In the Dark of Night

The night was strangely hushed and cloaked by the clouds scuttling across the silvery moon. The breeze made the night air feel chilled, yet her flanks were covered in sweat as she strained, muscles quivering and chest heaving. It had to be quick as she could hear predators for now in the far distance yet moving in. Still she strained the legs and face now visible. One last final thrust and it is born already struggling to find its feet and be ready to flee. Anxiously the mother licked and licked stimulating muscles, nerves and blood. Valiantly the baby stands and starts to suckle its feet going every which way as it fights for control over its unruly members. Within five minutes its ready to run its mother calls it deep into the herd. Surrounding them with a protective barrier Out of all this years Zebra foals only a handful will survive and sire other foals. The rest falling prey to Lions and other cats the crocs too will feast at the river crossings. The odd sickly ones become dinner for hyena's. Such is life on the East African plains, nature culls all but the fittest ensuring strong blood lines.