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After a while of cuddling, Penelope suddenly felt tired. She snuggled onto the floor of the cave and held me by her side, just in case she doesn’t have any nightmares. Her gentle breathing lulled me to sleep in no time at all.
Giving birth to me was one of the hardest times Penelope ever had to face, and upon doing it alone, she knew she had made a massive achievement - not just for herself, but for me, too. I was going to be her future pride and joy for years to come, even when I leave her at adulthood to start a new life. This childhood I have will be the best I’ll ever have. We’ll talk about this later.
Anyway, Penelope felt safe and dry in the warmth of the cave, as I did too. I did smell a little funny from being born, but it didn’t matter, because I will be fragrant again in just a few months. For now, I’ll rely on Penelope to protect and comfort me, as usual, only a mother would. For she isn’t just my mother at all, she is my sister.
1 month passed, and I had developed a lot since I was born. I had now finally learned to crawl, but Penelope stayed in the cave for at least one month, and all the animals were starting to wonder where she was. Now, a month later, she was going to take me out into the plain for the first time.
Carrying me in her safe arms, Penelope took me out into the grasslands, as the sun shone brightly and butterflies fluttered all around us. I wanted to catch some of them, but they flew out of my grasp. Luckily, Penelope was gentle and tender with nature itself, and let one of the butterflies land on her soft fingers. She let it crawl onto my nose, causing me to giggle and wiggle my little feet. However, as the butterfly fluttered away, I didn’t cry once.
The savannah wasn’t as dangerous as I thought - it was a peaceful, soft place, filled with the friendliest animals anyone had ever encountered, even on safari - although, no humans come to this part of Africa.
Penelope sat down and laid me on the ground, watching as my strong little arms and legs allowed me to crawl for the very first time. All the time, Penelope was clapping and calling out things like “You can do it!” and “Oh, Sybil, you’re simply wonderful when you do that.”
I was trying to chase another butterfly at first, but then I found a small hornbill chick, and crawled after it as it flew away. I crawled along the tall, spindly grasses, with Penelope following me, as if she’s a mother leopard following her cubs - protective, comforting and full of love.
I was crawling towards the water hole, and I was amazed by my reflection in the crystal clear water. Penelope, knowing she hadn’t had anything to drink in a month, started to take a refreshing drink from the water hole. A few gulps cleared her dry-as-a-desert throat. There, of course, were even more discoveries to find in this part of Africa.
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