My Wild Beast

Climbing down from that treehouse hadn’t been as hard or terrifying as Nova had expected, unlike how Yoa, who had leapt up like a jungle cat and scrambled up the Ceiba tree with effortless grace, all whilst carrying Nova; she didn’t have to descent the great height by climbing down the trunk herself after all.

Atia and Aiyana revealed a hidden door on the floor on the lower level of the main treehouse. Beneath it sat a woven basket, large enough to fit two people. That is—two normal-sized people. On this island, it would probably only fit a child... Or maybe Yoa, if he crammed in all his limbs and held his breath. It would definitely be a tight squeeze.

For Nova, it had been perfectly spacious. Standing comfortably with the basket up to her middle, she was reminded of a hot-air balloon basket. Vines wrapped around both sides of the basket edge, and Atia dialled a winding device that connected it all and lowered Nova all the way to the bottom. Nova pushed aside her fear of the height.

She didn’t look down at the time and had watched Aiyana’s paler jaguar form leap from spot to spot like the lithe, graceful feline she was. She’d been watching Nova the entire time she was being lowered to the ground.

Nova sensed that if Atia had somehow messed it up or the basket had tipped from the howling wind, then Aiyana would have been there to miraculously catch her. They’d promised to protect her while Yoa was gone after all, and their mini debate before this whole ordeal showed how seriously Atia and Aiyana were taking on their bodyguard duties.

Although they’d been pumped up and ecstatic to take Nova on her first hunt, there had been some hesitation about actually leaving the treehouse. It was the safest spot on the island, and Yoa was dealing with some unknown threat. Was it really the best idea to go running off and hunting?

"He never said to keep you here," was Atia’s argument. "Just protect you. And there will be no problems with us around."

Hopefully, they weren’t his famous last words, Nova thought as they now ventured through the jungle. Aiyana led the way, and Atia guarded Nova from behind. Like when Yoa strolled through the forest, it quietened somewhat at their approach. A chill ran down Nova’s spine, reminding her that these two were, in fact, predators.

It wasn’t only Yoa. Though many of the jaguar’s prey popped their heads up from their positions to watch them as they passed by when, they knew Atia and Aiyana weren’t paying them any attention. Nova looked up again at the tall trees, the huge leaves and the hum of creatures in the background. It was only the birds on much higher branches that tipped their heads to the sides, beaks smiling down at them as they chatted among themselves, unconcerned with the jaguar beasts strolling below.

"Do you think we should report this back to Silver Feather?" One bird squawked.

Nova cast a glance at the other two but like Yoa, they didn’t seem to understand their language. Was it a language or were they actually chirping away? Why was it only her that could understand them? It was like when she heard the pink dolphins speaking to each other and revealing their cruel intentions.

"Mmmah?!" The other squawked back. "Can they protect us from Yohuali for much longer, though? Vulcan would come for her.."