As you'll recall, in last week's Trapped in Time, Myron was able to control his magic and make fire - without harm to anyone! Are he and Doll finally shedding their enmity? See what's up in this week's episode! Warning: I shall probably pull the story soon so that I can sub it to a publishing house. I'll keep you apprised. I'd love any and all comments and suggestions! Don't forget to see what the other Briefers are up to, their links follow my story!
We seem to be falling into a routine. Walk, eat, rest, then
walk the trail again. The one that will lead us to the Professor. What will come after that, I do not know.
We are fortunate to
be on this side of the canyon, in that the rocky terrain provides us with
better shelter when we stop for the night. Charlie finds us another cozy cave.
Myron makes another fire, and I am able to cook again, although no animal flesh,
I am sad to report. After we eat, we
leave the fire burning low, and the warmth that it imparts feels divine as I
snuggle against my Vittorio and he and I whisper far into the night, before
sleep claims us.
I dream I am a young boy again, in my father’s workshop. I
always liked to spend time with mein Vati, especially in the shop he built for
himself in our back yard. It was a magic place, always filled with the most
amazing devices, ones that he loved to tinker with for hours, whenever he was
not working. He was very patient. He never yelled at me for touching anything,
which I invariably did. There were mysterious flying machines with spinning
propellers; elaborate clocks with moving figurines that danced and whirled; other
devices I could not begin to imagine what they might be used for, but which
held my rapt young attention. After I met Vittorio, I would bring him there as
well and Vati welcomed him like another son.
I wake to find myself unexpected sobbing against Vittorio’s
chest. He cradles me in his arms and murmurs soothing words until I calm down
once more.
“You dreamed of Rolf again, didn’t you?”
I nod as he tilts my face up to him, kissing away my tears…
Our tender interlude is interrupted suddenly by a terrible scream;
it resonates throughout the cave, echoing from the walls, although it does not
originate there, rather from somewhere outside, in the jungle. We look at one another in what little light
enters the cave, for the sun is barely up. Mary is screeching excitedly. She
tugs at Charlie’s arm, and they rush from the cave, with us hot on their heels.
We anxiously follow the terrible sounds. The screams are now
interspersed with growls. I can’t help but wonder what we shall find this time.
The noises escalate, and then a sudden silence ensues, as if the whole jungle
is catching its collective breath.
“This way,” Charlie points, and we follow him, trusting in
his confidence, and his superior sense of direction.
We come into a small
clearing, and our eyes are met with a most horrific sight. A large black bird
that looks like a cross between an enormous crow and a vulture, likes on the
ground, blood and torn and very dead.
Nearby a large animal lies, also bloody, and barely alive. With the help
of the rising sun, I make out a tawny orange coat, punctuated with black and
brown stripes. And very large teeth, that overlap its mouth.
“A saber tooth tiger,” Vittorio says raptly, and we both
gaze in awe at the beautiful creature, keeping a healthy distance from it. It
raises its head and gazes at us, before releasing a weak cry, falling back.
“She’s hurt!” Vittorio starts toward it, and I cling to his
arm.
“No! She’ll kill you.”
“Doll, she is hurt, I must look after her.” He turns
anguished eyes to me, and I swallow my fears and nod.
“Be careful,” I whisper, but I don’t let go as he approaches
the animal, kneeling beside her. She is bleeding from a number of wounds, and
she makes no move to harm us. Vittorio gently strokes the large cat behind her
head, and a rumbling purr reverberates through her body as she looks toward
him, raising her head, rubbing against his hand. Her beautiful green eyes
become cloudy, then glassy, and she collapses onto the ground once more, and
stills.
Charlie and Myron and Mary approach, taking up positions
around the dead animal. Charlie wears an expression of intense sorrow, mirrored
in Myron’s mien. I take Vittorio’s hand in mind and clutch it securely.
“Why do you think they were battling?” I wonder aloud. “Are
they perhaps natural enemies?”
“No, I do not think so.” Vittorio furrows his brow in
thought. “Charlie, what do you think?”
“I think she could have gotten away from him, easily, but
she fought him to the death,” he commented. “But why?”
A tiny mewl fills the air just then and we gaze at one
another with wonder.
“What was that?” Myron asks apprehensively.
We look around us for the source of the noise, and we hear
it again. A plaintive sound, almost demanding.
It is Mary who solves the riddle. She starts screeching at
us, excitedly pointed to a patch of high grass, not far from the tiger. I can’t
help but remember the last time she found something and we came far too close
to dying for my comfort.
We quickly run to her side, and Vittorio draws aside the
thick blades of grass while I clutch him apprehensively, fearful for his safety—only
to discover a smaller version of the late animal there. The baby’s coat is not
as distinctive as it’s mothers, and its teeth not nearly as long. It yowls at
us plaintively, no doubt calling for its mother.
Poor baby. She cannot hear him now.
Vittorio reaches for the small creature and I make no move
to stop him, understanding his intent, although I watch him carefully
nonetheless. He takes the kitten into both hands and cradles it against his
body, cooing to it in Italian.
I think we’ve just become parents.
to be continued
Now visit the other Wednesday Briefers!
One thing for sure: if they end up having to stay, Doll and Vittorio have built some nice alliances! That kitten will be formidable one day. :)
ReplyDeleteAww that was so sad and so cute at the same time. A baby sabre toothed tiger. Awwww. I hope they keep it, but how will they feed it? Will it change the dynamics? Will Mary and Charlie be jealous.
ReplyDeleteHow strange, this is the second story this week with a kitty in it.
I loved it
I'm thinking at first he's on a liquid diet, although where to get milk is a problem. If they don't keep it, I think it will die. I don't think Mary and Charlie will be jealous. I think the tiger will be Vittorio and Doll's, and the monkey/human belong to Myron lol
DeleteMy cat was the inspiration. I didn't know what to write, and my daughter pointed to my cat and I said that wouldn't work unless they ran across a sabre tooth tiger - and voila, an idea was born!