Fuli's Journey [Moved To AO3]

Chapter 4 ~ The Rehabilitation Facility and Fuli's Discovery

~Melody's PoV~
It's been a week since we stormed the black market and saved the three wildcats. Since I'm the leader of our group, I'll say we release them as a group. That cheetah'll need the help, especially with what her bloodwork showed.

I open the snow leopard's room first. She snarls at me until I lift the bucket, letting the scent of raw meat drift towards her nose. I lift a juicy piece out and toss it to her. She seems to tolerate me as I run my fingers through her thick coat, searching for any abnormalities. Other than malnutrition, she's fine. She could be released this afternoon, but after observing the three cats pressing themselves into the corners touching each other's cages in the truck; I've deduced that they've formed an unlikely friendship.

Checking on the jaguar next, I get them same introduction, this time with a snap at my hand. Fortunately, I jerk my hand out of the way in time. She has a few shallow cuts, but those will heal pretty quickly. Now, the most difficult for last.

I look through the window and see her out cold from exhaustion. The poor thing as been tearing around her room repeatedly; getting past some of the other voulenteers when they go to feed her. I quietly open the door and enter. I place the last piece of meat down near her head and gently feel her. Her pads are worn, so I place medicated gauze "booties" on her feet. I feel her shoulder, which actually dislocated on her most recent adventure yesterday when she lost traction and crashed into one of the vending machines. It's healing perfectly. Getting the feeling I was being watched, I turn my head and see two, emerald-green orbs staring at me, fear and confusion in her gaze.

"It's okay Fuli," I say, naming her the Swahili word for fast. "These will help you heal, then you can go home."

I stand up slowly so as not to spook her, and leave the room. I lift my walkie-talkie and say the words the control room has been waiting for.

"Open the gates."

~Fuli's PoV~
After the kind two-legged left, I heard a whirring sound. I turn my head see an opening in the wall! Freedom! I lurch to my feet and trot out the door blinking in the sun. My excitement diminishes as I see the barriers surrounding the open space.

"Fuli!" I turn my head and see Pretinha and Chulluun jogging up to me. I trot over to them wincing as the white stuff on my paws stings my scraped-up pads.

"What have you done to your paws?" Chulluun asks. I open my jaws to answer when a male voice answers for me.

"Not much, just race around the facility's hallways untill she runs out of energy or hurts herself every five days. I'm Soar the Harpy Eagle by the way." A silvery-white bird with a drooping wing said as I licked my chest in embarrassment. I feel another cramp in my abdomen, I've been getting them since our second day here in the new place.

"Fuli!" Pretinha chides. "Don't you know cheetahs have a limit?"

"Yes I do." I groan, shuddering at the memory that has just surfaced. "It only took being surrounded by the Msingo and his Vulture Parliment for it to sink in. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for Kion and the others." I explain, gazing mournfuly at my Mark of the Guard.

"Well, anyways I belive some congratulations are in order, Mrs. Fuli." Soar said.

"What for?" I ask, confused at his tone.

"Let me ask you this, have you been having cramps, feeling more hungry than usual, the like?" He interrogates.

"Yeah..." I say, now thoroughly puzzled.

"Those are the first signs of an expecting female. We've had plenty of those come in here so even though I'm a male, I'm a bit of an expert on what to look for." He said, and I stumble, shocked.