Prologue
Ziku padded slowly across the grasslands. His slim, golden body practically blended in with the surrounding savanna, to the point that at times, he was virtually invisible. The only thing that really gave him away was his scent. No matter. He wasn t trying to hide from anyone anyway.
With a yawn, the young male serval found his spot atop the ridge of a knoll. There he plopped down, groomed himself for a while, then laid down to bask peacefully in the sun.
Yes, times were good. Relaxing, enjoyable. And he loved it.
Ziku s claws snuck out from his paws and they began to knead the dirt in comfort. He shivered as the warm rays of the sun stroked his golden and black pelt.
Everything was fine now. It had been for quite some time, actually. Over a year had gone by since Ata had been killed or disposed of, as Ziku liked to think and there d been no unusual deaths, no sign of the Few at all.
He d gone back to a normal life of leisure. His time was spent hunting, sleeping, sunbathing. It was all good fun to him really. Ziku couldn t have thought of a better way to spend his life, other than in complete relaxation. Yes, so comfortable
Mama, where are we goin this sun! a loud, anxious voice called from below the rise.
Ziku s ears perked and his eyes flew open. With another yawn he lifted his head and watched as just a few yards off, a female serval no older than himself, moved along the base of the hill; at her paws were two little ones, clumsily pouncing around in the grass, attempting to keep up, occasionally leaping at their mother s paws.
Round the water hole, answered Kiro. If you two are good, we can stay out there for a while.
Oh, please! That would be so cool! meowed the first one, a male.
He looks just like me, Ziku thought in pride.
Yes, and can we swim, too? suggested the second kitten, a female.
Swim, why would you want to swim? replied their mother curiously as the small family continued southward, walking further away from Ziku, whom they seemed not to notice.
It might be fun! the little she-cub exclaimed, and Ziku thought idly, She s just as mischievous as her mother.
For a moment, he debated on whether or not he should follow. He d never met his own father Ata had seen to that but at the same time, was it natural to show himself? Perhaps when they were older he might after all, make Kiro nervous. He hadn t actually spent time with her since they had mated. Of course Ziku enjoyed the comfortable state of solitude, but some days he found that he painfully missed her, and their cubs did nothing but stir his own curiosity.
As he sat up to get a better view of the family that was now almost over the horizon, Ziku perked; Kiro had halted on the plain, and she was now peering over her shoulder at him, and though she was far now, he could still see that mischievous twinkle in her eye that he had missed so much. He grinned, but Kiro turned, and the family soon vanished in the distance.