III
Away
The serval panted. He stood there, gazing into the distance with eyes as brown as the acacia's trunk. His black ears twitched, and his golden pelt glittered in the savanna sun. Black spots decorated his slim body of about fifteen or so pounds - soon enough, he would be full adult - as large as the sire he was born from.
Ziku stood there, stiff as a boulder. He now based himself beside a water hole, only about fifty feet or so in diameter. A frown formed - Kiro, his cubhood friend, had not accepted his proposal. Though it was not sure that she decided to stay with her dame, she was definitely not with him. A wave of downcast feelings swarmed the cat, and he could not help but frown at the thought. He heaved a sigh, pawing at the dead ground, before looking up again. What stood in front of him was unknown land - land of gold and free trees and shrubs, even a river or water hole occasionally. The sky was bright and blue, not yet ready for the rainy season. He sniffled once, before continuing on. I'm by myself now, he thought, almost bitterly. On my own, as I've always wanted it... Still, he could not help a feeling of loss. Was it really the loss of his sister? Or perhaps, the loss of Kiro? Either way, he knew it would be that loss that drove him on in life. After all, his mother, Yisha, had never taught him, nor Oola, about something that could kill for no reason. Everything had a life, and needed that life to go on - that is why others took the lives of other creatures. That is what Yisha had told them - for once, he knew she was wrong.
"Ziku," someone whispered.
The male jerked, before looking over his shoulder to see Kiro padding forward.
"I thought you weren't coming," he breathed, pushing himself from the ground to nuzzle his friend.
"I didn't want to leave Mother, but..." she paused, before continuing with, dramatically, "I thought I'd never see you again."
"You'd have seen me again - I'd have made sure of it." he purred, nuzzling her.
Soon enough, the two pulled apart from each other, each examining the other.
"What'd your mother say?" Ziku finally asked, in pure curiosity.
"She wasn't so happy at me leaving so soon - but she was already with more cub, and easily let me go." Kiro paused, before concluding with, "I'm glad I left - this way I get to be with you."
The two grinned. Ziku thought his heart was beating a bit too fast than normal...
The sun arose. It easily covered the grasslands, warming it upon every exposed inch. Ziku awoke, nestled beside Kiro. He lifted his head, gazing about silently, before the female.
"Kiro," he whispered, nipping at her nose a bit. "Kiro, wake up."
"Huh?" groaned the sheela, yawning a bit. "Mother, I..." she paused in utter silence, eyes opening all the way in realization. "Oops," she chuckled. "Sorry, Ziku. Say, where are we, anyway?"
"Not far," he snorted, sitting up, continuing to gaze about. "We traveled maybe a mile or so from the stream."
The pair lie far off in the savanna, where a few trees decorated the bareness and the golden grass swayed in occasional lonely breeze. A few wild birds flew overhead, and an antelope of some time grazed in solitude just yards off, not even noticing the young predators. The feeling of being beside no source of water made the adolescents shudder, but even more so, Ziku quivered slightly from the thought that he was not near the territory borders, protecting his kin. Now it was as if he was of no use to the world...That is, until the picture of Oola's corpse entered his mind.
Snarling, the male leapt up.
"Ziku?" Kiro quickly asked, sitting up in concern. "Are you OK?"
Suddenly realizing where he was at and whom he was with, Ziku forced himself to calm. He looked at the other serval in gentle silence. As her eyes met his, he gazed away.
"Yeah...I'm OK," he whispered, studying the ground now. "It's just..."
"I know," whispered Kiro, before pushing herself into his pelt, nuzzling him deeply.
The sensation flowed through the youngster like a waterfall. He had not a clue what it meant, but felt only the fact that Kiro's company made him if anything, content. After all, she was a great cubhood friend, she knew his personality, and could be potential mate - the perfect companion for such a journey. Still, it was the fact he was gone from his past, and was on such a quest caused his stomach to churn.
"Do you think we could really find my litter-mate's killer?" Ziku abruptly asked, without thinking.
Kiro pulled away from him, a slight frown upon her face. "Oola's predator? Perhaps..." she said, thoughtfully, which was a not total downfall. After all, Kiro was a serval of - though mischief and immaturity - logical thought at some certain - more serious - times.
The two gazed fondly at each other. Ziku finally looked up, into the distance. North looked like nothing but more grasslands and scattered plants here and there. If they were lucky, they would stumble upon another water source, where perhaps there, they could take shelter.
"What are you planning?" Kiro finally asked.
Ziku stayed silent in deep thought for another moment, before replying with, "Water. That's what we need, Kiro. Once we find it, we can settle down, and discuss what we are to do further on. After all, the creature that took Oola's body is probably not far."
Kiro shifted uncomfortably, with yet another frown. She began, "What do you...what do you think it was?"
"I have not a clue." Ziku admitted, almost ashamed. He glanced quiet at his forepaws. "A creature that does not understand why it survives. After all, if it did know, then it would not have killed someone else for no reason..."
The female then asked something somewhat surprising and almost offensive. "Do you know why you live, Ziku?"
Ziku blinked, looking up at Kiro, an expression of betrayal and shock upon his face.
"What do you mean?" he snapped.
"Ziku, don't take it the wrong way," Kiro quickly said, knowing she had already dealt damage. "It's just-"
"Just what?" the male snarled, standing up. "You think I am still a cub, learning his ways?"
"Well, we still have lots to know, is all,"
"Oh! Lots to learn, eh? Like why my sister was murdered?!"
Something took off. It swept by in an instant, leaving the pair of adolescents to stand there in silence. Finally, shaking his head, Ziku hissed once at his friend, and turned around, padding off northward once more.
"Wait! Ziku!" Kiro cried out, leaping in front of him. "Where are you going?"
"I already told you - to find water, and then to deal with that creature." Ziku grudgingly replied, walking around his friend.
"Hey!" Kiro went on, now striding beside the male. "I didn't mean to offend you - it's just, there are things in this world we don't know yet - may never know. Is that what you are going to base your life on? A mystery?"
"A mystery meant to be solved!" he hissed, not looking at her, continuing to pad forward.
"But why?" the female cried out again. "What if you never solve it? Then what?"
Ziku halted in his tracks, turning his head slightly to the left to gaze into Kiro's young eyes. She flinched, and quickly looked away.
"What is my life worth, then, Kiro?" he whispered, voice now trembling.
Kiro looked up again, so abrupt it almost caused Ziku himself to look away. But he kept the gaze stiff.
"Your life is worth just as much as mine - and Oola's - and every other creature out there, Ziku. That is why I hope your life is not devoured by the very thought of a serval that has now passed on to the Rightful Place. Please," she begged. "Just listen to me..."
"Listen to you? You don't even want to help!" Ziku snarled, taking a forepaw and slapping the Earth.
Chunks of dirt flew out, but he paid no attention. Instead, Kiro hissed back, and turned around, running away. Ziku stood there in utter silence, almost panting. Both anger and regret filled his mind, and he could not help but frown, watching his friend sprint into the distance. What had he done? The only companion he had now, was running away...
Shaking his head, the male turned to follow Kiro.
"Kiro!" he cried out, running after her. "Kiro! Wait!"
But Kiro had already disappeared. Up and over an incline. Ziku's legs moved faster, trying to catch up with her.
"I didn't mean it!" he shouted to the emptiness. "Kiro, I didn't mean it!"
Ziku stopped. He stood in place at the base of the small hill, silently catching his breath. But it did matter if he did so. The air, which had so been full of life - insects and birds singing, distant animals making noise - was now barren. Just as barren as the land this young male now stood upon. Emptiness was everywhere - nothing. Nothing but the soft, lonely gust of wind.
"Kiro," he whispered to himself, gazing up the knoll with wide eyes and perked ears.
Bracing himself, the male took a step forward, then another. He continued this process, paw after paw, step after step. This action so normal, learned at such a young age as most creatures had, Ziku would've thought nothing of it, normally. But now...now it meant the difference between what seemed life and death. Going against all instinct, he was actually forcing himself to walk. Walk toward the familiar danger as before. He was advancing on it, as slowly as ever. Soon enough, he came beside the top of the hill. Again, Ziku had to push himself into a place he did not think he deserve - a place of cruel insanity, that so reminded him of Oola's opened body.
Ziku shook himself once, before leaping. The serval leapt at least ten feet in the air, as if hunting. He landed about four feet from he had been, now atop the incline. There, he looked down into the beady eyes of a small, dead rodent. They glimmered up into his own. With pity, Ziku took a step back.
"I didn't eat it," someone said, and Ziku twirled around so fast, he almost tripped over his own paws. "The hare, I mean." stated Kiro. "I found it like that. Nothing got to it yet...It was just...like that..."
The female's voice was both of fascination, and sympathy. Both glanced once more at the dead creature, who lie on its back, legs stiff as sticks, eyes wide open, and stomach wrench apart.
"C'mon," Ziku quietly exclaimed. "Let's go."
In silent agreement, the two padded away.