The teens second day in the forest was a pleasant affair, walking at a leisurely pace deeper into the valley. Here the trees grew ever larger, great giants that brushed the sky. A shower of autumn leaves floated past like flakes of gold, swirling through the trees before settling on the ground in a carpet of gold. They danced through it with abandon, laughing with arms outstretched.
Arul stopped and watched Navira as though in a trance. Her long hair spinning free, face upturned into the light. The moment fled and Arul hurriedly turned his face away. But something remained. A tingling on his skin whenever he thought of her. And that was happening more frequently, although he tried to deny it to himself.
They were fortunate enough to collect a good supply of wild mangoes and berries as they went. Keeran refused to step off the road to help them gather the fruit. ‘They’re giant snakes out there!’ He called out. ‘I’ll keep an eye out from here!’ Navira snatched a rotten fig and drew her arm back, Arul grabbing her wrist just in time.
Once they thought they heard a distant roar of a tiger. ‘It’s the wind,’ Arul said, trying to reassure his friends. That didn’t stop Keeran from peering about the forest for the rest of the day, his nerves on edge.
As the late afternoon brought deeper shadows to the forest, Arul felt a growing sense of unease that he couldn’t quite figure out. He gripped his spear tight, glancing at the nervous faces of his friends. Twice Jaya froze, his growling making Arul shiver.
The forest eventually thinned and the trees changed. Narrower, with bark the colour of faded ivory. To Arul, it looked like they were passing through a giant palace filled with white columns. The wind became noticabely colder, and he realised that he had never been this far before. It was an uneasy feeling, walking into country that felt alien.
As the light faded into deep orange, and Arul figured it was time to look for a safe place for the night. But the trees were smooth and straight. Unclimbable. ‘Let’s camp on the road,’ he told Navira and Keeran.
‘That’s good thinking. It’ll allow us to see anything coming,’ Navira said. Arul smiled. She was learning fast.
They dropped their packs and set about gathering wood. ‘Be sure and keep your spears with you,’ said Arul.
Arul placed the collected twigs in a pyramidal heap then rummaged about for his flint. ‘We’ll have to take turns staying awake tonight,’ he said, striking the flint against a small stone. Keeran knelt and placed dry leaves in the path of the sparks. Faster and faster the sparks flew until a tiny column of smoke rose uncertainly into the cool air. Arul gently blew on the struggling fire before adding more kindling.
Soon a yellow flicker shone under the pile of twigs, and it wasn’t long before it lit the campsite with a comforting glow. ‘Why not let Jaya guard us?’ Asked Keeran as he watched the flames. ‘Why do we have to stay awake?’
‘We won’t have the protection of being up in a tree,’ Arul answered with a hint of irritation.
‘Oh, I forgot. No tree.’ Keeran was already reaching for his spear, holding it tight, his eyes flicking to the line of trees. ‘Protection from what? What lives around here?’
‘What do you think, dummy?’ Navira snapped.
‘Just asking…’ Keeran replied in a sulky voice. He slumped to the ground, still holding his spear close. Seated around the fire, they feasted on the forest foods they had collected. Small blood coloured berries, yellow guavas, and bush mangoes.
Arul touched the cold paving stones beneath him and wondered about its ancient builders.
How I would love to talk to them. I’m only a thousand years too late.
The last remnants of sunlight vanished from the sky and a quarter moon rose, peeping from behind the leaves. The moonlight created a web of shadows that danced on the forest floor, shivering one moment and completely still the next. Under the moon the trees shone like bleached bones. Silent. Watchful.
Arul grew more uneasy with each passing hour.
‘I’ll take watch first,’ volunteered Navira, hefting her spear and standing. Jaya moved next to Navira and let her rub his ears, and they both kept watch as Arul curled up on the ground.
When the moon was high overhead, Navira woke Arul. He groaned and raised himself on one elbow, throwing more wood on the fire. Beyond the circle of light, the forest was in deep shadow, the glittering eyes of small creatures scurrying through the underbrush. Arul sat up and felt for his spear, its copper tip shining dull in the flickering light.
‘Okay, I’m ready to take watch,’ he told Navira.
She lay down with her spear next to her and closed her eyes. ‘Finally I can sleep.’
Arul began to work on his spear with a small whetstone. He poured a little water on it first and carefully sharpened the weapon until its edges were like a razor. Then he did the same with his aruval knife, the scraping noise jarring his ears. His eyes constantly flicked up to scan the dark trees, ears tuned for the slightest disturbance. With a satisfied expression, he inspected the glittering curve of his aruval.
When he glanced up again, he noticed something odd.
No animals in the underbrush. Nothing in the trees.
Arul stopped sharpening his knife and listened hard, the hair on his arms standing on edge. The jungle had become eerily silent. Jaya started to growl, a mix of fear and aggression. Fear seemed to be winning.
Arul’s eyes flicked to Jaya with a rising sense of panic. The wolf was backing away with his teeth bared, his hair standing up along his neck. Very few things would cause a wolf the size of Jaya to back away.
That was bad.
He knows something’s watching us from the dark.
The warning scream of a nearby monkey sounded. Arul stood up very slowly and stepped backwards in a crouch. He kicked Keeran in the leg. ‘Wha...?’ The sleeping boy murmured. A second kick made him sit bolt upright.
‘Wake Navira now!’ Arul whispered. ‘Something’s out there!’
He quickly added all of the remaining wood to the fire and watched it flare up. By now Navira was grumpily waking up as Keeran shook her. ‘Go away,’ she mumbled.
A deep growl rolled across the campsite.
Arul’s chest tightened.
It sounded close.
Keeran and Navira moved so fast that Arul jumped in surprise. In a blink they were standing next to him with their spears at the ready. Navira rubbed her face hard. When her hands dropped, dread filled her face. ‘What is it? What is it?’ She kept hissing at Arul.
Arul raised a finger to his lips. ‘Shhh! Tiger!’
The growling moved in a wide circle, always keeping out of the light, seeking a way in. The teens huddled closer, spears pointed outwards as they turned to follow the sound.
The growling changed to a low rumbling that went into Arul’s bones.
Then silence.
A look of horror filled Arul’s eyes. I know what’s going to happen now.
Jaya’s growling faded. Holding his body close to the ground he slunk into the darkness. Arul stared at Jaya with dismay.
He knows he’s no match for this tiger. He wants to survive.
Arul slid behind the fire without making sudden movements. His heart jumped hard in his chest, fear squeezing his lungs. Navira and Keeran stuck close as though glued to him, the flames their only protection. Straining to see into the darkness beyond the fire, they finally saw it.
Two unblinking eyes.
Glowering lamps, deep gold in the dark.
The predator paused, then stepped forward into the pool of firelight, unsure of the flames. Keeran’s eyes were bulging with fear. His spear wobbled as though made of paper. ‘T...ti…tiger…’ He stammered.
A deep rumbling came from inside the tiger’s chest. Its enormous striped hide rippled in the firelight, hinting at its incredible strength. Shining eyes fixed on the teens, draining their will to fight.
A Royal Forester’s legs wouldn’t shake like this.
Arul felt ashamed of his reaction. But it didn’t help. His fear grew like an expanding ripple. He knew that from where it stood, the tiger could reach them with a single bound. Tears flowed, his legs shaking violently. Instinctively he grasped his amulet, squeezing the engraved gold disc.
His mother’s gem.
A tremor passed through his body. A surge of something.
His shaking subsided and his mind became clear, like a bowl of dirty water left to settle. The briefest flicker of something approaching recognition crossed the beast’s shining eyes. I see you, child. But I must fulfil my karma.
Arul shook his head.
Did that tiger speak to me?
With hunched shoulders, the tiger stalked them around the fire, its eyes watching Arul. The teens huddled together and mirrored the creature’s moves. ‘Stay behind the fire! It’s our only chance!’ Arul croaked, his throat like sand.
The tiger became enraged and released an ear-splitting roar, designed to rattle its prey. Keeran’s knees gave way and he collapsed onto the ground, covering his head with his arms. Navira continued to stand by Arul, although by now she was sobbing in fear.
Arul felt as though he was made of stone.
Rooted to the spot.
Never in his life had he felt this kind of terror.
Then, as if to counter the fear, from somewhere deep, Guru Pari’s teachings echoed.
Fear will take away my mind. It must not win. I will let it pass over me.
Arul knew that what he decided now would allow them to live.
Or die.
His face grim, Arul drove the butt of his spear into the ground, its point facing the tiger, motioning for Navira to do the same. With great force of will, she went down on one knee with her spear jammed into the earth, shoulder to shoulder with Arul.
The tiger crouched on the far side of the fire and tensed its massive rear legs.
It roared and leapt over the fire in a perfect arch, scattering sparks into the night like clouds of fireflies.
Its drawn claws shone white and cruel, searching for soft flesh to tear. Long dagger-like canines flashed from its open mouth.
Navira shrank back and closed her eyes.
Instead of meeting human flesh, the tiger fell onto the spears, sharpened bamboo driving into its chest. Arul and Navira cowered under the spears for an instant before scrambling out of reach of the vicious claws. The spears snapped like twigs, explosive cracks echoing through the jungle.
The beast roared. Impaled, it thrashed about desperately, its violent movements causing Arul’s spear to work its way into its heart, piercing it fatally. The tiger died with a moan that faded like a sighing wind. Arul cried as he watched.
The tiger’s life force fled into the forest with a wave of raw power that made even Keeran gasp. Arul felt it pass like the touch of an invisible breeze, although he was unsure of what it was. He suddenly understood what the tiger was trying to tell him.
It died without sadness or regret. Somehow, I know that. It was our karmic destiny to meet and battle to the death here.
Arul’s legs gave way. Clutching his amulet, he fell back, shaking uncontrollably. There followed an awful silence, interrupted by a stifled sob from Navira. The horrible smell of singed fur wafted up from under the dead tiger, it’s body smothering the fire. Keeran rose to his feet unsteadily and wiped his eyes.
Jaya had vanished without a trace. Darkness pressed in as they huddled together on the forest road, so small and lost in that immense forest of pale trees. The moon emerged from behind a cluster of ragged clouds, bathing the forest in a pitiless cold light.