Page 128 of Tiger's Dream
“I see you have your own tiger to aid you in times of battle,” Ana said.
“Umm, yes,” Kelsey answered, “this is Ren, but he is more than just a tiger.”
“Yes. I know who he is and that you love him almost as much as I love my own Damon. Yes?”
Wait. What? She loved me?Did you mean that? I asked mentally. How could she when she’d been so angry with me in Kishkindha just recently.
Hush, she answered, her second arm massaging my ruff.Can you not see I am busy?
Ana continued, “You have come to seek my blessing, and my blessing I will give. Come closer to me and accept it.”
Ren crept closer and I flinched as he sniffed. Did he recognize me? I remembered Ren saying that Durga’s tiger was orange. Glancing down, I saw that indeed, my paws were orange. I scratched at the stone thinking I preferred them black.
Ana told them where they were supposed to go and warned them of danger. I was too busy watching Ren, who was eying me much too closely for comfort to notice Ana holding thegadaout to Kelsey.
Are you sure? I asked.
Yes.The weapons of Durga are now a part of me as well,she explained almost sadly.I can summon them from the ether at any time or place I wish.When we no longer have need of them, we simply relinquish our hold and they will return from whence they came.
I blew out a breath, which, on a tiger, looks like a chuff. It wouldn’t make sense to Ren at all but there was nothing I could do to take it back.
Kelsey tested out thegadaand I was surprised to see that she had the strength of the goddess. I’d always assumed that Ana’s strength came from the earth portion of the amulet, but Kelsey had it even at that point. I wondered then if it was the connection to the tiger that gave the women the abilities they had. If so, the curse of the tiger wasn’t a punishment but a blessing. Without it, Ana and Kelsey would have died on the battlefield, assuming they had survived their other hardships first.
I closed my eyes and tilted my head. Ana reached over and scratched just beneath my jaw. Her hands were definitely distracting me. Enough so that I missed Fanindra coming alive and gliding over to Kelsey. What surprised me even more was that Fanindra had grown to full size.When had that happened? I wondered.
She feeds on time, Ana said, answering my question.During our recent time travels, she has matured rapidly.
That answered two questions. Not only did I now understand Fanindra’s rapid growth but I knew that Ana could also hear my secret thoughts. She’d heard me call her beautiful.
Kelsey trembled as Fanindra approached. The poor girl was obviously petrified.
Glancing up at Ana, I huffed.I’m sorry, I said.I know you’ll miss Fanindra. Ren and Kelsey were too preoccupied with the snake to notice the tears on Ana’s face.None of that now, I added.Who knows what demons you’ll create with those. Ana’s hand gripped my fur tightly. I rubbed my head against her very toned leg.We’ll see her again, won’t we? I asked.
I caught the slight nod.She will heed my call whenever I ask for her assistance.I have given her the ability to leave a metal duplicate with Kelsey when occasion permits.But Kelsey will have need of her at present.
That’s interesting. While Kelsey and Ren freaked out about Fanindra, I wondered just how many times on our journey we were carrying around a piece of jewelry instead of the real thing.
When Fanindra reached Kelsey’s arm, she lifted her head and flicked her tongue out as if saying good-bye to the goddess and then turned into an armband.
Ana explained, “She is called Fanindra, the Queen of the Serpents. She is a guide and will help you to find what you seek. She can conduct you on safe paths and will light your way through darkness. Do not be afraid of her, for she wishes you no harm.” She smiled and stroked Fanindra’s head. “She is sensitive to the emotions of others and longs to be loved for who she is. She has a purpose, as do all of her children, and we must learn to accept that all creatures, however fearsome they may be, are of divine origin.”
I sensed more to Ana’s words than just an attempt to counsel Kelsey. Was it possible Ana loved those horrible demons? The killer monkeys? When she said Kelsey and Ren should use their hearts to find one another, the truth stone hanging at my neck burned.Am I not using my heart to find my purpose? Ana had accused me of keeping my mind and heart from her. How could I prove that I was not?
Ren and Kelsey kept asking questions, desperate to learn more, but Ana used the scarf and the power of the earth to cover us once more in grit and stone. A veil crept over my eyes and I became immobile again. Kelsey stretched out a hand to my dusty head and touched my ear, where Ana’s hand had been. A cold feeling came over me, and though I was still stuck inside the tiger statue, I sensed Ana had gone.
Kelsey spun when she heard a sound, and I saw Ana standing close by, her hands on her hips. She was once again dressed in her typical attire, soft leather boots that came up to mid-thigh and her green dress. Her eyes flashed as she looked at me, but Kelsey couldn’t see her.
Ren followed Kelsey out of the temple, and after a few long moments, I heard the Jeep leave down the road.
Still Ana stood motionless, just staring me down.
Reaching out to her mind since I couldn’t talk, I nervously cried,Um, Ana?Little help?
Chapter 28
The Grove
After spinning on the ball of her foot, she stalked over to the remaining columns of the temple and took her time perusing each of the carvings. When she was finally done, she snapped her fingers and finally gave me back control of my body. I was fuming by the time I shifted out of the grit and took human form. I’d tried freeing myself, but somehow, she was blocking me. Angrily, I beat my hands against my black shirt, vainly trying to get the dust off.
