Chapter Six - Memories Surface

Chapter Six – Memories Surface

I was dreaming about them again. About my family: Mom, Dad, and my brother. I kept calling out to them, but I couldn't get them to respond. They would neither look at me or come to me. I felt a lone and neglected. I called out to them again. This time I awoke to the sound of my own voice calling out to them. Had I been calling out their names in my sleep?
I suddenly realized I had no idea where I was. I extended my arms out to feel my surroundings and my hand met something soft and warm. My fingers quickly repelled from where they were entangled in the fur. I sighed, relieved the creature laying next to me was still asleep. It was then I realized the warmth of his body and the unusual closeness compared to the past when he'd sleep at least a foot away from me. It made me uneasy, and I edged an inch away. This seemed to trigger more movement than my hand had and Saeron's eyes popped open. I nearly gasped in fright, but held it all in long enough to realize something even stranger than the closeness of his body. His eyes were cool blue with serene, very calm and even somewhat understanding, like he sympathized with me. I had only seen that look once before when I was wounded by the dragon, but he had reason to have this look in his eyes and even now the look was more intense, more sincere. Had he heard me talking in my sleep? Did he know now what I was going though having to stay here without my family? Perhaps it was too much to hope for.
I sat up in the bed and smoothed back my hair before staring out the exit of the bedroom. The sun was allowing little streams of light to come into the room. The morning had just begun from the looks of things. But where was my Nameless stranger? Surely Saeron had seen him when he left me here. I turned to where the dark tiger lay next to me.
“You didn't happen to see another human come here last night did you?” I inquired.
“No,” Saeron said without a second thought. “I found you lying here when I came in.”
I plopped myself back on the bed and breathed out a sigh of relief. Perhaps he had found a way to sneak passed Saeron. The bed suddenly vibrated from underneath me. My fingers grasped at the bedding and once again my left hand found the soft fur. But before removing my hands immediately this time they took in the waves of the vibration and I realized without a doubt that Saeron was....purring? Okay, maybe I did have my doubts. Never, in all the time I had stayed in the temple, had Saeron purred. What could he be so content about? I couldn't very well ask him, even if he was happy I was still a little afraid to ask for fear of the reaction he may have for asking such a silly question.
I finally decided it wasn't worth thinking about and moved on to my other thoughts, like one that was now showing interest in the fur I now held in my hand. I rarely ever felt Saeron's fur and now that I was feeling it I couldn't let go. I twisted a soft piece in my fingers and enjoyed the feeling it gave them. I wanted to put my hands deeper in the mass, but I was too frightened to even consider it. I was just about to take my fingers away when I noticed the sound of his purring getting louder. Was he enjoying it? I took one deep breath and closed my eyes just before diving my hand inside the forest of fur. Carefully and slowly I wove my fingers through the nest of fluff. The inside was even softer. I began to get a little braver and my hand started moving a little faster. The purring became louder and when I opened my eyes I found Saeron's were closed. From what I could see he was in total heaven. I wasn't sure whether I should keep going or not, my hand was edging higher up the body, toward his head. Would he mind if I stroked his head? I tried to remember back to when I had cat as a child and where the cat had liked to be scratched. If I was right the head was the best place to scratch a cat.
My fingers edged forward, each scratch continued the vibrating waves that now numbed my body. I reached as high as I could until my body was stretched to it full length, I was now at the top of his head and the purring was getting so loud my ears were ringing. I continued to rub the top of his head, each second my body and arm growing number, until I fell back on the bed, unable to continue.
Before I could catch my breath I was suffocated with a vise grip, or perhaps he thought of it as a hug, and I just about lost my air when Saeron realized what he was doing and loosened his grip. Suddenly a large pink object licked its was across my face, leaving it wet with saliva.
“Ewww!” I couldn't fight back the disgust as I wiped my face in the bedding. I could hear the faint snickers of Saeron as I cleaned up the last of the the saliva. I looked up to find him grinning a toothy grin “That was disgusting.” But I was suddenly grin as well. Despite how gross it was Saeron had only done it in good humor and I had to admit, if it had been someone else being hugged and licked by a tiger I could have laughed too.
“Sorry,” he said after a throaty laugh. “I just enjoyed that a lot. I had to thank you somehow.”
“Don't worry about it,” I said with a smile. “Just don't do it again.”

After that incident I couldn't stop smiling. Even after Saeron left the corners of my mouth were still touching my cheeks. It took me a while to realize that he had been a long time since I'd been this happy. Even around my family I had never been this giddy. There was only one other time I could remember feeling this way.

It was several years again, back when I was young. I was only in 3rd grade and it was the beginning of the school. I had only a few friends, but never any best friends until I met Taj. When Taj came to the school none of the other kids liked him because he was strange and an outsider. He was an orphan who was looked after by the city and he acted different. But somehow I found who he was appealing. One day, while we were having recess I started talking to Taj. I continued to talk to him everyday after that, and the more I talked to him the more I wondered why no one liked Taj. He seemed so cool to me in ways I just could never quite figure out and it felt so great to hang out with him. One day I asked my friends if Taj could join our group and one by one each other them rejected the offer, just as I had feared. I begged and pleaded with them, but in then end not even I was considered worthy enough to play with them if I was going to hang out with an outsider. So I stop being their friends and continued to hang out with Taj.

I was just about done with my chores around the temple when realized a lizard crawling in the garden. Its colors immediately reminded me of a lizard I saw once when Taj and I were playing at recess.
“Stay back, Princess,” Taj called in his manliest voice. Well, as manly as a third grader could sound. He extended his arms out to protect me. I looked over his shoulder to see what he was guarding me from. A brilliantly colored lizard crawled just in front of us on a tree. “Don't worry I'll slay the dragon!”
“No, Knight! It's too dangerous.” I had played along as dramatically as I could.
“But I have to save the Princess. Here I go!” He charged at the tiny creature, picking up a stick and pretending to slay the dragon. He hacked this way and that and before I knew it he had gotten a little too carried away and sent the lizard flying off the tree and into a girls hair. The girl cried and Taj got his recess taken away for a week. That was the loneliest week of my third grade life.

That night I waited up, eager to see him. Saeron had not returned from the jungle and I was beginning to wonder where he was, but not as interested as I was to see the nameless stranger. I waited outside my room, looking out to the jungle where I knew he'd come from.
It was getting later and I was beginning to get tired. I was also beginning to wonder if he'd ever show up. A rustle noise woke me up and make me more alert. My eyes struggled to scan the dark patchy area of the jungle where noise had come from. There was definitely movement. I strained to see the figure that made its way towards me and sighed. The stocky creature only gave me an intrigued look as he passed and I my shoulders slumped as I moped to the bedroom. I quickly lay my head down on the bed and closed my eyes, but disappointed and tired.
He was in my dream. I could see his face as clearly as if I had just seen him the other day. Taj sat next to me on the bed, only he was older now and he looked like the nameless stranger. I had had dreams like this a few times before. You see someone else's face on a person but you know its another person. I had learned once in class that to see something like this in a dream meant I viewed Taj as I did the nameless stranger. But what did that really mean? Did that mean I didn't know who Taj really was just like I didn't know who the nameless stranger was? Or perhaps I was suppressing feelings for Taj that I feel for the nameless stranger as well? In any case my dream confused me too much. I suddenly woke up in a state of confusion and my body quickly met the floor. I stood on my feet and began wobbling toward the entrance. I felt as though I would fall over any minute and I just might have had I not caught sight of the shining perfection laying in the moonlight. My eyes widened with realization and my feet began carrying me to him without a second thought.
My Nameless stranger lay still on the floor of the temple, eyes closed, breathing calmly. But something about him had really caught my eye. The reason why my feet carried me so eagerly to him. As I paced forward I saw his chest: perfectly visible and gorgeous as I could imagine. Not only was it smooth, but it shown pearly white as the beams of the moon danced upon it. I stood above him marveling his perfection and suddenly, without thinking again, I crouched down beside him. I wasn't sure what exactly I was doing, but my hand was extending toward him. Suddenly his eyes looked up at me and I realized what I was doing, but before I could pull away I felt him pulling me in. I closed my eyes, afraid I was about to hit my head on the ground, but his arms pulled me into him and my head met the soft chest I had been admiring. I immediately felt the warmth radiating from it and my face suddenly began warm as well, only it was warm from embarrassment. My Nameless stranger began laughing, no doubt realizing I was blushing, and kissed my forehead making me feel even hotter and now dizzy.
“I've missed you,” he said with a smile.
“I'll have to admit, I've missed you too,” I said with a laugh. “Kinda hard not to miss a sweet guy like you.”
“Aww, you don't mean that,” he said as he hugged me closer to him.
“Really, I do,” I said, my word coming out in muffles through his chest.
“That makes me happy to hear you say that. Oh, by the way I got you something.” He said as he pulled out a small stringy object from his pocket. “I hope you like it. I made it for you today.”
I looked at the bracelet he set in my hand and took in all the little stones and jewels pieced together on it. I held it up to the moon to get a better look at it. An array of different colored lights shot out every which way sending rainbows dancing along with the moonlight. Each jewel had its own color shaded rainbow, one more red, the other more blue and altogether lovely. I looked back at my Nameless stranger who's eyes were admiring not the color of the jewels, but me. “Do you like it?”
“It's....beautiful. I've never seen anything like them.”
“They don't even amount to your beauty.” His voice was soft like velvet. I felt as though I could melt where I sat.
“How could you say those things?” I said, my temperature rising. “You barely know me and I don't even know your--
His fingers stopped my speech as they pressed against my lips. It wasn't fair the way he could manipulate me. But I was too seduced to really care. I waited to see what he did next.
His eyes focus on me. He seemed to be taking in all of me, my hair, my face, my eyes. Did he really see me as beautiful?
He leaned in and our eyes were less than a few inches away. I could feel the heat between us colliding as the space between up grew smaller and smaller. I could now feel his hot breath on my skin. Our eyes both closed as the space ceased to exist and our lips met in a passionate kiss driven by a longing I had never thought I'd possessed for him. It was as though I had wanted to kiss him since I was born into this world, his touch felt so right and so addicting. I felt myself wanting more and I longed for those extra minutes of no oxygen. But my desires were met with a halt that left my lips moving desperately in the air for more. Why had he stopped?
“It's getting late. I think, if I'm not mistaken it's almost 5,” he said. I could hear a hint of disappointment in his voice, but it was very subtle.
“Do you have to be somewhere?” I asked, hoping he could stay just a bit longer.
“Yeah, but I'll see you again tomorrow, I promise.” He began getting up and I followed his lead. “Try not to think about me too much while I'm gone, you copycat.” He said with a wink. I smiled and allowed a chuckle to slip out despite how corny he sounded.
“Don't worry, I'll only think about you as much as you think of me.”
“Wow, I guess you don't sleep either?” He said with a laugh. “Oh, before I go.”He took the bracelet from my hand and very gently tied it around my wrist. He then tilted my chin up and brought his soft blue eyes to meet mine once again and our lips clung together in a sweet dance of passion. I was just about to wrap my arm around his neck when he pulled away just before saying good bye and heading for the jungle. I waved good bye, locked in a trance, my head spinning with delight from previous encounter.
That night I couldn't help but think about his the entire time and almost didn't fall asleep. When my eyes were finally closing I felt Saeron leap onto the bed and curl up next to me. His body was warm and his fur was soft. It wasn't long before the feeling of his body near me put me into a deep sleep.

As I lay dreaming I saw him again. Taj was where he had been the last day I saw him. He was only trying to protect me, but in the end it took him away from me.

Chapter Five - A Dream or Reality?

(Pardon the orange tiger pics, it is extremely hard to find pictures of black tigers so until I can get a hold of a tablet pc or something to draw decent pictures of Saeron with you'll all have to make due with what you can imagine him looking like in your minds eye.)

Chapter 5 – A Dream or Reality?

Was it morning already? My eyelids fought to stay shut, but I eventually managed to force them open. Saeron was laying beside me where I had thought he wouldn't be judging by his disappearance last night. Last night. Had that all really happened? Had I really seen that unbelievably hansom guy? I tried to recall the previous events. They seemed so vivid in my mind that there was no though in dismissing them as dreams. It had all happened. I had seen him, seen his angelic face, his soft blue eyes.
Saeron's own blue eyes suddenly startled me as they shot open. They locked onto me and once again I felt like prey to a beast holding me captive. I turned away from the intensity the blueness gave off. As I stared off into another direction my mind continued to hold the image of those blue eyes. I wasn't sure what it was, but those eyes now held a different feeling to them. They didn't seem as frighten anymore, but somehow different. I couldn't put my finger on it.

“How's your wound?” He inquired, interrupting my thoughts.
Without turning to face him I replied with a meek response. “It's fine.”
It startled me when he leaped from bed, but I didn't turn to look where he was going. Already knew he'd probably be heading to the jungle where he always went. I waited a few minutes, jerked the covers off my body, then headed for the kitchen. To my surprise Saeron stood just outside the doorway of the kitchen. I smiled halfheartedly and entered the kitchen, Saeron following after me. I prepared my meal, some small cooked fish and fruits then headed for the pond to feed the fish. To my surprise Saeron followed me out to the pond and then to the garden where I weeded out the yard. I felt like asking why he hadn't left, but I was too afraid of him getting angry with me.

I began brushing Nara's light mane, hoping every second she'd refrain from kicking up a fuss. With Saeron next to me the horses were all but calm. They neighed uneasily, keeping on they're toes in case this “predator” decided he wanted to make them lunch. I knew better than to think Saeron would eat his own horses, but his pets didn't seem to be as educated.
A snarl echoed off the rocks and I felt Nara's mane slip away from me as she reared in the air. I quickly jumped to dodge her hooves and nearly landed on a pile of jagged rocks. My eyes immediately locked on Saeron's curled body, bristling fur and teeth bared. Though his stance seemed very aggressive, the look of pain in his eyes made me question what was really going on. Before I could call out to him, Saeron had bolted straight into the jungle at lightning speed. I sat on the ground stunned at what I had just witnessed. Had he gone mad? Could he have turned on me if I had tried to help him? I suddenly felt dizzy with fear. I had to leave now! If I stayed her any longer I may end up killed. No! I know I'd be killed!

I rushed to put reins on Nara, my sweaty palms beginning to shake with fright. I need to get out as soon as I could before that monster returned. It didn't matter if I found my village. All that mattered was that I found my way away from this beast.

Nara's little body moved just as frantically as my heart raced, but her pace was fast. We soon made are way through most of the jungle and I began to realize I had never been through this part of the jungle. I took it as a good sign because if I didn't know where I was I must be getting further from the temple.
Less and less light crept through the cracks in the jungle until there was no light except the bright moon hanging overhead. I halted Nara to a slower pace, feeling secured by the darkness and its ability to conceal.

Surprisingly it was quiet, except the sound of insects in the night; a calming sound. Nara trotted in absolute calmness making me somewhat tired. I slid off Nara's back and tied her reins to a tree. I then slumped down next to the same tree and rested my head on its smooth trunk. My eyes began to get heavy and I eventually gave into sleep.

I felt him. I felt his arm around me. His kiss on my cheek. “Dad!” I had finally found him! I had finally found home. It had taken me so long to get there, but I had finally found it.
“Dad, it was horrible. I tried to get back to you guys sooner, but the tiger wouldn't let me.” I told him through sobs.
“What tiger?” He asked with great interest. “Do you mean the tiger at the temple?”
“Yes of course Dad, what other tiger would I be talking about?”
“I can't believe the tiger actually kept you alive. It's a miracle!” He was so overjoyed he called our entire family over to celebrate. I had never been so happy in my life. I was free from the tiger and free to live as I pleased.
I was heading outside after the party when my ears heard a familiar voice calling my name. I quickly turned my head and my eyes caught sight of the one person I had hoped to see again.

“Dante,” he called out to me again. I went to him with a smile. He smiled back and took me in his arm. My heart rushed with adrenaline and I could feel my temperature rising.
“I'm so sorry,” he began, confusing me. “I didn't mean to scare you off.”
“Huh?” I looked up at his brilliantly blue eyes. “You could never scare me away.”
I thought I had sounded sincere, but I caught a glimpse of sadness his face suddenly turned away.
“Stay with me here.” I encouraged, but he continued to look away. He then let go of me and slowly walked away. I followed after him, trying to get him attention.
Before I could blink his figure turned into a ghastly dark shape, his eyes bright with rage. A loud let out from his mouth just before the darkness that had consumed crashed into me.

“Are you alright?” I heard his voice suddenly in my ear. My eyes shot open. Had I been dreaming the entire time? Was I still running away from Saeron? Was I in the nameless strangers
arms?
“I found you lying by a tree and figured you were lost so I'm taking you back to the temple.” He said softly.
“Thanks,” I said, without any real gratitude in mind. My heart began racing faster than it had already been when I realized I was in his arms. The realization of where he was taking me was setting in.
“Why were you so far from the temple?” He asked, but I could see the wisdom in his eyes. Somehow I knew he knew I had run away.
“I'm afraid the tiger in the temple is going to kill me,” I blurted out. I looked at him, suddenly realizing his face was fixed in something close to shock. “Please don't take me back.”
“You can't stay out here though, its dangerous,” his voice carried with it much worry. I almost smiled at the thought of him worried for me, but the thought of being killed continued to overpower my actions. I struggled to get out of his arms so that I could run away, but instead found that our feet were several feet off the ground. I looked in front of us and recognized the black mane and pointed ears.
“I hope you don't mind me borrowing him to rescue you,” he said noticing my realization of what we were riding. “He's very well behaved.”
Well behaved? He was the horse I was always so afraid riding because I couldn't trust him and this stranger from out of no where was able to ride him like he'd had him for years.
“How did you--
“Don't worry about it, lets just worry about getting you home.”
“Home? You mean like where I live? My village?”
He didn't say anything. I looked up at his face and his eyes were gazing forward obviously lost in thought. The moon reflected off the light blue irises and my heart suddenly jumped as he looked down at me, his eyes staring deep into mine. At that moment I forgot all I was going through.
“I thought about you,” he began, and my heart raced faster. “All last night I could hardly sleep.”
He touched my cheek, where I sat sidesaddle in front of him, and I blushed with embarrassment. I had been thinking about him as well. All that day and night as I rode into the jungle I had my thoughts, when they weren't on the fear of Saeron finding me, stuck on him. Had he really been thinking of me too?
“I've been thinking about you too,” I said without thinking. I quickly looked up to see what he thought about what I had said. “I'm sorry, I mean, we've just met. It probably seems so weird to you that I'm sharing this stuff with you.”
“Not at all.” I was surprised by his response. “I'd love to hear what you've been thinking.”
His eyes seemed to beg me to continue. But I wasn't about to tell him what I thought. I would be so humiliated if he thought the things I said were stupid. Did he even feel the same way I did?
“You must have something you want to tell me.” He brushed a strand of my hair from my face and lightly patted it back into place. “Am I really that bad? Is that why your not saying any thing?”
“No! Thats not it at all! How could you think that?”
“No reason,” he said through sad eyes. I looked into them, they seemed deep and lonely. “He he, your cute when you worry.” His face lit up with a smile.
“Sorry,” I turned away just before he could see me blush, but before I could figure out what was happening his hand found my face and brought it back to face his. My face now burned even more under the warmth of his hand. He probably saw that I was blushing because he smiled, then chuckled just before releasing my face.
“You don't have to be ashamed of being cute. I like girls that are cute, if you find that hard to believe.” He said with a chuckle. “Especially when the girl's so beautiful.” Just hearing this just about knocked me off the horse. I felt dizzy and the sky was beginning to turn. He caught me just as I was leaning to the side. I thought I was going to die of a heat stroke. I tried to look up at him, but my vision suddenly faded to black.