Animal Activities #57

A queer peace treaty had been signed in this sun-baked courtyard between the hunters and the scavengers. Bintu was a tall rust-colored goat who appeared to be an unofficial guardian. She put her head up in the air, so that her cloven hooves were resting on a heap of dry sugarcane stalks. As she rhythmically chewed in her fibrous remains, she had kept her amber eyes glued to the wall, looking beyond the horizon. She was not only seeking food, she was the scout of the whole dusty borough.

The "Nappers' Guild" were in full blast at her feet. Three puppies, who had scarcely passed the period of weaning, had given themselves up to the lethargy of midday. One was a pale sandy-colored pup, which was curled up in the open sand and its ribcage was going up and down in a rhythmic slow dance with the heat. Then, just around the corner of the wall where the stone retained a shadow of the coolness of the morning, lay Kojo, a black and tan puppy with a white line between his eyes.

Kojo was the most watchful of the litter. In his sleep the ears of this man also moved with the movement of the hooves of Bintu over the cane. They appeared to be just a group of beggars and animals to an ordinary viewer, but to the animals, it was a business alliance. The presence of the goats guaranteed the safety against smaller predators, and the dogs were able to detect danger early due to their sharp sense of smell, and warn the herd of the danger of people or bigger predators.

The fine silt being blown about by a light wind Bintu gave a soft bleat, an announcement that the sun was at last setting. The puppies fussed, they yawned, and stretched their skinny legs. The heat was leaking and the Republic of the Wall was about to wake.

Thanks for reading my post I'm inviting @goodybest, @abdullahw2 and @m-fdo to participate.