Page 50 of Tiger's Destiny
“Your tiger vision must help. I can’t see anything.”
Ren nodded and suggested we make camp in the valley below. We had just started down when a bright light shot across the sky and burst into a quiet cascade that reminded me of Fourth of July fireworks. Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, all the trees went dark. I couldn’t even see my hand in front of me.
“What happened?” I exclaimed nervously.
Ren took my hand and drew me to his side. “I’m not sure.”
Fanindra’s emerald eyes glowed, casting a welcome glimpse of green onto this strange, dark world. Ren made his way down the hill, holding tightly onto my hand.
At the bottom, we set up camp and made a large tent with the Scarf. When I reached out to touch a tree limb, I felt nothing. It didn’t move or fill me with warmth. It seemed to be dead. I put my hand against the trunk and allowed some of my fire energy to seep into it. A faint thrumming confirmed the tree was alive, but I guessed that this was its version of sleeping.
When I crawled into the tent to join Ren and Kishan, they abruptly stopped talking.
“Keeping secrets, huh?” I teased. “I don’t want to know anyway. I only wanted to tell you that the trees are all asleep. I think it’s just a light’s out kind of thing.”
Ren nodded, “Fine. We’re going to keep watch tonight. We think . . . it’s possible you’re being manipulated, Kells.”
“What?” I laughed. “Are you serious?”
Neither of them made eye contact.
“You think the trees are leading me astray?”
Ren spoke softly. “We have to keep our minds open to the possibility.”
Kishan added, “And for that reason we’re keeping watch, and you are not allowed to participate in that.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “I think I know when I’m being manipulated. And why do you two tigers always think you know what’s best for me? You’re such, such . . . men!”
“Kells,” they both protested.
“Fine. Knock yourselves out. Go sit on a spark while you’re at it.”
I heard Kishan’s sigh and a soft, “Goodnight, Kelsey,” as I rolled over and stuffed my fist beneath my cheek. I twisted, kicking off my blanket in the heat, and fell asleep.
A bright flash penetrated the fabric tent and woke me. I heard a popping sound and a metallic hum, and suddenly everything was bathed in flickering firelight.
Ren was asleep. He had one arm raised over his head and the other resting on his stomach. I moved closer, and he sighed and angled his head better on his pillow.
I wanted to reach out to him, to touch him. I knew his golden skin would be smooth and warm, but instead I sat there listening to him quietly breathe and wondered how I could be engaged to one man and still long for another.
What a terrible person I am, I thought and stumbled out of the tent.
“Good morning,bilauta,” Kishan said, still keeping watch. “Are you still angry?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He wrapped me in a bear hug and kissed my head. A tiny vine as soft as a kitten’s paw touched the back of my hand. I let it curl around my pinky and felt its warmth.
Feeling sticky and grimy from the volcano, I walked off a ways and tried to set up a shower using the Necklace. But as soon as the drops of water touched them, the trees shook violently and their leaves turned brown and fell off.
Hmm . . . that’s strange, I thought and stopped the flow of water. Remembering the trees’ attraction to the fire amulet, I wondered if fire might be their energy source.
I tried to repair the damaged trees by warming them with my fire power. The first tree started to heal, but I could still feel the energy draining out of it. Heartbroken, I removed my hands from the trunk as silent tears ran down my face.
Ren found me a few minutes later, brushed away a tear, and asked, “Why are you crying?”
