Chapter 3

Tenaro tracked the silhouette through the shifting undergrowth until the jungle went still.​It stopped.

The tiger stepped out from the shadows, its massive frame spilling into the silver-lit clearing.

Tenaro froze.

The beast stayed low to the ground, eyes narrowed into amber slits. Its claws were already unsheathed, carving deep into the mud. Its lips peeled back to reveal fangs that glinted like wet bone.

Tenaro glared back, his jaw tight. A low growl erupted from his midsection—a sound that seemed to echo louder than the wind in the trees.

Clutching his stomach, the gnawing void inside him finally overrode the fear in his chest. He was starving and exhausted. He was desperate enough to eat anything.

Might as well. He planted his feet and opened his arms, as if welcoming a tackle.

The predator crept forward, its gaze pinned to his. The darkness was a thick veil, leaving only the splash of moonlight from the canopy to define the beast’s shape.

They began to circle each other.

Slow. Deliberate.

Each footfall was a silent calculation in the wet grass. Tenaro kept his arms loose, fingers twitching as his vision finally adjusted to the dark.

The humid air sat heavy in his lungs, the only sound the distant, mocking hoot of an owl.

With a sharp snarl, the tiger launched forward.

It was a blur of black and orange, dirt spraying behind its paws as it cut through the air. Its jaws stretched wide and claws outstretched like hooks.

Tenaro instantly reacted. The tiger’s white underbelly was wide open.

He dropped to his knees, coiling his muscle before launching himself forward.

The two grunted as they collided in mid-air. Tenaro drove his shoulder into the beast’s soft belly, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs.

The creature let out a surprised yelp as the world tilted. They crashed to the ground.

They hit the grass in a heap of limbs and fur. The tiger slammed onto its back with a heavy thud, and Tenaro scrambled on top. He pinned the predator to the floor

Tenaro buried his hands into the thick fur of the beast's throat.

The tiger's eyes flared, a split second of pure panic. A massive paw shot out towards his face, its claws aimed like daggers for Tenaro's skull.

Tenaro ducked his head, claws slicing the air where his head had been a second ago.

He rolled off the tiger's belly and sprang up to his feet.

The beast rolled over and scrambled up, a low growl of frustration vibrating from its chest. It stood perfectly still, tail lashing. It watched him more carefully.

The humid air turned into a biting chill that sent goosebumps racing across his skin.

Why is it so cold?

The tiger didn't care about the weather. It lunged.

Tenaro sidestepped to the right, his boots skidding toward the base of a massive tree. teeth bared, the tiger leaped again.

Tenaro pivoted to the right, but his heel caught a gnarled root.

"Ack!"

The world tilted. He slammed onto his side. A fresh layer of mud smeared across his face as he hit the ground.

"Oof!"

He rolled away from the tree and scrambled to look up. He expected fangs, but saw only the tiger crashing head-first into the trunk.

It yelped.

Tenaro forced himself back up, clutching his aching ribs as he watched the creature sway. Blood trickled from the beast's nose, its breath coming in ragged, steaming huffs.

"Huff. Huff."

The nomad backed away, his chest heaving.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

As he backed away, the tiger came to its senses. It softly growled and glared at him, then charged towards him.

Eyes wide, Tenaro sidestepped to the right, dodging the tiger's blind swipe. He backpedaled fast, boots digging into the wet grass, leaving footprints behind.

The tiger kept pushing, forcing Tenaro back step after step, until his back thudded into a tree.

“Damn it!”

He ducked, but his feet slipped on the wet mud, landing on his arse.

Crrack!

Claws raked deep into the trunk. Splintering wood exploded inches from his ear, sending shards of bark into his hair.

He didn't need to look to know how close he’d come to losing his face. His eyes snapped back down, but the tiger was already swinging again.

Tenaro shifted to the right, but not fast enough; claws tore across his left shoulder.

He dropped to one knee, teeth clenched so tight his jaw ached. Coming in for the kill, the beast threw a massive paw aimed at his chest.

Tenaro ignored the burning in his shoulder. He reached out his arms, fingers locking around the furry forearm with an iron grip.

The tiger froze. It didn't growl. It just stared in quiet confusion.

He planted his feet with burning muscles and hauled upward with every ounce of strength he had.

"Grrraaaaahhhh!!"

He lifted the tiger off the ground, and hurled it sideways.

The beast slammed into a tree across the clearing. The bark splintered under the impact, a loud thud echoing through the clearing.

“RRRRAAAAA-UUUGH!!”

It staggered upward and glared up at Tenaro. Its eyes were still sharp, ears flat and tail flicking.

The breeze bit at his skin as it blew through the clearing.

Tenaro clutched his shoulder, his breath coming in ragged huffs, and locked eyes with the beast.