It was late into the morning, Bhati had wandered off into the scrub to exercise a bit. Mkuki, the old owl, was already asleep, and Nuru had apparently left somewhere. The fox had seen Kweli and Hamu basking by the watering hole, but hadn't felt the urge to join the two, especially after what had happened the day before. Nyota and Iggy were both still asleep the last she had check.

So in the end it was just her, dashing around like a mad beast. Moving as quickly as possible from spot to spot. Bhati was mostly just trying to enjoy herself, she attempted to copy Mkuki's flying patterns as best she could locked to the ground as she was. It was hard but she was actually making some progress when she was interrupted.

"I'm not going to have to put you to sleep again am I?" Shani commented from off to the side. the aardwolf was laughing softly as Bhati finished a roll, springing up onto all fours quickly the fox jumped up twisting in the air to face Shani before landing easily.

"Nope, just getting some of this energy out of my system." Bhati replied chipperly. She bounced over to the aardwolf.

"I wonder if all children are so energetic." Shani sighed sitting down in a clear patch of ground.

"Maybe, Iggy, never seems to run out of energy." Bhati began to contemplate what Shani had said. "Though i don't think I've ever seen Nyota just...run in place or anything." The fox mused.

"He's not the type i don't think." Shani joined Bhati in contemplation, a thoughtful look gracing the aardwolf. "He likes to act older than he is i think." Shani rolled over onto her back, closing her eyes a moment before opening them to watch the clouds. Bhati copied the older animal's motions.

The pair spent a good while silently watching clouds drift by before Shani spoke again.

"You're a good kid Bhati."

"Hmm?" Bhati made a questioning sound. The tiny fox's ears swiveling towards the aardwolf.

"Just mumbling to myself mostly." Shani sighed. The aardwolf slumped in place her whole body going slack.

"Hey, Bhati, you wanna know how me and Aoko ended up out here?" Shani's voice was quiet, wavering, almost guarded. It sounded like she wasn't sure about what she was about to say.

"S-sure." Bhati answered. She couldn't lie, she was curious. The fox was actually curious about all of them, but it would have been impolite to bring it up herself.

"Well, i always wanted to have children." The aardwolf started her story, her voice was sad but it had stopped wavering.

XXXXX

A pair of aardwolves were picking through a field. The pair were searching for small wildflowers though the field seemed to be mostly empty. one of the aardwolves the smaller of the two slumped down on the spot.

"Don't think we're gonna find anything today Shani." Aoko said brushing the dirt with his tail.

"Heh, probably not." Shani laughed. The aardwolf smiled brightly at Aoko, she absolutely adored the smaller aardwolf. Shani sat down beside Aoko, draping her tail over his. "Still we don't have to be back until later." She said softly.

Aoko's face was full of mirth before he dragged his tongue across Shani's forehead. The pair made themselves comfortable, grooming each other in the dusty field.

Sometime later the pair were walking back to their home, a large grassy field where several other aardwolves lived, including Shani's family.

"So, are we almost ready to run away?" Aoko asked. The aardwolf was a little worried about his friends answer.

Shani silently contimplated the question. They had been putting off leaving right away. Mostly because she was afraid of how her mother would react. The elder aardwolf had made Shani's role in the tribe evident, she was a healer. And as much as she might have wanted it, healers of her tribe couldn't take a mate, couldn't have children.

If her mother found out what her and Aoko were doing, things wouldn't end well. She had to though, regardless of the consequences Aoko was hers and she was his. Her mother would never allow it, but it wasn't her mothers choice it was hers.

"Yes, tonight i think. We'll leave tonight." Shani said full of confidence. Aoko smiled at her, a warm bright smile that was everything she loved about him.

"I'll be ready." Aoko said. The aardwolf pressed into her side for a moment before splitting off and heading for his on den. Shani watched him leave captivated before heading for her own den, a large pile of dirt that used to be a termite mound. Lazing about outside the mound itself was rather large rock python. Shani nearly froze a moment before recognizing the snake as Usiku, ages spent with the predator living in her den and she still wasn't quite used to him.

"Sssshani, i bid thee, tell me how the day hassss been." the Snake hissed out jovially.

"Fairly well, though i didn't find the plants we needed." Shani muttered quickly dashing over the snake who simply flipped onto his other side to continue watching her. Usiku's gaze was intense but that was one thing Shani had gotten used to since she had met the snake.

"And your time with the other? the one who'ssss tasssste issss always in the air here." The snake questions his tounge flickering at Shani as the aardwolf sits down within the den.

"Aoko? same as usual." Shani said slightly annoyed, the snake was doing it again, he never used Aoko's name. The aardwolf wondered if she should tell Usiku she was planning to leave. She could trust him, more or less, he certainly wouldn't tell anyone else. Shani was the only one he really had anything to do with.

"I'm leaving, tonight." If Usiku was suprised to hear her say this he didn't show it. The snake coiled himself into a circle facing the aardwolf. He looked almost pleased, smug even.

"Very good, thissss newssss pleasssses Ussssiku." The snake looked contemplative for a moment. "Perhapssss i will follow you for a time."

"You don't have to do that." Shani said. The aardwolf honestly wasn't sure she wanted that, as well as she and Usiku got along she wasn't sure if that was a good idea.

"We will ssssee." Usiku said his voice becoming a low pitched rumbly hum. "Perhapssss you sssshould rest until you are ready." He continued to hum softly as Shani's eyes grew heavy, maybe she should res- wait, was Usiku hypnotizing her that jer-

XXXXX

When Shani awoke it was to angry voices in the dark just outside of her den. She couldn't tell who was out there from where she had fallen asleep but she recognised the voices of Usiku and her mother, Jiwe. Shani slowly crawled to the mouth of the cave to get a better look.

"You will leave." Usiku hissed at the Jiwe. Shani's mother was standing a good distance from the snake, a pair of aardwolfs standing at either side of her. Shani wasn't sure but something seemed off about Jiwe, the aardwolfs fur was a shaggy mess, her left eye twitched repeateldy and she was growling at the snake who had risen in such a way as to tower over her.

"Oh no, i must refuse. See, someone will be bringing around that mutt Aoko to-" Jiwe started to say before being interrupted by the snake.

"No." Usiku's voice was clear, that wasn't a statement on his part, it was an order. One Jiwe was unlikely to follow. The aardwolf carried on undeterred.

"Us so we can teach her the wrong of her ways." Jiwe continued to speak. Despite her crazed appearence Usiku seemed unintimidated, Shani guessed that was a result of him being an absolutely massive predator.

"You will not." Usiku said. The snakes tongue flickered out causing Shani to flinch. He must know she's awake now, though he showed no outward sign of it.

"You get no say in the matter serpent." Jiwe stomped her paw into the ground. "This is between me and my daughter."

"And That issss why you bring cowardssss with you to her den." The rock python spat out at her. "Cowards all, i can taste your fear in the air." Usuki's tongue flicked out once more and while Jiwe herself was unfazed the two aardwolfs with her looked shaken, the one on her left looked only moments away from bolting off into the distance.

"Mother what are you-" Shani's voice was low, the aardwolf nervous. She took pride at the fact she didn't flinch when Jiwe interrupted her.

"Oh good, you're awake. Now we just need to wait for, oh and they're here."Shani wasn't quite sure who her mother was refering to until she heard the soft whimpering. Turning she saw one aardwolf dragging another by the scruff. She recognized the limp aardwolf that was being dragged. It was Aoko.

Usiku's tongue lashed out in irritation. To Shani's surprise a short length of Usiku's coils circled her protectively.

"Releassse him." The snake commanded though despite the nervous glance exchanged between the aardwolves behind Jiwe neither moved.

The aardwolf dragging Aoko dropped him before Jiwe before stepping off to the side soundlessly.

"We all know why we're here." Jiwe spat out. The old aardwolf's voice was full of venom as she spoke."You knew the rules Shani and you broke them anyways." She seemed to vibrate with barely restrained anger.

Mother I-"

"Did i say you could speak you tart." Shani flinched as the older aardwolf began ranting at her. "you're no daughter of mine, dallying with this mutt." She struck out with a paw kicking Aoko in the stomach. She began to pace back and forth in a wide circle. All the while Shani noticed Usiku's coils rippling and tensing.

" Amri, continue punishing the mutt." Jiwe cooed at one of the aardwolves who nodded at her and preceded to stomp on Aoko. The limp aardwolf's whimpering increased and Shani wanted so much to help him but what could she do there were to many of them...until there wasn't.

"Enough." Usiku growled before surging forward towards Amri. Coils wrapped around the startled aardwolf and he didn't even have the time to call out before the massive rock python proved just how dangerous he was. The other aardwolfs that had been with Jiwe stared in shock as Usiku crushed their companion in his grip. The snake was quick with it, beliving he didn't have the time to draw it out. He needn't have bothered when the pair regained their senses they ran as fast as they could away from the beast. Leaving only Jiwe, Shani and Aoko.

Unobstructed by the now fleeing aardwolves Shani quickly ran over to Aoko. Her mate looking like one massive bruise turned to her as she approached. "H-hey Shani. Feels like an angry wildebeest walked over me, or Usiku gave me a hug." Aoko joked, the aardwolf attempting to laugh before wincing in pain. "Hurts to laugh too."

Jiwe sputtered in indignation, practically foaming at the mouth with rage but made no attempt to approach Shani with the massive rock python that had slithered between them. The aardwolf stopped moving her glare boring into Uksiku before she spoke, voicing dripping with malice and anger.

"This isn't over beast. I'll stain this land crimson, dash you against the rocks and take joy in your ending."

The aardwolf turned and began to march away before turning back looking straight at Shani.

"Oh, and dear daughter. I want you gone when i come back for this beast, elsewise your blood shall be joing his. And take your mutt with you."

None of them relaxed until Jiwe had vanished into the distance. Usiku fell to the ground with a sad sigh the snake seemed almost disappointed to Shani. Aoko managed to stand, though barely, the aardwolf shaking like a leaf nuzzled into Shani's shoulder. Shani herself was still trying to process what had just happened. She knew her mother wouldn't have approved, but to take it so far. Her world seemed to tumble apart right before her eyes.

"Shani, are you ok?" Aoko managed to ask voice trembling almost as much as he was. Shani could only shake her head sadly, fighting back tears.

"No, no I'm really not." Shani mumbled leaning into her mate the weight of everything that happened finally setting in. Tears streaked down the aardwolf's face.

"Sssshani." Usiku spoke loudly, the snake's voice surprised Shani. It sounded warm, comforting, and incredibly sad. "I want you to go wessst. Away from here." It seemed as though the python was struggling to be reassuring. Shani appreciated that he was even making the attempt. "Go, dwell not on thissss. Be happy, with Aoko." Aoko was just as shocked at Usiku's words as Shani was.

A moment passed in silence, no one said a word, Shani didn't think anyone could at that point. It wasn't long before the two aardwolf started walking away. heading west like the snake had asked.

XXXXX

Nuru was honestly nervous. She hadn't been this far away from the watering hole since...a long time. The only thing that made it any easier was the fact Aoko seemed to know exactly where they were going. though even the aardwolf seemed on edge ever since they entered the empty field.

Nuru couldn't blame him, it was like there were eyes glaring from a distance. Something hiding in the reeds maybe. Everything about this place screamed danger. The only sound nearby was them, no birds, no insects, just silence. Nuru knew that was a bad thing, or would be if not for the fact of what they were about to meet with.

There!

She could hear it as well as feel it now, rustling across the grass towards them. A massive rock python rose up out of the grass towering over the pair. Nuru wasn't expecting it and nearly fell off of Aoko in fright. But the aardwolf didn't seem to react. Aoko just leveled a bored look at the python who turned to the side and coughed sheepishly.

"Well, Thissss isss awkward." The python grumbled coiling into a pile in front of the pair. "Aoko, i wasss about to eat you."

"Had to get your attention somehow." Aoko said good naturedly. it was obvious to Nuru from the way they were talking, and they we he had brought him up on the trip up here, that he had known the snake for awhile.

The python seemed quite cheerful for someone who was about to turn them into a meal mere moments before.

"Sssso how is my Sssshani?" The python asked. The curiosity was evident all over his face. If Aoko was telling the truth then Nuru didn't blame the snake, they'd last seen each other...years ago probably.

"She's back at our new home. I'd have brought her here when i found out where we were going, except well, i don't think she should be doing much traveling given..." Aoko sort of just trailed of after that.

"Wait, given what?" Nuru wondered silently, not wanting to interrupt the pair. The snake seemed to parse through what Aoko had said before seeming to figure it out.

"Wait she's!" The snake's eyes had lit up in excitement, his cheer only growing brighter as Aoko nodded his head.

"It's a little too early to be completely sure, but we think so." Aoko was positively beaming at the announcement. The snake seemed incredibly happy, all of this just served to further confuse Nuru. They couldn't be talking about what she thought they were...could they?

The python's mood changed rather abruptly, a rather more grim expression replacing the cheerful one from moments before. "There'sss no way that you only came here to tell me that."

"you're not wrong, happy coincidence that." Aoko muttered darkly. The aardwolf stamped the ground lightly trying to avoid the subject.

"We're here about the fires." Nuru spoke up and oh dear the massive snake is looking at her now. Did he not notice her before, Nuru wondered?

"And who isss thisss, Aoko?"

"This is our little investigator, Nuru. Nuru this is Usiku." Aoko introduced her to the snake. "She's the one who started us off looking into these things."

"A pleasssure." The snake responded.

Nuru wanted to say something, anything really, but having the massive snake just watching her. He was so big he could easily just wrap around her and...

The Meerkat could feel her heart racing and took a minute to compose herself. Usiku seemed content to just watch her as she took several deep breaths.

"Aoko thought it'd be a good idea to ask you about the fires." Nuru finally managed to speak up. Usiku seemed amused at her response but didn't seem to want to bring it up.

"Ah, yesss there wasss a fire, not but 4 nights ago." The snake coiled up and began to tell them what he knew. "Jiwe wasss burned in the fire, though i hear ssshe sssurvived it. A ssshame that." Usiku closed his eyes trying to remember anything else about the fire itself. "Oh, there wasss one thing, the night before the fire, when i wasss...hunting." At that last word Nuru shivered a chill running down her spine. "There wasss sssomething odd out in the brusssh, like a glowing eye, it moved to fassst for me, but it wasss there." Usiku finished with the closest thing to a shrug a snake could manage.

"Well thanks for the help, i guess, was hoping there'd be more..useful information i guess." Nuru sighed after thanking the snake.

Usiku nodded at Aoko before speaking again. "If i learn anything elssse i'll come find you, ssssafer that way." Then he uncoiled and slithered away into the scrub.

"Well, not quite a bust, but not much useful information." Aoko muttered mostly to himself. "Come on, lets get home. I'd rather not be out here at night."

Nuru silently agreed with the aardwolf and the pair set off back to the watering hole.