February 2023

 For the first time ever, Trixie stands alone this morning. The rest of the group is close by, but it is clear that she is not a part of them and she does not appear to be particularly bothered. The story begins yesterday when her son returned home. Stein had not been alone, for all three of the mysterious females had followed him. Female meerkats seldom join other groups, especially ones that are well established. But these girls seemed to be bolder than most and marched right in uninvited. That was the first of many insults that Trixie would face in a single day. As they made themselves at home, Trixie gave them a dirty look but did not act. The Isikara went out to forage and found a place to sleep at midday. Once more Trixie did not act toward the intruders. Once the temperature dropped to a comfortable level, the group carried on their bug hunting and soon went home. Trixie was greeted by her pups and gave them a feed, then sat with the family. It was only then that things began to get serious. The three new family members were clearly a hit with the rest of the group, especially the males who were all unrelated. Trixie and the girls looked on in silence, but the arrival of the night put an end to things.

This morning, one of the new females had been first to emerge and the rest of the group soon followed. Except for Trixie who had decided to sleep in. The mood of the burrow is tense and even the pups seem subdued. When Trixie finally does make an appearance, the first wild meerkat approaches her and hip-slams her. Trixie is startled, but then the other two join and suddenly she is being attacked. The rest of the group looks on, uncomfortable by what is going on but nobody will dare get involved. As soon as she could, Trixie made a run for it and was chased off. 

The entire group is unsure of what to make of the situation, even more so because now the three victors turn on each other. Female dominance battles can last for months with no clear winner, it really comes down to how many submits a contender receives from others of the same gender. 

Trixie can only watch as everything she has worked for goes up in smoke, but she doesn't seem very phased by this turn of events. Instead, Trixie is merely sunning herself and soon sets off to forage. Alone she is vulnerable, but then the Isikara can be made out in the distance. They are also going to forage and it is clear that leadership is a mess. The Kalahari can be harsh to the weak and unfortunate, but it can also hold unexpected miracles. 

Today, one of those miracles is for Trixie. The Isikara are out foraging when a predator alarm is sounded. The group panics, as meerkats commonly do, and splits into two halves. Eight meerkats, including the three wild females, go in one direction and encounter a bolt hole that is already occupied by a puff adder. Their flight takes them further from the eleven other meerkats who were lucky to find shelter that did not host an equally dangerous enemy. Once the danger passes, the group emerges from under the bush and there is a familiar face. Trixie has used the threat to rejoin the group and she is quick to assert her dominance over her daughters. Kat, Tiffany, and Serena bow to their queen and the group take a moment to reaffirm the bond that keeps them together through thick and thin.

But now there is a problem.

The three wicked sisters are now out of her fur, but also missing is her partner along with the other unrelated males. Trixie now has no mate and she needs to produce another litter to assert her status as the dominant female. Once again the Kalahari decides to bestow upon her another blessing. A roving male has been spotted in the Isikara’s territory, and he is a big fan favorite. At thirteen years old, Pluto is an old boy now. But he is in great shape and does not seem to be feeling his age at all. His presence here means only one thing, Pluto is looking for love and a dominant female with no mate is fair game.

January 2023

 Three weeks after giving birth, Trixie's latest litter is ready to meet the family in the world outside of the burrow entrance. The group has done a good job in caring for them, and it does pay that two familiar faces can count themselves as part of the family fold. Tiffany and Serena are back, and both sisters are definitely keeping their heads low whenever the boss is around. 

Their slender figures are proof of what had happened after Trixie had kicked them out. The stress of the eviction had caused Tiffany to miscarry her litter, while Serena had given birth but the litter was quickly lost. Not only that but Noah and Enki had grown tired of them and returned to the Isikara after a roving adventure. 

The pair had followed the Isikara closely, though Trixie would not allow them near until she had given birth and the sisters would no longer be a threat to her pups. Once the first critical hours had passed, Trixie had welcomed them back with fairly open arms, and that had been that. 

The Isikara were back to being twelve-strong, and now with the five new pups who made their appearance one by one, the group now numbers seventeen. They are big enough to take on Jaco's Dune, but not until the pups are old enough to fight and not risk being killed for being the easier target. 

For now Beetle, Cool Breeze, Kopa, Inyibiba, and White Elephant will have their own adventures here at the burrow under the watchful eye of the babysitters. Today Stein and Kat are on babysitter duty and they might find five pups a bit challenging. 

With everything under control here, Trixie and the rest of the group set off. As it often does, time passes slowly for the babysitters. But the pups seem to be in high spirits and clearly enjoy their newfound freedom. When the five finally do tucker themselves out, Kat herds them belowground, then sits with her brother.

After a while, Kat approaches her brother and begins to groom him. It is not only a good way to keep fleas and ticks at bay, but also is good bonding between family members in a mob. Stein is ready to return the favor when something suddenly catches his eye. Kat is immediately alert and together they look off into the distance. Three figures are slowly approaching the borrow and at first glance, it might be roving males. Stein is ready for a fight, but it is not male meerkats who are making their way closer by the minute, but females. A trio of females who were probably evicted from their own group. There is nothing here for them except a burrow and a male who could be a potential mate, Stein seems unsure of what to do now, but Kat is already taking action, digging and scent marking the area around the burrow. The three meerkats pause, then wisely decide to retreat. But to the shock of Kat, her brother runs after them. 

Kat is not pleased and decides that maybe things will be easier if she keeps the pups down below. They could not possibly get into any trouble, right?

When the Isikara returns home, it is early in the evening and everyone is exhausted and yet satisfied. Trixie feeds her pups and gives each one a good groom, then settles back to relax before bed. Nobody seems to notice that Stein is still missing, but hopefully, he will be home by tomorrow morning. Night travel is not a good idea for a meerkat who can see even less well in the dark. With a single bark, Trixie leads her latest brood underground and the rest of the group follows as night falls upon the desert.

December 2022

 In other parts of the world, the start of December means that winter is not far away. There is a chill in the air, snow will maybe fall, and many cultures are preparing to celebrate different holidays. In the Kalahari, however, December is different for the rainy season is in full swing and new life is to be found all around. 

For one Isikara girl, however, the start of a new month is marred by tragedy. Alyssa is the first to emerge from the burrow and she is notably slimmer. The worse has come to pass and Alyssa had lost her litter. Not long after, Rama emerges from the burrow and sits with her. He had mated with Alyssa back in October and the pups she had been expecting were most certainly is. Although subordinates are not permitted to breed, these two seem rather fond of each other. Jessup and Chloe emerge just a few later and they too seem unusually fond of each other. It is unlikely for Trixie to allow this kind of attention while she is still the boss. What will the four lovers do? They each exchange a look, then suddenly all four bolt off. For Chloe this is not just the chance to be with Jessup, it also safeguards her unborn pups who might be the foundation of a new group.

After a while, the remaining twelve Isikara meerkats emerge from the burrow and begin the morning’s tasks. Trixie, however, has discipline on her mind. Yesterday she had stood idle while Tiffany and Serena attacked Alyssa and evicted her from the group, this morning the sisters are wisely keeping their heads down, but Trixie is not going to buy any excuse for undermining her authority. She sets her sights on Tiffany and attacks. 

Only, instead of rolling on her back in submission, Tiffany fights back. And then Serena jumps into the fray. In the blink of an eye, what was meant to be a display of power is now a battle for dominance. Despite the fact that it is two against one, and none of the other meerkats are going to come to her aide, Trixie is able to get the upper hand over Tiffany and drives her off. She then turns to Serena who quickly tries to change her tune, but her mother is furious and this time the whole group joins in the chase. 

Trixie has won and will remain the dominant female of the Isikara for a little while longer. But now she has a problem, and that is a severe lack of babysitters. Only female meerkats can produce milk to suckle the pups, which helps when mom is away looking for food to produce that milk. Trixie now only has Tootie and Kat to rely on, and the latter is a teenager at that. Trixie is just going to have to make do with what she has for the time being, for she is not about to let Tiffany and Serena back in the group anytime soon.

Slightly shaken from this morning’s events, Trixie decides to lead the family out to forage, and everyone follows. Except for Noah and Enki who head off in the direction that Tiffany and Serena had gone. It seems the pair are equally fond of their one-time girlfriends. Twelve quickly becomes only eight and there is a risk of danger now. Male meerkats have been known to desert groups that are no longer doing well. If Trixie loses Tootie, then she and Kawit could be left all alone and the Isikara would be no more. 

Fortunately for Tootie, Trixie has no intentions of kicking her out yet. While Tootie should be grateful for this kindness, she is instead rather nervous and is torn between keeping her distance and trying to keep on her mother’s good side with proper displays of submission. The reason for her concern is apparent with the bulge of her belly. Tootie is pregnant and looks like she will be due to give birth soon. With Chloe, Tiffany, and Serena now gone, Tootie’s pups stand a good chance. Provided that Grandma Trixie chooses to spare their lives. 

The rest of the day passes without any issue and the Isikara soon return to the burrow with bellies full and in good spirits. Tootie is keeping her distance as the others groom or play in the fading light. Trixie seems to be in a good mood and is playfighting with the younger members of the group. As the sun falls below the horizon, the Isikara head down into their burrow one by one. 

The morning will bring new questions and answers.

--

The next day shows the Isikara are already up and about, the burrow is being cleaned out by some, while others are soaking up the rays. Trixie is keeping watch with Mathayus at her side. The family’s mood is fairly light, even though it quickly becomes clear that Tootie is absent. When she does emerge, she is looking quite slim but is also rather nervous. Trixie gives her a glance but then looks away as her attention is caught by a bird flying overhead. When the group heads out to forage, Kat is left behind to babysit the new pups. So far it looks like the babies are being tolerated by their grandma, but for how long? And Trixie is not the only threat the new litter could be facing. 

Another meerkat family is on the move, not the Wombles, but Jaco’s Dune. The leader of this group, Sefo, is actually the sister of Safira and the story of her rise to power is quite miraculous. But that is a tale fit to be told another day, on this day she is leading her family to a new burrow. 

While their venturing into the Isikara’s land is a total accident, they seem to be making the most of their visit. The family is making slow and steady progress towards the burrow and if they find Kat and the pups, there will be no prisoners taken. Especially because Sefo's own daughter, Liberty, is also in the "family way". She is lucky that her mother has not evicted her, though it simply could be because Sefo has no pups of her own at the moment.

Unaware of the trespassers, the Isikara are hard at work. Because Kat is very young, she can’t produce milk for the pups. Tootie will have to return home from time to time in order to feed them. This issue is made hard by the simple fact that the family is traveling further and further away from the burrow. It is risky for a meerkat to venture off on its own, so Tootie is hoping that Trixie might lead them home early, but her mother has no plans to do so. Tootie is forced to wait anxiously and in the end, she just might have to take the chance. But doing so may be at her own peril for after a morning spent making steady progress, Jaco’s Dune has stumbled upon the burrow. At first glance, it looks abandoned.

The rookie babysitter is currently underground, tending to her tiny charges. While Kat can’t produce milk for them, she can keep them warm and comforted. She has no idea of the danger they are all in, but maybe they could get away so long as everyone keeps quiet. But Liberty is wanting a good place to give birth and leads the group in to investigate. The smells are clear, this burrow is currently being used by the Isikara group. 

The dominant male of the group, Jed, wastes no time scent-marking the burrow, effectively claiming it for his family’s own use. Liberty is the first one to go belowground, checking each passage and chamber carefully. Deep in the burrow, Kat hears strange actively and becomes quite nervous. Her instincts are at odds, to stay and defend the pups or to run for her life (for she realizes rather quickly that this is not her family). She will be no match for Liberty who is older, bigger, and stronger, plus is driven by the needs of her own pregnancy. Liberty soon catches the scent of pups and sitter and her calls bring more Jaco’s Dune into the burrow underground. The situation has become dire and Kat must save herself before it is too late. She finds a tunnel that leads to a back entrance and hurries out. As she emerges from the opening, a group of Jaco’s Dune spots her and gives chase. 

The Isikara return sooner than expected, for Trixie has decided to allow the group a midday rest at their burrow. But they are alarmed to find their home overran with enemies. Normally Trixie would be quick to lead her troops into battle, but now...it seems that she finally realizes just how low in number the Isikara is. Eight against sixteen are not impossible odds, but being pregnant and close to giving birth, Trixie cannot risk it unless the outcome is certain to be in her favor. 

For Tootie, the situation is equally distressing. She tries to dart forward, almost like she could save her babies on her own, but the effort is clearly half-hearted. She knows that she can’t defeat a group sixteen strong on her own. The Isikara have not been spotted yet, so Trixie quietly leads them away. For the first time in a long time, she is the one who is forced to retreat. It is a massive hit to her pride, but also means that the Isikara, for the first time in a long time, has lost a piece of territory to a rival gang. Unaware of the fact that the owners had come and gone, Jaco’s Dune eventually discovers the pups, and one by one they are dragged out and killed. The group that had chased off Kat return and the family celebrates their victory.

Bruised, bloody, but still very much alive, Kat is able to track down her family and is given a comforting cuddle. Trixie is stoic, her expression blank as she looks out over the desert. The loss of a burrow is bad enough, but the loss of the land around it is even worst. Her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother would be ashamed of today’s defeat. But yet, they would also understand. For now the Isikara must bid their time and the birth of her own litter may set in motion the events needed to restore the Isikara to their former glory.

For now, they wait.

November 2022

​The change of the male dynamics in the Isikara was rather abrupt, but life quickly goes back to normal. This is good because Trixie has more pressing issues. Not one, not two, but five females (including herself) are now pregnant from Mathayus and his boy band. This baby boom could mean a huge increase in numbers for the Isikara. But things seldom go as one would expect. Meerkat mothers are driven by instinct and survival and they often do not stop to think of the future, only of the advance they could give their own offspring at this very moment. As the boss, Trixie's pups naturally have high priority over any other litter. But being the pups of the dominant female does not guarantee safety from rivals. So Trixie may very well have only one option on the table in order to ensure that her pups will live. 

For now, however, the Isikara are out looking for food.

Meerkat territories are generally quite large in order to have access to the areas with the best foraging. They try to visit different places each day, thus allowing previously plundered sites to restock. Today Trixie has led the family to the edge of their land and, not surprisingly, everyone is wary. The border here is shared with the Wombles, a group that could be also considered the sister group of the Isikara, but there is no love lost between the two families. Mathayus is doing his new duties as a dominant male quite well, keeping a lookout with aid from three of his four brothers. Everyone else gets down to bug hunting. 

The group's caution is well placed, for their neighbors are out and about on this day and they can be found not far from the border themselves. Having given her group an earlier start, dominant female Safira has led them into the shade for a well-deserved break. Having recently lost a litter to miscarriage, Safira has been trying to get enough food that will put her back in shape to try again. But now, however, she just wants to relax and even gets enticed into a game of playfighting with the youngsters. The Wombles are having it great and are unaware that one of their many rivals is a little too close for comfort.

The Isikara appear to have struck gold today, for the geckos are running and these lizards are much more satisfying than the normal beetles, scorpions, and millipedes. At three months old, Papyrus is more or less supplying his own meals now, though he is prone to making youthful mistakes. Lizard catching is a more advanced class, but Papyrus won't give up that easily and, eventually, gets lucky and catches a juicy gecko for himself. But he is about to receive another lesson. Despite the abundance of food around them, some meerkats would rather take the easier option of stealing from the weak. From birth, Tiffany and her sister Serena were closer than most and it is not uncommon for the pair to work together as means to an end. Having spotted Papyrus with his prize, the pair waste no time in putting their plan to work. Serena goes first and as Papyrus tries to defend his catch from the older and larger meerkat, Tiffany darts in and steals right it out from under his nose and is gone before the young meerkat knows what's hit him. Having played her part, Serena is obviously expecting her share but Tiffany has no plans for that. Regardless of how close they may be, it seems the bond between the sisters is being tested by pregnancy. Each female has to think of her own litter, though it is not uncommon for multiple females to give birth to a mixed litter of pups. When this happens, all pups get equal priority regardless of who their mother actually is. Serena has no plans to give up until she gets what is coming to her and eventually is able to steal the last half of the gecko which is quickly devoured before Tiffany can retaliate.

After an eventful morning, the Isikara is due for a well-deserved rest. Having spent the morning keeping away from each other, Tiffany and Serena appear to have made up and the pair are taking the time to groom each other. Trixie has her eye on them, for such friendships could easily prove treacherous. And perhaps she is blessed with some sixth sense, because of what is about to happen next. After fussing over each other for a bit, Tiffany and Serena decide they are ready for a snooze, but they feel that Alyssa and Tootie are hogging the best sleeping spots. Working once again as a team, the pair drives off one sister, then the other. Alyssa and Tootie think this is quite unfair, but one look at Trixie reveals that they won’t find any help there. Oh well, there is plenty of space.

When the Isikara finally stirs from their beauty sleep, it is back to bug hunting. Tiffany and Serena are back on the prowl and the pair sees Alyssa. Having decided to take her turn at sentry duty, Alyssa has unexpectedly found herself a bonanza. The perch she has chosen is close to a thorn bush and this is sporting some unusual decorations. A grasshopper here and there, a small lizard, and a few other delicacies that have been mercilessly skewered by some unknown beast. That could mean trouble, but the meerkats have nothing to fear.  This is the work of a shrike, a small bird who hunts small animals and impales its catches on spines to be eaten later. Though now that she has found them, Alyssa would be foolish to turn up her nose on free food. The shrike can only look on as one by one, its hard work is gobbled up by somebody else. This is what Tiffany and Serena have been observing and the pair decide to strike. Their aim is to knock Alyssa out of the way, but unlike Papyrus she is more than capable of standing her ground. No matter how much they try to knock her out of the way, Alyssa refutes them and the pair finally gives up. 

However, only an hour or two later, a new bit of drama is unfolding. It seems that Tiffany and Serena are still rather hot about the shrike and they decide to make a move that definitely will do them no favors...unless they were to change the dynamic of the group. Alyssa was just minding her own business and happened to bump Serena as she walked by, the other female had been preparing a meal that she was almost ready to eat. That brief moment of distraction and the gecko runs for its life. Furious, Serena lunges at Alyssa and the two meerkats are a rolling ball of dust, fur, and angry noises. Tiffany suddenly jumps into the fray and the dynamic duo turns the tussle into a full-blown eviction effort. Alyssa runs as soon as she can, with Tiffany and Serena hot on her heels. Trixie and Mathayus only look on, but quickly their attention is diverted by an alarm call coming from Tuya. The other mother-to-be has been on guard and she is the first to spy on the meerkats in the distance. The other meerkats are lining up for a fight. Forgetting the fact that two of her daughters had just done her job, Trixie rallies her troops.

While the Wombles outnumber the Isikara by three, most of them are young meerkats due to a mixed litter that had been born to several of the females eight months ago. All eleven are itching for their first taste of battle, but they have no idea of the consequences a fight between two rival groups could bring. Injury is bad, but some meerkats can and do get killed. The young of a group are the most vulnerable and often are targeted first. Trixie and Safira are aware of the risks and each matriarch silently gives her opponent the chance to back down, surrender peacefully and they can all walk away with their lives.

Neither is backing down. 

Being a seasoned warrior, Trixie knows what she must do and, thus, makes the first move, The Isikara charge forward towards their enemies and the Wombles answer with a war-dance of their own. The groups meet in the middle and all hell breaks loose. 

The fight goes on and on with neither side backing down until finally, one family emerges victorious. It is the Isikara. Safira and her gang disappear into the distance. Even though Trixie has won, the Isikara have not gotten away unscathed. Many of the meerkats are bruised and bleeding, though luckily none of the wounds are fatal. The most concerning one, however, is Alyssa who has a nasty gash on her belly. There is no telling how bad it is, but the potential for a miscarriage is quite high. Tiffany and Serena don’t seem to have noticed that their victim is back, probably because they have unleashed their aggression on more fitting targets. After the Isikara scent mark their new patch of territory, and with Trixie checking to ensure that everyone is present and accounted for, the family sets off for home

Season 3 Cast

Trixie: Dominant Female

Mathayus: Dominant Male

Chloe

Tootie

Alyssa

Tiffany

Serena 

Stein

Kat

Papyrus

Noah

Enki

Jessup

Rama 

Arpid 

Philos 

And...

The Pups

This is Rise of the Dynasty, Isikara Style. 

October 2022

It is six o'clock in the morning and there is movement at the Isikara burrow. Chip and his three brothers (Julius, Amos, and Carter) are up early and it is clear that there is something going on. After warming themselves in the sun, the four males runoff, and it becomes clear that they have love on their minds. Roving is something that most meerkat males do at some point in their life, but for the four of them to leave at once...they are putting their mother in a tight spot. 

As Chip is leading his band of brothers out of the territory, another group is making their way in.

Unaware of any trouble, Trixie and the rest of the Isikara soon make an appearance. While some members of the family catch some rays, others work on cleaning. Alyssa is on watch and Papyrus is playing with his older siblings. Life is peaceful, but somebody is bound to make trouble and today it is King Tut. Now that Papyrus is old enough to fend for himself, Trixie is ready to mate again and King Tut wants to ensure that it will be he who sires her offspring. That is the main perk of being the dominant male, but his attempts to seduce the boss are not working. Instead of being turned on, Trixie is only getting more annoyed and a harsh bite to the nose is what makes him get the message. There will be no kisses for him right now. 

Maybe he can try again later.

When ready, the Isikara set out and soon reach the patch that will serve them breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the day. As everyone gets down to business, Tiffany and Serena take the first guard shift.​ King Tut has other things on his mind, like scent-marking the territory and throwing his weight around. Trixie does not approve of this behavior and once again her man is disciplined. King Tut will need to get his act together or his days as the male head of the family may be numbered. Not interested in the drama going on between the grown-ups, Papyrus has noticed that Chip is missing and so are Julius, Amos, and Carter. Where did they go? When will they be back? Young as he may be, Papyrus decides that he must step up and be the man of the house, King Tut is surely not going it and Stein....currently is doing hand-to-hand combat with a scorpion. The lack of good sentries is about to be used against the Isikara for they have got company. From a safe hiding spot, a large male meerkat is sizing up the group. He is not alone, for with him are his four brothers, plus two other males from the group they had been forced to leave when it was ravaged by disease. The males are out roving, looking for hot dates...or a group that they could possibly join. With Stein and Papyrus being so young, King Tut is at the mercy of this band of bachelors unless he can rally the group and lead them like a proper general. Maybe then Trixie will give him the chance to mate.

But driving this lot out is not going to be easy, especially when both of the group's sentries leave their post to score a double date with the males Noah and Enki. They are not the only ones to be hit with Cupid's arrow, for Chloe, Alyssa, and Tootie find themselves being lured away by the handsome strangers. While the boss can only look on in dismay, King Tut is finally pushed into action. He plans to chase the rovers off one at a time and will escort each lady back to the family fold. But the rovers have a surprise for him.

As he charges towards a male named Philos, the leader of the band (Mathayus) breaks covers and attacks the luckless dominant male. Philos joins him and King Tut is quickly sent packing with a nasty wound on one of his hind legs. In the blink of an eye, the Isikara have gotten a new dominant male. Plus seven new males to replace the ones who'd left. For the three youngest members, this is a lot to take in and Trixie decides that it is time for them all to go home.

September 2022

With the return of the rains, the Kalahari desert is in bloom and life is fairly easy now. It is almost easy to forget that the planet is in peril and for the meerkats and their many neighbors, this can lead to longer and harsher droughts. For now, however, barely a trace of barren sand can be found amongst a sea of green sourgrass. It is everywhere and is good food for large herbivores, but for meerkats, it is a major nuisance and not just because they struggle to see over the tops of the stalks. The sap from the plants can irritate the eyes, causing infection. The Isikara are currently at a burrow that is surrounded by the stuff, like a tiny island floating in a sea of green. This is no place to raise a family and Trixie is eager to find a new home now because the flea and tick situation is also rather annoying.

With no reason to stick around any longer than necessary, Trixie rounds her group up and the Isikara head out into the great unknown. For the adults, the grass is just annoying, for a small meerkat like Papyrus it can pose a great threat. Within the grass, enemies can lurk. He would be wise to stick close to his family and his older brother Chip seems to be keeping an eye on him as well as the sky. Trixie pushes the family on, reprimanding any who tries to stop for a quick snack break. The pace only comes to a halt when they come upon a small clearing, this will do nicely and Trixie allows her family to feed. Papyrus is doing good with finding most of his food, though he will gladly take handouts from any adult who is feeling generous. He needs to be independent soon because Trixie may soon be planning her third litter of the year. King Tut definitely is not letting her out of his sight, much to her annoyance. 

When she is ready to carry on, the rest of the group fall in...except for Papyrus who is trying to tackle an ant nest. The group has already moved off by the time he admits defeat and the youngster has no idea what to do or where to turn. He cries out for his family and then sets off in a random direction, hoping it will lead him home. If not...his life could be in serious jeopardy. 

As the group moves farther away from the old burrow, Chip notices that Papyrus is missing. With sister Tiffany at his side, the pair set off the way they’d come. Trixie notices, but she is unable to do anything to help. The group won’t be safe until they find a new burrow and a sad fact is that one out of five pups doesn’t make it to adulthood. Papyrus’s death would be tragic, but the memory of it would fade fast.

Chip and Tiffany are equally aware of this grim fact of life, but they are determined to find their brother and nothing can stop them when they are like this. Perhaps it is pure luck that the direction Papyrus had chosen to take was the right way all along. He soon is found and his siblings escort him back to the rest of the group who are taking their midday rest. With all her family back, Trixie can relax. But King Tut has other things in mind. His grooming is quite nice, but when he tries to push his luck...the boss isn't having any of it right now. Oh well, he will just have to try again later.

It is late in the afternoon when the Isikara are finally rewarded for the day's struggles. There is a nice burrow in their sights and everyone is looking forward to settling into their new digs. But as the meerkats get closer, something isn't right. There is a smell that should not be there and the group quickly becomes concerned and agitated. King Tut lays down some scent-markers, thinking that might help things but no, somebody is going to have to go in for a closer inspection.

That special somebody...is Ruby who enters the burrow down one of the back entrances.

She is slowly making her way through the tunnels when an alarm is sounded up above. Tootie has spotted trouble and the Isikara beat a hasty retreat. But they don't go far, because one of their own is still inside the burrow which is now clearly not fit for meerkat habitation...not when a mother jackal and her pups have gotten there first.

Ruby pokes her head out, but quickly ducks down once she has realized what the problem is. She is now trapped and her options are limited. Jackals are crafty predators that can be avoided, but the mother jackal is too close, even more, when she lays down directly in front of Ruby’s tunnel. The poor meerkat can only sit and wait, hoping that she will be able to rejoin her family soon.

The Isikara linger as long as they dare, but Trixie can see how low the sun is and has to get them somewhere for the night. The family retreat to a nearby bolt hole, it is unknown if anyone will sleep well tonight. 

The next morning and there is a somber mood at the Isikara's temporary shelter. Trixie and the rest of the group are up, but they don't seem keen on setting out to find a better home. For a long time, the meerkats just sit there, keeping watch and soaking up the sun's rays. A figure crawls out of the bolt hole. It is Ruby, somehow she was able to rejoin her family during the night but at a terrible price. She is badly injured and clearly is in pain. The group can do nothing for her, except just being there at her side. Of all the meerkats present, Trixie is the one who seems the most concerned with Ruby’s plight. She grooms her daughter lightly, then rests her head on Ruby’s back. The bond between meerkat mothers and their offspring is complicated, but there is little doubt that some love is in the gesture. As the hours' tick by, Ruby grows weaker and weaker and it is clear that this is one fight that she will not be able to survive. Finally Ruby retreats into the bolt hole that she had just left and never resurfaces. The group lingers for an hour or two, then they are forced to leave. Trixie must find them a new burrow and also they need to feed.

It is a bitter blow for the Isikara, but life must go on.