Chapter 24-Death of a Hero

I awoke early the next morning and it seemed as though I could still taste the scrumptious delicacies we had feasted on the night before. The table was decked out with steaming plates of food from all over the world. Before it began, Cerant apologized profusely that his specialty chef wasn't at home to cook us something worthy of us. Bread as light as air had already begun melting in my mouth and I nearly choked on it from shock that food could possibly be better. I found myself hoping that the rest of the servants would return today or even last night, even though that would mean leaving earlier. I stretched my arms out and the light edges of the nightgown I had picked out the night before brushed down my arms. It was extremely comfortable and I loved it. My feet hit the stone floor a moment later as I hoped out of bed. I was enthused by the feeling that, for once, a day had been utterly perfect.

As I made my way over to the wardrobe, I pondered what I would wear today, but when I finally reached it, I decided that it was too early to get dressed. It was unlikely that anyone else was up yet, the sun was barely up. My usual time for waking up was twice this but I felt energized. A minute later found me sneaking down the hallway in my nightgown. I paused by Joseph's doorway but, though having is company would be wonderful, I'd let him sleep. A yawn escaped my lips as I brushed past the statues and rich furniture in Cerant's house. In the main living room, Hugh and Madeline were sitting on a couch talking.

"Good morning," I said to them.

Then straightened quickly and looked over at me in surprise. "I apologize," said Madeline, jumping to her feet. "We did not realize anyone would be awake this early and breakfast is not yet prepared."

I shook my head. "After last night you don't have to apologize to me about food," I said and she smiled happily. "It was wonderful, I'm still full, and you don't have to worry about me."

"Well," said Hugh staring at me with a smile. "If there's any other way we can please you, don't hesitate to ask."

The look on his face suggested things I didn't want to think about so I quickly replied and backed away. "No no," I said, forcing a smile on my face and fighting away a blush. "I'm just going to take an early morning walk."

Hugh nodded. "The master isn't up yet," he replied. "So don't go near that wing of the house, not that you ever should since it is his private place and you stay out of it, but especially not now. He'll be up for meditation soon and don't disturb him then either."

I nodded and walked quickly to the French doors. I shut them behind me with a huge sigh of relief and wandered down a path that entered this side of the jungle. Suddenly I heard a voice behind me. "Going to the glade?" it asked. I spun to see Cerant behind me and I smiled.

"Yep," I said with a chuckle. "Though I'm wary of that elevator, I didn't see how you ran it. I pondered jumping in but I'm not entirely sure I will in this nightgown. I also thought perhaps I'd try to scale the rocks."

"Determination," he said. "Have you ever thought on what your totem animal could be?"

"Totem animal?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. "The one you are most connected with. Some people view them as guardians. Though I haven't know you long, I'd say yours is a tiger. Strength, pride, beauty, determination, yes, I think that it's the tiger. Plus I saw how you and the one in the glade connected yesterday."

"I actually was visiting the glade because of the tiger," I admitted. "So, I guess that makes sense to me."

He smiled with slight pride. "I thought I'd guessed correctly," he stated.

"What do you think Kat's is?" I asked with a slight raise of the eyebrow.

He almost seemed slightly flustered when I asked. Which surprised me because he always had this sense of complete calm and control. "Well," he said. "I think it could be the pegasus. Fragile beauty and a sense to create beauty like her art. She painted for me last night. It was…spellbinding."

I stared at him for a moment with what must have been a shocked look. "She's our horse all right," I said.

We laughed together for a moment and he said, "Come with me. I will show you a way to get to the glade without having to get yourself wet." He led me to the edge of the jungle and said, "Here, follow me. I made a way to get there when I was younger so that I could shut down the elevator and no one could get to me if I didn't want them to. Well, they could jump but I'd hear the splash if they tried."

We pushed our way through a thick section of vines and suddenly Cerant vanished into the ground. I gasped and glanced down, he had pushed away a log and it revealed an underground passage. He grinned up at me then led me through a dark tunnel. After a moment I saw a spot of sunlight and he pushed away another log above us to reveal a hole. He helped me out then waved.

"I'm off to my meditations," he said. "I hope your visit is pleasant."

"Thank you Cerant," I said with a smile.

He bowed slightly then disappeared into the tunnel. I picked myself up and pushed through a bit of trees in the direction of where I could see the glade. I relaxed inside of it and soon the tiger wandered in. Again, it approached me and we stared at each other for a few moments before a noise in the jungle caught my attention. I tore my eyes to it quickly and scanned the darkness for what had caused it. It was probably just another animal but it seemed louder so I was cautious.

"Hello?" I called. Beside me the tiger growled at the spot I was looking at. I slowly rose to my feet and backed up. Suddenly, something came crashing through the trees and I turned and quickly ran toward the waterfall. I struggled over the foliage and crashed through the vines. I fell to the ground and expected whomever it was to descend upon me quickly. I held myself in fear and clenched my fists, preparing to defend myself, but nothing happened. Nothing came out after me but I could hear struggling within the glade. Then a huge shot rang out and jangled my nerves, there was a loud growl full of pain that made my eyes water.

I quickly scrambled to my feet. "No!" I cried as ran back into the glade. The tiger was on the ground, a bloody hole in its side. It was alive but stared at me with pain in its eyes. I put a hand on its head and then suddenly it growled loudly and then went still. My hand trembled and I looked around the glade quickly. There was no sign of the attacker. They had gone as soon as they had come. Who was it? A thought struck me-I had almost died. Whoever it was had a gun and attacked me but the tiger had given its own life to stop it. I looked down at it and tears flowed from my eyes and mingled in its fur. I smoothed it down the fur and silently thanked it, then ran toward the house as fast as my legs could carry me.