Chapter Four - A dangerous night
Later that night
Night. The hours of danger, where the nocturnal life appers in it's dangerous. Night is the hours of death, where the danger is at it's most secretive. It is at these hours the night hunters emerge to kill.
It was a chilly night, the scent of rain from a distant storm from the east filling within the breeze. It was not long ago one of the Kalahari residents lost it's life to feed another, or was it two? No, one has suvived the attack. Underneath a bush, a terrified life form cries, hoping to grab the attention of it's family, however in vain.
These calls can attract danger, but this little pup doesn't understand that, her tiny cries have already grabbed the attention of a large Owl not far away, fortunately the Owl is unable to reach in at the Pup under the shrub.
Sabah continues to cry, still in vain. Her tidy body shivering in both the cold and fear, only hours ago she was dropped on the sand, a moment after her father was harshly grabbed by the jaws of death, she could only watch as Henry was killed right in front of her.
Eventually she stops crying, realisation sinking in. 'Could this be the end?' she thinks. Only half a day ago, she was in the safe and securety of her family. But now she is alone, and vunerable and very cold.
She cant stay here, not in the open, it's too cold. She exits out from under the bush, carelessly dashing across the open, risky. Fortunately she doesn't grab the attention of a ground based predeter, however the Owl has seen her, it swoops down silently trying to catch her.
A lucky move, Sabah suddenly turns into a bush, completely oblivious to the fact she was just seconeds away from being picked off by hungry talons. The Owl flies back up to perch on a tree, watching and waiting.
Sabah stays in the shrubs, her will to live is strong so she starts looking for a burrow. Fortune smiles when she finds one half an hour later. So lucky. She instantly dives in, looking for the deepest reaches, unaware that she is not alone tonight. A Puff Adder curled up in a chamber can post another theat if it detects her.
Sabah finds herself a chamber only a meter away from the Adders chamber, she curls up on herself in a effort to keep warm.
This is going to be a long, cold, lonely night.
The sun shines, a welcoming sunny morning blooms over the Kalahari desert. The Unknowns group are up and active early today, despite the loss of the Dominant Male and a pup, most are in high spirits. Rover has already asserted Dominance, hoping his brother doesn't return.
Black and Saten playfight at the edge of the group, joined shortly after by Pluto. Sand flies everywhere by these cheeky teenagers antics.
After half an hour of work and play, Lisa decides to lead the foraging group out. Venus and Delilah stay behind for the two pups, Daisy and Cherry.
Lisa leads them towards the same place they were yesterday. Mostly for good foraging, and partly for the small hope that their two missing members might have suvived.
Everyone stops around the attack grounds, they start searching for any signs of life. However their hopes are dampened after Izeno discovers blood, the blood of Henry. He makes warning calls instinctively.
Pluto, who is at the edge of the group hears sounds. Sounds aroused by the warning calls. He follows the sounds towards a bolt hole. He notices the distince apperance of a snake trail exiting the burrow, he instinctively becomes weary. The cries continue from deep within the burrow.
Pluto finally gains the courage to enter the burrow, wearily searching for the source of the sound. His efforts come with prize when he discovers the cold form of a lost pup. A quick sniff determins who it is. "Sabah" he cherps, excitement in his voice as the pup cuddles up to him, he is happy to warm her up for a moment.
After a couple of minutes, Pluto picks up Sabah and takes her out of the hole. Apon returning to the group, excitement fills the air as a reunion takes place.
Suviving a whole night alone, Sabah is given much needed attention from the whole family that are there. Later that day, after a sucessful foraging trip, Sabah is returned to her siblings, where they playfight until the night draws to a close.