Chapter Six

 It is a big moment in Psyche’s life. Not only has she led the Sun Mob for several months now, but has kept all the younger generations alive and they are growing fast. She has now found a breeding partner and is pregnant with her first-ever litter. The group’s future is now secured. 

If only it was as easy as that.

Diona and Hermaphroditus have been keeping their heads down, even more since it is clear that their mating has bore fruit. Diona is young for motherhood, yet Psyche should not assume that she is entirely harmless. Diona has proven to be a bit of a troublemaker in the past and jealousy can make her willing to do whatever it takes to give her pups a better future, even if it means killing her older sister’s pups.

The Sun is out in the field today, looking for food while also keeping an eye out for the presence of enemy mobs. Their territory here shares a border with that of Cassiphone’s. It is a good thing that they are being alert because there is the former splinter group that has grown by several members. Psyche’s first instinct is to run, but when the other group keeps on coming then she knows that now is the time to stand and fight or be driven from their territory. The Sun regroups under a low tree, then charge and the fight that follows is intense.

How it happens is unknown, but Psyche wins the day. Yet this victory is not without some serious losses. There in the dirt lies three bodies: Cassiphone, Roma, and Telemachus. With the death of its two older females, the splinter group’s future is now uncertain. The Sun has also lost some other members. Anthousa, Hermaphroditus, Roxana, Erinna, Kleio, Damalis. Aikaterine. Alkibiades, and Auxesia have gone missing. They are later found to be together and somehow it is clear that they will not be going back home. While the females in the group would have been helpful with caring for her pups, Psyche still has the support of the subordinate females who remain. After scent-marking the area and mourning for the loss of Telemachus who had been a good father and a great dominant male, the Sun head for home and leave the desert to wipe itself clean.