Derrick's awareness became simpler, more focused as the huge quantity of semen he had become was gradually reduced by dribbling and occasional ejaculations. There would be a strange sense of separation, then the separated sense would fade as the individual sperm died off. He was not aware of time, of darkness, of anything but the need to find an egg. The focus was joined by a sense of urgency as his awareness not only dwindled, but was joined by competition. Either the lion's own natural sperm or another guest converted into seed shared space in the lion's testicles.
More pressure, and then most of Derrick was on the move. There were competing sperm with him this time, and he knew desperation. There may not be any more chances, and failure could mean oblivion. The sudden shock of penetration rocked him, and had added feeling of an intruding presence. Another shock and intrusion, and then Derrick's awareness became confused. His presence was fading, the last ejaculation of the lion expelling all that was left in the animal's testicles.
Heartbeats. Derrick could hear heartbeats. There was a strange echo effect, like a slight delay in sound. His awareness was dim, fragile, but got stronger. Drifting in and out, each time he came awake again he felt more complete, yet also very wrong. [Where am I?] . The thought startled Derrick because it was not his. But it was! It was an echo-like effect like that of the heartbeats, but now it was his thoughts. Flickers of memory started to return - he was Derrick... Robert. A dark-haired 15 year-old, a 23 year-old ginger. The lion had taken him in the bedroom, in the forest. He was here with his family, here alone.
Movement, warmth, the multiple heartbeats continued. He could move more now, felt limbs shift. Awareness and memory continued to increase, but so did the dual sense of identity. Somewhere along the way, Derrick understood that he was also Robert, that he was they. And in more than one way. The echoing heartbeats were even stronger now, the loud and ever-present beat of the mother and the fainter sound of two cubs.