Thanks to those who reviewed. It gave me strength to continue.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in the story but the plot and those two characters (Kalita and Rajani).
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The Tiger Lady
Chapter 2
Once inside Pirates Swoop, Numair sat down on a bench still holding Kalita in his arms. Holding the young girl, who seemed about sixteen years old; Numair felt how fragile she was. She seemed too weak from lack of eating and sleeping. What caused her to not eat or sleep? What does she hold inside of her that causing her to do this to herself?
Kalita opensed her eyes, from just resting them, not from sleeping, and looked around for her tiger. "Rajani?" The tiger moved to her side and licked her face, worry filled his eyes. Kalita smiled for the first time since meeting Daine and Numair, and reached out to pet the tiger. The tiger rubbed against her as she pet him.
Numair quietly watched the girl and tiger, seeing a bond between them that is unbreakable. How does such a small and weak child earn a tiger's trust? The question confused him and at the same time made him want to learn more about the girl.
"Numair!" a voice called to him and he looked up to see Daine running toward him with Alanna behind her. He smiled and got up, ignoring the tigers growl.
"By the Gods, Numair!" Alanna said while looking at Kalita. "She's so skinny. We have to feed her. Come Numair, Daine! And you too tiger." She added when she noticed Rajani. She motioned toward her friends to go to a room to put Kalita in.
When they get to the room, Numair gently placed the girl on the bed and tucked her in. Rajani jumped into the bed with her, glaring at the man.
"Numair, will you stay with her, until we get back?" Alanna asked.
"Sure."
"Alright. Come then, Daine." Alanna told Daine and pulled her out of the room so they can get Kalita something to eat.
Kalita turned to her side so that her back is facing Numair. She isn't sure she likes him. Come to think of it, she never likes anyone but her tiger. She ran a hand along Rajani's back, feeling his soft fur. He is the only thing that calms her. Even though she keeps to herself, letting no one come near her, she has questions she wants to ask. Without turning to face him, she asked, "Numair? Do you love your wife?"
"Yes," Numair replied, feeling confused at her question. "Why do you ask? Isn't that what marriage is? Marrying the one you love?"
"Well, yes. I suppose. But."
"But what?"
"What is love?"
Numair sat down in a chair near the bed. How can someone not know what love is? "It's hard to explain. Someday, you'll learn what it is."
The thought of ever finding love scared her. She shivered, even if she is covered in blankets. A single tear fell down her cheek. Rajani moved closer to her and licked the tear away. She smiled as she unwillingly went to sleep. She dreamed of her past, her terrible past.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in the story but the plot and those two characters (Kalita and Rajani).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Tiger Lady
Chapter 2
Once inside Pirates Swoop, Numair sat down on a bench still holding Kalita in his arms. Holding the young girl, who seemed about sixteen years old; Numair felt how fragile she was. She seemed too weak from lack of eating and sleeping. What caused her to not eat or sleep? What does she hold inside of her that causing her to do this to herself?
Kalita opensed her eyes, from just resting them, not from sleeping, and looked around for her tiger. "Rajani?" The tiger moved to her side and licked her face, worry filled his eyes. Kalita smiled for the first time since meeting Daine and Numair, and reached out to pet the tiger. The tiger rubbed against her as she pet him.
Numair quietly watched the girl and tiger, seeing a bond between them that is unbreakable. How does such a small and weak child earn a tiger's trust? The question confused him and at the same time made him want to learn more about the girl.
"Numair!" a voice called to him and he looked up to see Daine running toward him with Alanna behind her. He smiled and got up, ignoring the tigers growl.
"By the Gods, Numair!" Alanna said while looking at Kalita. "She's so skinny. We have to feed her. Come Numair, Daine! And you too tiger." She added when she noticed Rajani. She motioned toward her friends to go to a room to put Kalita in.
When they get to the room, Numair gently placed the girl on the bed and tucked her in. Rajani jumped into the bed with her, glaring at the man.
"Numair, will you stay with her, until we get back?" Alanna asked.
"Sure."
"Alright. Come then, Daine." Alanna told Daine and pulled her out of the room so they can get Kalita something to eat.
Kalita turned to her side so that her back is facing Numair. She isn't sure she likes him. Come to think of it, she never likes anyone but her tiger. She ran a hand along Rajani's back, feeling his soft fur. He is the only thing that calms her. Even though she keeps to herself, letting no one come near her, she has questions she wants to ask. Without turning to face him, she asked, "Numair? Do you love your wife?"
"Yes," Numair replied, feeling confused at her question. "Why do you ask? Isn't that what marriage is? Marrying the one you love?"
"Well, yes. I suppose. But."
"But what?"
"What is love?"
Numair sat down in a chair near the bed. How can someone not know what love is? "It's hard to explain. Someday, you'll learn what it is."
The thought of ever finding love scared her. She shivered, even if she is covered in blankets. A single tear fell down her cheek. Rajani moved closer to her and licked the tear away. She smiled as she unwillingly went to sleep. She dreamed of her past, her terrible past.