The Beast (2022)

Welcome Home

I sat beside Martin as I watched him and Mare intently. 

"Kymberly," Martin whispered, struggling to his feet.

A small gasp escaped me as I saw Anouk appear in the doorway. I picked Mare up off the table and carried her down the steps and to a room off to the side. Anouk could still smell us, he growled lowly as he stalked around the room a fourth of a floor above us.

I can make it to the Range Rover. I decided. I put a hand on each of the girls' cheeks. "I love you two." I whispered. 

"What are you doing?" Norah asked, wide-eyed. 

Mare just shook her head, "No."

I turned to Martin, hesitating before kissing him. "I love you." I whispered, my voice breaking. 

He grabbed my arm, "Don't. Please, don't..."

I glanced back at the girls, tears in my eyes. I was going to do this for them... "I love you." I said, looking deeply into his eyes. "And I'm sorry." 

In a fluid motion I stood and ran down the steps. "Anouk!" I yelled, refusing to look back, though I knew he was gaining on me. 

I managed to get into the Range Rover, he slammed into the door a milisecond later. 

I rolled the window down, "Come get me, Anouk." I started the engine and slammed the gas. He chased me, completely forgetting the other four.

Kuda and Kawe would need a reason to attack, and I would have to give it to them. 

I pulled to a stop just in front of the Nadni pride and jumped out of the truck. Knife drawn, I prepared myself as Anouk ran towards me. 

He pounced, I ducked. 

I let out a scream as his claws ripped deep into my back. I turned and jammed my knife upward into his stomach. He jerked away, letting out a cry of his own. I held onto the blade's handle, ripping his stomach practically wide in two. 

I willed myself to stand as he stumbled away. I backed up towards Kuda and Kawe, my eyes filled with tears- partly from pain, partly from grief. He shook his massive head and started back towards me. I could see pink flesh hanging down from his wound. His intestines I realized and tears poured down my face. I did that.

I felt a presence on either side of me as Kuda and Kawe jumped from the rock. They both let out a warning roar, stepping on either side of me. 

Anouk stepped closer still and the two pounced, tackling him to the ground. I fell backwards against the large rock the rest of the pride were watching the scene from. Violent sobs escaped me as I watched them rip into him. 

I hadn't even realized Banji pulled up until he yelled, "Get the trank rifles! Get the lions away from her right now!" 

I almost laughed. They were saving my life and he was concerned about separating us. My vision grew foggy and I was losing feeling in my legs, but I was aware that one of the lionesses had jumped down off the rock. I recognized her only from the dried blood on her paw. She watched me with curious eyes.

"Nandi," I smiled weakly. I heard a gunshot and a lion moan. 

She lowered herself to the ground and laid her head in my lap. 

A second shot.

Everything grew dark and I could only feel Nandi's soft purring against my stomach.

 A third. 

=

"Please wake up..." Mare whispered. I could feel her hand tightly holding mine.

I opened my eyes, slowly becoming aware of my surroundings. I was in a hospital, machines beeped steadily. Martin was holding my right hand, his head resting on my arm. Nate stood behind him, his head down, too.

"Aunt Kym!" Norah shouted.

I looked to my right, Mare sat in a wheelchair, Norah directly next to her.

"You're okay? You two are okay?" I asked, already crying again.

They both nodded through their own tears. 

"Good," I whispered, squeezing their hands tightly. "Good." I turned to Martin and Nate.

"Oh, my girl..." Martin cried, pushing my hair behind my ear. 

"What happened to him?" I asked bitterly.

"Once Banji tranked him..." he cleared his throat, not wanting to tell me the whole story, knowing I'd take it hard. "He, um, he walked to you. Banji shot him again but he didn't stop until he was at your side. He died in your arms, Kymberly." 

A loud sob broke out from deep in my heart. 

"Come on, let's give her a minute..." Nate whispered to the girls, ushering them out of the room.

"He wasn't bad," I cried, "he wasn't."

"I know, my girl. I know." Martin whispered, climbing onto the bed and wrapping me into his arms. I clung onto him tightly, my entire body shaking with grief. 

==

"Come on, old man." I laughed, watching Martin climb out of the truck.

"Yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes with a smile, setting his cane on the ground. 

"Mare, you got this?" Nate asked, limping closer to the Amahle Tree with his own cane.

"Yes, dad." she said, setting up her camera.

"Come on," Norah said, waving us over.

"Coming!" I quickened my pace.

"Okay, ready?" Mare asked once we gathered together underneath the tree. She ran over and slid under Nate and I's arms. "Okay, this one's for mom, guys." 

A huge flock of birds shot from the tree limbs, Amahle was with us. Laughs and shrieks came from each of us as the birds swooped overhead. 

We framed the photo and put it up the next day. At the end of the week, we left for New York.

Another week passed and I was back in Africa with everything I owned. 

"Welcome home, my girl." Martin said, on the doorstep of the house, then pulled me into his kiss.

"I think I can get used to hearing that." I smiled, kissing him again.