Her eyes stayed open, alert, protective. And somehow—soft. “You know,” she said finally, “her cub was about the same size.” Jamie looked up. “What happened to it?” Asha exhaled. “Complications during surgery. It had a hernia. We tried to fix it. Meera never saw the body. She waited for days. I think she still is.” Her eyes flicked back to Nibbles. “Until now.”
“I’ll come back tomorrow,” Jamie said. “Okay? Just to see him.” Asha smiled. “We’ll be right here.” The area was cleared of visitors, and zoo staff set up a watch. Cameras inside the enclosure pivoted, adjusting their focus. Meera groomed Nibbles, licking his fur like she’d done once with her cub. When he wriggled onto her back, she let him sit there proudly.