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.

In an abandoned burrow out in the middle of nowhere, four former Isikara meerkats have been struggling to survive with just each other to rely on. So far they have succeeded, if not for looking slightly thinner than usual. This patch of land is poor in resources, which is why other groups have avoided it. But for outcasts, it can be a place of safety while they wait for their luck to turn. While Veronica and Star are just trying to survive, Britney and Vicky have their eyes on the prize. If they can join up with roving males, the foundations of a new group will be laid out and there will be a need for a queen. Because she is the oldest, Britney has the best shot of getting the role, but Vicky has a lot of ambition and is ready to do whatever she can to get what she believes is coming to her.

The morning starts out like what you might expect, the four girls wake up and make their beds. At least Star and Veronica do that, Britney is on guard, and Vicky is just focused on grooming herself. When done, they set out in a random direction.

Because of the lack of numbers, sentry duty must be taken more seriously here than ever before. Britney is leading the group while Vicky is taking watch, but even the most diligent guard gets hungry or tired and must take a break in a little while. Vicky thinks it is perfectly acceptable to leave her post without some kind of word of warning, and that could be dangerous. But luckily, Veronica notices the problem and is quick to offer a solution, but it is becoming clear that she and Star are starting to get fed up with these two royal wannabes. After Vicky robs her of her hard-won meal of millipede, Star has enough and sets off to find somewhere else to forage. Veronica watches her go, then follows along. Vicky and Britney don't notice their departure at first and only because Britney happens to look up does the two kats narrowly avoid being an eagle's lunch. When the threat flies away, Vicky and Britney come out of the bolt hole but then notice that each is missing her sister. Where did Veronica and Star go? Vicky tries to find someplace high in order to get a good view over the area, but there is no sign. Maybe they set off for home or will be back later, the two rivals quickly lose interest and focus on foraging.

Just a short distance away, Star and Veronica have reached the edge of their land. Beyond is a place that is full of food and opportunity but also danger. It is worth the risk and the two girls set out into the unknown and soon they are rewarded in more ways than one. Not only do they find food and an empty burrow, but they also attract the attention of a handsome young rover. Star and Veronica are set.

If only Vicky and Britney could be as lucky.

Instead, their wanderings take into peril. Namely the group they'd left behind and who has no interest in taking them back. Trixie sees them and leads the Isikara charge. Shaken, the two girls find a bolt hole and this will have to do for the night. 

It has been four days since Britney, Vicky, Veronica, and Star have decided to go rogue. To Trixie and the rest of the Isikara, they are as good as dead and life continue as usual. This morning the group is spending some extra time at the burrow, which suits Papyrus just fine as he gets some extra snuggle time with mom. Kat and Stein are back to their usual antics, though this time they have enticed Carter and Sadie to join the game. The mood among the Isikara seems to be unusually light as if a great weight has been lifted off of them. When Trixie finally stirs, the rest of the family follows except for Sadie who is to be today's babysitter. This is her first time doing such an important job and one might question the wisdom behind it. When you are very small, standing at only twelve inches tall, and the desert is full of things that are out to get you, there is no place in a mob for a weak link. Every meerkat must do his or her share of the duties or face the alternative, life without a family to rely on. Sadie seems rather proud at being tasked with such an important job, though it is a known fact that she is one of those who get bored fast and often act before she thinks.

Sometime after the family has vanished from sight, Sadie gets a visitor. It is a young male of wild origins who is out roving for the first time and he has found the Isikara burrow. Sadie has spotted him and watches as he steadily makes his way closer. Any other meerkat might try to see him off or maybe hide belowground with her charge, but Sadie just sits and watches and waits. The young male gets closer until he is finally sitting beside Sadie and starts to lightly groom her. Sadie clearly thinks this is nice and allows it to happen, though she should realize that this could land her in some hot water with mom. Eventually, his careful attention wins her over, and Sadie follows him to somewhere more private.

As if he is aware of the fact that he is now home alone, Papyrus emerges from the burrow to find Sadie missing in action. He has no idea where she has gone or when the rest of the family will be home. For a tiny creature in a big landscape like the Kalahari, the odds are certainly stacked against him and Papyrus seems to realize that he is safer underground. Sadie eventually returns, but she is not alone for her suitor has decided to join her. This may be due to the fact that he is inexperienced, for among meerkats it is not advisable to stick around to meet the family. 

When the Isikara arrives home for the evening, they are appalled by the sight of a strange meerkat lurking around their den. King Tut and the boys waste no time in seeing the young rover off...but then something strange happens. After being chased off, the young male returns and slinks closer to the group. His body language is fully submissive and he focuses his attentions on King Tut who surprisingly enough lets him near. Maybe this rover had lost his family, or maybe he sees a chance to one day have a shot of being the male head of the Isikara in the future. Whatever the reason, he wants into the group and King Tut lets him in. Trixie has the final say in such matters but seems to approve and the young meerkat known as Walt becomes an official member of the Isikara clan. Sadie couldn't be happier with this turn of events, but she has bigger things to worry about because Trixie happens to smell Walt on her fur. If this new member is going to stick around, then he must learn to keep his paws off the subordinate females. There are only two meerkats here who will be allowed to breed and that is the dominant pair which Sadie and Walt are not, not yet at any rate. 

It has certainly been an interesting day for the Isikara and everyone is ready to call it a night. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a little less exciting. 

 After the trials and tribulations of last season, the Isikara are ready for a good year. None more than Trixie who finally got a new mate and now is on her second litter with King Tut as the proud father. While the family prepares for the debut of their newest members, the two pups from Trixie's previous litter are enjoying a game of chase under the watchful eye of their older brother Chip. At four months old, Kat and her brother Stein are still young, but they no longer are the babies of the group and soon will be expected to do their share of the hard work. For now, they are more interested in fun and do not seem to notice when the work stops around them. All eyes are on the opening to the burrow where a little face is peeking out. The pup seems very unsure about himself and tries to go back down the tunnel that leads to the main sleeping chamber. His older brother, Carter tries to encourage him with some reassuring peeps. When that doesn't seem to convince him, big sister Sadie settles for an easy solution. She plucks the pup up and carries him up to where everyone else is waiting. If Trixie disapproves of the rough handling, then she shows no sign of it as she grooms her little son. The family waits, but no other pups emerge. Meerkat litters can range from one to seven pups, though some have had eight. For little Papyrus, this means that there is a lack of competition from littermates for the adults' attention. This also could give Trixie an excuse to move the family if she should feel the need.

Right now, however, the family will stay put until Papyrus is old enough and strong enough to go out with the grown-ups. He will be in the capable paws of his sisters, Tiffany and Serena. Kat and Stein have decided to stick around for some reason, so it pays to have two capable babysitters to ensure that neither pup nor teenager will come to harm.

The Isikara are not quite as numerous as they once were, this is due to some deaths and also a few of the older males leaving for new roving activities. King Tut has his work cut out to keep rovers away, but he does have the support of Chip, Amos, and Carter to help in a pinch. While some meerkats are no longer around, a few thorns still remain in Trixie's side. Well aware of how close they had come to face serious punishment, Britney and Vicky are either staying out of Trixie's way or groveling before her. For now, she is still their queen and they will best remember who has the final say in everything.

Winter had recently come to an end and the rains had returned to the desert. There is warmth and food, but it still requires some hard digging. Like any good leader, Trixie does her best to lead the family to a different part of their territory each day. This helps previously visited places to have the chance to restock the things that meerkats like to eat. Today the Isikara are visiting a part of their territory that is covered with tall grass. Despite the risk they face, meerkats prefer open spaces where they can have a clear view of approaching danger and can also easily dig at the soil. The tall grass also makes it easy to get lost. By the time they emerge on the other side, Trixie can tell that there is a very big problem. Britney, Vicky, Veronica, and Star are missing. She sends out lead calls to guide them to safety, but there is no answer. Maybe they will catch up later. 

Around Midday, it is very hot and Trixie wants to check on her pups. The four females have yet to make an appearance and Trixie is only mildly concerned about it at the moment. Later on as dusk begins to settle over the desert, Trixie begins to worry. Although all four of the missing females are potential rivals due to being old enough and appealing enough to roving males, they are also key babysitters and their absence drops the group's numbers down from eighteen to only fourteen. Perhaps they will be back tomorrow.

Early the next morning and in a bolt hole that is a mile away from the main burrow, Britney is first to emerge. She is soon followed by Veronica and Star. It is almost an hour later before Vicky decides to finally rouse herself, but when she does all four of the lost Isikara girls take the opportunity to get some sun. They should really be trying to make their way home, for even four meerkats can find it rough living without the safety of the group. None of them seem in a hurry to do so, in fact when they do finally set out it is in the opposite direction of the burrow. By midday, they have crossed the border into unknown territory and it is clear that this is the start of something new. As of today Britney, Vicky, Veronica, and Star are no longer members of the Isikara tribe, and their troubles have only begun.

The Isikara Cast for Season 2

 Trixie: Dominant Female

King Tut: Dominant Male

Britney

Chloe

Vicky

Veronica

Star

Tootie

Alyssa

Chip

Tiffany

Serena 

Amos

Carter and Sadie

And...

The Pups

This is Rise of the Dynasty, Isikara Style. 

 The promise of pups is always good for a group that needs the numbers, but only if the litter survives. The mood among the Isikara is grim and Trixie knows that it is only a matter of time before things truly fall apart. The numbers have fallen instead of grew and this could be seen as a sign of a leader who is losing her grip on power.

Hope comes in the form of Maryann and Alyssa's new pups. Having been born three weeks ago, the two pups come out for the first time and the family eagerly welcomes them. Even Trixie seems happy to see the pair and has no issue with them trying to suckle. Yet under the feelings of good cheer, there seems to be something troubling. Both pups are small and weak, which means their chances of survival are lower than normal. The Isikara will have to work hard to ensure their survival since this brood is currently all they have. A heavily pregnant Molly had gone below and never resurfaced. She is most likely dead and her pups with her. With everyone present and hungry, Trixie wastes no time in leading the foraging party out. Except that Ruby and Sadie are left behind on babysitting duty. This is their first time and neither girl knows really what to do. If they are lucky then it will be a slow day, if not...

It just might be Trixie's lucky day for a male meerkat has been spotted in their territory. His slightly faded dye marks and the fact that he does not seem to mind human presence is quite interesting, a sign that he has been habituated in the past. And so he has, for this meerkat is King Tut and he is not really a stranger to these parts. Six years ago, the Isikara was under the rule of Trixie's grandmother and King Tut just so happened to be a part of her last litter before the Isikara suffered a group split. The fact that he is there and is clearly not dead could be seen as a measure of hope that maybe the rest of the missing group is out there alive and well somewhere.

King Tut is not interested in returning to his current mob, for he has his eyes on the Isikara. Though he was a part of this group at one time, enough time has passed that he will be seen as a stranger and could be in serious trouble if caught by Cosmo and the other males. Unbothered by the potential risks, King Tut is slowly making his way closer to the group and he has his eye on the prize. Trixie has caught his eye and the rover can tell at a glance that there is an opening for the right to be her king. He just needs to play his cards right.

So far King Tut is able to get past the attention of the sentries who are on duty, their eyes are on the sky where a familiar silhouette is making everyone nervous. Deciding that it is time to take shelter, the Isikara duck down the nearest bolt hole. King Tut wisely moves into a sheltered spot beneath a large bush, for being alone is not good when there is a predator nearby. The eagle lets out a scream of frustration and moves on to find less cautious prey, allowing the family to leave the safety of their bolt hole. While the rest of the Isikara are trying to calm down with some grooming and playfighting, Trixie spots the hopeful suitor and has no intention of being denied this time. While the family is distracted, Trixie wanders off into the bush and eventually gets her man.

The Isikara spend the rest of the day foraging, but Wanda has noticed that her mother is missing. When Trixie still does not appear at the end of the day, it is Wanda who leads the family back to their burrow. By now the rest of the group has picked up on the fact that their boss is missing and they are wary. Before Vicky can get up to her old tricks, however, Trixie suddenly appears and she is not alone. King Tut has spent the entire afternoon with her and Trixie decides that it's time for him to greet the family. Wisely, Trixie had scent-marked the male, and the fact that he smells like them makes Cosmo and the other boys reluctant to attack him. King Tut won't let them get the chance, he approaches Cosmo first and asserts his dominance over the younger male. Cosmo submits, as does Timmy, Sparky, Chirp, Julius, and Amos. King Tut is now the dominant male of the group and Trixie is noticeably different as she goes to work putting the girls in their place. 

It has been a wild year for the Isikara, but now the future looks brighter. Trixie and King Tut will soon be the proud parents of a new litter of pups. 

It doesn't get better than this.

The End of Part One

 It is a somber mood at the Isikara burrow. Despite their best hopes, Rufio never showed up, and as the days passed the group lost hope that he ever would. At twelve years old, Rufio is an old meerkat and while this had not stopped him before, there is a chance that any wounds he got from the Rockstars proved to be fatal.

Trixie must now go on without him and the experience he had to give. It will be hard, but she has made it through the loss of one mate and if she is lucky, a new Mr. Right will be just around the corner. For now, however, Trixie must think of her current family and after everything is clean and tidy, she leads the group out.

It is a common behavior for animals to leave places where death has occurred and meerkats are no exceptions. Trixie wants a fresh start in a new burrow and none of the family will fault her for her decision. The pickings in the area around the den have started to become rather sparse, proof that it is time for the Isikara to move onto greener pastures.

Around midday and the Isikara are still on the move, but they have slowed their pace in order to do some foraging. With his father dead, Cosmo is filling in the role of the dominant male. Keeping watch and scent marking the territory. Trixie appreciates his help, but it just isn't the same. She might be in luck, for three handsome strangers are in the area. Unfortunately for her, however, it is her three younger sisters who score a date. Maryann, Molly, and Alyssa are very submissive upon their return. But there is a chance that at least one of them is pregnant and this could give them a boost of confidence. Trixie will be watching closely. 

By the time evening draws near, the Isikara have found their new burrow. They are exhausted by the long journey and settle for a group huddle before going down for the night. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The death of Rufio seems to be the start of the Isikara's trials. First is that Twinkle was found dead near a cactus, and it is believed that she had fallen and died from wounds gained. On top of the fact that three subordinate females were pregnant, there were three meerkats who tested positive for TB. In order to save the group, for this disease could wipe out entire families if left alone, Emily, Piper, and Silena were humanely euthanized. Poof had also left on a roving trip and hasn't been seen since. The Isikara has shrunk to just twenty-two and still, Trixie has not found a new partner. The group is not doing too badly really, but things can easily go from bad to worst.

It has been two months since the start of summer and the Isikara have had their share of joy and sorrow. The good news is that the family has been finding enough to eat, with the proof being Carter and Sadie who are now three months old and can do a bit of foraging on their own. Trixie's pups are doing well, but Vicky has not been so lucky. For some unknown reason, perhaps stress, Vicky's body had made her abort her pups and now she is keeping a low profile. But her good behavior won't last, soon she will back to her old tricks and Trixie will once more need to keep an eye on her.

As the family leaves for today's foraging trip, they are all in good spirits. Except for Rufio who is still keeping close to Trixie's side. So far the boss has rejected his attempts for mating, for reasons known only to her, and Rufio is worried that some other male could sneak in to steal his chance. At twelve years old, Rufio is old and wise with plenty of experience in leading a group. Trixie is not his first mate, nor his second. Out of the two other partners he's had, she has been the most successful. Rufio may be a senior by meerkat standards, yet he is far from ready to give up the ghost.

The Isikara reach their destination and everyone settles down. Rufio, however, seems torn on what to do with himself. Should he protect his wife, or take sentry duty and ensure the safety of his entire group? A growl from Trixie as she wrestles with Sparky is enough to make him decide on option number two. He finds a good place, climbs up, and settles in. Despite his initial reluctance, Rufio has a good reason to be wary. This patch of land lies on the border with another meerkat family and it can easily turn into a fight if the other group decides to pay a visit. For a while the Isikara play it safe, foraging strictly on their own land and not looking over into forbidden territory. As time passes, the meerkats venture to slowly venture outward and it is Vicky who makes the first step. One by one, the rest of the Isikara join her and even Trixie goes along.

The land being invaded belongs to the Rockstars, a group of meerkats who once had quite the reputation for bad behavior. Under the leadership of current leader Storm, the group has toned down most of their warmongering ways, but stealing land and resources is not something any meerkat leader will take laying down. If the Rockstars were to discover them, there could be trouble.

As it turns out, the owners are not too far away. On the other side of a small hill, the Rockstars are also enjoying the summer harvest. At twenty-seven meerkats strong, the Rockstars are a match for the Isikara, except that many of their members are youngsters and this includes Storm's three pups who are only a month old. If the Rockstars were to lose, the pups would be killed. Unaware of any trouble, Storm is leading her family onward and they are getting closer and closer to discovering the intruders. As the first meerkats reach the top of the dune, one of the males spots the Isikara down below. In no time at all, the entire Rockstars are lining up for battle, while the three pups cower under a nearby bush.

Before the Rockstars can take the Isikara by surprise, they are spotted by Cosmo who quickly warns his family of the threat. As the Rockstars begin to war dance towards their rivals, Trixie must make a snap decision. There are pros and cons and the risk of serious injury and death is possible...but she decides to give it a shot and the Isikara charge into battle.

The two rival groups meet in the middle and it becomes a full-on brawl. After some time, one group finally accepts defeat and runs away. It is the Isikara. The Rockstars have saved their pups and kept this plot of land under their control.

The Isikara are shocked by their defeat, as they usually win many of the battles that they fight. Having been separated in the chaos, the group knows instinctively that they must return to the burrow. There they gather, licking their wounds and waiting to see who comes home and who will probably never be seen again. Vicky was the first one to reach the burrow and she seems to have avoided the worst of the fighting. While everyone else is shaken up, Vicky starts trying to assert herself. If Trixie does not make it home or if she returns in poor condition, this could be Vicky’s chance to seize power. 

Unfortunately for Vicky, today will not be her time to shine. Trixie soon makes an appearance and while she is scratched up, she is more than capable of holding her own against a wayward subordinate. One glare at her sister and Vicky wisely rolls onto her side in submission. As the sun begins to set, most of the Isikara have made it back. Carter and Sadie had been kept out of the fight by Star and that saved them from meeting the same fate that would have befallen Storm’s pups. But one meerkat is missing and the group waits anxiously for his arrival. Rufio has not been seen since the battle and this could be a bad sign. But maybe he is just taking his time or had gotten lost. The sun drops below the horizon and the Isikara are forced to bed down for the night. Perhaps he will be there waiting for them in the morning. 

Rain is an important part of life, no matter where on earth you go. It cleanses the air, makes the plants grow, and provides water to animals of all shapes and sizes. Sometimes rain can be a nuisance and sometimes it can be a curse that kills those caught unaware. But in the end, we all need it and its arrival marks the start of good times. Especially for a place as hot and dry as the desert.

The residents of the Kalahari are no exception, though their feelings about the water pouring from the sky are mixed. Larger animals are forced to wait it out under whatever cover they can find, but small animals like meerkats, ground squirrels, and hares are able to seek shelter underground.

This is where we find the Isikara today. It is six o'clock in the morning and most of the gang are still asleep. Meerkats hate getting wet as it drains their bodies of precious heat that must be replenished by food, which is driven underground by rain. There is no point in going out now, so Trixie and Rufio are content to snuggle up with each other and their pups. The teenagers are playing a game of hide-and-seek, and most of the others are just sleeping away. When the rain finally does stop, Trixie is the first to survey the scene. Though she cannot see it, Trixie knows that the pickings should be good and there is little time to waste. The Isikara file out of their burrow and set off at once, not even taking much time for burrow work or sunbathing.

Vicky is relieved by this quick action, for she is close to giving birth and needs all the nutrition that she can get. The storm that had passed was the first in months, and it is a sign that winter is over. The Isikara have survived another year under the rule of Trixie and Rufio, and it should be smooth sailing for now. Speaking of Rufio, a change has come over the male head of the family. After filling his belly with a few tasty goodies, Rufio is now keeping close to Trixie. With Carter and Sadie now two months old and the start of summer now upon them, Trixie is ready to mate again. Rufio must do everything in his power to ensure that he will be allowed to sire her next litter. This means switching between endless scent marking and constant grooming, but in the end, the choice is Trixie and if another suitor were to prove himself better, Rufio would be out of luck. Trixie finds his antics annoying, for she has other matters on her mind that love must wait.

As Vicky gets closer to the birth of her pups, she has started to show some alarming behaviors. Stealing food is one thing, but scent marking and overall throwing her weight around is another. This could be a warning sign that she has an aim for the top spot and if Trixie were to be sick or injured, there is a strong chance that she could be overthrown. Trixie must do something to make Vicky remember her place. Trixie decides that now is a good time and charges. As the two sisters clash in a ball of dust and fury, the rest of the group look on. This means that nobody notices the seven figures looming on the horizon. They are meerkat and they are male, their purpose for being here is to find any willing lady kat who might want to mate. The Isikara are a decent size group and there would be enough for each male to have his share...but they must be cautious.

Woodrow, Cody, Owl, Fergus, Farkle, Tucker, and Dom are strangers to the Tswalu Reserve, having come all this way from the nearby Kuruman River Reserve. Having come all this way, it would be a shame to come away with nothing.

Woodrow is the oldest male in the coalition and he is also the leader with prior roving experience, the other boys look to him for guidance. After carefully assessing the situation, Woodrow leads his band in closer. Some of the group notices, namely a few of the girls who seem intrigued by these handsome strangers. But then Rufio spots them and the Isikara changes tact. The Pretenders make a run from it and regroup at a nearby bolt hole. Their first attempt has ended in failure, but Woodrow knows that they will be back.

With the rovers gone, the Isikara can relax now. Trixie has made her point and Vicky is keeping to the edge of the family. Her pups will be born soon, but her place in the group is now uncertain. But as the group heads for home, the horizon is dark with more than just storm clouds.

 Carter and Sadie are ready to go. They have finally been deemed old enough to join the adults out in the field and there is great excitement in the air. While Rufio scent marks everything and everybody, Trixie makes sure that her pups are nice and clean, which brings up another reason why they need to get going soon. The burrow is infested with fleas and ticks due to extended use and it is time for the family to move to someplace new.

In all the excitement, nobody notices that Chloe is strangely absent. There is a strong possibility that she'd given birth during the night and if so, a burrow move would be disastrous. Unaware of her absence, Trixie sets out with the rest of the family in tow and soon they are out of sight.

Chloe finally makes an appearance and her slim belly makes it clear that she has indeed given birth. But she is surprised to find everyone gone. Everyone that is, except for Vicky who has been sitting by the burrow entrance since the Isikara left. Her romantic encounter has clearly left her pregnant and her presence here is far from having good intentions. Meerkat society is brutal, to protect their own pups it is not uncommon for a pregnant female to kill the newborn pups of a rival. Not even the pups of a matriarch are safe, which is why they often evict the problem before it has a chance to happen. For some reason, Trixie did not evict Vicky or Chloe, and now the two females stare at each other. Chloe knows why she is here and she is torn, forced into a dilemma that will not end favorably for her either way. Giving birth is a long, tiresome process and it drains a meerkat mother's energy, as does produce milk for the pups. Chloe needs to head out to find food. But doing so gives her aunt the opening she needs to kill her pups. Even if Chloe does manage to drive Vicky away, there is a great risk of leaving the litter unattended. Chloe is weak from birth, but her maternal instinct is strong enough for her to confront Vicky and try chasing the other female away. Vicky stubbornly stands her ground and the match ends in a stalemate.

It seems neither female realizes that the family will not be returning to this burrow anytime soon.

Unaware of the drama happening at the old den, Trixie and the Isikara are on the move and super busy. Their pace is slow due to the need to find food and watch out for danger, but they are making good time in Trixie's opinion and she continues to lead them further on. Carter and Sadie seem to be relishing their new freedom, scampering around after the grown-ups and getting to see and taste the elements of a meerkat life. Digging is a skill that any meerkat must-have, and it takes practice to learn the proper way to shovel earth out of your way. Carter finds a teacher in Wanda who shows him the technique, but often lets him keep the rewards. His sister Sadie, meanwhile, is proving to be an independent soul who wants to do her own thing. So far her efforts have been in vain until one older sibling takes pity. It turns out that skipping class is really not the way to get ahead in life and these two pups will need to grow up fast for soon Trixie will be ready to produce a new litter.

Back at the old den, Chloe and Vicky are not having a fun time indeed. Chloe has moved to rest in the entrance of the burrow that leads to her precious pups and she refuses to let Vicky near, any attempt being met by a flash of sharp fangs. Vicky is getting hot, bored, and terribly hungry and finally accepts that she will not be doing baby killing today. She gets up and walks out into the bush with not a single look back. Chloe is glad to see her gone, but she is concerned that the family still hasn't made it back. She wants to look for them, but can't leave her litter alone without a trusted adult to watch them. She decides to wait for just a little bit longer and retreats underground where it is both cooler and safer.

Vicky has finally found the group many miles away from the burrow and she is eager to get her head in the sand.

As afternoon gives way to evening, the Isikara comes across a burrow that could serve as a potential new burrow. It hasn't been used recently and needs some work to make it into a cozy new home, but Trixie seems to think that this will suit the family quite nicely and her family begins to make themselves at home. The old burrow is now just a distant memory and so is Chloe...if she were not to appear out of the bush just as the sun sinks below the horizon. Chloe must have realized that the group was no coming back and she chose to be with them instead of her fragile newborns. The Isikara sit for a moment longer, then head to bed. 

This is Trixie and as she comes out of the burrow to greet the day, the land around her is her manor. It is vast and currently green from the summer rains. This is a paradise to any meerkat family and Trixie knows very well that there are other groups out there that would kill for a piece of their good fortune. It takes numbers to keep the borders safe, and secure borders are a must for ensuring that her family remains happy and well-fed. The odds can be daunting for some, but Trixie is known for being a tough little kat and it is her style to tackle most challenges head-on. This can be good, but she must also take care for having too much rashness can bear grave consequences.

Fortunately, Trixie is not in this alone. At her side is a partner who has age and experience on his side, a fairly large male who is named Rufio. He may be getting up in years, but Rufio is not going to let age get him down just yet. Together Trixie and Rufio are the leaders of a group that consists of twenty-six meerkats, most of whom are their children with a few relatives mixed in. Life can be hectic in a meerkat mob, but they will all pull together in a pinch and Trixie can rely on most of them to help in her mission to build the group into a formidable force indeed. 

To do that, you must have pups and today is the big debut of Trixie's latest litter. Born three weeks ago, the two pups have spent that time tucked safely underground. Now, however, it is time for them to be brought into the light of the world beyond the den. They can only look out upon their manor, but leaving the burrow is out of the question for the time being. Lucky for Carter and Sadie, they will be left in the capable paws of two of their older sisters, Britney and Veronica.

With that, the Isikara head out to forage for the tasty goodies that can be found with only hard work and a little bit of patience. Not everyone seems to have gotten that message yet.

Not having the desire to try finding her own food, young Ruby is hoping to convince her big sister Chloe to give up her beetle larva. But Ruby is now five months old, and this means that she is more than capable of feeding herself. Her cries are ignored and her attempts to grab the prize are thwarted. Dejectedly, Ruby moves on and soon is able to catch some food on her own. Perhaps it does pay to keep trying until you get it right.

There is another reason that Chloe was unable to give in to her younger sister's demands, she is pregnant and this is stressful for two reasons. First Chloe must find enough food, but the biggest problem is this...Chloe should never have gotten pregnant in the first place. In meerkat society, all the breeding is done by the dominant pair. Any litter born to a subordinate could threaten the lives of the whole group in a number of ways. So far Trixie has not attacked her, but there is little doubt that her mother is aware of her condition and there is more than one way to deal with unwanted pups. For now, Trixie has other things on her mind, such as finding enough food to help her make milk for her pups.

While the group hunts amount the grass for bugs and other delicacies, Rufio is on guard along with his two eldest children, Cosmo and Wanda. They had managed to grab a quick bite to eat and now are on high alert for any danger or strangers. 

Chloe's predicament is actually a problem that Trixie must not ignore. The Isikara is an average size group, but most of its members are female. This is a temptation to any roving male who may be in the area, despite the risks that could come with getting caught by Rufio and the boys. If Trixie is not careful, she could lose everything that she has worked so hard to gain.

Carter and Sadie have little to trouble their minds. Their first day outside has been peaceful so far and the two pups are blissfully unaware of the danger that could come from any place, even from their own kind. While Veronica is giving the pair a midday snack, Brittany is on lookout. It is while doing so that she spots the strange meerkat lurking in the bushes. It is a male and he comes from a different family. Brittany and Veronica now watch him closely, shielding the pups as they are unsure if he is working alone or if his family is nearby. The meerkat seems to be alone and he is slowly making his way close to the burrow. Brittany and Veronica are unsure of what to do, they should get the pups underground and maybe chase the stranger off. But instinct makes them drawn to the sight of an unrelated male...in the end common sense comes out on top and the pair runs the rover off. Then return to the pups.

Unwilling to give up just yet, the roving male turns his attention elsewhere and soon locates the main group. Now that it has reached midday, the rising temperature is a sign for the meerkats to seek shade and rest until things cool down. Having been on guard duty all morning, Rufio has stepped down for the chance to rest beside his lady love. Cosmo and Wanda have moved into the shade, but they are still keeping up the watch. Positioned at the edge of the group, Wanda is the first meerkat out here to spot the pesky rover. Instead of raising the alarm, however, she watches him for a moment. Then slowly climbs down and creeps off into the long grass. He has gotten a bite and the rover is quick to escort her to somewhere private. Wanda is playing a dangerous game of her own, for she could be expelled from the group if Trixie catches the smell of rival meerkat on her fur...but Wanda may be lucky than Chloe. Wanda has been pregnant two times before and both times she had lost the litter without the stress of being evicted. It seems that her body struggles with fertility issues which could keep her safe, but would be terrible if she ever became a leader. 

After the mating, Wanda decides to head back to the burrow instead of rejoining the foraging party. If she is lucky, Brittany and Veronica could give her the means to hide the proof of her sin. 

But her beau is far from ready to call it a day on his lovemaking, he is back for a shot with another Isikara girl and he has caught the eye of Vicky. She is a younger sister of Trixie and is known to be a bit of a trouble-maker. For her sake, it would be better to just look away, but Vicky does not. She gets up and makes her way through the crowd. Trixie is away now and sees her, but oddly enough she makes no attempt to stop her sister from going after her male. Her behavior is quite strange and this could be seen as a sign of weakness. Trixie really does need to step out or else her days as leader of the Isikara could be numbered. 

Meet the Isikara Meerkats

Trixie (played by Neferkawit): Dominant Female

Rufio: Dominant Male

Wanda (played by Merit)

Cosmo (played by Kha)

Timmy (played by Sunu)

Britney (played by Nefertiti)

Chloe (played by Jennat)

Vicky (played by Tera)

Veronica  (played by Shepseheret)

Star (played by Bithiah)

Twinkle (played by Memnet)

Poof (played by Moses)

Sparky (played by Seti)

Tootie (played by Tuya)

Maryann (played by Meritaten)

Molly (played by Meketaten)

Alyssa (played by Ankhesenamun)

Emily (played by Neferneferuaten Tasherit)

Piper (played by Neferneferure)

Silena (played by Setepenre)

Chip (played by Aleron)

Tiffany (played by Raya)

Serena (played by Sakina)

Julius

Ruby

Amos

And...the curious pups.

This is Rise of the Dynasty, Isikara Style.