The moon rose, high, high. It took so long to get there, very slowly spreading its rays. In fact, it had risen twice while a white and gold lioness had watched it. Now, it rose in the darkness, going to be with the stars.

The moon was their great-great-great grandmother, coming to greet her children, smiling down on all them, so distant, but still just as bright. One star was far away from them all, but it was still a star, and surrounded by other stars. It would never be alone, because it chose not to be.

Only the oldest grandmother understood that loneliness. All her children had lived their own lives, grown up with sisters, had their own children and died in happiness with lovers, whether they be male or female. However, the oldest did not have a lover, she was not a virgin, either, no, she was a sacrafice. She knew that she'd know loneliness if she had children, but she was so lonely as it were.

So she'd created them, Nyumbani's family. Her mother, her mother, and so forth. It had all come from one lioness, so, so long ago. One that sacraficed herself. Never had there been an only child sense born into her family. Nor would there ever be again. For when it did, that loneliness would set in, and families would tear apart.

Tara had been that only child, and Tara would have many children, but forever be alone.

Ohahira, Nyumbani, Senna, Mika, Swa, they didn't exist. That was the sacrafice Tara had made, and she did not yet know of it. Nyumbani, however, would not know of these things. She loved her sisters, and it was time to let Tara go to what she was and had to be. The ancient grandmother.

With a broad smile she leaned back, finding not hard earth, but the softness and warmth of another. She did not know his name, she only knew his love.

Nevermind that he did not know hers, either. That neither one knew anything more than the knowledge they weren't alone. That was all that mattered in this moment, and Nyumbani realized, she'd never be alone again. For she was going home, and there she'd be surrounded by siblings, and eventually. . . sons.

Brothers that would stick together to eternity. And she would make sure they knew the value of family, and sacrafice.