"Is she? Have you asked her about the white tiger?"
Ashley blushed a little, her mind working hard trying to figure out an answer. "I-I don't...I mean, she uh-" She swallowed nervously. "She doesn't really like to talk about the tigers much," she said quietly. "I don't want to push her about it."
Grady slapped his thighs and sighed. "Well maybe you should," he said. "Remember, we're only here for another week and a bit. Then, we're flying out of here and if you haven't got the pictures by then, that's it. You don't get a second chance at this sort of thing."
"I know that...but I'm not going to do anything to make Leandra uncomfortable."
"And that's another thing," Grady continued. "I think maybe you're getting attached to your subject. What happens when we leave? How's Leandra going to take that?"
"She knows when I'm leaving. It's good for her to have some company. Some human company."
"So you're telling me you're not getting attached?"
Ashley lowered her eyes a little, remembering the thoughts she'd started having today. "There's nothing wrong with making friends with her," she said softly. "I like her...and I fully intend to spend as much time as I can with her before I have to go back home."
The argument continued even after the sun had disappeared, and eventually Ashley, already tired from her busy day and in no mood to deal with her partner's tantrum, announced that she was retiring to her tent. Knowing not to push any harder or he would be risking serious injury, Grady backed down and let her go without comment, but from his expression he seemed less than happy.
Inside her tent, Ashley breathed a sigh of relief and let go her tension. It was rare for her to argue with her partner like this. If she didn't know better, she would have suspected Grady was jealous of the time she'd been spending with Leandra. As partners who spent so much time together both in the field and at work, of course there had been several times when rumors of a romantic or sexual affair between herself and her admittedly handsome partner had made the circuit round the offices. Ashley and Grady had both found the whispered suspicions rather amusing, and often teased each other with campy propositions and the like. Ashley knew her partner well, however; Grady enjoyed his bachelor lifestyle far too much to want a relationship with someone as troublesome and headstrong as herself. The two were friends and nothing more.
It was unusual for Grady to be this protective, Ashley mused as she stripped off her clothes and crawled into her sleeping bag. Laying back with a quiet groan as she relaxed aching muscles, the young blonde closed her eyes and hoped that, with a little time, Grady would get over whatever it was that was bothering him.

After a few moments of quiet peace, Ashley reflected on what had been an entirely pleasant - and very active - day. Fit as she was, Ashley's calves and lower back were killing her; she wasn't used to hiking so far all at once. Feeling the throbbing heat in her muscles spread almost pleasantly through her body, the young photographer let her attention turn to the more surprising thoughts that had cropped up in her mind that day.
Ashley had long ago admitted to herself that she had more than a passing interest in other women. Ever since she'd been a teenager, the idea of being intimate with another female had seemed like quite an enticing prospect. However, while Ashley may have been adventurous and bold in most aspects of her life, it was a characteristic that had not yet ventured into her personal relationships. In fact, her love life thus far could best be described as rather chaste and boring. She hadn't had a boyfriend in almost three years, and even though there had been a few women Ashley had considered extremely suitable candidates for a romantic liaison, she had never been able to summon up the courage to actually make the first move. The one time another woman had made a polite overture to her, Ashley had been so shocked and tongue-tied, she'd declined in a panic and then spent a whole week slapping herself on the forehead in regret.
Of course, Ashley could admit that the blame for most of her relationship problems lay squarely in her own lap. She was very involved in her work, she spent a lot of time overseas, and she was headstrong and didn't take well to being told what to do - all of which were characteristics that made for a troublesome and oftimes infuriating partner. Ashley had pretty much resigned herself to the fact that she wasn't likely to ever meet that 'special someone,' and had quickly found ways to deal with her natural wants and needs by herself. Though her sex-life had been less than inspiring, Ashley still had a vivid enough imagination and a healthy appetite, and she quite often found her fantasies drifting into contemplations of the female gender.
Still, Leandra was very different to any of her previous fantasy-lovers...and Ashley analyzed her feelings critically as she recalled the images from earlier that day of the dark woman stalking her prey.
Mostly, Ashley's visions of the perfect woman ran along fairly simple lines. She would be of average height (being so short, Ashley didn't want someone too tall to kiss properly), she would be cultured, sophisticated and confident...athletic, rather than muscular...she would have a stable job. Oh, and she would have long, silky fine hair through which Ashley could comb her fingers.
Characteristics that were noticeably absent in her new friend.
Leandra was at least six feet tall, and that was barefoot - too tall to make a comfortable kisser for the blonde photographer. While she may have been confident, the jungle woman was about the polar-opposite of cultured or refined; she painted her body and mimicked giant cats, she had no sense of modesty whatsoever, and she had a tendency to growl when upset. Leandra was lean, but her body was tough and hard from her difficult lifestyle...and a 'job' that was best not even analyzed. And finally, Ashley doubted highly

that the thin, dark dreadlocks could ever be combed into a presentable enough state that she could run her fingers through them without getting tangled. All in all, Leandra was a far cry from the sort of person Ashley pictured herself being attracted too.
Well...maybe I've been barking up the wrong tree, Ashley thought to herself. Maybe the problem has been that I've always gone for the stable, steady type people who could maybe balance out my own impulsive tendencies, when all along I should have been looking for someone more like...
She paused. More like what? A woman who's been living in the Indian jungle for four years and who likes to kill poachers with her bare hands?
It was, Ashley noted with a slightly wry smile, a faintly ridiculous situation.
Of course...she does have some interesting qualities, Ashley continued mentally. I mean, just because she doesn't fit in with my perfect ideal doesn't change the fact that she's one hot lookin' lady! And she has no inhibitions whatsoever...that'd certainly be a change! Thus far, Ashley's sexual experiences had only ever explored two possible positions...neither of which had impressed her greatly. I bet Leandra would be the type who would be willing to try new things...experiment and stuff. Ashley grinned rakishly as she considered the possibilities of having such an open, unreserved lover.
God, I bet she'd be a wild one between the sheets!
Ashley hugged her makeshift pillow and hummed happily. Of course, she knew she was too chicken-shit to even consider making a move on her friend. There were far too many blindingly obvious reasons to steer clear of the whole messy idea. For one thing, she would be leaving soon. For another, Leandra's uninhibitedness might not extend into this kind of situation.
And perhaps most of all, Ashley liked Leandra. She enjoyed spending time out here with her; enjoyed their increased camaraderie and the way Leandra was slowly starting to talk more about herself and her life. Ashley could see the almost desperate way the dark woman clung to every word she spoke, and she didn't want to do anything that might make Leandra retreat back into her primal, animalistic world.
The dark woman may have made a fine subject for her fantasies, but Ashley knew she wasn't the most suitable target for a meaningful - or even a meaningless - relationship.
Sighing again, Ashley rolled over and let herself drift away, imagining possible scenarios of what she knew could never be.
* * *
The next morning, Leandra woke just as the sun started lighting the distant horizon with a golden hue. The early morning chill didn't bother her - in fact, it felt refreshing, and she

uncurled her long, supple form with a sigh, wincing at the familiar stiffness in her right shoulder. Rising from the thin sleeping mat that served as her bed, she spent a few moments stretching her body before getting to her feet and beginning her morning routine.
Over a small fire, the dark woman cooked a few slivers of venison from yesterday's kill. Leandra had never been good at cooking, but she had long since gotten used to the taste of burned food. Quickly tearing the charred meat apart with her teeth, she finished her meal and licked the grease from her fingers before wandering outside to meet the new day.
Usually, Leandra would spend her morning hunting the animals that often watered at this time down by the nearby creek. She would then patrol her hunting grounds, keeping an eye on the rangers and searching for any signs of more sinister intruders. Sometimes she would visit with her animal friends, reminding them of her presence here in the jungle lest they forget and mistake her for just another human tourist. But not today. The promise of Ashley's company was more than enough to make her forget about her usual activities.
After watering at the creek - noting absently that she would need to redo her body-paint soon and take a bath - Leandra made her way out to Ashley's camp. What would have been for most people a reasonable hike was for Leandra only a comparatively short walk, and by the time the sun had risen fully into the sky, the dark woman was perched among the branches of a tree, watching Ashley and her companions as they ate breakfast and talked.
Just watching the vibrant blonde from a distance made Leandra smile unconsciously and started a low rumbling purr deep in her chest. Leandra had learned to make such feline noises during her first year in the wilderness, when much of her time had been spent among the great cats, learning to mimic their behavior and habits so she could survive as they did. It had been an important skill to pick up - one that enabled her to understand at least a little of the subtle communications that went on between tigers. Knowing what sounds indicated contentment, or anger, or warning, went a long way to keeping the dark-haired woman alive while she lived among the unpredictable, often savage cats. Now - like breathing - she made the noises without any thought at all, and it took a conscious effort for her to control them.
Watching the group curiously, noting their interactions, Leandra grinned as she wondered how they would react if she wandered into their camp. Ashley had told her that the two scientists wanted to meet her, but Leandra was cautious about exposing herself to questions about her life. Would these people accept her? Would they be shocked by her appearance and mannerisms? Ashley had grown accustomed to her peculiarities during their time together, but it might not be so easy for others. Looking at the nearby gathering, watching her friend as she chatted with the other people, suddenly made Leandra wish she had the courage to enter their group and be a part of their apparent

camaraderie. She wondered at the sudden impulse to join them, and realized it stemmed from a desire to be closer to Ashley.
She wanted to be a part of the blonde woman's world...the world she had turned her back on a very long time ago.
Shaking her head a little to clear away the strange longings, Leandra noticed for the first time a subtle tension in the group below. Though she was too far away to hear their words, it was suddenly clear that there was some kind of conflict between Ashley and the man sitting next to her. Leandra's eyes narrowed as she watched, seeing for the first time signs of displeasure in her friends face. From her sharp gestures and angry expression, Leandra could tell that Ashley was upset with her colleague over something.
Ashley stood up from her tree-stump seat and glared at the man, saying something that was obviously meant to put an end to their argument, then she turned and stalked off, heading down towards the river. Leandra smiled, knowing her friend was going to their normal meeting place. Her smile disappeared when the man threw down his plate and followed the young blonde. Ice-blue eyes narrowed in frustration, and the striped woman quickly leapt to the ground and moved after the two figures.
She caught up to them at the river, and watched from the cover of the jungle undergrowth as the heated conversation continued. Now, however, she was close enough to hear the nature of the conflict, and she was surprised to find it was about her!
"For the last time, Grady, I'm not staying at the hide with Simon!" the angry blonde fumed. "Now go away! Leandra won't come if you're here."
From her hiding place, Leandra grinned. She accepts me so easily, she marveled happily. She doesn't ask questions when she knows I don't want to answer...she just lets me be who I am around her.
Unfortunately, the tall man with dark-brown hair didn't back down. "Then maybe I should just stay with you," he snapped, folding his arms over his chest. "You shouldn't be going off like this with that woman!"
Leandra growled, not liking this man at all.
"I can do what I want, Grady! It's none of your business!"
"It is when you're not doing your job," Grady returned. "You need to ask her about the white tiger! If she knows anything, you need to find out about it!"
Ashley's face was flushed with anger. "I am NOT going to use Leandra just to get a few photos!" she shouted. "She's my friend, not some hired tiger-tracker like Tarun! If you want the bloody cat found, why not go shout at him to do it! It's what we're paying him for, isn't it?" The blonde turned away from the man, obviously intending to walk away.

"Wait a minute here, Ashley!" Grady reached out and grabbed her shoulder, spinning the young woman around forcefully and pushing her against a tree.
Leandra's eyes lit up instantly with feral fires, and she sprang from the cover of the undergrowth without thinking twice. Before Grady could get another word out - and before Ashley could even think of retaliating herself - the dark woman had torn him away from the stunned photographer and hurled him against the bole of a fallen tree. His eyes widened in surprise, then panic as he met the cold gaze of the striped woman, and he gasped when she pressed razor-sharp claws into his neck. A low, ominous growl vibrated in her chest, and Leandra bared her teeth in a terrible snarl as she crouched over him.
"Leandra?" Ashley recovered from her shock, and the striped woman felt a calming hand touch her shoulder. "It's okay, he wasn't going to hurt me."
Leandra glanced back at the blonde, instantly calmed by her soft green eyes and reassuring expression. Still, her growl turned deeper and she leaned closer still to Grady's motionless face, sniffing at him and knowing he was terrified by the primitive gesture. With an effort, she resisted the urge to lick his cheek and see if she could get him to wet himself, instead retracting her claws slowly and stepping off the frozen man.
Ashley gave her a quick, decidedly wicked little grin and helped Grady stand. The man stared at Leandra in awed fear, the dark woman watching him closely, still growling.
"Grady, I think you should go back to camp now...don't you?" Ashley suggested, thinking it would be best to get rid of him before Leandra decided to scare him some more.
Grady looked at her in shock. "This is the woman you keep saying is harmless!?" He gestured at the painted woman.
Leandra bared her teeth and gave a feline hiss.
"She was just protecting me," Ashley explained, giving her dark friend a scolding look which was completely ignored. She gave her partner a little push in the direction of their camp. "I'm perfectly safe with Leandra...so go back to camp and leave us alone!"
Grady gave the primal-looking woman a final baleful glare, but eventually he nodded. "Fine. But we're going to have a talk about this later on." Then he turned and headed off back down the river bank.
Once he was out of sight, Ashley turned to Leandra and grinned. "You didn't need to frighten him like that," she rebuked the dark woman gently, her laughing eyes revealing that she wasn't at all angry. "I thought he was going to pee his pants."
Leandra returned the grin. "Sorry. I just saw him grab you and I guess I just...reacted."

"Grady's a little frustrated," Ashley explained. Normally, she didn't like other people butting in and trying to fight her battles for her, but for some reason Leandra's swift defense of the perceived attack didn't annoy her at all. In fact, it felt kind of nice. "I'm not sure why, but he's got a bug up his arse about me spending so much time with you."
Leandra shuffled her feet a little uncomfortably. "I don't...want to be causing you problems," she said quietly. "You know, if you have a job to do-"
"Hey..." Ashley took the dark woman's arms and shook her head. "I'm doing my job just fine. Believe me Leandra, you're not hindering my work at all."
Leandra nodded her shy acceptance. "Okay then." She smiled sheepishly. "I guess he's not gonna like me any more for attacking him like that, huh?"
Ashley snorted. "I don't care what Grady thinks. He should know better by now than to try and push me around like that. If you hadn't put him in his place, I'd have done it myself." She patted her friend on the shoulder. "Still, thank you for jumping in like that. It was a very nice gesture."
"No problem." Leandra toyed with one of her dreadlocks absently as they started walking down along the riverside. "I didn't even really think about it," she admitted after a moment of thought. "I just...didn't like seeing him get rough with you. I mean...you're my friend, so..."
"I understand." Ashley studied her companion curiously. "Guess you're a little territorial, huh?" she joked.
Leandra took the question seriously, however, and nodded a fraction. "I guess so. I don't like it when..." She hesitated, her expression troubled. "I don't like it when someone tries to hurt my friends."
Ashley smiled, a pleasant tingle running through her body. "Well, I don't mind if you're a bit overprotective," she smiled. "It's not something I usually like, but I'm willing to make an exception for you." She chuckled, and added, "Just as long as you don't get it into your head to start marking your territory."
Leandra couldn't help herself, and laughed too. "I promise I'll resist the urge, no matter how tempting it might be."
"Good."
Laughing and joking, the two women continued off into the jungle together, eager to enjoy another day of pleasant companionship.
* * *

A few hours later, seated on a low cliff looking down at the herd of Indian elephants splashing about in the shallow waters of a river below, Leandra recalled the conversation she'd overheard between Ashley and her partner. She glanced at the young blonde who was snapping away happily at the giant animals with her camera.
"Your friend seemed pretty upset about you not finding what you came here for," she observed casually.
Ashley shrugged. "I haven't told him there is no white tiger," she admitted. "I think it'd probably just make him angrier now, so..."
"Hmm." The dark woman was silent, considering. "It meant a lot to you, didn't it?" she probed gently.
"What? Seeing the cat? Well, sure...I mean, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. And for someone in my career..." The blonde set her camera down and just sat with Leandra, watching the elephants. "It would have been something very special."
"Mmmm." Leandra cocked her head to the side, thinking. "Coming here looking for a wild tiger...wanting to get close to one...that's a pretty dangerous job."
"I know." Ashley laughed a little. "But it's no more dangerous than the other assignments I've had."
"Oh?"
"Yeah." The photographer drew her legs under her and sat Indian-style on the rocky ridge. "I spent three months in a little village in Alaska once, shooting the polar bears and stuff. I got a lot closer to them than I really wanted too, let me tell you! Those things are faster than they look. And one time, we were in Australia photographing the crocodiles, and I had the brilliant idea of setting up an underwater hide right where the damn things were swimming!" She shook her head a little and chuckled. "I was lucky to get out of there with all my bits and pieces still attached...although I did get some amazing shots."
"So...you're used to taking risks?"
"Sure. It's part of the job."
"Does it ever scare you?"
Ashley shrugged. "I guess, sometimes. But usually only afterwards, when the bad stuff has already happened. I've been bitten three times by snakes, at least a dozen times by spiders, and I can't tell you how many times by other things. One of the snake-bites was pretty scary - it hurt like hell, and my breathing went all funny...I started seeing spots and stuff. I was in hospital for a while." She held out her left leg and displayed the faint white scars of the fang-marks. "I went into the water with a few great white sharks one time,

and it freaked me out a little even though I was in a cage. The guys in the boat were throwing burly into the water, trying to get them to go crazy so it'd look more impressive on camera, so I was pretty nervous. Usually though, I'm too busy taking pictures to worry about the danger until it's too late. I get scared afterwards."
"So tigers are just another routine job for you, I suppose."
"Well...yeah, I guess." Ashley considered. "It's my first time here, of course...and a white tiger's pretty unusual."
"You weren't even supposed to come out here, were you?" Leandra asked, remembering what Ashley had said about delaying her return to the States for the chance to shoot the rare cat.
"No...but I'm glad I did. Maybe that's part of the reason why Grady's upset...he didn't really want to come here, but I charmed him into it, and now all I'm doing is spending time with you."
"You have a boss back home?"
"Yeah."
"Will you get in trouble when you return empty-handed?"
Ash grinned. "What empty-handed?" She gestured towards the elephants. "Thanks to you, I've got some of the best stuff I've ever taken! A few people might bitch for a while, but no-one can complain about the quality of my work." She paused, then added, "Besides, I have a very good reputation. My boss won't yell at me too much, or I might take my talent elsewhere."
"Mmm." Leandra absorbed that, pleased that her friend wasn't going to get into any trouble on her account. "You must have been doing this stuff for a while then, right?"
"Since I was a girl," Ashley nodded. "I started out as an assistant when I was nineteen, and progressed from there."
"And you like the work?"
"I love it." Ashley sighed contentedly. "I get paid well, I get to see the world...and I'm doing something to help bring attention to the problems of endangered species everywhere. People see my work and it helps to generate more interest and support for environment protection groups. Plus," she added with a sly grin, "on occasion, I get to meet some very interesting people. Like you."
Leandra smiled, thinking sadly back on her own life. "Sometimes I wonder what might have happened if I'd found a good job that made me happy like that," she whispered,

almost to herself. "Sometimes I look back on everything I did...on all the mistakes I made...and I try to picture where I'd be now if things had worked out differently."
Ashley heard the sudden change in the dark woman's tone, and wondered nervously what she should say. Leandra hadn't really spoken of her life before she came here, only alluding to the fact that she'd been a poacher at one time. The young blonde regarded her friend seriously. "We all make mistakes," she offered hesitantly. "Even the best of us aren't perfect...it's a part of being human."
"Maybe." Leandra felt tears burn in her eyes as faces from her past rose in her memory. "But that doesn't make it any easier."
Ashley shifted a little closer, not wanting to push for more information but ready to listen if it was offered. She could sense Leandra wanted to open up to her, and she assumed what she hoped was an understanding expression. "You know what I think? I think sometimes the hardest part about making a mistake is being able to accept it, and then move on." She paused. "If you let something drag you down...if you let it fester inside you without confronting it...you never really learn from what you've done wrong. You understand?"
Leandra considered, then nodded thoughtfully. "I do." After a moment, blue eyes looked up and pinned Ashley with an intense gaze. "Have you ever made a mistake," Leandra asked in a low, quiet whisper, "that was so bad...so unforgivable...that you wished you could just curl up into a ball and die, because you couldn't face the pain of dealing with the consequences?"
Ashley was silent, not expecting such a question. She could see a naked vulnerability in Leandra's eyes that was filled with pain and despair, and she wondered what could possibly be so terrible as to cause such a depth of suffering. She was silent for long moments, before she shook her head. "No," she whispered. "I can't say that I have." Her eyes flickered over Leandra's face, seeing a slight trembling in the dark woman's body. She moved a little closer, wanting to offer some kind of comfort. "Whatever happened, Leandra," she said softly, "it's in the past. You shouldn't let it hurt you anymore."
"Maybe." Leandra looked away, uncomfortable, but Ashley gently lifted her chin up, forcing those blue eyes to meet her own.
"No matter what you did wrong...no matter how bad it was...it doesn't change who you are today."
"You don't know what you're talking about," Leandra protested. "You have no idea what I was like before I came here! I was a heartless bitch; I hurt anyone who was stupid enough to get close to me! I slaughtered hundreds of animals just because I liked the sense of power it gave me!" She covered her face and turned away. "If you'd have met me back then, you wouldn't have even wasted the time to spit in my direction!"

Ashley sighed, not quite knowing what to say to that. Eventually, she reached out and gently touched Leandra on the shoulder, petting her softly. "I don't care what you were like before you came here, Leandra," she whispered. "That's not who you are now. If it were, do you think I'd be here with you now? That I'd be wanting to be your friend?"
Leandra was still for a moment, then she slowly turned around a little and looked up nervously at the young blonde. "I guess not."
"Exactly." Ashley smiled, closing the distance between them and pushing the dark cords of hair out of Leandra's face. "Whatever you were in the past...when I look at you now, I see a good person, Leandra. A person I've grown to like very much in only a few short days."
"Still..."
"Still, nothing. I'm sure you've done things you regret...things that you wish you could take back...but you can't let those things keep you from trying to make a better life for yourself. If you made a mistake, no matter how bad it was, you should learn from it, and then put it behind you."
Leandra smiled a little sadly, relishing the comfort for a moment before she drew away from her companion. "Some mistakes need to be punished, before they can be forgiven," she said softly, then she turned her head and drew her knees up under her chin, the look in her eyes telling Ashley that the conversation was over.
Ashley sighed, and - knowing when it was time to back off - reluctantly went back to watching the elephants bathe.
* * *
It was a subdued Ashley who returned to an empty camp that evening. A quick look around confirmed that the others were still working, probably down at the hide or searching the jungle, and Ashley couldn't help but feel a little grateful for their absence. She wanted some time to herself to do some serious thinking.
Leandra had remained pensive through the rest of the day, and the two had parted company much earlier than usual. Though Ashley wanted to ask more about Leandra's past, she restrained her desires, knowing the questions would do more harm than good. So she had accepted the dark woman's somber mood, and let the silence continue to build.
Not wanting to sit still, Ashley decided to make herself useful by gathering some firewood for later that night. As she wandered the perimeter of the camp collecting a bundle of dry, fallen limbs, the young photographer continued to reflect on her friend's melancholy spirit. While she was concerned for Leandra, the young blonde couldn't help but let her thoughts focus mostly on her own reactions to the revealing conversation of

that morning. For some inexplicable reason, Ashley had found herself growing even more attracted to the dark woman after hearing the allusions to her troubled past. Somehow, the whole thing served to make Leandra all the more mysterious and intriguing...and Ashley now had to deal with the fact that she had developed an entirely frustrating and illogical - but nonetheless incredibly powerful - crush on the strange woman.
"Way to go, Ashley," she mocked herself as she absently picked up more sticks. "Come out here on a simple assignment, and you go and get the hots for some freaky tiger-woman with enough emotional and psychological baggage to sink a battle-cruiser! Urgh!" She rubbed her forehead and groaned. "Why can't you just have a normal life? You know... like your sister. Find some guy, settle down, and start making a few babies. But nnnnooooo...you have to be adventurous! You have to go to In-dee-a," she sang sarcastically. "Leandra is not my type...even if she is gorgeous." She stopped and closed her eyes. "I am not attracted to disturbed people...even if they have got that whole sexy angst thing going on." She shook her head determinedly. "And I am not interested in getting naked and sweaty with some jungle woman...even though I bet she could get me screamin' like a stream-train..." Ashley's vivid imagination decided to kick in with a few images of potential - decidedly naughty - scenarios, and the young woman slapped herself on the forehead, trying to dislodge them. "Next thing you know, I'll be visiting one of those leather-fetish bars and buying myself a leash!" she snorted...not quite able to convince herself that she wouldn't mind trying a few new things if Leandra would show her the ropes.
Still, for all its impracticality, Ashley couldn't help but be a little amused at herself. It had been a long time since she'd felt this way about someone, and it was kind of nice to finally have such a strong focus for her more licentious thoughts. Leandra's distracted melancholy had allowed the blonde woman a chance to let her eyes roam with less fear of being caught (although, Ashley had admitted, half the fun of looking was knowing it was a little risky), and she'd spent most of her day sneaking peeks and trying not to giggle like a school-girl. Remembering now, she grinned fully, her eyes alight with devilish fires. "God, I'd forgotten what it feels like to have a serious crush," she thought aloud. "I just hope she doesn't catch on...I don't wanna scare her off now that she's opening up."
If she were being honest with herself, Ashley didn't thing Leandra was the sort of person who would be offended by another woman being attracted to her. From what she'd learned of the dark woman's personality, Leandra didn't really place any emphasis on trivial preferences like sexuality. Her life out here had apparently taught her to think in much more basic terms; good or bad, safe or dangerous, like or hate. The smaller, more inconsequential things, didn't seem important to her. Still, Ashley didn't want to rock the boat.
Besides, she thought, I wouldn't even know how to tell her I like her. I mean, that I really like her. I can't just come right out and say it. I've never had the guts to say it to a man before, so I sure as hell wouldn't be able to say it to a woman!

Ashley paused, going over her mental ramblings. "What am I doing!? I can't believe I'm actually trying to justify this thing, let alone that I'm wondering how to tell her I've got the hots for her! That's enough..." Arms laden with a stack of wood, the blonde photographer made her way back to camp. "From now on, just stick to the fantasy and leave it at that. She can be your bad-girl dream-lover, but that's it!" Dumping her load off by the fire, Ashley sat down and started the routine process of checking over her equipment, occupying her mind effectively with the simple chore.
It was some time later that the sound of approaching footsteps made her look up, and she met Grady's somewhat cautious expression with a neutral face. He was alone. The tall man settled himself on the log-seat opposite her.
"Hey."
Ashley regarded him coolly. "If you're planning on another shouting match, save your breath," she said quietly as she turned her attention back to her work. "Nothing you can say will make me stop spending time with Leandra, or convince me she's of any danger."
Grady sighed and ran his fingers through his neatly-cropped hair. "I know," he said softly. "And I'm sorry I lost my cool this morning...I didn't mean to grab you like that."
"You're just lucky Leandra was there," the blonde said with a slight smile. "If she hadn't jumped in like that, you'd be nursing a swollen crotch right now."
Grady grinned crookedly. "Yeah, well...as it was she scared the shit out of me."
"She was protecting me."
"Mmm." Grady was silent for long moments. "You know, until I actually saw her with my own eyes, I thought you were exaggerating a little. But she's just as you described her...right down to the growling and snarling."
"She's nice once you get to know her." Ashley stopped her careful work and set her equipment aside. "I don't understand what you have against her."
Grady frowned. "She's an unnecessary distraction, and a killer," he said. "Nothing you can say in her defense can change that fact. And having met her, I'm sorry Ash, but I like her even less."
Ashley's expression hardened a fraction. "She's still my friend, and I do like her. So just accept it."
"I know," Grady said, holding his hands up peacefully. "You've made it quite clear you're going to go your own way on this, regardless of how I feel, so..." He sighed. "I may not like it, but I'm not going to argue with you anymore. All I ask is that you be careful."

Ashley's face softened. "I will. Besides, we're only here for another week or so, and then we'll be on a plane heading back home."
"Without the pictures we came here for," Grady pointed out, ignoring his partner's glare. "Remember the white tiger? The thing you managed to convince me was worth spending another fortnight in this sauna of a country for."
"I also told you that tigers are one of the hardest creatures in the world to photograph in the wild," Ashley reminded him. "If I even get a single shot of a normal bengal, I'll consider myself lucky."
"Well, you had the chance the other day, but you were off with your stripy friend instead of manning the hide with Simon and Grace."
Ashley shrugged. "Finding Leandra out here is something much more remarkable than finding a tiger...and I intend to make the most of what time I have with her." She decided to change the subject. "How've you been getting on? Is Tarun earning his check?"
Grady grinned, accepting that Ashley was ending the conversation on her new friend, and he started filling his partner in on his latest work. Smiling, happy to put any arguments behind her for now, Ashley listened attentively, and enjoyed not being mad at Grady any more.
* * *
Leandra couldn't sleep.
All through the night, she had tossed and turned on her thin sleeping pallet, wishing for some kind of fatigue to steal her away. But restless thoughts haunted her and she'd only managed a few hours of shiftless, light slumber - not nearly enough to satisfy her.
The conversation with Ashley still sounded in her mind, and Leandra wished she could see things as the young blonde...wished she could put the past behind her and move on. But it wasn't that simple. The dark woman had accepted her mistakes, and embraced the guilt that came with such acceptance, but she still owed a debt for the crimes she had committed.
Looking around the dark interior of the cave that formed her current home, Leandra scowled. Four years. Before Ashley had come along, she'd sometimes wondered how long her exile had lasted. Those four years seemed like half a lifetime, but during that time she had never thought greatly of the world she'd left behind. Now, things were changing.
Ashley.

The young woman had come along and shattered the perfect isolation of Leandra's existence, bringing the sounds of laughter and conversation into what had been a silent world. Each day, Leandra felt herself yearning more and more for the simple human contact Ashley gave without a thought...felt herself wishing she could move on and continue her life.
Four years! she screamed silently. I've been out here for FOUR YEARS! I gave up EVERYTHING - my money, the comforts of my life...even my humanity. Isn't that enough? Leandra folded her legs under her and sat, staring into nothing.
"I want to go home," she admitted in a low whisper. Then she sighed longingly. "If only there was a home to go back too."
The truth...Well, the truth was, she wanted to go home with Ashley. She wanted to be a part of the life described to her by the young woman; the nice home, the loving family, the caring friends. Leandra didn't want to give up her connection to Ashley...wanted to remain close to the blonde photographer. During the day, she could feel her attraction intensify steadily until her heart ached with the strength of it. The sensation was strange to Leandra; an odd mix of unfamiliar emotional wants and very familiar physical desires. Lying awake all night, the dark woman wondered how she could show her friend just how much she meant to her.
The answer came easily to mind, but Leandra wrestled against it; she was uncertain about revealing what she considered to be a sacred trust to a woman she'd known scarcely a week. The arguments flew back and forth inside her head.
How do you know you can trust her with something like this?
She wouldn't betray me. If I show her, she'll understand how important it is that it remain a secret.
But why take the risk? You can't be sure.
It would mean a lot to her. It would show her how much I trust and care for her.
This isn't about caring. You're not thinking with your head, that's the problem.
What?
Come on! Four years of celibacy after a lifetime of debauchery, and now some cute little blonde comes along and you've got an itch you want her to scratch!
Leandra blushed a little. It's not like that.
Isn't it?

No. I like her. She's not like any of the others...I care about her.
So you're willing to betray your most sacred trust? Why?
Leandra's lips quirked. "It would make her happy," she whispered aloud. "I'd do anything to make her smile...and this means a lot to her."
It puts her in danger.
"I'll keep her safe."
Even if you show her, it doesn't mean she'll ever see you as anything more than just a friend.
Leandra sighed and got to her feet, stretching as she made her way to the mouth of the cave. Her eyes went instantly to the distant camp she couldn't see. "I don't care," she said softly. "I want to show her...and I'm going to."
Leaving behind her doubts and fears, Leandra headed off down the mountain, her passage as silent as the night itself. Not bothering to question her decision, she headed off to get Ashley, already excited by the prospect of sharing her secret with another.

III
And what shoulder, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and what dread feet?
-‘The Tyger’ by William Blake.

Ashley was startled awake when something pressed hard against her mouth, her eyes flashing open with momentary panic at the feeling of being smothered. She calmed quickly when she found intense cobalt eyes staring down at her, and the familiar mass of tangled dreadlocks silhouetted against the dim, pre-dawn light. As soon as she relaxed, the hand covering her mouth was removed and she sat up a little, pulling the sleeping bag tighter against her chest, a little self-conscious despite the fact that the darkness effectively hid her nudity.

"Leandra? What are you doing here?" Ashley glanced to the side where the phosphorescent glow of her wrist-watch revealed the early hour. "It’s not even three o’clock!" she exclaimed, annoyed at the interruption of her sleep.
"Shhh!" Leandra covered the young woman’s mouth quickly, her eyes darting around conspiratorially. "Be quiet! You’ll wake the others."
"So?" Noticing the strange look in her friend’s eyes, Ashley sat up straighter. "Is something wrong?" she asked, suddenly concerned. "Are you okay?"
"Fine. I just need you to come with me now."
"Why?"
Leandra shook her head. "I can’t say. You just have to trust me…please?"
Ashley studied the tension in Leandra’s dimly visible features, her natural curiosity helplessly piqued by this mysterious visit. "You can’t say where we’re going?"
Again, Leandra shook her head. "We need to hurry."
"It can’t wait till morning?"
"No. Please…I promise, if you just come with me now, it’ll be worth it for you."
Ashley pushed her disheveled hair from her face. "How long will we be gone?"
"All day."
"I’ll have to tell Grady. He’ll be worried."
"No!" Leandra firmly shook her head. "The others can’t know where we’re going."
Ashley hesitated, knowing what would happen if she took off without telling her partner. "Look," she reasoned, "if Grady wakes up and finds me gone, he’ll come looking for me with Tarun. Can I at least leave a note?"
Leandra considered, then nodded. "Fine. But be quick. I’ll meet you outside." With that, she turned and disappeared silently out the tent door.
Left alone, Ashley quickly got dressed and pulled on her hiking boots. Tearing a blank page from her notebook, she scribbled a quick message for Grady, explaining that she was with Leandra and that she would return when she was ready. Since she didn’t know for sure how long she would be gone, Ashley made certain that the note made it clear she would be safe, and that she didn’t want Grady trying to come ‘rescue’ her. Leaving the

note placed prominently on her sleeping bag, the blonde woman grabbed up her camera without thought, and quietly ventured out into the darkness.
Wandering out to the edge of the jungle, it didn’t take long for Ashley to rejoin her dark friend. Leandra moved through the night with almost liquid grace, silent as a wraith. The full moon revealed the shadowy stripes across her form, faded now but still effective camouflage, and her steely eyes flickered to the camera around Ashley’s neck. Her lips pursed in consideration, and Ashley saw indecision in the expressive face.
"I can leave it," she offered, her curiosity now fully wakened.
Leandra shook her head. "It’s okay. But promise me that any photos you take stay private. You won’t use them for your magazine…only for yourself and those you trust."
"I promise," the blonde agreed instantly, realizing that whatever Leandra wanted to show her must be something very special and important to warrant this kind of secrecy.
"Come," Leandra gestured to the jungle, finding a narrow trail hidden by the dense foliage. "It’s a long hike out to where we need to get to, and we need to hurry."
"Is it safe?" Ashley eyed the darkness with proper caution, knowing that this was hunting time for the jungle predators.
Leandra smiled mysteriously. "Just stay close to me," she whispered. "Nothing will bother us."
Together, the two women made their way through the forest, Ashley following close behind the dim figure of her friend and trying hard not to trip over exposed roots or fallen tree limbs that tangled up the path. Again she found herself wishing for even half the natural stealth and ease of motion displayed by the taller woman, not a little envious of how easily Leandra moved over the often deceptive terrain. As the sun started to lighten the horizon with a rosy hue, the way became easier and Leandra quickened the pace. It wasn’t long before Ashley was asking for a break, already tired and starting to feel a little grumpy despite the exciting adventure. The blonde hated being woken before she was ready, and her body was protesting the early start to the day.
"Where are we going?" she grumbled when they paused to rest a few minutes. "Can you at least give me some clue?"
"A secret place," Leandra replied shortly. She stood impatiently, looking into the darkness and listening to the animal calls all around. "We have to hurry. Come on."
Ashley groaned and rolled her eyes. Her calves were killing her. "When I get home, I’m joining a gym."

By the time the sun peaked over the distant mountains, Ashley was breathing hard and rubbing a stitch in her side. They were now further from the camp then they’d ever been together, and Ashley looked around curiously as Leandra slowed their pace and gestured for absolute silence. The jungle here was especially dense; the dew hung heavy in the air, and everything smelled moist and earthy.
Leandra knelt to study some vague print in the soil, then smiled and gestured for Ashley to join her on the ground. She looked seriously into the emerald eyes of the young photographer, leaning close to whisper in her ear. "Do you trust me?"
Ashley nodded immediately. "Of course."
"With your life?"
Something in her tone made Ashley pause before she answered, and she considered gravely before nodding again. "With my life."
Leandra smiled. "Promise me that this stays a secret," she whispered.
"I promise." Ashley wasn’t sure what this was about, but her nerves were tingling with excitement and she gave her word easily.
"Good." Leandra got on all fours and motioned for Ashley to mimic her. Feeling slightly ridiculous, the photographer did so. "Do exactly what I say, when I say it," Leandra instructed softly. "Don’t run away. Don’t make any threatening gestures or sharp movements. You’ll be safe with me…just as long as you don’t panic."
Ashley nodded, suddenly noticing a strange silence in the jungle – a breathless sense of danger and tension. The jungle was never truly quiet…but the birds and other animals seemed oddly reluctant to make noise here. Her skin prickled as Leandra led the way further into the dense undergrowth on her hands and knees. Heart racing suddenly, Ashley followed close behind, not wanting to loose the protection of her friends proximity.
After a few minutes crawling through the ferns and foliage, Leandra stopped suddenly in a small clearing. Ashley watched, fascinated, as the dark woman sniffed the air thoroughly, then made two short, stuttering cough sounds…the same noises she had made when the two had first met.
Only this time, much to Ashley’s surprise, there was an identical reply from the jungle.
A reply that was followed by something far more terrifying; the sound of a throaty, ominous growl so powerful and deep it put Leandra’s imitation to shame.
Ashley froze dead in her tracks, feeling the strange sensation of her stomach turning to water as a cold shiver ran through her body. Rare fear flooded her senses as she watched

the leaves of the undergrowth tremble, then part, revealing ice-blue eyes set in a blunt, feline face.
Eyes that immediately passed over Leandra and settled on her with dangerous intent.
There were few times in Ashley’s life that she had been afraid – truly afraid, that is. The kind of fear that makes the skin shiver with cold sweat, the heart leap into the throat. Feeling the weight of those burning eyes settle on her, seeing the long, pearly-white teeth gleam extra-large in the early light…Ashley couldn’t recall a time when she’d been more terrified in her long and hazardous career.
For thousands of years, tigers had been revered and honored by people all over the world, their strength, ferocity and sheer power earning them a place in history and mythology that extended far beyond the eastern lands of India and China. Creatures of fierce beauty, tigers had long been deified as symbols of courage and strength. Mankind’s fascination with the great jungle cats had, over time, resulted in their near-extinction from over-hunting, and even though they were now protected, the law couldn’t stop the demand for them.
Now, watching the great beast that stalked slowly towards her, Ashley understood why it was that tigers had earned the fear and admiration of a hundred generations of people.
The cat was, to Ashley’s wide eyes, huge. It stood about four feet high at the shoulder, and was probably about eight feet long from its nose to the tip of its quivering tail. It took a moment for Ashley to notice that this tiger was unusual – where the thick fur should have been colored a tawny orange, instead it was solid white, marked with stripes of a rich chocolate brown. Still, when the growl turned into a savage roar of trespass, Ashley didn’t think she’d have cared if the cat was bright pink with blue polka-dots. It was only with an effort that she retained control of her bladder muscles as the beast drew nearer, sniffing at the air and apparently not liking what it smelled.
Then, Leandra was there. The dark woman moved quickly to stand between Ashley and the white tiger, her own actions perfectly feline as she again made the strange coughing sound. Turning slightly, she glanced back at the frozen blonde.
"Don’t look her in the eyes," she ordered quietly. "She’ll take it as a challenge."
As soon as the instructions penetrated the cloud of fear, Ashley immediately cast her eyes submissively at the ground before the giant predator, trusting that Leandra knew what she was doing. Flicking glances at the dark woman, she watched the subtle interactions that were occurring between the striped woman and the cautious beast.
The tigeress stopped in front of Leandra, sniffing at her curiously and with definite recognition. She bared her teeth again, this time not in a snarl, but almost as though tasting the dark woman’s scent. A low, rumbling growl that no longer seemed threatening emanated from deep in the tiger’s chest. Leandra crawled forward slowly, dipping her

head and exposing her neck. To Ashley’s astonishment, the tigeress responded by nuzzling her, butting their heads together in the same way her niece’s cat did when she was being affectionate. Leandra responded in kind, replicating the noises the tigeress made as closely as a human was able, and returning the head-butts and nuzzling happily before turning and moving back to Ashley’s side. The tigeress watched, then approached slowly, still cautious and growling slightly. Leandra met the green eyes of the uncertain blonde and smiled reassuringly.
"Trust me," she whispered. "Just stay still until she gets used to you."
Ashley nodded to show she understood, but as the great tigress drew closer till she could smell the dank scent of her breath, it became harder and harder not to turn and run as fast as she could from the clearing. Leandra was making strange sounds again, which Ashley thought were probably intended to explain that she was a friend, not dinner, to the cat. The tigress sniffed at the blonde photographer curiously, ears twitching. Ashley forced herself to remain completely still as a tongue with the texture of sandpaper licked the side of her face, then she smiled with relief as the cat nudged her with her blunt face in a gesture of apparent acceptance. Leandra too smiled as she watched the first meeting between her old friend, and her new one.
Apparently satisfied that the strange blonde woman was no threat, the white tigress ambled back to the edge of the clearing and settled herself down on her haunches, panting a little in the heat that was already growing as the sun warmed the jungle. Leandra patted a still-trembling Ashley on the shoulder. "You did good," she said with a smile.
"Thanks." Ashley was quickly overcoming her fear now that the shock was fading. She stared at the tigress in awe, marveling at how close she was to the great cat. She wiped at her face where she’d been licked, shaking her head and regarding the dark woman with amazement. "So this is one of your ‘friends’, I take it?"
Leandra grinned and nodded. "Her name is Shar-Ranjana. At least, that’s the name I gave her."
"I thought you said there was no white tiger," Ashley said, narrowing her eyes at her friend, who just grinned wider.
"No, you said there was no white tiger. I just didn’t correct you."
Ashley considered that, still enthralled by the magnificent creature sitting not more than fifteen feet from her. "She’s beautiful."
"Yes, she is." Leandra regarded Shar-Ranjana with a look that was affectionate yet sorrowful. "I’ve known her most of her life. She was just a cub when I first came out here, and she grew up with me being near."

"What about her parents?" asked Ashley. "They must have been like her, right? Where are they?"
Leandra shook her head. "They’re both dead," she whispered. "So is her brother."
"Oh." From the look of regret and sorrow on Leandra’s face, Ashley wondered for a moment if perhaps the dark woman was the one responsible for their deaths. She was reassured when her friend added, "Her father was the one who helped keep me alive the first few months I was out here. He was…" She hesitated. "He was very special to me."
"How did he die?"
Leandra shrugged. "Poachers."
Ashley reached out and patted the dark woman on the shoulder, sensing a little of how important Shar-Ranjana’s father must have been to Leandra. "I’m sorry."
Leandra smiled at the gesture of consolation. "Thanks."
"So…" Ashley returned her attention to the white tigress, who was watching them with lazy interest. "I guess you were right. This surprise is certainly worth the early wake-up call."
Leandra’s smile turned into a grin. "Oh, this is only half the surprise," she said.
"Really?"
"Uh huh. The other half should be coming any minute now." No sooner were the words past her lips than the jungle undergrowth behind Shar-Ranjana began to quiver and jump.
"Um…" Ashley watched a little nervously, not sure her heart could take the appearance of another tiger. Her concern was replaced with amazed delight as two small orange, fur-covered forms bounded into the clearing, stopping their playful wrestling when they caught sight of Leandra and rushing over to greet the dark woman with juvenile enthusiasm. The photographer watched as Leandra smacked and nuzzled the two tiger cubs playfully, before they turned their attention in her direction. After a few moments of caution and a lot of sniffing and licking, the two decided the blonde stranger was okay and grappled for her attention enthusiastically. Giggling, Ashley sat cross-legged and let the cubs crawl over her, careful to avoid their needle-sharp claws. Aware of the ever-watchful eyes of the resting Shar-Ranjana, she took care to be gentle, and didn’t offer protest when they started chewing on her arms.
"They’re gorgeous!" Ash exclaimed. "Ow…be gentle." She carefully disengaged one of the cubs, laughing a little and petting them both happily.

Leandra crawled over to where the white tigress sat and joined her there, the two watching Ashley play with the two cubs. The look of joy and delight on the young woman’s face touched the dark woman deeply, and she purred with content as she settled herself against Shar-Ranjana’s warm flank. Ashley took her camera and started taking photos of her new play-mates, giggling and laughing at their antics as they pawed at the strange device curiously. Shar-Ranjana licked the sweat from Leandra’s back as she watched over her cubs, though she seemed quite content to let someone else deal with their energetic exuberance for a while.
Pausing in her play, Ashley looked up and smiled at the sight of Leandra sitting next to the white tigress. The image was almost too perfect; the orange and striped form of the dark-haired woman beside the enormous pale cat, their expressions somehow identical despite the obvious differences of their features. Grinning, the blonde brought her camera up and snapped several shots of the two, certain she was going to have to have a copy enlarged and framed for her private collection.
"I can’t believe this." She cuddled with one of the young cubs, stroking its orange fur curiously. "Why aren’t these two white as well?"
"They were fathered by a normal bengal," Leandra explained. "Shar-Ranjana has to stay in hiding a lot because of them, but the poachers are still looking. If she’s found – either by the rangers, or the poachers – she’ll be taken from the jungle and kept in a cage. Or worse, she’ll be shot and butchered for her parts. A white tiger is worth its weight in gold."
Ashley nodded, understanding how much Leandra was trusting her with by showing her this secret. "You didn’t have to show me this," she observed simply. "You could have let me go without telling me."
Leandra shrugged, avoiding eye contact. "I wanted you to see."
Ashley flushed a little with pleasure at the gesture of such faith. "Thank you," she said. "This really means a lot to me…and you can trust me not to tell. I know Simon and Grace are only trying to protect the tigers, but you’re right. They’d want to put her in a zoo or something."
Leandra nodded. "That’s not where Shar-Ranjana belongs. She’s a wild animal…the jungle is her home."
"Mmm."
Ashley and Leandra spent several hours with Shar-Ranjana and her cubs, the tigress patiently enduring both the interest of the young blonde, and the oft-enthusiastic antics of her young. Thankfully, Ashley had grabbed plenty of film, and she snapped away merrily at the indulgent yet dignified expression on the tiger mother’s feline face as her cubs grabbed at her flanks and tried to encourage her to play with them. The young

photographer was also amazed at the subtle and not-so-subtle interactions that went on between Shar-Ranjana and Leandra. The tigress treated her human cohort almost like a sibling, the two trading friendly swats and lots of growling and head-rubbing, which Ashley quickly saw was a symbol of acceptance and camaraderie. Leandra also explained that the strange coughing sounds were a signal of contentment and greeting common among the tigers when they were at peace.
Still, by the time the sun had reached its zenith in the skies, it was becoming clearer that Shar-Ranjana was growing weary of the company and wanted to be left in peace again. Leandra, recognizing the signs from long years of sometimes painful education, told her blonde friend to take her last few shots before they had to leave. A few moments later, with a few backward glances, the great white tigress led her cubs back onto the denser jungle paths, leaving the two women alone once more.
Clicking a last shot of the great cat before she disappeared, Ashley smiled and shook her head in wonder. Glancing to her companion, she found Leandra’s ice-blue eyes looking back at her with deep intensity. "Thank you," she said softly. "I really don’t know what to say, but…" She smiled and reached out to pat the dark woman’s arm. "That was very special Leandra."
Leandra’s skin burned at the simple contact, and she almost shuddered with longing for something more. Controlling the desire that had had four years to build up, she returned the smile fondly. "I’m glad you liked it."
The two watched the jungle undergrowth for long moments in silence, before they turned in unison and left the clearing, both sorry the visit was over.

***

"I still can’t believe I got that close to a white tiger!" Ashley exclaimed, still wearing the same grin she’d sported all day since they’d left the clearing. "I mean, that’s got to be some kind of record or something, right? How many people in history do you think could honestly say they’ve had a white tiger lick their face?"
"Not many," Leandra replied, enjoying the excitement of her shorter companion. Ashley was practically vibrating with the force of her rapture, and the dark woman was happy to bask in the warmth of her enthusiasm. It had felt so good to finally share the secret of Shar-Ranjana with someone who truly appreciated the miracle of the rare cat, and Leandra wished now more than ever that Ashley didn’t have to go back to the States. Every time she reminded herself that the vibrant blonde would be gone in a week, Leandra felt her heart ache with the anticipated loss. She thought back on the last four years – the endless months that lasted forever…the silence in her head that could not be

filled by the noises of the jungle – and feared this time, she would surely go insane. How could she go back to the way things had been? Ashley had burst the bubble of isolation that had been Leandra’s home for so long, and there was no way of rebuilding the walls.
Helplessly staring at the young woman walking beside her, enthralled by the light in her eyes and the laughter in her lips, Leandra struggled against the uncertainty that wanted to creep into her mind; the fear that Ashley would discover her true feelings, and perhaps decide to break off the burgeoning friendship that was swiftly becoming the most important thing in the dark woman’s lonely world. It was not something Leandra was accustomed to feeling. Always before, she had been assertive with the women she seduced; cool, determined, and always assured of success. This was the first time she’d feared the consequences of rejection…feared she might loose something she couldn’t get back. As much as she wanted to bed the young blonde – and certain long-dormant parts of her body were aching with the strength of that desire – she valued more the simple friendship and comfort she found in her continued company.
"Say, I’m kinda hungry." Ashley’s voice penetrated Leandra’s troubled thoughts. "I don’t suppose you’d be willing to feed me? I mean, it was your fault I missed breakfast, afterall." Hopeful emerald eyes batted persuasively at the tall woman.
Leandra smiled instantly. "Sure. I could use a bite myself."
"Great. Lead the way, oh mighty jungle woman."
Leandra laughed as she turned their footsteps in the direction of her camp, leading the way through the thick foliage. She put aside her troublesome thoughts, concentrating her attention once more on the sounds of the animals around her as they communicated a wealth of information few could interpret.
Following close behind the tall woman, Ashley struggled to commit every moment of her encounter that morning to memory. Already, the experience was becoming almost dreamlike in her mind, in the way intense, profound experiences often do. Still, at least she had the photographs to remind her, and she clutched her camera protectively as she walked, lamenting for a moment that she could never publish the pictures. She knew she would never betray the trust Leandra had shown her just to advance her career.
As they walked along, Ashley found her attention focusing helplessly on the woman before her. Her eyes roamed hungrily up and down Leandra’s back, pausing frequently on her toned thighs and backside. The young blonde licked her lips slightly, thoroughly enjoying the view. Her hands itched to reach out and…and… Well, and do something.
Now I guess I can understand why guys are always pinching women on the ass, she thought with a wicked little grin. She wriggled her fingers wishfully. I’m kinda tempted to try that myself…