Sunlight dappled the floor in places and she pounced on the ever-moving rays, slapped at leaves and pine needles, sending them up in a shower of vegetation just because she could. She chased deer, climbed trees and ran along the overhead highway, disturbing birds and agitating the gibbons on purpose. Laughter bubbled up, a well of happiness. She turned to tell him. Rio. She remembered this. She
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remembered the joy of taking this other form and running with him. Sharing the forest paths with him. Of rubbing her muzzle along his great head in affection. They had shared a life together, one of intense love and compelling sexual attraction. She knew him in this form just as she knew him in their human form.
Rachael stopped suddenly, her heart pounding in terror. She was alone. Rio was not in her life and he could never be. Whatever life they may have shared in another time, another place, they couldn’t have it in this one. He couldn’t take this form and give up his human side as she had chosen to do. He had responsibilities. She knew him well enough to know he would never let his people down. Sorrow was a heavy burden and she felt it equally in both forms. She lay in the branches of a tall tree, far from his house, put her head on her paws and wept.
Rio listened politely to Kim, glancing every now and then toward the verandah. Rachael had moved away from the open door and he could no longer see her. She had looked so defeated, so unlike Rachael. He wanted to go to her, felt he needed to go to her, but Kim wanted to tell him of his father’s vision, stressing the importance of it, warning Rio that something was not right with the party searching the forest for medicinal plants.
“He knew the names of all the plants and their properties,” Kim explained, in his slow, deliberate way. “My father does not know why he had such a vision when the man clearly knows the ways of the forest.”
Rio took a step toward the door, shifting slightly in an effort to try to see Rachael. “Many men come into the forest knowing its ways but not respecting them, Kim. It’s possible this man is one. Could he be a poacher, after fur or the elephants?” The more information he had the better to judge if more trouble was coming their way.
Kim followed his single step. “Perhaps. He had weapons enough.”
‘Tama would never lead him this way, especially if the
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party is a group of poachers. The debt of honor would never extend that far.”
“No, but if he is more than a poacher, if his game is larger, if it is the woman or you, Tama won’t know until it’s too late.”
“Was there anything in the vision to make your father think either of us are in danger? If there was more to it, tell me, Kim.” Rio took another step toward the door. His heart was beginning to pound and his mouth went dry.
“My father was disturbed by what he saw, so much so that he sent me to you. He could not interpret the vision fully. He felt that there was much danger, but he didn’t know if it was to the man, to you of to the woman. He said I must come and let you know.”
“Thank you, Kim, tell your father he is much honored and I appreciate his warning and that I’ll heed it.”
It was far too quiet on the verandah. There was a sudden hush in the forest and then creatures began calling frantically. Rio stiffened, swore softly, eloquently, repeatedly. “She’s gone.” He uttered the two words to taste them. To make them real. Black anger swirled, rioted, destructive and mindless. He fought it back. “Rachael.” He said her name as a talisman, to help him think, to bring back intellect when he needed a cool brain.
“What is it, Rio?” Kim asked, taking a step back, recognizing danger when be saw it When he felt it. Rio’s face was a mask, his eyes glittering, and danger emanated from every pore.