A/N: This chapter is dedicated to a giraffe at the zoo I work at named Laikipia A.K.A Luke, who passed away on June 20th 2007 after suffering for many years from degenerative joint disease and arthritis. We believe he was about twenty-six when he died but we are not sure since he was wild caught. He was a very prolific breeder, producing 37 offspring including his daughter Laikipia who was born a few hours before he died and Azmera who was born a month after he died. So enjoy.
Hondo was the one who actually found Kifaa; he had gone out behind the cave to make dirt when he heard grunting nearby. It wasn't long before he saw the young giraffe standing in the cave Scar used to be in, she looked exhausted but determined.
He then ran to find Kijani and as luck would have it, he was standing by the entrance with Kovu, Kiara, Haidar, Safiya, and Conga and they were all trying to calm Mazi down.
"She is behind Pride Rock if it's Kifaa you are looking for," said Hondo as he ran back into the cave to dry off.
"Was she okay?" asked Mazi.
"I think she is about to give birth, she was grunting an awful lot," said Hondo.
Mazi looked at the lions with worry, he was always like this when a calf of his was about to be born, no matter how alert the mother was. And like always he wanted Jabir.
"Can someone get Jabir so he can help with the delivery?" asked Mazi.
"I'll go," said Safiya knowing how Mazi was at a time like this and before anyone could object, she was racing toward Jabir's tree so he could help with the birth.
Mazi then limped his way over behind Pride Rock with the other lions and Conga behind him ready to watch and make sure everything went okay. It was a rare event for something other than a lion to give birth so close to the cave, so naturally the King and Queen felt it was right for them to watch. When they arrived, Kifaa was circling around trying to stimulate the baby to come out. They quickly saw two small hooves poking out between the hind legs and they all knew that it was almost time.
"Are you okay Kifaa?" asked Mazi as he approached her cautiously.
"I'm fine Mazi……its just……gonna be…. A while," she said as she pushed, and backed away from Mazi so she could have more room and not have him breathing down her neck.
"Now remember to breath deep, then the baby will come out quicker," said Mazi as he tried to remain calm.
"Don't worry Mazi, she is doing great, though how you creatures can give birth standing up makes me nervous," said Kiara being the mother that she was.
"Yeah I'd worry about head trauma," said Kovu.
Mazi looked at Kovu shocked and worried, even though he had seen this done many times before.
"Kovu, stop scaring him, he needs to relax and celebrate the miracle of life, not worry about head trauma," said Conga.
"Sorry," said Kovu nervously.
It wasn't long before Jabir finally showed up with a few herbs, ready to help at any moment. He watched Kifaa circle as the calf slowly made its way into the world, everything seemed fine to him but of course he had to humor Mazi and stay put.
"Is everything okay?" asked Mazi nervously.
"The baby should come soon, don't worry, Kifaa is very healthy, and her spirit is strong. I don't know about the baby yet but we will find out once it tries to stand," said Jabir in a calming voice that was enough to relax Mazi a little bit more.
"Sorry Jabir, you know how I am after my third calf, the one that Tsinga had, I just couldn't bare waiting for it to stand up, then the four others from other mates, it was heart breaking wondering if they were ever going to move. I would just rather know right away what is going on," said Mazi.
"I know Mazi, I know. You know for someone as tough as you, you sure are a softy when it comes to birth," said Jabir.
"I know it's because children make me all happy inside," said Mazi with a sigh.
Jabir only smiled as he continued to watch. For about an hour Kifaa circled and grunted, pushing the new life out a few inches at a time. The lions stayed nearby to watch what was going on while Conga kept closing her eyes at the sight of all that afterbirth. Jabir even commented that she would probably faint at the sight of her own hatching.
Finally, an hour and a half later, the baby dropped six feet and landed on the smooth dirt below. Everyone gasped at what they saw as Kifaa turned around and bent down to check on the baby, for only a few seconds, but for eternity to Mazi, the baby did not move.
"Oh no!" said Mazi nervously. Jabir only bopped him on the head and pointed at the calf. It moved its head.
"The calf is alive Mazi don't worry," said Kifaa as she nudged the baby with her hoof.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" asked Kijani excitedly.
"I don't know yet, but we will find out once it's all the way up," said Kifaa.
Everyone watched as the young calf tried to stand for the first time, bringing its front hooves up a little and then trying to lift the back legs, only to slide back down with its legs all spread out in a comical way. Everyone smiled.
The calf tried again this time holding still for a moment with its front legs up and then slowly finding a good footing with its back legs. This time it stood all the way up before loosing balance and falling on its side. Kifaa chuckled warmly and licked the top of its head.
"You are doing fine young one, keep trying," she said warmly.
The calf tried again, it didn't go far though when a sudden clap of thunder from outside scared it and it slid back down looking up at its mother nervously.
"It's only thunder young one, it will not hurt you," said Kifaa as she licked the calf again.
So for the next hour, everyone watched as the calf slowly made its way on all fours, falling down every time, but they all knew that that was what happened when a giraffe first entered the world. They have to learn to stand right away or be eaten by a predator. Finally, a little less than an hour later, the little calf was able to stand upright and wobble only a little before making its way to its mothers side for milk. Kifaa watched it nuzzle her and began to lick it to dry it off.
"It's a boy," she finally said.
"Wonderful and he looks so healthy," said Jabir.
Mazi held his head up high, smiling the best he could over his new son, the one he had been waiting to appear for a long time.
I think he's bigger than you Kijani," said Haidar with a grin.
"He'll probably kick me in the face if I even try to bite him," said Kijani knowing all about how tough a giraffe hoof was.
"Yes and we don't want the story teller to loose his jaw now do we," said Jabir with a chuckle.
Kijani smirked at Jabir and then continued to watch the calf with fascination; he had never seen this one so young. Usually the ones he had seen had fully formed Oscicones, this one only had a tuft of fur on the top of his head where his oscicones would form in about two months. In the meantime, he looked too cute for words, all wrinkly and fuzzy.
"What are you going to call him?" asked Conga.
"Oh we don't name our calves until they are a little older, we like to think of a good name for them," said Kifaa with a tired sigh, all this birthing had worn her out.
"Good reason," said Haidar.
"Now that everything is under control, I say we let the little family rest in peace," said Jabir.
"No they are fine, besides Kijani is here, perhaps you can give our little one his first story," said Mazi.
Kijani looked at the calf, he seemed to have no interest in a story right now, but he knew that it was Mazi who actually wanted to hear a story. Jabir told him that Mazi had wanted to speak to him about one for a while.
"Well I do have a few giraffe stories, but there is one in particular that you might be interested in," said Kijani.
"Oh what's it about?" asked Mazi.
"It's about the circle of life, and how one person's life has ended while another begins. How the one who is ending his life thinks about the past and how the others will move on without him," said Kijani.
"Go on," said Mazi.
"It's a girl Luke, a healthy girl," I heard Uhura say from the farthest pen.
"That's good," I said with a tired sigh. I knew the calf would be fine, most of them were, we had good zookeepers they knew how to keep a newborn calf healthy. They knew when it was a good time to bring the calf out and see the rest of the herd, and they knew when it was a good time for them to leave the herd and take them far away, where exactly I have never found out.
I give a pained sigh, my legs and my shoulders are aching more than ever these days, and how I even managed to give life into Uhura those fifteen months ago is beyond me. I used to be so fast doing that but now it takes me longer and the girls become impatient.
I stare at the corner of the wall, wishing with all my heart to feel young again, to run with the herd, for my body to no longer ache. I know that is no longer the case, as the summers come and go, you become older and there is nothing you can do about it, everything begins to crumble just like an old wall. Oh how I wish for more of that stuff in the dry crackers they give me, it tastes terrible but it also eases the pain. They give me the same amount all the time, only it doesn't seem enough any more.
The zookeepers seem to be noticing this, my strides are slower, it takes me forever to get from one side of the pen to the other and they are no longer afraid of me kicking them, kicking is too painful for me to do any way, and I have been with them long enough to know that they are doing good for me. Because of my slowness, I haven't been out much, it takes too long and I just don't feel like moving very far any more. So I just stand in the corner in my pen, thinking about the good old days when I used to run with no problem at all. A healthy leader in his prime, with all the dreams in the world.
I wasn't born in this pen though; I was born far away in a place that is so different from where I am now. I lived where there were no bars to keep me away from other things, I lived in a small herd with my mother and we would run as fast as our hearts desired, as far as we could until we could run no more. Oh how I miss that so much, I wanted to run again, I wanted to see my mother and my herd again and run as far as I could, run to the little waterhole I liked to drink from, where the elephants often played with us and the zebras often shared stories with us.
I was only a year old when I was separated from my mother, the humans came and captured me, they gave me something that put me to sleep and when I came to, I was where I am now, behind bars. Well I was almost in the same place.
My first home was smaller, older and smellier probably because we were in the same building as the elephants, those creatures never learned much about personal hygiene. I was still too young to understand love so I usually played with the giraffes my age. Running through the yard as fast as we could, while at the same time humoring young children by grabbing crackers from their hands with our huge tongues.
I remember my first cracker well. I had been with the herd for about a month; the zookeepers separated me for a few days before letting me out with them. And when I finally joined them, I began to notice how they were interacting with the humans. I was reluctant at first until Becky, my mate who I was most close to, introduced me to the humans. I stuck my tongue out as far as I could reach and grabbed that dry cracker from the little human's hand. It squealed with delight while I enjoyed my favorite new treat.
Then there was the change in the seasons, the weather was like my old home at first but suddenly, the days would become colder, and big white dots would fall from the sky. They were puzzling at first but actually quite refreshing as I would stick out my tongue and eat them. In the morning after seeing these dots, the ground would be white; we would all have to stay in until the ground cleared because walking on slippery white stuff was not good for a creature like me with long legs. I did get to step in it once though, it was very cold but it would disappear quickly and it never appeared when it was hot outside.
As the years passed, I began to show my affection for the females. Stretch, the leader of the herd before me would often give me pointers on how to woo a female. He was a great mentor and helped me out a lot; he died only five years after I joined the herd and miss him dearly sometimes. But with his death I became the new leader of the herd and soon my blood coursed through the young giraffes in the pen.
I remember my first calf well, it was a boy, strong and handsome, born during the late summer and I was able to watch him grow along with the two others who were born only a few months afterward. Once they became a year old, like me, they were taken away from us, where they went I still have no idea but one day I hope to meet them again and run with them like how I want to run with my mother.
So for many summers I watched my herd grow with each new calf, I had so many and I was so proud of being the leader and father of my herd. It was hard to see many of them part but I knew it was for the best, our home was overcrowded and not big enough for all of us, that explains why a few of us had to stay indoors sometimes because it was too crowded outside.
But our luck changed one summer when we all moved to a brand new pen. It was wide and open and the perfect place for raising calves. Of course I was reluctant at first but what leader wasn't when they had new surroundings? I was getting very old though by the time we were moved, already my legs were feeling sore and tired but I was still spry and willing to lead the heard and bring about more calves.
For a few years I stayed out in the main yard with everyone, enjoying our new home and watching the humans admire us from afar or close up by taking the crackers that we had all come to love and enjoy.
But soon the years changed, my legs soon became weaker and after many years with the herd I was moved to the back pen where I would spend the remainder of my days. I wasn't alone though, I often had some of the members join me, most of the time to create more life, but mostly to just gossip. There was a new male in our herd as well, Mawimbi, I still don't approve of him much but then again I don't think Stretch really approved of me either. Must be a leader thing.
But since last spring I haven't spent time with my herd, the only time I could was later in the day when everyone would come in and I would hear stories of what had gone on. It was very nice to hear stories though some of those stories told of Mawimbi taking over his duties for me.
It took me a while to comprehend but as I have become older I have realized that not everything lasts forever. Just a week ago, Mawimbi was inside in the far pen, far away from me but close enough for me to talk to him and actually have a quiet conversation with him.
I told him my time was short and that I wished him luck throughout the years with my herd, I even admitted that I was not very fond of him but he already figured it out and even joked that he would be like me someday. Kind of depressing to think about but I do hope he does well. He is very friendly and very curious; usually a good combination and most of the females like him, save for Becky who even said that I would always be the one for her. She's as old as I am though, so I can understand. She has a calf on the way, my last one; I just hope it's healthy.
So here I stand in the corner, my body aching as I listen to the zookeepers talk about the new life in the far stall. It's nice to hear something good happened today. A new life has come while the old man sits alone talking about the good old days; Stretch was right when he told me that only a few weeks before he died.
Suddenly, without even realizing it, I feel a small jab on my hind leg, I turn around slowly to find some of the zookeepers standing behind me, looking sad and staring up at me, I don't know what they did but now I feel a little more relaxed and not as achy, but my legs still hurt.
"Come Luke, let's go outside," one of them says as he waves a cracker in front of me.
I stare at the cracker for a moment, I wonder if it has that stuff on it that will make me feel better but this time even more. But then I realize something, it's already the afternoon why would they be letting me out to my pen so late in the day? I haven't been outside in a while though, so maybe they are letting me get some air, that is nice of them.
I have seen other giraffes go out that way and never come back, was I going somewhere new? Perhaps to a place where I would feel better and where the zookeepers could give me bigger crackers that would help me feel better. That would be wonderful.
It took me a while to slowly make my way out, there were more zookeepers watching me today and many of them looked sad. I don't know why and I wish I knew so I could be more prepared for whatever they throw at me.
I finally make it towards the chute, they weigh me like always for a few moments before letting me make my way all the way out. I reach my back pen and step forward, the sand feels softer now, I look down and find that they have new sand down there for me, possibly to help me feel better. It does feel nice it doesn't feel as hard on my feet as before. Maybe this is going to help me.
I stand alone outside for a while, feeling the soft summer air flow around my neck, it was a hot day but the sun is finally going down so I don't have to worry about all this heat. But why am I out here so late? This has never happened before and it feels strange.
For a while I stand there and think about my herd and the beautiful sky around me, I hear some birds chirping and I hear a few zookeepers driving down the hill, it feels so peaceful that I just want to lie down. I haven't done so in a long time, it hurts too much to get back up but this time it feels right and I slowly make my way down to the soft sand, to rest and to sleep in the night air.
Once I am fully down I look toward the hills, the sun is now behind them and the sky is turning pink and yellow, its looks beautiful. I give a deep sigh and quietly watch as the zookeepers come toward me. Their faces still look sad and I don't know why. I let them touch me as they poke at me again; their voices are soft, not like them at all. Usually they are louder and discuss ideas. Today though they are quieter and whisper things that are soon too inaudible to hear.
Suddenly my whole body begins to feel heavy, even my heart as it seems to beat slower and slower, what is going on? This is a strange feeling, everything feels numb yet relaxing. It feels like the pain is finally going away, yet I feel so tired, I just want to close my eyes for just a second. I slowly feel my lids close and take a deep breath.
One second is all it seems to take before I open my eyes again. This time I find myself in a meadow that looks like my old home. I look around and there in front of me is my mother smiling down at me.
"Are you ready to run again Laikipia?" she asks.
"Yes Mother I would love to," I say.
And without any feeling of pain, I get up as if I am a young yearling again and I run, I run toward the old waterhole I grew up near all those years ago. I run towards the setting sun and my old herd. I run to the calves and friends I lost along the way. I finally feel young again and the pain that I suffered through for what seemed like an eternity is finally gone.
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A/N: Important Authors note please read
Okay I wish I would have written this chapter last year when he died; I would have probably made it so much better and a bit sadder.
Any way first off I would like to make a complaint. When you review, please don't leave a generic "This was a great chapter, you did a great job, can't wait to see more" Please tell me what you liked about it. I'm really starting to get annoyed by those generic ones because they say the same thing every time. Leave something interesting for me to read or I will hunt you down and bite you or something I really don't know yet.
Also I am going on hiatus now for a while, I will probably put up a new chapter every now and then just for you guys to enjoy. But at the moment I am going over to the Simpson's section to write a story to write "I had a Cat Named Snowball." It will be about Lisa acquiring the first Snowball and some of the fun times they had together. If you would like to join me feel free to come on over and read it, it should be up very soon.
Any way I have no idea if the giraffe before Laikipia was named Stretch, I just thought it was a cool name to give to a giraffe. And I have no idea what really went on when he died, but I tried to do something that was close enough to it. I also have no idea if his first calf was a boy; I just put whatever was on my mind. I only know about the two years I knew him.
Also Kifaa's calf will be seen again later, he is actually a very important character for later so watch out for him. I do have a name for him but I'm a not revealing it until later.
Well I will see you all later, have a nice school year and I will see you when I come up with a new idea. Ttyl for now.