6. Chapter 6. The LPS Pets Discover Eliza's Gift.

The following day, the landscape at dawn was a sight to behold. Morning dew sparkled on the leaves, and the sounds of waking animals intertwined with the murmur of a nearby river. The pets, having been set free by Blythe, were scattered among the trees, capturing the essence of nature.

Penny Ling was the first to spot Eliza. "Look over there," she whispered, pointing towards the river's direction. All eyes followed the panda's indication, and they saw Eliza heading to a dense bush.

Stealthily, they observed Eliza from a distance without being noticed. Zoe found it curious to see that Eliza had stood there for two minutes.

Once they saw that Eliza had left, the pets approached the bush. As they got closer, some beavers watched them from their shelter.

"Hi, who are you?", asked one of the beavers, his small nose trembling with both fear and curiosity.

"Hello, my name is Zoe," the Cavalier King Spaniel said in a calm voice, introducing herself and her companions. "We're just visiting pets here," she added, indicating her fellow domesticated friends.

The old beavers, upon hearing this, grew more cautious. One of them recalled the earnest plea in Eliza's eyes when she had whispered to him earlier, "Please, don't tell pets that I can talk to animals." They were keenly aware of the secret they shared with Eliza and the importance of keeping it from these domesticated animals.

Then, with an inquisitive look, Zoe asked, "We saw Eliza with, I believe, you. What did she want?"

The older beavers exchanged nervous glances. One of them, with grayer fur and scars evident from battles with wildlife, began to speak. "Yes, Eliza was inspecting us, making some notes for her documentary about local fauna," he said in a shaky voice, hoping the pets would buy his story.

However, before they could respond, a commotion was heard from the back of the bush. A young beaver, with shiny fur and bright eyes full of innocence, emerged excitedly.

"Eliza was wonderful. After explaining that we are new to this place, she told us about how to better adapt to this environment and the dangers we should avoid. She even told us about a plant we should eat to stay healthy!" exclaimed the little beaver.

The old beaver, evidently the group leader, shot a reproachful look at the young beaver, who seemed oblivious to the predicament he had just put them in. The youngster's words lingered in the air, and the surprised looks from the pets only intensified the situation.

The young beaver, noticing everyone's expressions, began to realize that perhaps he had shared too much. "Did I do something wrong?", he asked, lowering his head and swishing his tail nervously.

The old beaver sighed, moving closer to the youngster to comfort him, all the while telling himself that he was in for a long talk explaining the importance of secrets.

Russell couldn't hide his surprise. "Wait, what? Eliza can talk to you?"

The beavers exchanged anxious glances. The leader, after a resigned sigh, slowly nodded. "It's true, Eliza has the ability to talk to us. But she asked us to keep it a secret. She doesn't want the people, including the animals that accompany humans, to know about her special gift."

Vinnie, frowning and clearly upset, asked, "And why not us? What makes us different from other animals? Doesn't she trust us?"

The young beaver, still looking somewhat embarrassed by his earlier indiscretion and thinking of another reason why Eliza wouldn't want the pets to find out about her gift, chimed in, "It's not that she doesn't trust you or the others. She said being known as 'the girl who talks to animals' could bring her problems, and she doesn't want to jeopardize the animals she talks to. Imagine if someone with ill intentions wanted to use that gift against her, or against us."

The older beavers nodded in agreement with the young one. The leader added, "There's something about domestic animals that... well, Eliza fears that if they knew, they might unintentionally reveal her secret to humans. It's not personal, it's just caution."

Russell, still trying to process the information, nodded slowly, "I understand, but it's still a lot to take in."

Zoe, crossing her front paws, said, "It's a huge responsibility to know such a secret. We will respect it."

The leader of the beaver group smiled in relief. "Thank you for understanding. Now, we must go. This jungle is new to us, and we have a lot to learn to survive here."

With a series of nods and farewells, both groups parted, leaving the pets in deep reflection about the discovery they had just made.

The pets entered the tent, still shaken by the revelation. Their silence was noticeable before Pepper, with a deep sigh, broke it. "Guys, I still can't believe it. Can Eliza really talk to animals? It's... it's amazing."

Minka settled down and thoughtfully said, "I thought Blythe was the only one. But if Eliza can do it too, that changes everything. Should we tell Blythe? They are both in the same situation, carrying their ability as a secret."

Vinnie nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, imagine how good Blythe would feel knowing she's not alone in this. Having someone to talk to about their encounters, sharing their fears and joys... It would be great for her."

Russell, with a paw stroking his chin in thought, added, "But we need to consider something. If Eliza hasn't said anything until now, she might have a reason. Maybe she doesn't want to share her gift with anyone, even if that person has the same ability."

Zoe, crossing her paws, pondered, "That's a valid point, Russell. But it's also possible that somewhere in her heart, Eliza wishes she had someone who understands exactly what she's going through. They might both find solace in each other."

Russell sighed, "Yes, you're right, Zoe. It's a complicated situation. But if we decide to tell Blythe, we should be very cautious. We don't know how she might react."

The others nodded in agreement, knowing that what they had discovered was a secret that needed to be handled with great care.

The sun had already begun to tilt toward the horizon, tinting the river clearing with orange and golden hues. After an extensive photo session by the river, Blythe headed back to the tent in a carefree manner, oblivious to what was coming.

Upon entering the tent, she was met with the expectant faces of her pets. "Hey guys, how was your day?" greeted Blythe, sensing the tense atmosphere surrounding her.

"Blythe, we need to talk," began Pepper seriously. Her eyes reflected concern and a touch of fear.

Penny Ling, with a curious look, added, "We noticed something about Eliza. It's not just her love for nature, there's something else, something deeper. A connection that feels familiar to us."

Blythe, intrigued, sat on her sleeping bag, urging them to continue. Vinnie, in his characteristic decisive tone, revealed, "It's not just a connection, Blythe. Everything suggests that Eliza... can talk to animals."

Silence became palpable, only broken by the murmur of the river in the distance. Eyes met, seeking answers. Blythe, with a furrowed brow, tried to process what she heard. "What are you talking about?" she asked hesitantly.

Minka, choosing her words carefully, continued, "We hid behind some bushes at a distance and saw her, Blythe. She was communicating with some beavers, as if having a real conversation with them."

Blythe felt a mix of astonishment and confusion. "Are you sure?" she asked, disbelief evident in her voice.

Sunil, attempting to justify the assumption, added: "We always see her surrounded by animals when filming a documentary. And it's not just that, the way she approaches them, the way she looks at them... it's as if she really understands them."

Blythe took a deep breath, her mind racing. On one hand, she felt the pets might be hallucinating, but she also had deep trust in them. Blythe began to feel the excitement of perhaps not being alone in this world with that ability. If this is true, she thought, maybe... just maybe I could finally find someone who shares this ability and talk freely about my experiences with animals.

Blythe sees an opportunity in Eliza, a friend with whom she can share the secret of talking to animals. But if Blythe directly tells Eliza that she knows about her ability, Eliza would lose her gift according to the promise of the shaman disguised as a boar. Will Blythe dare to mention it to Eliza and how would Eliza react to this assumption? More chapters for this story coming soon.