.
Grace tried to sleep out her head ache she got. Suddenly, she turned her head to see Digger still digging. Ginger lay near Grace who watched her brother in a daze. "He is crazy. Digger, you're crazy!" Grace shouted, hurting her head.
Digger dug a giant hole, nearly big enough for a burrow entrance and settled inside there, exhausted. The sentry started to lose concentration and flipped off the log he stood on. He got up and stood under the burning sun, looking around for predators. Suddenly, a jackal wondered by, plotting along the burning sand. The sentry followed with his eye as the jackal walked along, searching for food.
Jackals were known to eat many meerkats and it had unwillingly been heading towards Digger and his sleeping family.
so what do you think? a little cliffhanger. i'll try to get the next chapter asap. bye!