Page 2 of Tiger's Trek
Chapter1
THERE IS PLENTY OF SOUND IN AN EMPTY BARREL
“You... you wish me to take you to the young man I found earlier?”
“Exactly. Yes,” Veru said, spinning and heading off in the direction from which Danik had appeared.
“I’m not certain I can find the young man you seek,” he said, trailing behind her.
“What? What do you mean you can’t find him?”
Danik cupped the back of his neck. “The sun will be going down in an hour or two, and without knowing whereIam, how do you expect me to find your young man?”
Veru let out an exasperated sigh and turned. “I don’t know. How abouttrackinghim?”
“That sounds good. Do you know how to do that?”
“I know a little, but you’re much better at it than I am. Of course, when I was a tiger, I was excellent at doing such things, but I seem to have lost that ability, for some reason.”
“A tiger... yes. And may I ask, when did the two of us meet, exactly? I’m afraid I can’t quite recall.”
“You must have hit your head somewhere. Hopefully, Zakhar will be able to come up with something that can help you remember.”
“I see.” Danik began walking beside her almost hesitantly. “If—if it’s not too forward, might I inquire as to the lady’s name? I think you said it before...”
His walking companion snorted. “Sure. The full name is Verusha Irena Vasilia Stepanov. But you can call me Veru. And to answer your question, we met when you caught me in a trap.”
“Stepanov... that seems familiar. I feel like I should know that.”
“Yes. Yes. You should. But it’s not important now.”
“It isn’t?”
“No.”
“A trap? Why were you in a trap? And what do you mean when you say I was the one who ‘caught’ you?”
“I was a tiger, and you’re a hunter. Do you see the connection?”
“Oh no, you are mistaken there.” Danik laughed. “I could never be a hunter. I’m a musician. You must have confused me with one of my cousins. Some of us do look alike, though, so I can see how you could get it wrong.”
“No, I’m not wrong, Danik. It wasyouwho caught me. You caught me and then you freed me, and after that I saved your life when the wolves came for you. Truly you remembernothing? What of your parents?”
“My parents? Funny you should mention them. That’s why I’m out here, you see. I’m searching for them. We’ve become separated somehow. But I know they’re here somewhere. I just need to find them. If I think hard enough, I’ll recall my home’s direction. The songs help me. My mother taught me a remembering song when I was just a boy. It always helped me find my way when I was lost. When I don’t sing, I fear I forget nearly everything.”
“That’s interesting. Perhaps this is a part of your trial.”
“My trial?”
“Stacia, she’s my sister, in case you’ve forgotten her too. Anyway, she mentioned that the voice told her we’d all be facing further trials before going home. Perhaps this is what was meant.”
Danik peered at her for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration, but then his features relaxed and he fixed his gaze ahead. His eyes had that lost, dreamy look again. He seemed almost surprised to have a traveling companion. “Privet,” he said. “Have we met?”
“Ugh!” Veru could almost wrench her hair out in frustration.What good is Danik in this state?she thought. Then she tripped over the hem of her skirt and mumbled something under her breath about her trial being cursed by filmy, useless dresses and brain-fogged men.
Veru yanked her skirt free and straightened, throwing her shoulders back and promptly snagging her long hair in a tree branch. To his credit, Danik didn’t laugh as she unwound her locks from a thorny briar and began pulling seeds from her tangles. Instead, he stopped her, took a torn section of her dress, ripped it into two long strips, and deftly gathered all her hair at the nape of her neck, securing it with one strip of ribbon, then wove the other through her hair in loops and secured it at the end.
“Spasibo,” she murmured after introducing herself again. “How did you learn to do that?” Veru asked. “You don’t have any siblings.”
