2
We assessed the new volunteers to their assigned works. And for almost a month they got to used to their tasks. Now I finally got a time to monitor my babies! Yup! I've been busy and hadn't got the chance to stay long on the field. I also have to perform some experiments.
As Erwin informed. I take Eren on my expedition. I told Eren about the work and goal of the sanctuary though I know he already knows that. The animals we took care here eventually will be send out to the wild where they should belong. We proposed to the King that we also have to monitor the outside boundary of the sanctuary to keep endangered animals safe. There are poachers who wait and steal an opportunity to hunt down those creatures.
"Yay! Here we go!" I jumped out of the van, excited to see my babies. I've been busy with some experiments and researches in about a month but still missing them that it looked like years to me.
I saw Eren following and get his DSLR ready. He seems to be excited too. We continued to walk until we reached the entrance. The park was guarded with fences.
"Stay here for awhile." I told Eren.
"Wait. Where are you going?"
"Inside!" I grinned and unlocked the fence.
"Wait! You mean. You're gonna join the tigers?!" Eren's eyes widened. "They're gonna eat you!"
I just laughed and tried to explain to him what's going on but one of the white tigers approaches and ran towards us. Eren was shocked that he grabs me back from the fence.
"Relax. It's okay." I giggled. "Okay just wanna show you they're not that dangerous." I let him go of my arm. at first he hesitated but he let go of me and I started to greet the cub.
"Hello there lil one. Did you miss me?" I greeted the cub and as I came closer to her she ran towards me and me a glomp, knocking me down.
I could see Eren's agaped expression, still shocked. "See. They're adorable do they?" I called out.
"You scared me." He sighed and came closer to the fence. He took some pictures while I pet the cub. Later the bigger ones came and just like the cub they did a group glomp. Well, that totally knocked me down. I heard Eren called me and asking if I was ok.
"Don't worry am fine!" I stood up waving my hand. The tigers playfully pulled me down like they're asking me to play with them. I laughed and pet them scratching their backs and tummy, one of their favorite things.
"Okay guys. Meet your new friend Eren." I said and lead them to the fence where Eren was on the other side. There are 4 bigger tigers and 2 cubs. Akasha, Hercules, Misha and Azael are the bigger ones. Misha was the older of the group. She was 10 years old while the three are almost 8. The cubs are Samantha and Jin. We brought them from a zoo care taker two months ago. They're just 3 yrs old.
"Uhhh. Hi." He said waving at them as if he was meeting a person. He still a bit scared though.
"Well. That's crazy." He commented as we walked around the park. "I've never seen someone played with tigers before."
"I take that as a compliment." I snickered. "Well. Everybody thinks that's the craziest thing I've ever done.
"Even Sir Levi?" Eren asked and I nodded.
"Yeah. But eventually, he got used to my madness."
"But I think that's cool. How long have you been taking care them? It seems they're like a family to you."
"Really? Well you're one of the few people who complimented me that." I said.
"Its not that easy though. I've studied animal behavior. But I focus on wildcats since they started to become endangered. It took several years and I've taken care some of them when they're just a cub so here they are." I stopped. "Here's a better spot." We stopped on the higher part of the field, from afar was one of the park that we went. The other side was the wild-bird sanctuary. I think Levi and the others were there. "Wow." Eren commented. "Beautiful isn't it? You could almost see everything in here." I stated. "You could make a good shot from here."
We set up the cameras and I teach Eren some tips about photography. He showed some of his shots a while ago.
"These shots are good." I stated. "You could make it better." I smiled and showed him some of the camera settings I used. I also told to him to read some book of photography. he could have learn some tricks. Fortunately, he also uses Nikon so its easier for me to guide him and he already knew the basics.
"Ms. Hanji?" Eren said. "Yeah?" I respond still busy on setting the camera lenses.
"Why do you prefer carnivorous animals to study? Why did you choose to be with the lions and tigers?" He asked curiously and I looked at him making him flinch. "I... I just wanted to know coz I thought that these creatures were dangerous but you've managed to get close to them." He added.
"You really wanna know?" I laughed. "It would be so kind if you tell me?" He said snickering.
"Really?!" I said with excitement. No one ever wanted to know my stories so this is the first time a volunteer asked me. I was excited to tell him though.
"I wasn't really fond at these cats though. But there's one incident that made me curious and wanted to get to know more about them." I said while Eren just listened intently. "I studied every creatures behaviour. But like you I wanted to become one of the best photographer who documented and record the sanctuary. At least I could help on that part. But one day..." I continued.
"That is when I was documenting a leopard. That took me years to monitor them. But while I was at my spot, ready to record. There's this one leopard on the lake not far from where I am, came. I make myself hidden and camouflaged in the grasses. But I guess I was wrong." I could still recall every moment back then.
"Coz of their strong senses she felt that I was there. Monitoring her."
"She was about to drink on the lake but when she noticed me. She stopped and looked at to where my spot is. I knew she knows there's someone beneath the tall grass."
"She came closer in somewhat attack position. But her ears told me that she's also curious on what's in it. So I almost hold my breath. I didn't move, I kept myself lied down. Letting my camera record on whatever may happen."
"Woah!" Eren furrowed.
"But. Instead of attacking me. You know what happened?" I smiled and Eren blinked waiting for an answer.
"The most adorable thing I've ever seen! The leopard lied down in front of me, rolled up as if she knows that on front of her was a camera. She gave an adorable and cute pose, looking at the camera!" I giggled. Eren's face was part amazed and I could tell that other part of his expression tells me if he would believe it.
"Maybe because she was telling me like 'continue documenting us, we're critically endangered'. As if she was begging for help to save their species."
"I know that's unbelievable but it lead me to focus and keep their species safe. I still can't believe it happened." I smiled and Eren gaped. "It took years to get close and used to them. Everybody didn't think I could make friends with these creatures. Well no one ever dared to do so. Come to think of it, they're still part of the ecosystem." I said and Eren nodded.
"That was a brave action Ms. Hanji." He said.
"That's a craziest thing Freak has ever done." We jumped out to the voice behind us. We found Levi sitting behind.
"How long have you been here?!" I asked.
"Not that long. Just on the part from where you first fell in love with the cats." He said with sarcasm.
"You were here that long!" I said. "How did you know we're here?"
"GPS." he waved out his phone. "Just want to see how you guys doing."
"Right." I sighed and told Eren to packed up since the sun is setting. As we finished packing up. There was a gunfire from afar.
"Where's that?!" I asked. Levi step a little forward. We heard a several gun fire. And ran to where it is. The sound came from the tigers' sanctuary!
"Eren go back to the van!" I told him. "But Ms. Hanji."
"Go. Drive to the safe place." He nodded and head to the opposite direction.
Levi contacted Erwin as we approach the fences. We never saw the tigers. I called but nothing responds. I became nervous and unlock the fences. "Akasha, Hercules! Where are you?!"
"Misha! Azael!" Not a single tiger approach. The park was large enough to hear me but if something wasn't wrong they should have been here already. I was about to enter the park but Levi stopped me.
"We should go secretly. I had the feeling that they entered the fences." he said.
We walked carefully through the tall grasses and reached the spot where the tigers mostly hanging out. We saw a group of men carrying a rifle. They're 5 of them. We carefully turn around and there! I saw Misha lying on the ground! No! I kept myself calm but inside I was boiling furiously. I was thinking where are the others tigers.
I cupped my hands on my mouth. Gritted my teeth seeing Misha lying and dying. One of the men came in carrying something. That's it! I had enough when I saw he was carrying the cub, Samantha. I could hear the cub whined. I stood up and attacked one of the men behind. Taking his gun knocked him down. The cub ran away. The rest of them pointed their guns at me. Levi sighed and attacked one of them, he beat them instantly and took the gun and pointed it to the two remaining gun man. Good thing Levi knew hand to hand combat and attacked better than I do.
"I told you to stay! Freak!" He scolded me. "I can't take it anymore!" I frowned pointing the gun to the men.
"Put down your guns!" Levi ordered but they ignored. He made a warning shot, shooting a bullet in between them. They flinched and put down their guns.
Erwin, together with the team came. He also brought the police and took the men.
We quickly took Misha to the lab. Unfortunately the specialized vet. Mr. Pixis wasn't there.
"He was called to Shinsangina District to take a seminar for the volunteers there." Sasha said. "Is there anyone he assigned for temporary replacement?" I asked. "He said he will be back tomorrow with the new surgeons." One of the volunteers said. Drat! Now I'm panicking. Of all the time. Why today?!
"Is any of you knows how to operate an animal?" I asked. No one answered. I looked at Sasha and Connie. I've read their bio that they also studied medical biology.
I looked at Misha on the room. The volunteers tried their best to stop the bleeding. I asked Sasha and Connie if they could find a way.
"We haven't perform any surgery yet." Sasha stuttered.
"Mr. Pixis said after he went from Shinsangina he'll teach us." Connie added.
"Levi?" I pleaded. I could feel my tears fill my eyes.
"Sorry but I only knew how to treat birds and I've never operate a mammal." He said.
"You're conducting experiments on mammals before. Maybe you could operate Misha." Eren said.
"I never operated a mammal! And I don't have any idea about surgery! I only knew experiments and study them! Operating is different!" I cried.
I leaned on the glass. Looking at them. "Please. We shouldn't lose Misha."
"I will help." I told them. Sasha and Connie exchanged looks.
"We save and protect right?" Connie said the sanctuary's motto. Sasha nodded. "Ok we'll try our best!" Sasha said.
"I'll help too." Levi said.
"Can we help too?" Eren said together with Armin and Mikasa.
"Thank you guys!"
The operation took a bit long. We found out that the bullet struck Misha through her chest. I helped to stopped the bleeding while Levi and the two worked on the surgery. Good thing these two knows what anesthesia will be use. Eren and the others helped out to get the instruments ready. They're still outside waiting. Misha's breathing weakens, I hope she keep on holding still.
After a while they pulled out the bullet. But they found out that Misha legs was broken.
Few minutes have passed and Misha's heartbeat turned normal.
At last! The surgery was done and Misha was alright!
"Sir Levi! Ms. Hanji! We did it!" Sasha and Connie said cheerfully. "Thank you very much guys!" I gave them a glomp. "Levi we did iiiiitt!" I called and hugged him tight. Eren and the others outside were relieved knowing the operation was successful. Sasha and Connie said she have to recover from her injuries for a long time. Misha will have to keep in the Center's park for a while til she recovered.
We sat outside the room tiredly. "Thanks guys." I said. "You did great. We should tell Pixis how great you are. You could go now and get some rest." I told them. The kids hesitated but I ordered them to leave. They've done enough for now. They should get some rest.
"You should sleep too." Levi who's still beside me said.
"You can go back. I have to stay for a while." I told him.
"Its like you're Misha's mother. You never leave her side whenever she sick." He chuckled.
"I've spent my life taking care Misha. She's the first tiger I've became friend. Call me crazy but I'll do anything for her."
"You did that everyday." He said looking at me.
"Hey. Thanks for helping."
"Just for today Freak."
"I thought you never like these cats."
"I still do. I just don't like seeing you going freaking out again." He said.
"So you do really care?" I teased.
"What makes you think of that? I just want to help the kids out." He raised a brow.
'Whatever." I smiled and leaned my head on the wall.
I feel tired now. I tried to stay awake. But my eyes seems so heavy. Am too tired to even take off my glasses. Later I fell asleep.
Levi is still awake. He noticed that I was already asleep. As he was about to close his eyes when I accidentally leaned to his shoulder. He looked at me shaking his head. "I told you to get some sleep." He took off my glasses carefully and positioned my head.