TIGER

The evening arrived quickly in the third day, and the roads also became deserted. Almathea was a little curious as to where the people were disappearing to since they did not meet with any other travelers whenever they settled in for the night. However, that was for the better since she did not know how she would explain who they were and where they were going.

They did not even know where they were going. What would they answer other people?

Almathea bit into the roasted animal leg she was holding as she thought. She had only continued on the path they were in because it is the path she woke up on. She had no memories, however, she had discovered that she could read and she could write. Evy could also read a few words, however, she was a 'commoners' child. Therefore, she was not taught how to read.

This had strenghthened the thought that Almathea was a noble's child. Almathea did not care which family she was from. Why would they have abandoned her if they cared for her? It did not make even the slightest sense.

Almathea looked down at her meat, having lost her appetite thinking about her possible family.

In typical Evy fashion, the girl wolfed down her food before looking to Almathea to see if she was done with her share. Having lost her appetite, Almathea divided her food into half to Evy.

Evy shook her head, "No, no, no, no, and no. Thea, you should eat more. Do you not see how skinny you are?" She pointed at the 'twig' arms that Almathea had.

Almathea rolled her eyes at the obvious conflicting feelings that were shown on Evy's face. "I can't finish all of it. You don't want to eat it, it seems that we are going to let all of it go to waste."

She looked at the food as if she was disappointed that they would have to throw it away. She had only outstretched her arm to throw the food when Evy smacked her arm, "Do you know, it is not good to throw away food." She then took half of Almathea's food into her plate and wolfed that down as well.

Almathea shook her head. It was really easy to fool the little girl. Evy was nearly finished with the food in a short time, and looked to Almathea to see if she had finished as well. She picked up the dishes they were eating in when a low growl sounded to their right.

Evy immediately got on her guard, jumping up and standing before Almathea. Almathea was a little confused as to what was happening. She looked up at the girl who was shorter than her. "What is it?"

"Something doesn't smell right."

Almathea sniffed the air. "I don't smell anything." Evy swept the area around them without speaking a word. She held the knife that she had used to cut up their vegetables for their meal tightly in her hand.

"It does not matter if you cannot smell it. I can smell it."

Almathea moved her head to look at the direction from which Evy was looking. A small pair of glowing eyes looked at them through the bushes. Almathea raised her head to look at Evy, "What is that?"

"It must be a tiger." Evy lowered her head to whisper. "There haven't been any spotted in the last few years, but my pa told me about them. He saw one when he was younger."

Almathea pored her brain about information on tigers. However, the word itself was new to her.

She looked at Evy who was still holding onto the knife and glaring at the spot. The tiger did not make any moves to come closer to them though.

In fact, after being glared at by Evy, it began to whimper softly. Almathea felt as if the tiger was crying. She patted Evy, "What if we give it a little meat. Maybe it will go away."

Evy looked back at Almathea as if she was looking at a stupid person. "My pa told me that tigers are only interested in human meat. If you are willing to cut off a piece of you and give it, then go right ahead."

Almathea shrunk back. If the tiger were to pounce, there was no chance for her to help. After all, she was useless when trying to catch a rabbit for them to eat, how would she defeat a tiger?

The tiger continued to whimper in the bushes, pushing its snout out. The snout was a dark gray color and was very long. Seeing that the dark skinned girl had pounced forward with the knife raised, it retreated back into the bushes. Evy did not follow it inside.

Only a few seconds later, the snout appeared once more. This time, she did not pounce forward. Instead, she glared at the spot at which the snout had appeared.

Seeing that the girl had not pounced, the tiger dared move its head further outside the bushes when it peeked out, Almathea noticed that it was looking a little pitifully at Evy.

Evy did not lower her glare. However, she moved a step back. The tiger took this as a chance to move closer. In just a few seconds, the whole neck had appeared. Evy lunged forward, aiming for its neck this time.

The tiger did not have an opportunity attack as it retreated back into the shrubbery.

This time, Evy was very tempted to jump into the shrubbery and deal with the tiger.

Almathea pulled her back by the elbow. "I am not sure, but I think it is playing with you."

Evy glanced at Almathea with a little scorn in her eyes, "Why would the tiger be…"

Before she could finish her words, the snout had appeared once more. Evy felt her eyebrow twitch. She got ready to run forward once more when the tiger waddled forward once more. Evy got on her guard when, unexpectedly, the tiger stumbled forward and fell to the ground with a thud.

The two girls were so frightened that they both jumped back.

Evy was ready to jump on him and slice his throat when the tiger turned into a human figure. Evy paused with her hands in the air before jumping back. "W-what in the –"

.

S/T:

Maore: (Sneezes)

Lebwin: (Sneezes)

Fazian: (Sneezes)

Lebwin: (Looks at his family who just sneezed) Is someone talking of us?

Fazian: (Shakes his head) Someone must be thinking of us.

Maore stands up: Who would be so bold as to speak of the Bastete family!

Lebwin holds his head up using his hand: How would you like to deal with these people, darling wife.

Maore: (Smiles) I would like their head, darling husband

Fazian: (Convinced that his parents are not normal in the head.)

Meanwhile, there was no one who had spoken of the Bastete family and they had all caught a cold.