I woke on something soft. I could feel the light on my eyelids. I blinked them open slowly, not wanting to go too fast. It was so warm. I was tempted to just drift back into sleep. The bright green of the canopy of leaves above me shone in the morning light. My light blonde hair was spread out on all sides of the fluffy bed of moss I was laying on. A smile danced on my lips. It was so peaceful. Everything was still asleep.

I sat up, sitting cross-legged on the moss. My beautiful black panther, Sasha, was by my side, still in a deep sleep. I could faintly seethe monkeys, high in the trees, sleeping soundly. I stood up, silently, and sprinted off through the trees. The only sound was of my feet hitting the leaves blanketing the jungle floor.

I stopped at the glittering blue lake. It was miles wide, and the very heart of the jungle. All the streams throughout started here. I kneeled down before it and cupped my hands together, gently pushing aside the water to fill my hands. I brought my hands to my face and took a small sip. Instantly, all side effects of drowsiness disappeared. I could run ten miles.

A soft growl resonated behind me. I smiled, turning around. Sasha was there, amber eyes half closed, the remains of sleep in her body language. I stepped aside, allowing her to come forward and take a sip. It was like a wave, watching the sleep be pushed from her body. The black panther stood tall, proud. I laughed. It was a clear sound, soft, but the whole jungle heard it.

Soon, the lake had a rim of wild life around it, ranging from huge wild cats to small, baby marmosets, all taking the morning sip. It was a breath-taking sight. All members of the food chain, co-existing in peace. Then, every animal went its separate way, and the lake was empty once more.

Sasha nudged my side. It was time to eat. I nodded and climbed onto her proud shoulders, and she took off to our feeding grounds. Sasha killed her prey, an orangutan that had fallen out of its tree and had broken an arm. It would never survive long. Sasha had put it out of its misery, doing it a favor.

I had only shot down a small squirrel, using my beautifully hand-crafted bow and arrows. I would never end a creature's life unnecessarily. I never hunt for sport. No animal does. It is for survival and survival alone.

Before we eat, we pay our respects to the animal's lives we took. We kneel before the kill, and I mutter words of thanks. Then I start a fire and cook my catch while Sasha eats slowly.

After we are done I put out my small cooking fire and smile at the panther. She lowers herself into a hunting crouch, but it's playful. Her long, sleek tail waves in the air. She knows what comes next. Our daily race.

We line up side by side. It's a race around the heart of the jungle and back to our bed of moss. In an unspoken agreement, we take off at the exact same time, neck and neck. We reach the lake and Sasha starts to pull ahead, but I won't stand for that. I have my pride, too. I put on an extra burst of speed and pull ahead. I laugh at her roar of indignation. We are half away around the lake, I being slightly ahead of the panther. We are now sprinting through the jungle to the bed, neck and neck again. At the same time, we reach the bed.

I start to get drowsy again. Sasha nudges me. She knows what will happen. I lay back down, in the same position as when I woke. I drift back to sleep, the noise of the jungle lulling me.

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I wake to the sound of my alarm clock. Monday morning. I stretch, smiling faintly at my dream. I'll be back tonight, in the magical jungle with my panther. But for now, I've got a science test to worry about.