A door closed cutting off the panting of a Mikachiari in labor. "Mina's with at least five cubs," Nori said.
"Thank you, Goddess Jimotekuari!" Teke cried. "How soon?"
"A couple more hours."
"How soon until we can impregnate her again?"
Noki sobered, her ears turned down. "Why? No one has discovered us."
"They're looking. We know they're somewhere around Seo Jog Mo Seo Li. It's too dangerous to move any farther away. All it takes is for one Asistan Ti to let the Prezidan know and we're done."
"But this, sacrificing her, after all she's done?"
"She will be remembered forever with our words. It is her fate."
"A fate you've decided for her. What of your fate?"
"I—I will be cursed. I will be cursed for far more than what I've done to Mina."
A muffled cry sent Noki back into the small room. Hours later she brought five cubs for Teke to hand over to five Mikachiari.
"Take them to the sanctuaries, protect them with your life. Our existence depends on it," said Teke as she handed each mewling cub to it's new mother.
"Should we name them before we go?" one Mikachiari asked.
"Yes." Teke laid a hand on each one saying, "You are our hope, Ri, so your names are: Riari, Rito, Riku, Rimei, and Rika. Our hope after more than a hundred years of despair."
The Mikachiari dispersed from the camp.
"How soon can we impregnate Mina?" Teke demanded from Noki. "The sooner we hand her over to the Asistan Ti, the sooner the hunt for our Ri will end."