He stopped dead in his tracks, unable to move. The creature's bright golden eyes had opened. Staring him down daring him to come closer. The tiger had been sleeping peacefully next to Jurie. That was until Rami came along. The tiger had sensed his footfalls. The tiger had sensed his injuries. It had also sensed his horse. The tiger had leapt from its spot, all attention focused on protecting Jurie.

The creature had lost its family to men. It wasn't going to lose Jurie to this strange man.

Rami gulped.

F*CK! F*CK! F*CK! F*CK! F*CK!!

Was the constant screaming in Rami's mind as the tiger circled around him, warning him. Daring him to commit the suicidal act of coming closer.

Rami too knew the tiger could sense all. He knew this was a death sentence. The creature padded towards him. The velvety paws soundless on the soft grass. Rami stole a quick glance at Jurie's resting waiflike form. Seeing no blood he concluded the tiger hadn't hurt Jurie.

Indeed the animal looked formidable. But like Babbar behind the rough rigid exterior there was a soft kindness in the eyes. The kind of kindness that was rare, beautiful and pious. The kind that comes out in the oddest of circumstances.

He looked at the three birds. Deciding that two would be enough for both him and Jurie he tossed one to the tiger who was almost about to pounce. The tiger gave Rami a quizzical look before instead pouncing on the meat that Rami had decided to call a churkey. It looked like some cross between a chicken and turkey.

The tiger ripped through the churkey's breast devouring anything it could lay its teeth on. The tiger must have gone days without food. Rami smiled and went to scratch the tiger between the ears. The tiger snapped its head towards Rami and tried to rip his hand off. Luckily Rami's training had paid of so his hand was unscathed. The tiger narrowed its eyes growling.

Rami put his hands in the air as if surrendering and went off to clean the kill.

Rami was as skilled in hunting animals as he was in hunting people. At least there was no emotional trauma after killing an animal. Unless that animal was a lion. Rami had always loved lions along with eagles and horses. One of the many noble of animals. He could distinctly remember the time his father had called him "The Lion of the Desert".

Unlike his title "The Arabian Knight" this was one he kept close to his heart. The title that he cherished above all. No one other than his father had called him so. It was a title that filled him with pride. He couldn't imagine a greater honor.

Rami plucked and cleaned the churkeys.

Before placing them on a stick and roasting it on a fire he threw the tiger the entrails. The tiger bared its teeth in an almost smile. Rami wondered where the tiger had learnt such a gesture but decided not push his luck.

Entrails. No growling. That will probably be the closest they will ever come to love.

It occurred to Rami that he didn't know the tigers gender. But quickly realised it was a female. He couldn't see the parts that would indicate masculinity.

Bucephalus also kept his distance from the tiger. Rami could feel tension in the air. A bomb ready to explode any second.

The growling in his stomach was growing relentless. But he fought it off. A fruit harder earned tastes sweeter.

The tiger finally ate the entrails and the churkey. He then took to sitting in front Rami. Her unblinking golden eyes full of suspicion. Quite frankly it was unnerving the young Arab but he kept a straight face and looked into the big cat's eyes.

"What are you looking at?!" Snapped Rami slightly frustrated.

The tiger kept staring at him unblinkingly.

"What's your problem? I'm not hurting her if that's what your thinking."

Still the unblinking silence.

"Do you need more food?"

Still there was silence.

"Why the hell are you here? Why are you protecting her? You don't even know her!"

Silence.

"Great now I'm talking to an oversized pussy cat."

"You talk to your horse Rami. I don't see why talking to a tiger can be any more different." A voice reminded him.

The voice startled him. He looked around for the source. Realising it was Jurie who had woken up his tense muscles relaxed.

~~~~~

Jurie peered at the young Arabian Knight under her lashes, and smiled contently knowing before launching into a verbal assault.

"You fool!" She snarled. "I have been waiting for you for ages. Did you not hear that I told you to come back at sundown? Or that I told you not to take a long time? What about all the worry you put me through? HUH?! HUH?! HUH?!"

She grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him violently, like a rag doll. "Do you have any idea how f****** worried I was of you? YOU IDIOT! YOU COULD'VE HAVE DIED FOR ALL I KNEW!!!! ARGHHHHH!!!!!" Tears prickled her eyes and she swallowed back the lump that had formed in her throat.

Rami did nothing but take on all the harsh scolding and physical pent up worry Jurie let out onto him. After all, I do deserve them, he thought, as Jurie collapsed to the ground, sobbing quietly. Bending down, Rami watched as the little Shadow Princess, calmed herself down, drawing long breaths in through her nose and out through her mouth. Her red-rimmed eyes flicked to his sharply and she glared at him almost murderously.

"Damn you!" She whispered frustrated. Swiping exasperatedly at her tears.

Looking at her know. Rami felt like such an ass for putting her through this turmoil and drew her into a warm embrace. "I'm fine. I came back with not a scratch. See?" He gestured to himself. "But thank you for worrying about me."

Surprise flittered across Jurie's face before she picked herself up and headed in the direction of the roasting churkey, with the tiger following after her. Nuzzling her head softly against Jurie's leg. Rami watched perplexed as Jurie picked at some churkey meat and sat down next to the fire, eating. She then turned her head to him.

"What are you waiting for? Aren't you hungry?" She asked, quirking her eyebrow.

Rami's stomach growled in response and he quickly ducked his head away in embarrassment. "I will come." He called back to her, before he hastily tethered Bucephalus to a nearby tree.

The two sat in companionship silence with Jurie gently caressing the tiger. "I think I'm going to name her...Yuki, after the word for courage and snow in my language. I hope she brings us both courage, and peace." The Shadow Princess announced quietly. "Do you like that Yuki?" She asked the tiger.

It purred contently against her palm, licking it softly as Jurie giggled. 

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