Page 15 of Tiger's Voyage
“Huh.”
Ren grinned. “So … you and lady tigers, eh? Is there something you want to share, Kishan?”
Kishan shoved a forkful of dinner into his mouth and mumbled, “How about I share my fist with your face?”
“Wow. Sensitive. I’m sure your lady tiger friends were all very attractive. So am I an uncle?”
Kishan growled angrily and set down his plate. He morphed into the black tiger and roared.
“Alright. That’s enough,” I threatened. “Ren, do you want me to share your white tiger breeding program story with Kishan?”
Ren paled. “You know about that?”
I smiled naughtily. “Yes.”
Kishan switched back, picked up his plate, and smiled. “Please go on, Kells. Tell me all about it.”
“Fine,” I sighed. “Let’s get this all out in the open. Kishan, did you ever engage in any … promiscuous activities with female tigers?”
“What do youthink?”
“Just answer the question.”
“Of course not!”
“That’s what I thought. Ren, I already know you didn’t either, though the zoo tried very hard to get you to breed. Now no more teasing or fighting about that subject, or I’ll shock you with lightning. I expect you both to be on your best off-the-leash behavior.” I grinned. “Hmm … perhaps we should invest in shock collars for the two of you. Nah, better not. It would bewaytoo tempting for me.”
They both snorted but soon settled down and had about five plates of dinner each.
After we ate, Kishan started a fire to keep animals away, and I shared the story of the lion and the mouse but changed it to a tiger with a porcupine quill. This led to a conversation about hunting and the brothers’ greatest kill stories, during which I squirmed and tried to ignore them.
As we watched the sunset, Kishan put his arm around me and described the changes he could feel in the jungle as day turned to night. It was fascinating but also frightening to know just how many creatures began to move through the trees at sundown.
Later that sweltering evening, I climbed into my tiny tent and lay down on top of my bedroll, twisting the lighter blanket around me mummy-style.
Ren ducked his head in to check on me and laughed. “Do you always do that?”
“Only when camping.”
“You know bugs can still get in there.”
“Don’t say that. I like to live in ignorance.”
I heard his soft laugh as he knotted the ties for me.
After I’d spent a restless hour tossing back and forth, Kishan appeared at my tent door. “Can’t sleep?”
I leaned up on my elbow. “I’d really prefer to have a tiger near me. It helps me sleep in the jungle.”
Kishan sighed. His golden eyes shone in the moonlight. “Alright, scoot over.”
I happily shifted to made room for Kishan. He switched into a black tiger and pressed his body up against my back. I’d just settled down when I felt a wet nose on my cheek. Ren had squeezed his giant body into the miniscule space between the tent wall and me and lay down— half on top of me.
“Ren!I can’t breathe. And my arm is trapped under you.”
He rolled over and licked my shoulder. I pushed his heavy body and twisted away.
Exasperated, I said, “Divine Scarf, can you make the tent big enough for all of us, please?”
