Xavier's Arc

Chapter 18 of 21

The princess and her father's men were gone. Xavier sat alone on the tiger's back, and now he felt how tired it was. Its head hung low. Its ribs pushed against its coat with each breath. For days they had run and fought without rest. The hunt was called off, but the tiger needed a safe place to sleep or the bond between them would break. Xavier slid down and walked beside the beast. He kept one hand on its flank. "Easy," he said. "We find shelter now." The tiger stumbled once in the mud. Its trust felt thin, like a rope worn to a few threads. A mount that could not rest would soon forget why it followed him at all. He led it away from the ridge, deep into the trees. There he found a hut built high in the branches. Hanging leaves and thick vines wrapped its wooden walls. A rough ramp of vines twisted down its trunk to the ground. The place looked old and forgotten, but the platform sat far above any climbing hunter. Getting the tiger up was the problem. The vine ramp was steep. The beast planted its paws and would not climb. Xavier climbed a few steps and turned back. "Come," he said. He crouched to its level, the way he had learned. He did not loom over it. He held out his open hand. The tiger did not move. Its eyes were dull with exhaustion. Xavier saw the choice hanging there. If he pulled the rope, the beast would fight him and the last threads of trust would snap. So he sat down on the ramp and waited. He spoke soft and low. He let the tiger decide. Minutes passed. Then the tiger set one paw on the vines. Then another. Slow and careful, it followed Xavier up the ramp, trusting the wood to hold its weight. At the top it stepped through the open door and into the hut. Inside, dry leaves covered the floor. No mud. No wolves. No hunters. The tiger circled once and dropped onto the leaves with a heavy sigh. Xavier knelt beside it and stroked its neck. He fed it the last of his fish. This time the beast ate slowly, then let its eyes fall shut. For the first time in many days, the tiger slept deep and safe. Its breathing slowed and steadied. Xavier felt the frayed bond pull tight again under his hand. The mount was truly his now, rested and whole. Then his hand brushed the tiger's coat, and he saw it clear in the fading light. Even asleep, even hidden, the fur burned bright red against the green leaves. The vines could hide the walls. They could not hide that color. Xavier looked out the door at the darkening swamp. His tiger was safe tonight. But its coat would betray them the moment any eye passed near.