The Last Elephant Keeper

Part 31

"Oh, Blaze," Khumo said softly, tears welling up in her eyes. "What have they done to you?"

The other elephants gathered around Blaze, watching anxiously as Khumo assessed the injured elephant's condition. She realized she had the yellow first aid kit that contained medical supplies for elephants. Khumo suspected that the injury may have occurred during the incident with the bakkie. The group needed to find water to clean and treat Blaze's wounds, but with the elephant injured and unable to travel far, Khumo wondered where they could find water nearby. She scanned the area for any signs of water and was relieved when Flash, who had inherited his mother's acute sense of finding water, discovered an underground source nearby.

As Khumo finished treating Blaze, she couldn't help but reflect on the current state of the world for the elephants. The loss of habitat, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict had taken a toll on the once abundant population of these majestic creatures. She thought of her mother, who had instilled in her a deep love and respect for the elephants, and wondered if the future would hold any hope for their survival.

As she looked up, she was surprised to see Whisper, usually reserved and distant towards her, approaching her with a gentle trunk. The rest of the herd stood behind him, patiently watching. Khumo was taken aback by the unusual display of affection, but couldn't help but feel a sense of joy and gratitude. Despite all that they had been through, the elephants were still there for her. They still trusted her, and she felt a deep connection to them.

She looked out over the landscape, taking in the vast expanse of wilderness that had become her home. She felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination, knowing that she had a responsibility to make a difference. And with the elephants by her side, she knew that anything was possible.

The sun had started to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, orange glow over the barren earth. Khumo and Blaze had been on the move all day, but the pain from Blaze's injury was too much to bear. They had to make camp where they stood for the night, hoping that a few hours of rest would ease Blaze's discomfort enough for them to continue on their journey.

As they set up their paltry camp, Khumo couldn't shake the memory of the poachers they had encountered earlier that day. The sight of their brutalized prey was still fresh in her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a deep anger and sadness. She knew that she had to put a stop to them before they hurt anyone else.

She sat down by her heater, lost in thought. The quiet of the night was only interrupted by the crackling of the radiator fins, as She looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath of the cool, crisp air. It was peaceful here, but Khumo knew that danger lurked in the shadows.

Despite her exhaustion, Khumo felt a fierce determination to take action. She would confront those poachers and make them pay for their crimes. As she drifted off to sleep, her mind raced with plans and strategies for the fight to come.

"We'll get them, Blaze," she said, patting the elephant's trunk. "We'll stop them once and for all."

As nightfall descended, Khumo and Blaze trudged on, making good progress despite Blaze's injury. Khumo consulted her GPS and saw that they had covered a considerable distance, but her elation was short-lived. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, and her senses were on high alert as they trekked through the wilderness.

Unbeknownst to them, a group of predators had been stalking them from afar. A lion, a hyena, a wild dog, and a leopard had been drawn to the scent of Blaze's blood, their predatory instincts urging them closer with each passing moment. Their figures were emaciated, their movements desperate and erratic, as they sought out any opportunity for sustenance.

As they crept closer, Khumo's unease grew stronger. She couldn't see the predators in the darkness, but she could sense their presence, their eyes fixed on Blaze's vulnerable form. The tension was palpable as the group of predators moved with an almost coordinated grace, each one ready to pounce at a moment's notice, yet in the dark and at a headwind.

Khumo watched as Flash darted along the rock outcrops, collecting moss for his mother. She couldn't help but chuckle at the young elephant's enthusiasm. It was heartwarming to see such devotion and love between a mother and her child, but it also made Khumo acutely aware of Blaze's own injury.

She knew she needed to take care of Blaze, but the moss she had planned to gather was now in Flash's possession. Instead, Khumo turned her attention to herself, rummaging through the supplies she got from John's freezer. The plant-based food was a welcome break from the bland, reconstituted rations she had been surviving on, and she savoured each bite as she cooked them over her portable electric stove.

As she ate, Khumo kept a watchful eye on Flash and his mother. She couldn't help but admire the fierce determination and resilience of the older elephant. She had fought bravely against the poachers, but the battle had taken a toll on her. Khumo could see the weariness etched on Blaze's face, the pain of her injuries still evident despite Khumo's attempts to ease it.

Khumo felt a deep sense of empathy for Blaze. She knew what it was like to fight against seemingly insurmountable odds, to push past one's own pain and exhaustion in the pursuit of a greater cause. And in Blaze, Khumo saw a kindred spirit, someone who refused to back down in the face of adversity.

Khumo carefully tended to the grilled meat, savoring the aroma as it sizzled over the flames. As she worked, she couldn't resist the pull of her mother's notebook, and she reached for it, hoping to glean some new insights.

But the more she read, the more frustrated she became. The notes seemed to be a jumbled mess of disconnected thoughts and ideas, leaving her feeling lost and uncertain. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something crucial, some vital piece of information that would tie everything together.

Khumo felt a deep sense of longing for her mother and the life they had shared together. She missed her mother's guidance, her warmth, her unwavering support. The notebook was the only tangible connection she had to her past, and she clung to it desperately, hoping to find some comfort in its pages.