Weapon drawn. He surveyed the chaos. Two men gone.
One moaning on the forest floor. Blood smeared the roots. But no tiger in sight.
They’re gone, Daniel said hoarsely. She took her cub and ran.
When you save a life in the wild, it doesn’t forget.
Not ever. Weeks passed.
The poachers were arrested. The wounded one gave up the others.
Patrols around the reserve doubled. The forest still waking. A rustle of leaves behind the tall ferns.
And there she was. The tigress. Standing tall, golden stripes glowing in the soft light.
Her shoulder, once bloodied, now healed. She looked at him. And blinked slowly.
Then turned. And disappeared into the forest. He never saw her again after that.
