Three: A Growing Surprise

“So like I kept saying… why in the heck would she want to make clothes out of some plants… I mean… what even is the human obsession with clothes? Okay so Tarzan has something that looks a little weird and ungainly but I’m sure Jane would have no problem walking amongst us…” Terk was jabbering away and it was more than a little irritated for Tantor to overhear as he was trying to graze but also trying to overcome his natural anxieties regarding what he’d seen. He hadn’t broached the subject yet because no one had seen Tublat in a while and certainly Tarzan was busier with other things… particularly old problems in the guise of diamond smugglers. But it hadn’t left Tantor’s mind yet.

“Well they don’t have the thick protective hair we do Terk… besides, they seem to have some thought that only their mate should see them… undressed. I would assume it’s a mark of respect.” Kala began, chatting with her niece whilst shaking her head. Terk was on her back feeding herself a stick covered in honey she’d rolled in termites with a hind foot. Terk was a very inventive ape when it came to food, but she could stand to act a little more restrained.

“Mark of property to me… what does it matter? There’s no other humans out here who’re gonna see anything anyway!” Terk grunted, although she was a little concerned that Monsieur Dumont was always a little too interested in Jane. But though Kala was about to argue with her she didn’t see the point. Instead the brown ape hooked up the nearest bushel of fig-like plants that only gorillas could enjoy and was about to bring them to her mouth when Terk rolled forward. She remained holding the honey stick daintily in one foot and then with another arm hooked the fruit out of Kala’s hand and pulled them forward. Kala opened her mouth, about to complain until her sister gave her a gentle tap and a knowing look. “Oh boy… I’m starved… I mean… I know I’m eating but… what is this feeling?”

“Heh… a very strange sort of feeling is it?” Terk’s mother questioned, a knowing and proud look upon her face as Terk nodded her head firmly in agreement. Kala looked to her sister, then her eyes widened and her lips pursed. Excitement filled the two beings as they turned towards Terk who ate, scratcher herself and gave a loud ‘uh-huh’ in agreement whilst Terk gave a grunt of surprise. Her mother then gave a chuckle as she passed her some more fruit and then she and Kala plonked themselves down beside her with loving, knowing expressions. “And even though you feel hungry, you don’t always feel like you want to eat… and you don’t always feel comfortable in yourself and… every so often you feel something almost like a butterfly flapping inside you somewhere.”

“Yeah… like… almost like when you get an empty belly gurgle only its different and you know its different but not sure why.” Terkina stated and Tantor’s big ears widened. That sounded like a very serious condition and he was already starting to think he was feeling a little twinge here and there lately and whether it should be something to worry about. The panicky pachyderm couldn’t help but lift his ears and narrow in on the conversation, grimacing that he had some kind of jungle fever that would take his life. Terkina was as curious yet seemingly dumb about it as it was possible for anyone to be in the situation. “Yeah and then at times I just feel like crying for no reason, then I’m stupid happy and then… I dunno, its all kinda messed up.”

“That’s perfectly normal dear… its been several months since you last were around Gobu, hasn’t it? You know, we’re your family and that means you can tell us anything. So… would it be right to think that you and Gobu uh… connected?” Kala stated, knowing her asking would come across better than her sister asking. Terk initially gave a whine of disgust to think her aunt and mother were asking such personal questions, but now Tantor was curious. In fact he was slightly concerned as he listened in and understood that Gobu tricked them into meet Tublat… had it all started there?”

“So what if we did, I’m an adult.” Terk grunted in frustration, before Kala and her mother gave a chuckle and then Terk’s mother held her shoulders gently as she looked towards her lovingly.

“Sweetheart… I think its time to realise that your belly isn’t growing because of food… I think there’s a little Gobu growing in there.” She stated with a loving, soft expression that insisted she was very proud and very willing to do whatever she could to assist her. However, Terk stared at her mother in confusion for a minute, about to suggest that that she was clearly just being weird, when she paused. Her nostrils twitched and she flushed as she realised that maybe… maybe she was pregnant as her mother chuckled. “You’re going to be fine and a very good mother Terk.”

“But… but…” There was the sudden thump and rocking of the ground and they turned, realising the elephant was eavesdropping and had fainted over the knowledge. Terk pouted at the fact her best friend aside from Tarzan had collapsed like that. She turned to look at her mother and aunt though, unsure and now pretty unsettled. “Look… even if I am… we don’t have to worry about it for a while right? I mean… doesn’t a baby take like ages to grow?”

“Well… if we have figured the timing right, you’re only reaching the half-way mark soon so… you’ve still got a while to go. But it does mean you’ve got to pay close attention and no more adventures that could damage your baby!” Her mother stated with a wag of her paw, making it obvious that there was to be no arguing on this. Terk gave a gasp of disbelief, she couldn’t accept this… she always went with Tarzan and never avoided his adventures and… adventures were fun. She didn’t want to be one of the boring females that hid away in the bushes all the time, that wasn’t her! She grimaced as her mother looked sternly at her. “Terk… your body isn’t your own now and you’ve got a baby to think about… think about your baby as number one priority.”

“Oh but… eh… but… uh… uhn.” Terk groaned, realising that at the end of the day, her mother was right and she really had no idea how she was supposed to respond to this. She sat back on her haunches, ignoring the elephant groaning in his dizzy spell and then stroking her belly, not quite sure how she was supposed to respond. There was something tickling at the back of her head too that she didn’t want to say aloud but with a heavy sigh and an obvious pout she spoke through gritted teeth. “Fine… but don’t any of you tell Tarzan until I can’t go out with him. Give me a month at least and then… then I’ll be fine.”

“Alright missy, but when you the month’s over you stick with me and your aunty and we’ll teach you how to properly build a nest and what to expect!” Her mother stated firmly and Terk groaned, she didn’t want to eat anymore and so steadily stomped over towards the elephant. As Tantor lifted his trunk like a periscope to see her approached, she thumped his shoulder and then began to walk off. She needed to find a mud hole to ping rocks into and watch them sink. She didn’t like this news, it meant she was no longer going to be Tarzan’s go-to buddy and everyone was going to expect her to be more like a lady gorilla and sit with the others. She didn’t want to be like them, she didn’t want to suddenly stop being cool and have to worry about someone else… she didn’t like that at all.

“Well, you happy you were listening where you shouldn’t?” Terk scowled as she grabbed hold of the elephant’s right ear and jerked him right upwards. The elephant gave a whimper of pain, fussing more and more as he was being steered to a different part of the jungle where they were out of earshot of everyone. Terk was giving him that expression that screamed he was in serious trouble because if there was one thing Terk knew, it was that Tantor couldn’t keep his mouth shut and so Terk gripped hold of Tantor’s trunk with a scowl. “Now… you gotta swear, if you don’t want your trunk to have a permanent knot in it, you won’t tell anyone anything about what you heard. Not to the others, not to your heard and not to Tarzan! Its really important!”

“Is… is it because… because it might be Tublat’s baby?” Tantor practically wheeze, unable to explain it until suddenly Terk’s thick fists thumped heavily into his face. The elephant gave a bleat of pain from being hit a few more times. He whined and whimpered, tucking down and pulling his huge ears over his face to hide himself as he gave a toot of dismay. It was enough that Terk then gave a soft growl of frustration and then gave him another slap. “I didn’t mean to see it… I fainted when I saw him and then… when you were… I didn’t mean to!”

“You what! You stupid… ungrateful… urgh!” Terk groaned in disbelief, shaking firmly in concern over the entire situation. Terk was not sure what to do or how to respond, how of all the creatures in the jungle had Tantor been the one to see her and Tubalt together? She’d been so careful, looking around to make sure no one could have seen and yet somehow she was glad it wasn’t Tarzan. But she looked utterly miserable on the matter, pouting and almost on the edge of tears as Tantor looked to her in confusion as she then spoke. “It… it was something he did when I was caught… he’d tricked Gobu and then after I was used by him I made a point to be with Gobu because… well… that’s the problem. I do like Gobu so much… but Tublat… he’s scary at first and then he can be so gentle and I get so embarrassed. But then I found myself confused… at first it was so he wouldn’t bother the family but somehow it’s pleasant and… I’m confused.”

“I… I understand and… and I’ll keep your secret. I’m going to make sure that Tarzan goes and gets in touch with Gobu for a visit, then you can tell Gobu it’s his and announce it to the family and well, it will work out well for you. Gobu loves you too so and he does understand so… it’ll be alright.” Tantor stated, his trunk then stroking Terk’s shoulders and she looked pitifully and pathetic and unlike when Tarzan had almost left and she could sue anger, this time there was too much shame involved for her to feel like that. Tantor looked towards Terk with a wise expression and then she wrapped around him tightly, just glad she didn’t have to keep it in anymore as she groaned softly.

“Tantor… I… I couldn’t tell anyone… only Gobu knew anything… I felt so alone. But the worst part… the worst part is that I don’t hate when I’m with him. He’s not so bad but… I just don’t understand anything.” Terk whimpered and it was true, she didn’t know if she liked Gobu as much as she had and maybe if she didn’t like Tublat even more. It was confusing and strange, but Tantor gripped his trunk around her tightly, nuzzling at her as she held him and was grateful for it.

That night, the vervet appeared and Tantor was awake, the vervet was irritated that the elephant knew, but he was willing to stand guard so that Terk could handle whatever was to happen. Terk was concerned but when she shuffled on her knuckles towards the big ape that was waiting patiently for her, she stretched her hand towards him and looked to the side in a submissive gesture. His big knuckles grazed hers gently in greeting and then they both sat down, Tubalt immediately starting to take the time to groom her. She relaxed into the actions, sighing softly and then feeling the fingers delving through and feeling relaxed before she gave a heavy sigh.

“Uh… Tublat… I uh… I gotta tell you something important and uh… its uh..” Terk began, but she was feeling weak and pathetic. The more he groomed and picked at her, his lips pinching and pecking against her, Tublat was making her feel good. She was embarrassed too, confused at how she was feeling this good at his attentions when she didn’t with anyone else. She felt that pinching below too, that need for attention and affection and well, it was more embarrassing than before. Tublat continued to groom and Terk found herself unable to say anything until his big paws settled upon her belly.

“Someone’s been feeding well… a good spot found that you’re all enjoying I take it…” Tublat smirked, knowing how Kerchak always had worked his followers to find such good resources and food around them. He was expecting to hear Terk grunt or just go quiet, he knew she didn’t like talking about the family with him out of fear he could do better, but Tublat was getting less and less interested in the family now. He was interested in Terk, not the hairless runt, just this curious female that intrigued him so much. “Something upsetting you my dear?”

“Look… its awkward but… I’ve… I’ve got to tell you, it uh… it seems I might be… I might be pregnant.” Terk managed it, but she did not know how Tublat was going to react to it. Was he going to cackle and be amused by his seeming takeover or was he just going to hit her? She didn’t quite know because he was supposed to be such a giant and scary sort of ape and well, she didn’t know if he was the father or it might actually be Gobu’s. She was scared either way and yet Tublat paused, stroking her belly suddenly very gently and then hooking his arms about her in a strangely protective manner.

“I’ve never produced offspring before, the females never quite wanted me when it was their time and well, I’m very happy Terkina. But this means a lot of things have to change. Do you understand that?” Tublat stated and Terk was scared by it, worried that somehow he was going to decide that this gave him rights to take on Tarzan and destroy the family. But Tublat gave a soft grunt as he nuzzled into her shoulders more, his big hands sliding up to her breasts. He began to message at her breasts gently, making her shiver and shudder in pleasure for the sensation before groaning slightly. Tublat then heaved a heavy, happy sigh as he nuzzled against her and then spoke again. “I won’t summon you out here to be around me… you need to focus on that baby and if Tarzan or the family suspected I was involved, you and the baby might be in trouble. I’ve been thinking about it for quite some time now and this has helped me come to my conclusion.”

“Uh… conclusion? What… whatya mean?” Terk questioned, flushing heavily in anxiety as she gripped his hands tightly about her. He was feeling excited again and it was embarrassing to feel like this, but Tublat was holding her gently. He nuzzled into her shoulders lovingly again, sighing heavily and just grateful to be able to hold onto her for the moment. Terk was really getting worried about what he was thinking, what he was planning and she grimaced as her ear was kissed at and then Tublat gave a soft sigh.

“I will protect the land from outside dangers where I can, I will stay on the very edge of the jungle so that Tarzan will have no need to chase me or fight me. I’ll stop fighting him too, I want there to be no chance he suspects it is mine, no chance that it will be put in danger because I want my baby to grow well and strong. This means keeping away and keeping danger away.” Tublat stated, gripping Terk just that little more tightly and she trembled in his arms. Her eyes also widened at the revelation… Tublat would give up bothering them at all… but that would only of course be because of the baby. If Tarzan knew that Tublat was the father, there really would be hell to pay. Terk didn’t want to know what would happen if Tarzan… would he send her baby away like Kerchak wanted to reject him? He wouldn’t, would he?

“My mother knows and… and they think it’s Gobu’s…” Terk stated anxiously and it was enough for Tublat to give a soft grunt. He seemed to understand what she meant by it and he gave a soft grunt of amusement before letting her go. He continued to groom at her a little while, seemingly thinking it all over very carefully before he gave a soft sound of understanding.

“Good… you’ll keep them thinking that way… it’s safe…” He then stepped away to look back towards the rest of the jungle and gave a groan. “But I’ll always be around, ready to meet it when you want me to meet it, dear Terkina.”

“Uh… sure…” Terk stated, but she felt awful for it.