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"Kara's Present"

(c) Cederwyn Whitefurr

28th March, 2001

For many generations, the legend was spoken of a humans farm; where all the animals of the bush were welcome and safe from harm. This was possible, due to a young Red Kangaroo Doe - who had found, befriended and trusted a little human girl, who had become lost in the bush. This child, when reunited with her family - made her parents pledge that the bush creatures would be safe from harm - and such has it been ever since.

In the fullness of time, the girl child grew in to a young woman - and bore a single child of her own - a daughter - who through reasons her mother could not make out, nor the bush creatures, but this young girl child had the ability to speak and understand, the language of the bush creatures. Each year, the animals would gather on the young girl child's birthday, and they would celebrate it. This is the story - of one of those bush creatures - a young Red Kangaroo Buck - who came to learn what love is - and how it can strengthen a weak heart.

This is his story....

Kara awoke to the gentle warbling of the Magpies, and the raucous laughter of the gathered Kookaburra's. Rising and stretching, Kara blinked and crept from her bed, then giggled as a young female brush tailed possum crept up on to her shoulder and rubbed against the side of her head.

"Happy birthing day girl child." Whispered the possum, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kara giggled, then gently stroked the possum lovingly and walked over to the basin of cool water, and she washed her face and blinked away the last of her sleep. Making her way through the assortment of native animals that came and went throughout the house, Kara grabbed some freshly baked bread and began breaking it up in to small pieces, which, when she went outside, Kara scattered for the eagerly awaiting animals. Many were birds, but there was dozens of other species, from Koala's, possums, echidna's, wallabies, dingoes and even two Red Kangaroo's, one a small male, the other, his mother. Kara smiled, then as one, the gathering of animals burst in to a raucous cacophony of croaks, chirps, warbles and grunts, all singing to her in

their own, unique ways. Kara was humbled by this display, and she blushed and waved to her friends.

Sitting alone, the young male kangaroo glanced nervously at his mother, who smiled and nudged her reluctant son.

"Go on Eucalypt - she won't hurt you - " Columbine smiled, as she nodded towards Kara.

Eucalypt, being a young male adult - but only by a season, blushed and flicked his long ears apprehensively, as he crawled on all fours to Kara. Kara smiled, then reached down and helped him to stand, then cuddled the shy and nervous young Buck.

"Hello Eucalypt - my - how you've grown!" Kara smiled, as she gave him a peck on the cheek.

Eucalypt grunted softly, then blushed again, hanging his head in embarrassment.

"I...hello Kara - happy birthing day."

Kara smiled and kissed the shy Buck's nose, making him giggle and bow hs head again. Carefully, Kara reached out and took Eucalypt's paws in her own small hands, then squeezed softly. At that moment - as their eyes met - both felt themselves shudder as if a short, but intense shock has passed through them, and they both gasped. Eucalypt made no effort to pull his paws away from Kara's grasp, and indeed - Kara made no effort to release him. It was a bonding of their two spirits - in ways that neither could understand, nor comprehend.

Kara smiled, then enfolded the gentle, shy Buck in an embrace - and he struggled to enfold her with his short arms, and return her cuddle. He loved Kara - all the bush creatures did - but as he leaned in to the cuddle and inhaled her scent, his mind became enflamed with passion and his heart skipped a beat. Kara felt him tense, then she stepped back and he coughed quietly and gave a tentative smile of trust to her.

"Eucalypt - no-one will harm you my sweet Buck - why are you so nervous?" Kara asked inquisitively, stroking his long, tubular ears.

Eucalypt coughed again, then smiled and licked at Kara's cheek. "Its - nothing my friend...honestly."

Kara shook her head, then began crumbling the bread and throwing more of it to her friends, just as her mother returned from the bush, carrying her heavy basket. Kara ran to her mothers side, then hugged her and took the over full basket from her tired mothers hands.

"Well now - " Dot spoke, as she wiped at her creased forehead. "It appears that sleepyhead has woken!"

A raucous laugh rang forth from the assembled animals, and Kara blushed. Dot glanced over them, giving many a gentle scratch or a careful cuddle, as she made her way to Columbine's side, then bowed on one knee and clasped the old Doe's paws in her own gnarled hands.

"My dear Columbine - how lovely you could make it!" Dot exclaimed.

As Dot enfolded Columbine in a gentle, but affectionate embrace, there was a sharp gasp of pain from Columbine and she broke the cuddle and reached in to her pouch, and sharply cuffed her young pouch bound joey across her head.

"Misty - that wasn't very nice - that kick hurt!" Columbine growled softly, as she chastised her daughter.

Dot blinked, then looked at Columbine. "You've got a - "

Columbine smiled weakly, then reached in to her pouch and slowly dragged forth her sleepy daughter, whom Dot took in to her arms and cradled gently, stroking the soft creamy fur of the young joey's stomach and pouch, making Misty giggle.

"Oh Columbine - she's beautiful!" Dot exclaimed.

"You want her in your pouch?" Columbine growled in mock anger.

Cradling the joey carefully, Dot admonished the Doe. "Now now Columbine - you know you'd never willing part with your daughter - and I'd care for her - and raise her, that is true, but she belongs with you. I know - that raising daughters can be hard - "

Kara gave an indignant snort, and threw a blackberry at her mother, who chuckled.

"You think a Doe is hard to raise!" Columbine retorted, as she bent down and picked up the thrown berry, then held it daintily in her paw and nibbled on it, clucking softly in pleasure.

"Mother!" Squealed Eucalypt.

Columbine finished her berry and licked her paws clean, ad Dot nodded, then put Misty back on the ground. Misty wasted no time, in clambering back in to the warmth of her mothers pouch, to which Columbine objected rather strenuously.

"Hey - Misty...your paws are freezing my young doe!" Columbine yelped.

Dot laughed, then began laying a lovely picnic for the gathered animals, herself and Kara. Kara ruffled Eucalypt's ears playfully, then assisted her mother. Eucalypt coughed in embarrassment and hopped a few metres away, to crop some sweet grasses. Columbine stayed where she was, watching both humans laying the delicious looking picnic, and also keeping a watchful eye over her son. When she saw the two Dingo's stalking her son - she smiled and waited, wondering what would happen, as she knew - that no animal - would dare break the peace of this place.

Eucalypt's mind was enflamed with many confusing thoughts and feelings - and he didn't hear the male dingo until it was too late. With a low snarl, it leapt, landing squarely on his back and knocking the startled young Buck flat on to his stomach. A cacophony of laughter pealed forth from humans and animals alike, as Eucalypt rolled over and came to rest on his four legs, panting and his ears slicked back in terror.

"You...you..." Eucalypt panted in terror, as he stared at the Dingo, who gazed back, his tongue lolling.

"You never learn my young friend - " Giggled the Dingo male, as he smirked.

Eucalypt rose to his full height, easily towering over the Dingo before him.

"When I was half your age Keigan - " Eucalypt panted, as he brushed his black paws over his stomach. "I would - "

Every animal roared, chirped, squealed and grunted - as Eucalypt shrtieked - as Shana leapt from behind him, then sent him sprawling, tripping over the hysterically laughing Keigan. Kara ran to the winded Buck's side, then helped him back to his feet and chastised the two Dingo twins.

"It was just a bit of - " Keigan whined softly, tucking his tail down between his legs in mock dismay.

"You two should be ashamed of yourselves!" Dot laughed quietly. "Poor Eucalypt - look at you! Your beautiful fur all ruffled, leaves, twigs and such all over you...."

As Kara continued to chastise the two giggling Dingo twins, Dot sighed, then set back to laying the picnic meal. Kara finished her lecture of the twins, then threw her hands up in exasperation, then began smoothing down Eucalypt's fur. At her gentle touch - he gasped and a shiver ran the entire length of his body, and he flicked his ears back nervously. Keigan and Shana exchanged a quick glance, and smirked, a knowing look passing between them both, as they sidled passed and Shana's tail wagged happily - and to Eucalypt's fevered mind - rather pointedly, across his lower belly. Eucalypt swallowed nervously, and Shana smirked again in that knowing way Dingo's

have, then went over to sit beside the shady camphor laurel tree, watching Eucalypt get a good brushing down from Kara.

"Come on one and all - " Dot called, as she clapped her hands together to summon them. "Today is a special day - its my girl child, Kara's - 16th birthday! A very special day - when a young girl child - becomes an adult!"

Kara paused in her brushing of Eucalypt, then blushed and coughed softly.

"Mother - "

Dot smiled at her daughter, and noted the odd expression of pleasure and

discomfort on Eucalypt's face. "Come on Kara - you'll brush poor Eucalypt's fur right off him at that rate!"

Eucalypt gratefully broke away from Kara's gentle attentions, and lay down in a small hollow, and watched with interest as the assorted animals all found a place to sit, lie or perch. Dot led them in a cacophony of song - that surprisingly, blended and flowed well, as they celebrated Kara's 'coming of age'. Kara naturally, being the guest of honor, was called upon to speak - which she did so with gentleness, and more than a few child-like giggles.

It was a great success - the picnic - and all the animals were on their very best of behavior, as they knew how special this day was for Kara. After the festivities finally wound down, a light misting rain began to fall, and the animals all made their farewells, and returned to their normal lives. Kara looked at Columbine, who nodded and hopped over to her.

"Columbine - may I ask your permission for Eucalypt to come for a walk with

me?" Kara asked.

Columbine smiled, then gently took Kara's hands in her black furred paws, and licked Kara's cheek gently.

"My friend - he is a big Buck now - you don't have to ask me for permission, you should ask him, as he is his own master now. All my attentions will mainly be on raising young Misty here - " Columbine smiled again, as she rested her paws on her bulging pouch, from which the tip of a pale tail, and the toes could be seen poking out. " - and besides my child - we don't walk - we either crawl, or hop."

Kara laughed and gave her doe friend a gentle hug, being mindful not to squeeze her too hard, and turned her attentions to Eucalypt, who was being playfully teased by the Dingo twins.

"Hey- you two leave that poor Buck alone!" Kara chastised them again.

With a giggle, the two Dingo's gave a cheeky yip, then vanished in to the bush land, leaving Eucalypt sweaty and bothered.

Kara smiled, then walked over and took the panting Eucalypt's paws in her own hands, then gazed longingly at the gentle natured Buck. Eucalypt swallowed, then glanced back at Kara, his breathing catching in his throat.

"Eucalypt - would you..." Kara began, then blushed and looked down at her feet.

Eucalypt swallowed, his ears slicked right back as his heartbeat froze, wondering what Kara was going to ask of him.

"I - I was wondering...if you would...come for a walk with me, as there is things...I would like to know...." Kara confessed.

Eucalypt let out a loud gasp, and Columbine looked at her son, who flicked an ear and hung his head. Columbine smiles knowingly, and nodded slowly to Dot, who likewise looked from the Buck to the Doe.

"I - " Eucalypt began.

"Go with her Eucalypt." Dot called out. "Kara must learn our ways - and I have utmost faith in you my sweet, gentle Buck, that you'll know how to teach her."

Eucalypt coughed once in dismay - feeling as if his innermost thoughts and feelings had just been laid open, as he did have feelings for Kara...and he thought that he had kept them well suppressed. With a low sigh, he turned and followed Kara, who disappeared in to the bush land, leaving Dot and Columbine alone, Dot draping her paw over Columbine's shoulders.

"Dot - " Columbine sighed softly. "Are you sure you know what you're doing? He is a young, inexperienced Buck - "

Dot watched them leave, and she smiled slowly. "My sweet Columbine - I too was naive once - and I was curious. It is a natural thing, that Kara will likewise have such questions - and I knew his long distant Grandmother...and she taught me a lot in my later years. I owe her so much - but we can not teach our young such - they must learn these things for themselves...."

Columbine chewed thoughtfully on a sweet grass stem she held in one black furred paw, then swallowed and let her ears droop slowly. "I just pray - you know what you're doing...I really do."

***

Eucalypt and Kara played for many hours, chasing each other through the bush, playing a childhood game of tag. Eucalypt, knowing he could easily outpace the younger human, held himself back, and let her win the game. It was just on sunset, when they both made their way to a small, swiftly flowing creek, and they paused, then approached the water cautiously. Generations of instincts warned Eucalypt to be careful and quiet - and Kara had learned to follow the instincts of her animal friends. After they had drunk their fill, Eucalypt led Kara to a small, cool, overhanging bower. Kara paused, as she shuddered and looked around at the dirt strewn ground, and an odd chill swept over her.

"I feel - " Kara began.

Eucalypt nodded, and clawed at the ground, gouging out a small depression, then he lay down and watched her, his ears flicking slowly back and forth.

"You feel - what?" Eucalypt asked, his eyes gazing thoughtfully at her.

Kara breathed in the scent, then she blinked and shuddered again. "I feel -

warm...safe.... This place - "

Eucalypt nodded, answering Kara's unformed thought. "Yes Kara - this is the place, that for generations untold, the Doe's have come. This is the place - where they are finally at ease - and allow their Buck too...."

Eucalypt cut himself short, then scratched at his muzzle, as if blushing and

embarrassed.

"You mean this is - " Kara began, her breathing becoming swifter. "All the - "

Rolling over and wriggling, Eucalypt covered himself in a fine layer of dust, then rose and shook himself. He smiled at Kara, then nodded to her.

"You brought me here - " Kara panted, as she reached up and loosened her shirt collar, slowly unbuttoning the first button.

Eucalypt shook his head and coughed in submission, crouching down and bowing before her. "Kara - no...you misunderstood me...I...."

Kara paused, then sidled over and ran her hand down Eucalypt's powerful neck, and trailed her fingertips along his back, and stroked at his tail base. Eucalypt gurgled and shuddered, then tightened his muscles, trying to suppress the low gurgle of pleasure this brought him. Kara smiled, then leant down and nibbled his right ear, and breathed softly in to it.

"You...want too...." Kara whispered, her voice husky and filled with desire.

Swallowing, Eucalypt shook his head, his long ears slapping from side to side, but his instincts began to win out over his wishes to remain aloof. As Kara trailed her fingers along his neckline, Eucalypt shuddered with rising desire and groaned softly.

"Kara - I...I love you - but I do not think...." Eucalypt gurgled, as he rose to his full 5' height and looking down at Kara.

Kara was un-perturbed by the Buck's size, and she embraced him, snuggling in close against the warm chest fur, and hearing his gentle heart thudding in his furred breast. Eucalypt blinked, then carefully draped his paws around her neck and squeezed gently - in his idea of a cuddle.

"Kara - I did not mean - " Eucalypt began.

Kara silenced him, by embracing his head with her hands, then passionately kissing him. Eucalypt's eyes widened in surprise, as he felt her tongue slip passed his furred lips - and as he drew a breath to protest - Kara pulled him forwards and her tongue flicked across his. Almost instantly, Eucalypt gasped, his thoughts of protest silenced, as he felt an incredible wave of pure love and trust sweep through him, invigorating him and tearing down his self control and inhibitions.

Breaking away from her, Eucalypt turned away and coughed, as he slicked his ears back in embarrassment - feeling his body respond to her embrace and kiss. Kara giggled, then when he turned to look at her, he turned pale beneath his fur, as Kara had shed her clothing, and stood naked before, him, slowly running her hands down her young, slender body. Eucalypt gasped, as Kara sidled over to him, then took his shivering paws in her hands, and gently lay them on her small, firm breasts.

"My Buck - " Kara whispered soothingly. "I know that you are...inexperienced...as I am...but I have trust that you will...."

Eucalypt nearly fainted, feeling the hardening nipples beneath his black paws, and he tried to pull away, but Kara held his paws firmly.

"Kara - this is not - " Eucalypt protested softly.

Kara nodded, then gently lowered his head, and pressed her breasts firmly against his muzzle. Eucalypt's hot breath made her nipples firm completely, and he hesitated, as Kara stroked his ears.

"Yes Eucalypt - go on...." Kara groaned, as she rubbed her breasts against his furred muzzle. "Yes my Buck...."

Carefully, Eucalypt tentatively licked at her breasts, then he shuddered and moaned, feeling the warmth of them, and hearing Kara's soft, gasping cry. Encouraged, Eucalypt rested his paws on Kara's neck, and he suckled on one of her breasts.

"Oh...Eucalypt...yes...yes!" Kara gurgled, pressing forwards against him.

Eucalypt felt his own body swiftly respond to the warmth and cries of this human, and he gave himself to the pleasures of Kara's ministrations. He wriggled against her, his own flicking, prehensile appendage searching vainly for the young human's groin. Kara stiffened, then tenderly broke away from him, and looked at his lashing appendage, and her eyes widened in alarm and surprise. Eucalypt coughed, then turned away in embarrassment.

Eucalypt wept softly, as he hung his head and shuddered, then he flinched as Kara laid her hand on his neck and stroked it softly.

"Eucalypt - my love...please do not cry so - " Kara breathed. "I know what you want my sweet Buck - and I am wanting...to share myself with you.... I want to be your Doe my love - to feel you, to have you, to share my spirit and my body with you...."

Sobbing, Eucalypt shook his head. "Kara - I...I can't do this...."

Kara nibbled at the back of the Buck's neck, and she embraced him from behind, her firm breasts rubbing against his dusty fur.

"You can not - or will not my sweet Buck? I am alone with you - only the two of us...." Kara whispered, as she slowly turned him around and took his quivering paws in her hands. "I love you Eucalypt - and I know what we would do is - "

"Kara - you do not understand!" Eucalypt screamed in frustration, as he stamped his hind foot. "I - I just can not do what - "

Kara sighed, then turned around - and to Eucalypt's surprise, she knelt on her hands and knees before him, in a vague position similar to a receptive Doe. Eucalypt could not hold himself in check, and he approached carefully, crawling over to her and lowering his head; he tentatively licked at her quivering mound of pubic hair. Instantly, Kara let peal a squeal of surprise and passion, as Eucalypt nuzzled gently, tasting the sweet young human, and realizing she was indeed - ready for him.

Carefully, Eucalypt licked and nuzzled deeper, feeling his saliva coating the edges of her wet, trembling sex, and feeling the luxurious tastes and smell fill him, body, mind and soul.

"Oh - Eucalypt - " Kara gurgled, as she wriggled her hips, pressing her mound

against his muzzle. "Oh my God...."

Eucalypt licked and nuzzled for all he was worth, savoring the sweet tastes that filled his mouth, and bringing Kara closer and closer to full receptiveness - of the eager young Buck's organ.

"Eucalypt - take my my buck...oh please...take me!" Kara screamed, clawing at the earth in almost animal like lust.

Eucalypt obeyed, crawling up directly behind Kara, then he slowly encircled her hips with his powerful paws, and Kara responded instantly, lowering her shoulders, and raising her hips, and with a low growl of pleasure, Eucalypt paused, then tightened his grip.

"Kara - this is going to hurt you my love - I will not lie to you.... There will be a few moments of pain - then I will try to make it up to you my sweet, innocent child...."

Kara shuddered, then nodded. With a powerful thrust, Eucalypt drove his entire length up within Kara, who bucked and let forth a shriek of pain - as he broke her, and tightened his grasp, as Kara began convulsing and screaming in pain.

"Kara my love - please...please don't struggle so!" Eucalypt begged, as he felt himself involuntary tightening his grasp, his instincts to mate overriding his wishes to be gentle, as his hips began pistoning his length in further and further up within Kara's young body.

"Eucalypt - please...stop...stop it!" Kara squealed in agony, as she felt him driving himself harder and harder.

As strong as he was, Eucalypt could not stop himself - and he began slamming against Kara's hips and groin, then burst in to tears as he felt the wash of warm blood beginning to soak against his lower groin and underside of his tail.

"Oh my sweet Kara - how I wish I could save you from this pain my child - "

Eucalypt wept, his tears coursing down his snout, as he leant over her, pushing her down and thrusting savagely. "My child - please...I beg of you, please forgive this foolish buck...."

***

For over an hour, Eucalypt forcibly mated with Kara, who screamed, wept and thrashed against him, but the weight of Eucalypt was too strong, and she could not break away from him.

"Eucalypt - stop it!" Kara shrieked in agony, her body screaming in torture.

"Kara - I...I can not...please believe me! If I dismount from you - I could do great physical harm - " Eucalypt wept, as he gave another stronger thrust.

Kara screamed in mortal agony, as Eucalypt grunted and gave a convulsive thrust - and his semen exploded deep within her. Fighting against him, Kara screamed and thrashed, but Eucalypt's claws sank deep in to her hips, his powerful claws digging gouges in her flesh and drawing rivulets of blood.

"Eucalypt - you're hurting me!" Kara shrieked.

Eucalypt convulsed again, his claws raking across Kara's hips as he ejaculated again and again, his tears coursing down his muzzle, as he tried desperately to stop hurting his friend - but the mating instincts were too strong. Finally, he managed to forcibly push Kara downwards, and he literally threw himself backwards, dismounting from her roughly. Kara shrieked and collapsed, clutching her hands between her thighs, as she rolled on the dusty ground, screaming and convulsing.

"Kara - my love...please...." Eucalypt pleaded, as he crouched and touched her shoulder. "Please my love - I did not know what - "

"Get...away from me!" Kara screamed, then struck him savagely across his snout. "Get away you fucking bastard!"

Eucalypt screamed, and there was a sickening crack from his muzzle, a Kara

slapped him again. Sobbing heart brokenly, Eucalypt turned and fled, leaving Kara to curl up and sob heart brokenly, sickening pain lancing through her body, as she choked - then began throwing up violently, feeling the warmth of her own blood spreading across her thighs.....

***

Eucalypt, blinded by his tears, tore apart by grief, fled blindly through the bush, and fell heavily down an embankment, a broken branch gashing across his left hind leg. He was oblivious to the agony of the wound, fueled by his grief and pain at hurting the one he loved - he staggered upright and fled on in to the shadows - blood gushing from his deep leg wound with each pounding hop....

***

Along the dark, winding road that ran through the bush, a truck roared on it to the night - its driver sitting behind the wheel, having just done the brisbane to Adelaide run - he was tired, hungry and overworked. His truck roared around the corner of the road, then he blinked and swore, as his powerful truck headlights illuminated the large Red Kangaroo standing in the center of the road....

***

Eucalypt stared at the great metal monster with the eyes of burning white hot flame - then he screamed - but his scream was forever silenced, as it slammed in to him at ninety kilometers an hour, snuffing out his life like a candle in a sudden blast of wind. A sickening crack of his splintering bones, the faint tinkle of breaking glass, then the thud as his convulsing corpse as it his the cold, wet asphalt - his eyes open in a look of horror, a pool of blood beginning to form under his body, as it gave one last, choking gasp, and his sightless eyes watched the massive truck thunder past, and its lights vanishing in to the darkness, leaving nothing but silence in its passing.

***

Cursing, the truck driver swore and slammed the truck down a gear, and pressed on it to the night, muttering darkly....

***

Despite a concerted effort by the gathered animals and Dot herself - Kara was not found...but Eucalypt's body was. They all grieved for the tragic loss of one so young, and Columbine was stricken and died a week later, of a broken heart. Dot took Misty and began the raising of the Joey, as Columbine would have wished, and both Columbine and Eucalypt were buried side by side, on the banks of a small creek, that flowed through Dot's property. Kara was reported missing to the police....

***

Six Months Later....

Kara returned to her mother's farmstead, just as the sun was beginning to set, and she carried around her neck a pouch, which hung heavily and caused her to pause, as she rested on the doorstep. Drawing her breath, she reached out and prepared to knock, when she heard a startled gasp, and turned about, to see Dot standing behind her, her eyes wide in surprise and shock.

"Kara?" Dot breathed.

"Mother?" Kara gasped, as she blinked.

Instantly, the moment was broken, and both Dot and Kara embraced, but Kara held back, being mindful of the struggling form hanging in the pouch against her stomach.

"I...what on earth - " Dot exclaimed.

Kara took her mothers hand, and led her on to the verandah, where they sat, and Kara un-slung the makeshift pouch and carefully helped the young Buck joey to clamber out. He lay on his back, his soft moans of pleasure making Dot and Kara smile, as he took Kara's finger in his paw, and nibbled playfully on it.

"Mother - " Kara began.

Dot waited, leaning forwards expectantly, awaiting her daughter to speak, as Kara gently stroked her fingertips along the young Joey's belly.

"Mother - " Began Kara again. "Eucalypt - "

Dot shushed her, then led her to the grave, marked by the names Columbine and Eucalypt. Dot took the young Joey from Kara, as the blood drained from her face, and she collapsed to the ground - then burst in to hysterical sobbing.

"Eucalypt - oh no...no!!!!!!" Kara screamed, as she clawed at the earth. "Eucalypt - no!!!!!!!"

Dot sat down, cradling the young joey in her hands, and she nestled it in against her breasts, covering the joey's ears. At last, Kara had been drained of her grief and such, and she took back the young Joey, then pointed at the grave. With surprise, Dot watched as the Joey looked at Kara, then at the grave, then back at Kara.

"Dot - mother...." Kara wept, as she cuddled the joey gently against her. "There is something I must tell you - Eucalypt gave me a gift on my sixteenth birthday - a gift- that at the time, brought me agony, pain and humiliation - and made me drive him away...and as we see, led to his death...."

Dot embraced her daughters shoulders and wept, sobbing for the death of the young, proud and noble Red Kangaroo Buck.

"Mother - his gift - was this Joey...as I carried him within me - and he is mine...and Eucalypt's child. A precious, most treasured of all things - an expression of not only my own - but his love, heart, body and soul as well. I have called this Joey - Joseph - but he wants me to call him Joey. It was his decision, to have me call him that, and I promise - on Eucalypt's grave, here and now - that Joey will grow up to be a proud, noble and gentle creature - like his father was...."

Dot was speechless, looking at the Joey who gazed back at her, his ears slicked back and his deep brown eyes filled with tears, as he turned back to his mother and nuzzled against her. Kara leant down and held her coat open, and Joey clambered in and snuggled up, sobbing softly.

"Come on Kara - come inside...." Dot whispered, as she led her sobbing daughter inside the cottage.

Kara followed obediently, her head bowed, cradling her sobbing child gently within her coat.

***

Neither of them saw the pale, ghostly image of Eucalypt form from just above his grave. He stared at their departing forms, then bowed his head once.

"You will grow strong my child - I will watch over you - and I promise - you will herald a new peace - for with you, shall my own species, and that of humans - finally learn to live together...instead of being enemies." Eucalypt spoke quietly. "I did love you Kara - and I always will - please my love - please forgive me..."

As the last rays of the sun vanished, Eucalypt bowed once more - then his pale, wavering form dissipated and vanished forever...

*** END ***