Changing for Love Chapter 7

Changing for Love

Chapter 7

Celeste

It’s been a year since I fired that horrible rifle at Thomas. I still have nightmares that wake me in the middle of the night. My mom always runs into my room when she hears my screams. She holds me until I stop crying and fall back to sleep. When I wake for the day I am still tired. I don’t sleep much. My eyes are always puffy from very little sleep and I walk around in a slumber. The horror of what my father made me do is too much. Every time I close my eyes Thomas is there haunting me for firing that one shot that forever changed my life and his.

Dad has let me out a little more so that I can stretch my legs and run in cheetah form. It’s more out of guilt than anything. Mom said he is really sorry for making me shoot Thomas, but he has yet to apologize to me. I guess letting me out of my prison is his way of an apology. I walk around the compound, which is what I call my home now, and pass by the cell that once held Thomas. As I get closer to it that awful day runs like a movie reel over and over in my head with no pause or stop button. It ends with Thomas as a cheetah backing away from me slowly, trying to hide in the shadows of the back corner in the cell and me shooting. I don’t think I can take this much longer. I need out of here! As I near the gate, it opens. When I look back at the tower, my father is pressing the button to open it. He raises his hand to wave at me, but I still can’t look at him. I turn and run as fast as I can until I reach the tree line. Then, I strip my clothes and turn into cheetah.

The urge always hits me like it did a year ago to keep running and never return. I always end up on the border of my land and Thomas’s pacing back and forth. No matter how far I run or where I run to, the memories will still be there of the boy I could have loved. I could have never been with Thomas anyway due to the ridiculous marriage contract. In a few months I will be married to a man I don’t know and living in a country I have never been to before. The only reasons I don’t run are because of my mother and the others in our coalition. I turn slowly away from Thomas’s land. This is the last day I will return here. Today I must give up the thoughts of Thomas and my freedom. I have no choice but to go back and do as I’m told. My father will not end the contract and I will not endanger my family and friends. It is time to return. I glance back one more time and sniff the air around me. The smell comes into my nose like a speeding bus, fast and hard. That smell is the same smell from a year ago. I go back to the border of our land running up and down searching, but find no one. This is ridiculous! Why am I still here? That musky smell that was once Thomas’s fades and after a few steps it is swept away by the wind like a leaf that has fallen off a tree. Thomas is gone. I bow my head and walk slowly back to my home to submit to my father and my future betrothed.

When I arrive back I see a fresh pair of clothes laying by the tree where I always transition. That is odd. I look around to make sure there is no one watching and transition back to human. I grab the neatly folded clothes only to find my favorite red silk sleeveless shirt that ties around the neck and fits loosely. My black trouser pants are with it. This is my party outfit and I don’t remember a party being planned. Then it hits me. Today is my eighteenth birthday! I can’t believe I forgot my own birthday! I’m sure my mom planned a big one for my eighteenth. It will be the last one I celebrate here. It’s surreal really. So much happened on my last birthday…..

Ugh! I have to snap out of this. What happened then is in the past. I will never move on if I keep thinking about Thomas and what I did. It’s done and there is nothing I can do to change it. Today I will celebrate! I’m sure my mom has been planning this and working very hard. I put the clothes on that she was so kind to leave for me and pinch my cheeks a little to make it look like I have some color to me. I’m sure I look absolutely dreadful from very little sleep and my run. Oh well, this is good as it gets for now. I finger comb my hair and walk up to the gate. It’s already open when I arrive. That’s odd because that is my father’s number one rule. The gate always stays closed. As I walk through the gate there is a car I have never seen before. My coalition family and friends have Fords or Chevy’s, but this one is a town car. I turn and my mother is suddenly standing in front of me. I jump!

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you sweetie. Did you have a nice run?” She starts patting my face with make-up.

I look at her and she is wearing her plain black knee length cocktail dress. “Um mom, what is going on?” I point my thumb to the fancy car, “Whose car is that?”

She stops throwing make-up on my face and kisses me on the cheek. “All in good time my dear.” She smiles, “Come on, everyone has been waiting for you.”

I nod and follow her to our banquet hall. Dad had it built a few years ago for holidays and special gatherings such as this. I don’t like birthday parties for myself, but I will follow my mom anywhere. She has been my support all my life especially this last year. If she wants to throw me one last party then I will smile and enjoy it. This is the day I decided to forget the past and start fresh anyway.

We get to the banquet hall doors and I see my father waiting. Mom walks a little faster and speeds through the door my father so kindly opens for her. Then he shuts the door behind my mother before I can enter.

He looks down at me with kinder eyes than usual. “Celeste it’s time we talk.” We stand there staring at each other until he finally just nods and begins to speak. “I am sorry for making you shoot that boy.”

“His name was Thomas father!” I’m already getting irritated.

He puts up his hand, looks up to the sky and back down at me. “Please allow me to finish without interruption.”

I nod yes and stay silent.

“I love you Celeste. You of all my children are the most like me. That’s why I was harder on you than your sisters and even your brothers. I was too hard on you. It didn’t even occur to me that you had any connection with that b…, I mean with Thomas. He was a human! There are some that have connected with humans and have left their coalition, but I never thought my own daughter would.”

Now it’s my turn so I put my hand on his large forearm. “Father on my run today I did a lot of thinking. I will submit to this marriage contract. Thomas is not coming back and I have to do what’s best for my family and coalition. It’s my duty as a coalition leader’s daughter. Have no more worries father; I will stay here until it is time to marry. Now let’s get in there.” I point to the doors and begin to walk toward them. As I walk past him he grabs my arm lightly.

“No Celeste. You will not be marrying the man from India.” I look up at him in total shock. “I called off the contract.”

“But father, there will be repercussions. Call them and tell them its back on!” He kisses the top of my head.

“Thank you, but I will not change my mind. The India leader and I came to another agreement. As it turns out his son is in love with another and wishes to marry a young lady in his own coalition. So, all is well on both ends.”

I can’t help but smile up at him. Wow! My life is really starting anew today. The possibilities are endless! My father is actually smiling too. I don’t think I have seen him smile in a very long time. He grabs me into a tight bear hug.

He releases me and takes hold of both of my arms. “I have a gift for you my dear Celeste. That’s what the town car is about. I sent it to bring your gift to you in style. Are you ready?”

I nod yes. If I were to speak at this moment I would probably let out a really girly squeal so I just give a little excited jump after my father lets me go. He leads me into the banquet hall. When I get in there I see all of my friends and family standing around, a lot of food, and a large cake. As I enter further everyone gets very quiet. Well this is awkward. I stand there looking at everyone with what I’m sure is a very confused look on my face. Then I feel a warm hand on my shoulder. I know that warm touch so I take an inhale. It can’t be! I spin around and almost lose my balance, but a man in all white catches me and steadies me on my feet again. I look up to thank him and my mouth drops open.

“Thomas!” He smiles and all of the tingles I felt a year ago come rushing back.

He smiles that sly grin of his, “Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. I’m finally on leave from the Naval Academy and wanted to spend it with my number one cheetah girl.” He kisses my cheek.

I’m about twenty shades of red. I reach my arms up and around his neck to hug him. He puts his arms around my waist to pull me in tighter. Everyone in the room disappears in that moment. I nuzzle my cheek to his and thank the Lord above for my mother running to me one year ago and knocking the gun up so the bullet missed my sweet Thomas. She saw him transition back to human right as I aimed the rifle at him. Thomas was freed, but on agreement never to return and to never see me again.

I pull away quickly, “No Thomas, your agreement with my…”

“Is null and void.” I hear my father behind me. I turn to look at him. “You two are free to see each other. I will not interfere unless he hurts you.” He slaps Thomas on the arm a little hard.

I reach up and hug my father, “Thank you.”

My father turns and walks away and I could have sworn there was a tear in his eye. Hmmm, he’s getting soft in his old age. I feel Thomas take my hand, but this time I plan on holding onto it as long as I can. He turns me around, brushes the side of my face with his thumb and leans down to kiss me on the lips. It’s my first kiss and he will be the only man I will ever kiss again.

Changing for Love Chapter 6

Changing For Love

Chapter 6

Thomas

I’m moving. Why am I moving? The soothing, white light that surrounded me a little while ago has now become a white, hot heat. There is pain, lots of pain. It feels like fire is running through my body, coursing, blazing its way through my veins. I don’t know what’s going on. Nothing is making any sense except the pain. And I still don’t know why I’m moving.  

My body starts to jerk and my muscles start to spasm. Then it feels like my bones are breaking and my blood is now boiling. The motion comes to a sudden stop and there is more pain. I have fallen and I hit something really hard. I want to scream but no sound comes. I can’t see, I can’t hear, and all I feel is pain. Surely this is not what dying feels like. I think I’m lying on the ground but all I can do is writhe and thrash. Please, make this stop! Make this pain go away!  Please…

There is something nudging my head. Over and over something is pushing me. Whatever it is, it is soft, but definitely insistent. I roll over just a bit expecting the pain to get worse but it’s gone. I roll over once more, but no more pain. 

Wow! No pain! I try to move my legs and they move just fine. They feel strong and agile! I lay still for another moment, and just try to take in the surroundings and sounds. Something is still nudging me. I smell the dirt, the grass, and the pine trees. I smell leather. Leather? I smell something else. I think I recognize the scent but it’s much stronger than I remember it. Suddenly whatever is nudging my head snorts.  Snorts! 

My eyes fly open and I jump straight up in the air just like I’ve got springs in my legs. I twist around in midair, swing out with my hand, and make contact with something big and stout. When I finally land I see a horse. A big, red, frightened horse that’s ready to stomp me if I don’t move. It’s Whiskey! I take a couple of steps toward him to tell him it’ll be ok. As I step forward he steps back and whinnies at the top of his lungs. “Easy,” I say to him, only the noise doesn’t sound right. “Whoa boy,” still, it doesn’t sound right.  He’s hurt and bleeding. There’s a huge gash in the middle of his chest and he’s staring at me like he’s terrified. I’ve had this horse since the day he was born. Why is he scared of me? I take another step toward him and realize that he is taller than me. He hasn’t been taller than me for about the last three years. And I’m standing on four legs! What’s going on? What’s happening? I take a deep breath in and scream as hard as I can. The sound I hear is an awful roaring, growling sound. When I open my eyes Whiskey is running in the other direction. I scream again and then I run. I run as hard and as fast as I can back toward the woods. No!! No!! This can’t be happening!! I am a huge cat! That huge cat with the black eyes; Celeste’s dad! He’s the one that did this to me!

I break through the trees at a dead run. I’ve never been able to run this fast. I fly. I can smell a familiar scent in the air and I run toward it. Someone or something is going to pay for this. Suddenly I see one. There is a big cheetah with golden eyes stopped and staring at me. I stop for a minute and stare back. There is something familiar about this cat but the blind fury that I’m feeling right now could care less about familiar. I want to punish something or someone. Guess I’ll start with this one! We circle each other, staring into each other’s eyes. I’m done with this playing, so I leap. 

I collide with this cat and instantly tackle it to the ground. It screams and I roll it over on its back and go for the throat with my now huge and vicious teeth. The cat’s eyes open and are staring at me, pleading almost. I growl, still latched on to its throat, and a tear rolls down its cheek. 

Celeste! This is Celeste! I’ve found her. Just as I’m about to let go I feel two stings somewhere on my side and hear the repeat of a rifle from a good ways off. Celeste!

As I start to wake I open my eyes and start to focus I see a stone wall and dirt floor that I’m lying on. Slowly I lift my head up to look around better. There are three stone walls and the front is covered in large, iron bars. I see a huge cat on the other side of the bars. I roar and leap as hard and as fast as I can. I hit the bars full force and stick my front leg through the bars to try and rake it with my claws. The cat backs away swiftly and darts behind a nearby tree.

I back away from the bars and pace. When I look back outside of the bars again, there is a girl standing there. She has long dark hair and is tall and thin.  Her eyes are a beautiful hazel color. Celeste! Instead of feeling relief, I growl.

She moves toward the cell with her hands out, palms up. “Thomas! Thomas, it’s me! It’s Celeste!” She is pleading with me. 

I pace and growl some more. I’m so angry, confused, afraid, frustrated, all in one.

“Please calm down.” She steps a little closer to the bars. “Thomas, you have got to listen to me. Please.”

Calm down! Ha! I roar as loud as I can. 

She sits and puts her head in her hands. Then she looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “I know this is confusing and frightening, but you have to listen to me.” One tear flows down her right cheek. She quickly wipes it away. “You have to change back into human form!” She pleads.

I sit back on my haunches to listen for a minute. 

“Thomas this is really important!” There are tears streaming down her face now.  “I never meant for this to happen. When my father attacked you I woke to find you bleeding. I could smell the death on you from the injuries you had suffered. “I thought werecat saliva could heal you so I licked the wounds on the back of your head.” She buries her face in her hands. “Thomas I’m so sorry! I didn’t know that this could happen.” She raises her face up and looks me right in the eyes as she stands and moves a little closer to the bars.  “My licking your open wound has turned you into one of us, but in a mutated form. Thomas you have to try to calm yourself so that you will change back into human form before the full moon rises tonight. If you don’t, you will remain cheetah and my father will make me kill you.”

Kill me? What the? I roar and leap up at the bars again. Celeste doesn’t move this time. She stands stock still. 

“Celeste?” A huge man with dark hair has come up behind her. “What are you doing here? I told you to stay away!”

“Father I’m trying to calm him. I’m the only one that will be able to reach him.  He will listen to me. Give me a chance!” She pleads with him.

Another large man comes up behind Celeste and her father. He has a rifle with him and hands it to Celeste’s dad. 

This is it, I am going to die. I roar and start to run around this cell desperately searching for a way out. 

“Here Celeste.” Her dad tells her as he hands the rifle over to her. 

“No father!  No”

“This is what happens when rules are broken Celeste. These are the consequences your defiance and recklessness have caused. It is time for you to take responsibility and make it right.” 

“No dad! I can get him to change back.”

“Celeste, he is a beast now. He’s a mongrel, no longer human and not truly one of us. He is a threat and a danger to both races Celeste. You must make this right.”

I stop running and look at her. Our eyes lock and that moment back in the clearing where I first saw her comes to my mind. If I have to go, at least the last thing I will see before this nightmare is over is her beautiful face. I sit back on my haunches and just take in the sight of her so I can take this with me.

“I’m so sorry Thomas.” She is sobbing now. “I’m so very sorry.” 

She holds the rifle up to her shoulder and takes aim through her tears and shoots!

Changing for Love Chapter 5

Changing For Love

Chapter 5

Celeste

Death is a very distinctive smell to a cheetah or any animal for that matter. The smell is strong and I know its Thomas. I have to get over to where he lays in his own pool of blood. When he was hit by my father, Thomas flew back and hit his back and head on a large rock. Now he lays there lifeless. I look around for my father but he ran off. I’m hoping he cares enough to go back and get some help for me and Thomas, but I know he will leave Thomas to die. My father is not a cruel man, but he will protect our people at all cost. Tears are still running down my face from watching this poor boy get hurt because I couldn’t follow the rules. He will die because of me!

I lift my head slowly and try to get up, but the pain shoots through my shoulder down my whole body. This is not going to be easy, but I have to get over to Thomas. I don’t want him to be alone as he passes. After finally getting over on my stomach I inch forward with my right front leg and my two back legs. I push and pull with all of the strength left in me. The pain is excruciating, but the will to get to him takes over. I’ve finally made it over to his feet. I nudge them with my nose, but he does not move. So I keep working my way up to his head. I nudge his cheek this time, but still no movement. His head bobbles to the side and that’s when I see a huge gash on the back of his head. I have to do something! He can’t die!

I’ve heard werecats have healing powers from their saliva so I lick the wound on the back of his head hoping it will do something to stop the bleeding. The blood begins to slow down. It’s true! I give the wound another lick. The blood tastes foul, but this is my fault. It’s the least I can do to save this beautiful boy. If he lives through this I will leave him alone so he can live out the rest of his life in peace. Just let him live.

I go to give one more lick and I hear someone shout. “NO!” My father is screaming and is in human form.

With him are a stretcher and four other men. They are all running toward me yelling at me to stop licking. I stop and look at them with a head tilt to the side in confusion. My father gets over to me and grabs my scruff to pull me away from Thomas.

“What is wrong with you Celeste! Do you know what you have done?” My father is shouting at me.

I’m not sure what is going on. All I know right now is I’m about to black out from the pain of him moving me so abruptly. I feel a bunch of hands underneath me. Then I am lifted onto the stretcher. One man grabs the two handles on one end and another grabs the handles on the other side above my head. I’m not able to put up any protest due to the pain so I just lay there. When they turn me I get one last look at Thomas. I see my father jostle his legs a little with his foot, but Thomas does not move. I was too late. He is gone. The men turn toward the mountains to take me back home. I cry until I am asleep.

When I wake, I’m in my room, but still in cheetah form. I try to move, but my left front leg is bound with something. My eyes open. What is the gooey stuff on my eyes?

“Don’t move to much sweetie.” My mom is now sitting beside me with her hand on the side of my face. “Give yourself time to heal. The doctors fixed your shoulder. Everything will be okay my darling.”

She is so warm and comforting. Mom starts petting the side of my face then scratching behind me ear. I am slowly lulled back to sleep.

No! Thomas stay with me! You can’t die now! We just found each other. I’m in my human form kneeled down beside his dying body. I run my hands through his hair trying to wake him. Then I realize he is not waking. I bend over and kiss his cheek one last time as tears fall rapidly down my face onto his cheek. His chest rises once more and he is gone.

I wake again screaming! This time when I wake I am in human form covered in sweat. My mom comes running in my room.

“What’s wrong?” She is beside me in a second pulling me into her arms.

“Momma, is he dead? Did I kill Thomas?” I’m sobbing and soaking my mothers red silk robe. She doesn’t seem to care because she holds me tighter.

She rubs her hand down the back of my hair. “You didn’t kill Thomas, your father did. I’m sorry Celeste. Your father told me that Thomas was dead when he came back to get you. I’m so sorry my darling daughter. Know that it’s not your fault.” She continues to run her fingers through my hair.

I pull away from my mom and wipe my tears. “It is my fault. If I had just turned back around instead of crossing our property line he would be alive. Momma I have to get out of here!” I say this with as much urgency as I can.

After I leap off of the bed I realize there is no more pain in my shoulder. We are fortunate to be quick healers in our cheetah form. I throw on blue jeans, a red t-shirt, and my black Converse sneakers. There is no stopping me! I look back at my mom before I walk out of my bedroom door.

She looks at me with a look of resignation and exhaustion on her face. “I will not stop you, but know your father will not allow you to leave again. He is guarding tonight.” She allows her head to drop looking down at my bed comforter. Then she swiftly looks back up to me with her eyes wide and a smile on her face. “Listen to me carefully Celeste. The wall around our community is tall, but you can rise above it. It will take every bit of strength and every ounce of will power.” She nods at me.

“Um, okay.” I look at her with my brows furrowed.

Mom sighs and waves me off with her hand. Okay let’s give this a try.

I get through the house and slowly open the front door. When I get outside there is nothing but darkness. I stay in the shadows and get to the back gate. There is still no one around. How am I going to get this thing open? I try to slide in between the slats, but they are too close together. Then I try to climb the wall but keep sliding back down. My nails are breaking and my fingertips are getting bloody from the roughness of the brick. I hear someone coming up behind me so I rest my head against the wall in defeat.

“Celeste! What do you think you are doing? You WILL not under any circumstances leave the confines of these walls until you are married!” My father is right behind me speaking in his very deep scary voice.

I turn to face him, “I need to go see Thomas. Did you even send him back to his family on his horse or did you leave his body there to be ravaged by animals!” I am now shouting at the thought of my father being so cruel.

“Is this what you think of me? Do you really think of me to be that brutal?  I laid him across the saddle of his horse and sent it in the direction of his home.” He is calming now. “Do you know what could have happened to him from your werecat saliva?”

“Yes, it was healing him and…”

“No young lady. If he had lived he would have turned into cheetah. Only not like us. He would become wild and out of control and if he did not change back to human form before the full moon he would have remained a cheetah. Then we would have had to hunt him and kill him.” He walks up to me and puts his hands on my arms. “Celeste we have rules and laws for a reason. They protect not only us, but the people around us. Please do as I say from now on.”

I begin to cry again at the thought of poor Thomas being a wild and a rabid like cheetah. Death is better. As we are standing there one of the gate guards comes running up to my father and whispers something in his ear. All I hear is Thomas.

“Father, what is going on? What about Thomas?”

“You will go back into that house and stay there! You have done enough today.” He rushes off with the night guard. I see other men with guns running toward my father and they take off through the front gate.

Oh no way am I allowing them to get near my Thomas again especially with guns! I look up at the gate and finally realize what my mother was trying to tell me. I strip my clothes and turn back into cheetah. This is not going to be easy. I back up as far as I can and start running. Then I leap with every bit of strength I have. I land on the top of the wall. When I look down to my house I see my mother standing outside our front door looking up at me. She mouths, go. I jump and land on all fours. I have to get to Thomas before my father!

Changing for Love Chapter 4

Changing For Love

Chapter 4

Thomas

Celeste kisses me on the cheek and I’m just standing there with my mouth wide open.  I’ve never been kissed before and certainly not by a girl who’s part cheetah.  I’m too shocked by the kiss to even be remotely freaked out by the fact that she can turn into a huge feline at the drop of a hat.  I’m shaken out of my momentary stupidity by a roar and then an even louder roar.  Celeste is now a four foot tall cheetah and she’s facing off to one that is close to twice her size.  Holy crap!

Suddenly I remember the words she said to me just before she kissed me, ‘When I shift back into Cheetah, I want you to run as fast as you can. Jump on your horse and ride as fast as possible. I will come back to you if I can.’ So I do just that.  I run.  As fast and as hard as I possibly can.

I whistle as I get about halfway to Whiskey and he comes running toward me.  I grab hold of the horn on the saddle, run a few steps, and swing myself up into my seat.  I grab hold of the reins and turn Whiskey in the other direction to get away from this huge, angry cat.  Just as we turn, I look back to see and hear Celeste and her father collide.  They hit with such force that I can feel the ground shake beneath a running horse.  Her father falls over and just seems momentarily addled, but Celeste, she just crumples in a heap of fur and doesn’t move. 

‘Ride as fast as possible,’ her words are echoing in my head.  I should be running.  I should push Whiskey on and run far, far away.  But I can’t.  I can’t just ride away and leave her laying there like this.  She looks broken.  She looks hurt bad.  I have to get to her and make sure she’s alright.  I would never forgive myself if that beautiful, sweet girl died protecting me.

I pull Whiskey back around.  “Yah boy!  Run!”  I holler to him as we race back to where Celeste is laying.  As we get closer I see her dad start moving like he’s trying to get up.  Crap!  He’s lying right in my path.  I push Whiskey on and we jump over him.  I slide off the saddle as we get to where Celeste is laying.  Whiskey slows to a stop a few yards away.

I walk over to Celeste slowly.  I can’t tell if she’s breathing or not.  When I get right beside of her I kneel down and place my hand on her side.  I can barely feel her breathing.  Her fur is soft and warm.  She is definitely hurt but I don’t have the first clue where to start checking a cheetah for injuries.  I don’t see any blood right away so there are no open wounds.  I move around her so that I’m up by her head.   I don’t see any of the girl I met in these feline features that I’m looking at but I know she’s in there.  She has to be.

“Celeste!  Celeste, wake up!”  I tell her, frantically praying that she hears me and wakes up before her father is up on his feet.  I look over my shoulder at him and he’s still fighting off the effects of the collision with Celeste but it won’t be long until he’s fully awake and coming back after me. 

“Come on Celeste!”  This time I shake her a little bit.  Then I start rubbing her face.  “Come on Celeste!  Get up!  Get up!”  My voice has raised a couple of octaves.

I take another quick glance back over my shoulder at the massive cat that is now on his feet.  This is definitely NOT good.  I am so torn between running away to try and save my own hide or staying here to make sure that Celeste is ok.  I can’t leave her.  She risked her life for me; that is not something that I can just run away from. 

I turn and look again at Celeste’s dad.  He’s standing about twenty or thirty feet from where I am kneeling by Celeste and he’s staring right at me, or rather right through me.  This is not going to end well.  I lean down and kiss Celeste on the cheek.  Her whiskers tickle my face a little as I move my face up closer to her ear and whisper “Thank you.”  Then I quickly place one more kiss on her face just before I stand up and turn around to face her dad.

He is standing exactly where he was a moment ago but now he’s making this noise that sounds like a roar and a growl all in one.  Whatever it is I’m pretty sure it’s not a good sound for a huge cheetah to make.   I hold both hands up toward him, palms out, in surrender.  Surely we can talk about this reasonably, right?  Uh, no, that’s not going to happen.  Now he’s pawing the ground with a paw that looks like it is about the size of my dinner plate.  This whole situation has been one big accident.  Neither one of us set out to discover the other when we both left home this morning.  And God knows I’d never tell anybody about her.  No one would believe me anyway. 

Keeping my hands up, I slowly ease to the side several steps so that Celeste won’t be in the middle of anything that is going to happen.  Her dad follows me in movement and his eyes never leave mine.  There is no way that I can fight this big cat and come out in one piece. I’m sure of that. 

Suddenly he launches himself at me.  In one leap he is standing right in front of me.  His eyes are almost totally black as he glares at me and does that roar, growl thing again, only this time it is extremely loud up this close. 

“Easy now.”  I stammer as I’m trying to talk to him.  “I didn’t mean to see her.  But I promise, I swear, I would never harm her.  And I would never tell anybody about her.  I won’t even be around here in a few months anyway.”

He snorts at me.  His breath coming out in quick, hot bursts in my face.   I see the muscles in his chest tense.  He roars, then launches himself at me.  I throw myself to the side and roll away from him just as he lands.  I get back to my feet as quick as I can ready for the next attack.  He turns around sharp and stalks me.  We walk around in a circle eyeing each other.  His muscles bunch again and he’s airborne coming at me.  I dodge this one just barely.  One of his claws catches my arm and tears a gash from my elbow to my wrist.  I don’t have time to stop and check it out because he turns and charges at me.  I skid out of the way again. 

“Stop!”  I yell at him holding both hands up toward him again.  “Stop! There’s no need for this.  I don’t want to hurt you!  I don’t want to hurt her!  I just want to be on my way!”

He stops for a minute, his breathing slowing slightly.  He steps forward until his face is stretched up just inches away from mine.  We stand there starting at each other for what seems like forever.  He moves so quickly that I barely see him swing up and to the left with that big paw.  Whack!  Right in the face.  The noise in my ears is horrible.  For a moment I feel like I’m weightless until my back hits something really hard.  My breath goes out of me in one big rush.  My head hits the ground. And for just a minute, a split second, I think I see Celeste looking at me.  She has her golden eyes open and there are tears running down her snout.  Then…nothing.