And then, before she quite realized it was happening, Ashley found herself fulfilling that desire.
Verdant eyes closed and she moaned helplessly as she kissed Leandra with the lightest of touches. The smell of earth and water and ash filled her senses and her hands drifted away, their task forgotten. For a timeless instant, Ashley lost herself in the sensation of heat against her lips…before her eyes snapped open suddenly and she withdrew, flustered and embarrassed.
Leandra’s expression was one of surprise and uncertainty; her whole body was frozen like a startled deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. Ashley felt a moment of pure panic lance through her, felt her heart suddenly leap into her throat as she realized what she’d done.
"Oh God!" A hand clapped over her mouth. "I-I-I’m sorry!" Ashley backed away from Leandra, wishing more than anything she could have these last few minutes back to do over again. But what was done was done, she knew, and the stunned look in Leandra’s eyes brought cold fear to the photographer as she realized her momentary lapse into fantasy may have destroyed whatever friendship she might have had with the mysterious jungle woman. "I-I didn’t mean to… I mean, I shouldn’t have done…" Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. Ashley stood helplessly for several seconds by the water’s edge, then turned and fled back into the forest without a word.
"Ashley, wait!" Leandra shook her head as she saw the blonde woman retreat, her senses momentarily overwhelmed by the kiss which had stunned her into inaction. She started to give chase, then cursed and grabbed for her clothes. Struggling into the simple top and skirt, fumbling in a rush to get the laces tied, Leandra cursed herself for freezing like that…for not responding to the kiss. Running her fingers through her tangled hair, the dark woman wondered how best to rectify the situation. Unaccustomed to dealing with other people’s feelings, it took her several moments to decide on a course of action.
Following the blonde, Leandra shook her head in frustration. "Damn it."

***

Rushing through the jungle, heedless of the branches and vines that whipped at her and tried to snag her clothes, Ashley felt hot tears burn down her cheeks. I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry. She repeated the litany in her mind over and over, fighting the despair that made her want to curl into a ball and forget this day had ever happened. Despite the mantra, her eyes continued to stream and she fought against the choking sobs that pulled at her throat.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" She smacked herself in the forehead with each word. "I’m such an idiot!" Just when Leandra had been opening up…just as they’d started to share more and more…she’d gone and ruined everything by giving in to her baser desires. "She’ll probably never want to talk to me again!" Ashley’s mind, lost in confusion and self-recrimination, didn’t bother to look for any kind of hope that Leandra might be understanding; might not care about her attraction. All her thoughts were negative, tainted with the dark tones that always preceded depression and despair. The image of Leandra’s shocked expression was burned in her memory, and in Ashley’s despondent state of mind it quickly developed a fictional twist of distaste and withdrawal.
Without thinking, Ashley made her way down the gravelly, dangerous slope, not caring when she slipped and cut her ankle on a sharp fragment of shale. Tears blurring her vision, she reached the base of the mountain and walked as quickly as she could back in the direction of her own camp. Right now, all she wanted to do was retreat to her tent, lie down, and lecture herself repeatedly about how foolish her attraction to Leandra had been.
It was a long way back to the campsite, but in her cloud of dejection the distance seemed to grow smaller. When at last she reached the circle of tents and the small, dead cooking fire, Ashley was relieved to find that Grady and the others were nowhere in sight. She really didn’t feel like dealing with any lectures about how irresponsible it had been to stay with Leandra last night. Snuffling miserably, feeling sticky and dirty even though she’d just bathed, the blonde photographer flung back the flap that led into her own tent and stepped inside…
…only to stop suddenly when she was greeted by a familiar pair of ice-blue eyes waiting within.
There was no point in running away again. Ashley was just too damned tired. She felt ashamed and drained, and shuffled a little, unable to hold Leandra’s gaze for more than a moment.
"It’s not fair that you can do that," she said quietly, irrationally annoyed at the tall woman’s speed.
Leandra stepped closer and the photographer backed up pace. "Ashley, we need to talk-" she began.
"No!" Ashley cut her off. "Please Leandra, I feel stupid enough as it is. Can’t you just leave me alone? I’m sorry, alright. I got carried away and I shouldn’t have. You obviously didn’t like it, so there’s nothing more to talk abo- Mmph!"
Leandra’s lips silenced her, descending with passion and force. Ashley resisted for a brief moment, but her legs gave out when Leandra’s tongue deftly invaded her mouth and began a confident seduction of her own. Firm hands ran from her neck down her back before gripping her butt and pulling her into a fierce embrace. Completely overwhelmed

by the sensual assault, Ashley could offer no protest beyond a throaty moan when she felt Leandra’s breasts push against her.
The kiss lasted several seconds, and Leandra made certain it conveyed in no uncertain terms the depth of her desire. When at last she pulled away, flushed and breathless, the dazed and slightly goofy look on Ashley’s face told the dark woman she had made her point.
"You took me by surprise," she whispered huskily into the blonde’s neck. "I’m sorry I didn’t have time to respond…but I’m not going to let you think for a moment that I didn’t want you to do that. Or that I didn’t enjoy it very much."
Ashley nearly swooned. "Y-you really mean that?" she asked. "You’re not just saying it to make me feel better?"
Sapphire eyes grew hooded, darkening with salacious fires. "You need more convincing?" Her lips descended again, removing any doubt that could still linger and leaving Ashley gasping. When Leandra withdrew this time, she smiled crookedly down at the younger woman. "I think we’ve both got a lot of thinking to do," she whispered, removing her hands reluctantly from Ashley’s backside. "I’ll give you some time, okay?"
Ashley nodded dazedly. "Uh huh."
"Come find me tomorrow; we’ll talk then." Leandra placed a last, almost chaste kiss on Ashley’s cheek, her eyes promising more, then backed slowly out of the tent.
Ashley watched the tall, striped figure as she disappeared back into the jungle. Turning back to the tent, a slow, incredulous grin worked its way helplessly across her mouth. Ashley pumped a single fist in the air. "Yessss!!"
Her despair completely forgotten, the photographer threw herself down on her sleeping-bag and closed her eyes. Thinking could wait, she decided. For now, she wanted to just enjoy the memory of that amazing kiss…and dream of what else might be in store for her.
IV
What the hammer? and what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
-‘The Tyger’ by William Blake.

For the rest of that morning, Ashley lay in her tent, eyes closed, smiling dreamily at nothing in particular. From time to time she would take a deep breath and catch the scent of earth and ash that still lingered in the air even after Leandra had departed, and would flush at the memory of the dark woman’s searing kiss. Ashley wondered idly where Grady and the others had gotten to, but she felt no urge to go looking for them. Right now, she was happy just to let her thoughts drift lazily by, and enjoy the knowledge that her attraction to Leandra was fully reciprocated.
Of course, there were now about a thousand and one new complications that would have to be dealt with sooner or later — complications that went far beyond those of a normal romantic relationship. A part of Ashley’s mind wanted to address these problems right away, but she ignored it for the time being and focused instead on the warm tingles that still traced around her lips. There would be time enough later to discuss practical realities with Leandra…time enough to figure out what this all meant and where it might go from here. Certainly, Ashley thought, from the ardor in the dark woman’s kiss earlier, Leandra was interested in taking this attraction a whole lot further. She smiled. And that’s just fine with me.
It was late afternoon by the time Grady and the others returned to camp, and Ashley startled out of her dreamy state as soon as she heard their voices approaching. She knew her partner would probably be pissed at her for spending the night out with Leandra, but it took several seconds for her to shift mental gears. Frankly, she wasn’t in the mood to deal with Grady. She just wanted to rest and remember her morning with the darkly enchanting tiger-woman. However, when she heard her name being called and the sound of footsteps nearing the tent, Ash sighed and gave a mental shrug. It was time to do some explaining.
"Ashley? Are you in there?"
"Yeah Grady." Ashley got up and opened the tent flap, stepping out into the pre-dusk and facing her partner with a neutral expression. "Something you wanted?"
Grady visibly collected himself, obviously realizing that blowing his stack wasn’t going to get him anywhere. After so many years of working with Ashley, he knew her well enough to understand when to back off about something…and he could see the blonde photographer was starting to get defensive over his continued disapproval of her friendship with Leandra.
Folding his hands across his chest, Grady cocked his head to the side and said quietly, "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You didn’t come back last night."
Ashley shrugged. "Yeah, I stayed out with Leandra. She hurt herself and I didn’t want to leave her alone out there."

"Oh." A pause. "Is she alright?"
A faint smile curled the corners of Ashley’s lips. "She’s fine. Thank you for asking."
Grady returned the smile a little more fully. Glancing down, he noticed a dark stain of crimson and pointed to Ashley’s ankle. "What happened here?"
"Huh?" Ash glanced down and noticed that the cut on her calf had bled freely. "Oh…I kinda tripped on some loose stones coming back here, that’s all. I hadn’t even noticed it."
"Yeah, well, a cut like that could turn septic if you don’t treat it properly…especially out here."
"I know. I’ll take care of it." Ashley studied Grady a moment in silence before she said quietly, "Listen…I’m sorry about running off like that and not telling you about it. It’s just Leandra wanted to show me something secret, and it couldn’t wait till dawn, so…"
Grady nodded. "Figured it was something like that."
"I wanted to wake you up, but she didn’t want you trying to follow or anything. Given your recent behavior, I think she was justified with her concern."
"Uh huh." Grady pursed his lips. "Well I hope whatever it was she wanted to show you was worth the worry you cost me."
Ash grinned more fully and cast her eyes at the ground for a second, remembering her wonderful encounter with Shar-Ranjana. "It was…believe me."
"You going out with her again tomorrow?"
It was only with an effort that Ashley avoided blushing at the thought of what tomorrow might bring, but she managed a fairly indifferent nod. "I guess so."
The tall man grunted softly. "Well…be careful, huh? I don’t want to be explaining to the boss-man why I let you get yourself killed out here, okay?"
"Okay."
"And make sure you get some disinfectant on that cut. You don’t want lockjaw or gangrene or anything like that."
"I will." Ash hesitated a moment, then stood on tip-toes to deliver a soft kiss on Grady’s stubble-covered cheek. She grinned at the raised eyebrow that her gesture caused, and shrugged. "Thank you for caring."
"Hey," Grady laughed, "if I don’t look after you, who will?"

"Oh." A pause. "Is she alright?"
A faint smile curled the corners of Ashley’s lips. "She’s fine. Thank you for asking."
Grady returned the smile a little more fully. Glancing down, he noticed a dark stain of crimson and pointed to Ashley’s ankle. "What happened here?"
"Huh?" Ash glanced down and noticed that the cut on her calf had bled freely. "Oh…I kinda tripped on some loose stones coming back here, that’s all. I hadn’t even noticed it."
"Yeah, well, a cut like that could turn septic if you don’t treat it properly…especially out here."
"I know. I’ll take care of it." Ashley studied Grady a moment in silence before she said quietly, "Listen…I’m sorry about running off like that and not telling you about it. It’s just Leandra wanted to show me something secret, and it couldn’t wait till dawn, so…"
Grady nodded. "Figured it was something like that."
"I wanted to wake you up, but she didn’t want you trying to follow or anything. Given your recent behavior, I think she was justified with her concern."
"Uh huh." Grady pursed his lips. "Well I hope whatever it was she wanted to show you was worth the worry you cost me."
Ash grinned more fully and cast her eyes at the ground for a second, remembering her wonderful encounter with Shar-Ranjana. "It was…believe me."
"You going out with her again tomorrow?"
It was only with an effort that Ashley avoided blushing at the thought of what tomorrow might bring, but she managed a fairly indifferent nod. "I guess so."
The tall man grunted softly. "Well…be careful, huh? I don’t want to be explaining to the boss-man why I let you get yourself killed out here, okay?"
"Okay."
"And make sure you get some disinfectant on that cut. You don’t want lockjaw or gangrene or anything like that."
"I will." Ash hesitated a moment, then stood on tip-toes to deliver a soft kiss on Grady’s stubble-covered cheek. She grinned at the raised eyebrow that her gesture caused, and shrugged. "Thank you for caring."
"Hey," Grady laughed, "if I don’t look after you, who will?"

Ash mock-punched her partner, but chuckled too. "Give me a minute to get this thing cleaned up and I’ll give you a hand with dinner."
"Sure."
Ashley turned back into the tent, hearing Grady return to the others by the dead campfire. Sitting on her sleeping bag, Ash rummaged around in her backpack till her fingers located the small but well-stocked first-aid kit within. With a cotton swab, the blonde photographer gently cleaned the small cut on her shin before applying a healthy coating of disinfectant. After covering the entire wound with an adhesive bandage, Ashley joined her friends outside, nodding to a glowering Tarun and receiving curious expressions of interest from Grace and Simon.
Over a rather unimaginative dinner of stewed meat and vegetables, Ashley listened quietly to the others as they talked about their day. Simon made polite inquires about talking to Leandra regarding help finding more tigers, but Ashley’s evasive responses were enough to tell him not to get his hopes up. It seemed the two scientists were having a rather disappointing time of it, their efforts to monitor the tiger population yielding only minimal success. Still, Ashley knew she could never talk about Shar-Ranjana…no matter how much it would mean to Simon and his assistant. She recognized a sacred trust when she saw it.
Even as she listened to the conversations of her friends, Ashley’s mind was still preoccupied by the earlier events of that day. For the most part, the young blonde was content to sit silently in the flickering light of the fire, smiling a wondering, quiet smile and shivering a little at the remembered passion of Leandra’s embrace. When everyone had finished their dinner, Ashley offered her services as dishwasher and, with help from Grace, took the small pile of plates and cutlery over to the bucket of water near the perimeter of the camp. She didn’t notice the curious and slightly amused smile on Grace’s face as the scientist followed behind her.
Dipping each plate into the water quickly, Ashley and Grace worked together in silence, the taller brunette flicking occasional glances at the blonde photographer’s obvious preoccupation. Drying the dishes on a rag, Grace raised an eyebrow at her companion. "Ashley?"
"Hmm?"
An uncertain pause. "I don’t want you to think I’m being nosey or anything, and I know we don’t really know one another that well, but…"
Clear emerald eyes flicked up curiously. "No, that’s okay. What’s on your mind."
"Welll…" Grace bit her lower lip. "I was just wanting to make sure everything was okay with you. I mean, with you and Leandra."

Ashley sat up a little straighter. "Okay? What do you mean? Why wouldn’t it be?"
Grace hesitated again, clearly not wanting to overstep her boundaries. "Well, you’ve been really distracted all afternoon is all, and you’ve been wearing that goofy smile since you got back." She shrugged and glanced away. "Plus, I saw the handprints on your butt. It doesn’t take much guess-work to figure out who put them there."
Ashley blushed, her eyes widening as she quickly brushed her hands on the back of her shorts. Sure enough, she felt the dried dust-marks from where Leandra had gripped her and pulled her tighter into their embrace. "I-I…We didn’t do-"
Grace held up her hands. "I’m not judging you or anything like that," she said quickly. "You’re a big girl, and it’s none of my business. But I just wanted to make sure you’re not being…forced into anything, that’s all."
Ashley regarded the other woman carefully a moment, but found only a genuine concern in her open face. She smiled. "Well, I appreciate that Grace. Really I do. But I can assure you, Leandra isn’t forcing me into anything at all."
Grace nodded. "I didn’t really think she was…but it’s always good to check."
"Thank you." Ash nodded back towards the campfire, where the three men were still talking and laughing. "You think they noticed?"
"I doubt it."
"Good." Ashley didn’t think that Grady would be thrilled to hear about her more personal interest in the tiger woman. "You won’t tell them, will you?"
"Of course not. It’s not my business." Grace reached for another dish and wiped it with the rag. "You and Leandra have been spending a lot of time together," she observed casually. "I guess you’ve gotten to know her pretty well, huh?"
Ashley shrugged. "Yeah, I have." She finished washing the last plate, but made no move to return to the others. It felt good to talk about Leandra with someone else, to express her thoughts to another person who wouldn’t be judgmental. Growing up, Ashley had always appreciated having a sister around to share things with, but it was something she missed a lot when her work took her overseas. This whole experience was very new to the young blonde, and her thoughts were running helter-skelter through her head in an exciting, confused jumble. Although she’d only known Grace a short while, she rather liked the quiet, introspective zoologist, and decided a little girl-talk wouldn’t hurt. "It’s surprising, really," she said softly. "Leandra’s not the sort of woman I ever pictured myself being attracted too."
"Hmm." Grace stopped drying the plates and gave Ashley her full attention.

"But she’s gentle, and caring, and I feel so safe when I’m with her." Ashley sighed, blowing her feathered bangs from her eyes. "All she has to do is look at me sometimes, and my legs go all rubbery. It’s stupid to get involved with her, I know, but…I don’t care."
"Is this the first time you’ve been attracted to another woman?" Grace asked interestedly.
"Attracted, no. But it’s the first time I ever acted on it." Ashley smiled sheepishly. "Believe it or not, I’m not really good at this sort of thing. My relationships tend to run cold pretty quick." She looked off into the jungle, her eyes dreamy. "But it’s not like that with Leandra. We went for a swim this morning, and one thing kind of led to another. One minute I was thinking about kissing her…and then POW! I was."
Grace smiled. "It sounds pretty intense."
"It is. Everything about Leandra is intense. And I want more time with her…time to give this thing the chance it deserves." Ashley sighed. "I don’t know what I’ll do when we have to leave. I’m trying not to think too much about it right now."
Grace reached out and offered the photographer a shy pat of consolation. "She sounds very special to you. To hear Grady talk about her, you’d think she was the devil or something."
Ash laughed shortly. "Well, she has a pretty savage side to her personality too. Living out here as a predator for so long, I guess that’s understandable." Emerald eyes took on a conspiratorial glint. "But to tell the truth, I think that’s part of what I find so attractive about her. She’s so animal…so unrestrained and primal. It’s not something I thought I liked, but…" she grinned, "in Leandra, I think it’s sexy as hell."
Grace smirked. "And from the position of those handprints, I’d say she thinks the same about you."
A flush of crimson spread over Ashley’s face as she nodded. "Seems that way, yeah." She picked up the dried dishes and cutlery and cradled them in her arms. "I guess we’ll be talking more about it when I see her tomorrow, but right now, I just want to enjoy this feeling without thinking about the complications." A sudden gust of wind and a distant clap of thunder heralded the coming of a storm, and the two women exchanged glances.
"I hope things work out," Grace said gently.
Ashley nodded. "Me too." Standing, she offered a sincere smile. "And thanks. For offering a friendly ear."
"Hey, I know what it’s like being a woman in a male-dominated environment," Grace laughed shyly. "Sometimes it’s nice to have another woman around to talk with."

A flash of lightening illuminated the distant mountains, and a call from Grady got the two women moving back to the ring of tents. Depositing the dishes inside a small knapsack, Ashley said her good-nights and retreated to her tent just as the first fat drops of rain began falling from the sky.

* * *

The rain pelted down from the heavy clouds above, drenching the jungle in a sudden downpour and carving small, muddy rivers through the undergrowth. The night was dark, moon and stars alike hidden by the obstructing clouds. Still, the heat remained, turning the air in Leandra’s cave into a sultry sauna. The striped woman looked out over her hunting grounds from the mouth of the cave, her eyes taking it all in with quiet satisfaction.
This was the perfect time to hunt, Leandra knew. The rain was an effective dampener for both sound and scent, and the animals would all be sheltering under trees, not searching for potential hunters in the impenetrable dark. But Leandra didn’t feel like hunting tonight. The memory of Ashley’s hands as they traced striped patterns over her flesh still burned in the dark woman’s mind. The heat of her lips…the taste of her tongue…
Leandra smiled in the darkness. No. There would be no hunting this night.
She kissed me.
She kissed me!
Leandra hadn’t anticipated this development, hadn’t hoped to dream that her attraction to the younger blonde might be reciprocated. And she certainly hadn’t counted on Ashley making the first move. But she had. And now things had changed forever.
New and wonderful feelings were currently running through Leandra’s senses, thoughts and emotions that she’d not experienced in many years…or at all. For four years, this jungle had been both home and prison for the dark woman. She had struggled against it, had loved and hated it, and in the end, had come to learn a great deal about herself because of it. The jungle was a harsh instructor, and her lessons were sometimes painful…but now, for the first time in those four years, Leandra’s eyes looked beyond the endless ocean of grasslands and forests, and saw again the world she’d left behind.
And for the first time in those four years, she saw a future that did not involve this savage world of predator and prey.
A future that involved Ashley.

"Ashley." Leandra whispered the name softly, smiling at how the simple word affected her. Painted fingers rose to trace painted lips, recalling the kiss and wanting desperately to relive it. Leandra wondered what Ashley was thinking about right now. How did she feel about all this? Her desires were obvious to Leandra from the way she’d responded that morning…but Leandra had never cared for anyone the way she cared now for the petite blonde. Always before, she had pursued, conquered, and then abandoned her lovers. She didn’t want something so transient and insubstantial with Ashley. She wanted a relationship. Something that could comfort her and embrace her…could heal the old wounds which still pained her. Leandra was entering a new world, she knew…and a part of her felt as naked and vulnerable as when she’d first returned here after her encounter with Shar-Tushar.
Watching the rain fall, sniffing the air that was thick with moisture and the scent of wet rebirth, Leandra sat silently and waited for the morrow. Things would be clearer in the light, she thought…and she could see Ashley once more.
Somehow, Leandra knew, this was right. As strong as her fears were, these new desires and emotions were stronger still…and when all was said and done, Leandra knew she had no choice but to put her faith in them, and in the woman who was at the heart of their creation.

* * *

Bright and early the next morning, Ashley woke after a pleasantly restless sleep to find the day dawning humid and misty after the passage of the storm last night. The campsite was a muddy quagmire, pools of water settling into shallow depressions everywhere. The jungle dripped and flowed, and Ashley was instantly damp with sweat. Still, nothing could dispel the spirit of good humor that infected the young blonde. By the time her companions emerged grumpily from their tents, Ashley had already coaxed a small campfire to life from the few pieces of dry wood that had escaped the rain, boiled water for coffee, and prepared a simple but sustaining breakfast from their dwindling supplies. But with her anticipation of the coming day running feverishly high, there was barely time for the group to offer their thanks before Ashley said her good-byes and headed off towards the river, eager to meet with Leandra.
Wandering along the water’s edge, Ashley looked around for the tiger-woman but found no sign of her. After a half-hour, she was starting to worry that Leandra might not show. But when she reached the small waterfall that she’d explored that first day in the jungle, Ashley felt her concerns fly away instantly when she spied the familiar striped figure sitting cat-like on a rocky overhang, head bent slightly into the breeze. Her lips spread into a helpless smile as she approached, and Leandra sensed her presence and turned to face her.

"Hey." Ashley almost bounced her way to the dark woman, grinning like an idiot at the smile Leandra graced her with. She came to a stop a few feet from her tall friend, suddenly feeling a little awkward. Knawing her lower lip, she shuffled uncertainly, trying to think of something appropriate to say. "Some storm last night, huh?"
Leandra grinned, stepped forward, and pulled the shorter woman into a possessive embrace. Ducking her head, she quickly claimed Ashley’s lips with a hungry kiss, dueling slowly with a soft tongue when the photographer parted her lips and invited her in.
After several seconds of seductive exploration, Leandra broke the kiss and smiled down at the dazed look in Ashley’s eyes. The blonde licked her lips and grinned, pleasantly surprised. "What was that for?"
Leandra shrugged. "You just looked like that was the kind of ‘good-morning’ you were hoping for, but you weren’t certain you were going to get it," she explained simply, running her hands down the crease of the smaller woman’s back. "You never have to worry about that Ashley. I’ll never stop wanting to kiss you like that."
Ashley’s grin nearly swallowed her ears, so wide did it grow. "Really?"
"Really," Leandra promised, sealing her words with another long kiss.
Ashley sighed as she wrapped her arms around Leandra and laid her head on her breast. Feeling the solid, powerful body pulled tight against her own felt so right, so perfect to her. But she knew there were issues that needed addressing before they could continue. "I guess we should talk, huh?"
Leandra nodded, running her fingers through silken blonde hair before she reluctantly withdrew. "Yeah…we probably should." Taking the younger woman’s hand in her own — noticing without meaning to the way Ashley’s soft, pink skin contrasted so sharply against her own callused, painted hand — Leandra led the way over to the edge of the overhang and helped the photographer settle herself on a dry rock. Sitting beside her, Leandra smiled a little nervously at her friend.
"This is kinda awkward, isn’t it?"
Ashley nodded. "Yeah, it is." She took a deep breath. "I was up half the night, listening to the storm and thinking about you. And about how much you’ve come to mean to me."
Leandra squeezed Ashley’s hand gently. "You mean a lot to me, too."
"I think I made a list of about a hundred different reasons why this is stupid," Ashley admitted. "I know we should just put a stop to it before it goes any further, before we both get hurt…" She smiled at the sudden guarded, fearful expression that washed over Leandra’s expressive face. "But I don’t care about any of that," she instantly continued. "I

really like you, Leandra. More than I can remember liking anyone in my whole life. And I don’t want to run away from this just because it seems like a bad idea, or because it seems too risky. This is all kinda new for me…and I don’t really know what your thoughts are…but…"
"I want to keep going," Leandra said quickly — almost desperately. Emerald eyes caught and held her in a powerful spell, and she swallowed hard. "I-I’ve never met anyone like you Ashley. I’ve never felt anything like how I feel around you. It’s pretty new for me, too, but…I don’t want to stop."
Ash nodded. "I should warn you now," she said, "I’ve got a terrible track record with relationships. They never seem to last more than a month or two."
Leandra grinned. "That’s okay. I’ve never really had a relationship — at least not one that lasted longer than the next morning."
Ashley smiled fractionally, then glanced away shyly, frowning. "I’ve never actually…" She paused. "With a woman, I mean…"
Cobalt eyes widened for a heartbeat, surprised, but Leandra’s grip on the younger blonde’s hand didn’t falter. "Are you...okay about this then?" she asked softly. "I mean…that I’m a woman?"
Ashley looked up. "Of course. I’ve always known there was…some level of interest there, I just…didn’t expect it to happen quite like this, that’s all. I mean, it’s unexpected." She hesitated. "I take it you’ve been with other women before."
Leandra nodded. "It always felt better for me…more comfortable." Her eyes darkened for a moment, remembering with regret the women she’d used and then tossed aside without a care. "I want you to understand," she said earnestly, "I’m not taking this lightly Ashley. You’re not just some casual plaything for me. I don’t want to treat you the way I’ve treated others in my life. I care too much for you."
Tears pricked at the corners of Ashley’s verdant eyes at the sincerity in Leandra’s words. "I feel the same way."
There was more to be said; both of them knew it, but neither wanted to broach the subject of Ashley’s rapidly-approaching departure, nor the matter of Leandra’s unorthodox life-style. It was enough for now that they were together…and committed to pursuing whatever bond was drawing them closer together.
"So…" Ashley raised an eyebrow at the dark woman. "Where do we go from here?"
Leandra shrugged. "Where would you like to go from here?"

"Wellll…" The blonde blushed and glanced away to the river. "I thought the kissing was a really good place to start."
Leandra grinned fully, her eyes dancing playfully. "Did you now?"
"Uh huh." Ashley leaned forward, tilting her head to the side and accepting the dark woman’s lips with a happy little mew of pleasure. Strong arms wound their way around her body, and she quickly responded in kind, shuddering at the sensation of Leandra’s heated body pressing so close against her own. Future concerns were set aside without hesitation, and in some remote part of her brain, Ashley realized one of the simple truths about this primal world that had been the dark woman’s home for so long.
In the jungle, life was only ever a single moment.
And if that moment was right…then nothing else mattered.

* * *

They spent the long day together in pleasant companionship, neither of them caring about the few showers that rained down from time to time, or about the steamy heat. Leandra took the young photographer out to a remote part of the Park and, from the safety of the branches of a towering tree, showed her where a young male leopard made his home. Ashley smiled with delight at every new secret Leandra revealed to her, enjoying more than ever the way the dark woman invited her into her world, and so willingly shared these everyday miracles with her. Their day was interspersed with frequent make-out sessions, and by the time the sun started coloring the edges of the horizon with painted tones of purple and crimson, Ashley’s face was streaked with patches of dusty paint from kissing Leandra so much.
Only when dusk had given over to dark did they part ways. Leandra led the way with familiar ease back to Ashley’s camp, then stood uncertainly beside the younger woman.
"You could always…stay the night with me, you know," she suggested in a throaty, hopeful whisper.
Ashley smiled and ran her fingers over the dark woman’s chiseled jaw fondly. "I’d like that," she said earnestly. "But I should really go back. I know Grady worries about me…and I’ve barely spent any time with the others lately." She chuckled shortly. "As tempting as the alternatives are — and believe me-" Her voice dropped several octaves and her emerald eyes darkened "-I’m finding them veeery tempting indeed right now — I have to put in a little work-time."

Leandra lowered her head in acceptance. "I understand."
Standing on tip-toes, Ashley gave the striped woman a final kiss, then accepted a little help cleaning the marks from her face. "I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay."
They parted with many backward glances, and even after the young blonde was out of sight, Leandra stood staring after her for many long moments…a part of her wanting desperately to follow. Sighing, she circled the camp instead and climbed stealthily into one of the giant trees just outside the perimeter, where she settled down on a comfortable limb. From her lofty perch, Leandra watched Ashley join her companions for dinner, a slight, longing smile curving her lips. She stayed in the tree, watching and thinking about how her life was changing, until the moon hung high in the night sky. Then, knowing she would need sleep for the day ahead, Leandra leapt silently to the ground and returned to her cave…thinking for the first time in a long time just how lonely her home seemed.
Before the sun had even risen the next morning, Ashley was awake in her bed-roll, urging the dawn on anxiously as she lay in the warm darkness. Deciding the day was never going to move along quickly enough for her liking, the young woman shuffled off her sleeping bag and ventured outside. Again, she prepared a campfire and sipped a steaming cup of coffee while eating the leftovers from last night, greeted her companions cheerfully, then left before they could convince her to spend the day in the hide with them. Down along the river Ashley wandered, every pore of her open and alert to Leandra’s presence.
So focused were her thoughts on the enigmatic jungle woman that when a large hand grabbed her from behind and clamped firmly over her mouth, pulling her back against a muscular body, Ashley didn’t struggle for a long moment, figuring Leandra had surprised her. But when she heard the unfamiliar jangle of steel against leather, and caught the scent of unfamiliar sweat, her verdant eyes widened. Something cold and sharp pressed against her throat, and stale breath tickled the fine hairs behind her ears.
"Just behave yourself girly," said a soft, lethal voice, "and I might let you live through this."
The poacher!
The momentary shock vanished, replaced instantly with anger. Ashley was small, and lightweight, but she was far from weak, and she didn’t roll over easily. Going limp in her captors arms, pretending to be paralyzed with fear, Ashley let the man support her fully, forcing him to relax his grip on the knife held to her throat. As soon as she felt the steel edge waver, Ashley lifted her right foot and drove it with all her strength down and into the man’s unprotected shin-bone. The poacher grunted in surprise and pain, his hold loosening. Ashley capitalized instantly by twisting slightly and nailing an elbow into his side. She was about to go for the groin — a strike which might have ensured her escape

— when the poacher recovered from his surprise, spinning her around and landing a dizzying backhand across her face. Ashley’s vision went white, stars flashing before her eyes, and she gasped when a fist punched her in the stomach, knocking the breath from her lungs.
The poacher grabbed her again, the knife digging painfully into her throat in a silent but clear threat of what would happen if she struggled further. "Feisty little thing, ain’t ya," the man grunted. "But I’ll let that one go. Any more though, and that tiger-freak bitch will be following a blood-trail to your body. Understand?"
Ashley gasped for air, her face feeling numb from the blow. But she managed a weak nod.
"Good." The knife retreated, dragging down her body to the edge of her tank-top. Ashley tensed as the cool steel edge ran along her belly, but the poacher didn’t cut her. Instead, he swiftly sliced a thin strip from the material. Holding up the scrap, he nodded, pleased.
"What do you want with me?" Ashley asked quietly. "My friends will know I’m gone. They’ll call the rangers."
"Maybe." The poacher began walking Ashley back into the jungle. "But those idiots couldn’t find me if they tried. And right now, I’m only interested in one particular friend you have. I think she’ll be pretty desperate to get you back, too."
Ashley tensed. "You mean.."
"That’s right. That tiger-freak has been making a nuisance of herself for far too long now. It’s time she was put down. Permanently."
Ashley snorted defiantly. "What makes you think you can take her? She’s been hunting poachers like you for years now."
"True." The poacher tangled his fingers in Ashley’s hair and pulled it sharply, wrenching an involuntary cry from the young woman. "But I have the advantage now." He leaned closer, and Ashley recoiled in disgust. "We’re going cat-hunting," he whispered, "and I’ve got a feeling you’re the perfect little mouse to use as bait."
Using her hair as a grip, the poacher pushed Ashley in front of him and forced their way deeper into the jungle. Wincing in pain, Ashley said a silent prayer to any deities who cared to listen, asking them to keep Leandra safe.

* * *

Leandra grew concerned after waiting by the river almost an hour for Ashley to join her, but without result. Confused, she stealthily made her way back to her friends camp, thinking perhaps something had delayed the young woman, but there was no sign of trouble or concern among the others. A feeling of disquiet ran like a chill up her spine. Something was wrong.
"Where is she?"
Returning to the forest and the river, Leandra searched for tracks and found them fresh and clear in the mud left by the recent rainfall. However, her eyes widened when she found a second set of footprints over the top of those made by Ashley — signs of heavy army boots, large enough to fit a man. Leandra lifted her head and sniffed. The air still carried the scent of danger and steel.
Leandra followed the tracks swiftly, her entire posture and demeanor changing instantly to that of the jungle predator, and it took her only a few moments to find further evidence that something terrible was happening. Stabbed into the trunk of one of the forest trees by a slender hunting dagger was a torn scrap of cloth. Snatching the material down, Leandra brought it to her nose and breathed in the familiar scent of the photographer. A low rumble burred deep in the striped woman’s chest as Leandra realized what had happened.
Bait.
The poacher had discerned a weakness, and was now intent on exploiting it by using Ashley to lure her into the open.
For a moment, pure rage filled the dark woman’s senses, making her want to just charge in and slash the man who had dared to threaten Ashley to pieces. But Leandra hadn’t survived so long out here without learning the merits of patience. She took a calming breath and focused her energy into a tight, controlled ball, thinking carefully how to best execute an effective rescue. Tigers hunted their prey with stealth and cunning; if they charged too soon, their quarry would bolt, too late, and they might miss their opportunity. Leandra had spent days and weeks watching and learning from the great jungle cats. Four years had taught her control, infinite patience.
Eyes as cold as chips of glacier ice narrowed, and the dark striped form melted away swiftly into the forest undergrowth, moving with honed stealth along the trail left by the poacher and his captive.
The tracks were easy to follow; evidently, the poacher wanted Leandra to come to him…and to know that he had the young photographer. Leandra moved cautiously, not wanting to stumble into an ambush and ruin any chance of rescuing Ashley. When the trail turned back towards the river, it became clear to the striped woman what her adversary was thinking. As the trees thinned and gave way to the stony ground that preceded the water’s edge, Leandra saw she had judged correctly. Crouching down in the

Leandra grew concerned after waiting by the river almost an hour for Ashley to join her, but without result. Confused, she stealthily made her way back to her friends camp, thinking perhaps something had delayed the young woman, but there was no sign of trouble or concern among the others. A feeling of disquiet ran like a chill up her spine. Something was wrong.
"Where is she?"
Returning to the forest and the river, Leandra searched for tracks and found them fresh and clear in the mud left by the recent rainfall. However, her eyes widened when she found a second set of footprints over the top of those made by Ashley — signs of heavy army boots, large enough to fit a man. Leandra lifted her head and sniffed. The air still carried the scent of danger and steel.
Leandra followed the tracks swiftly, her entire posture and demeanor changing instantly to that of the jungle predator, and it took her only a few moments to find further evidence that something terrible was happening. Stabbed into the trunk of one of the forest trees by a slender hunting dagger was a torn scrap of cloth. Snatching the material down, Leandra brought it to her nose and breathed in the familiar scent of the photographer. A low rumble burred deep in the striped woman’s chest as Leandra realized what had happened.
Bait.
The poacher had discerned a weakness, and was now intent on exploiting it by using Ashley to lure her into the open.
For a moment, pure rage filled the dark woman’s senses, making her want to just charge in and slash the man who had dared to threaten Ashley to pieces. But Leandra hadn’t survived so long out here without learning the merits of patience. She took a calming breath and focused her energy into a tight, controlled ball, thinking carefully how to best execute an effective rescue. Tigers hunted their prey with stealth and cunning; if they charged too soon, their quarry would bolt, too late, and they might miss their opportunity. Leandra had spent days and weeks watching and learning from the great jungle cats. Four years had taught her control, infinite patience.
Eyes as cold as chips of glacier ice narrowed, and the dark striped form melted away swiftly into the forest undergrowth, moving with honed stealth along the trail left by the poacher and his captive.
The tracks were easy to follow; evidently, the poacher wanted Leandra to come to him…and to know that he had the young photographer. Leandra moved cautiously, not wanting to stumble into an ambush and ruin any chance of rescuing Ashley. When the trail turned back towards the river, it became clear to the striped woman what her adversary was thinking. As the trees thinned and gave way to the stony ground that preceded the water’s edge, Leandra saw she had judged correctly. Crouching down in the

shadows, her body held tense against the soaked earth, she studied the man standing a hundred feet away on the same rocky outcropping she herself had sat by just yesterday.
The man stood, alert and watchful, his rifle held in the crook of his arm, ready to use. His other hand was wrapped tightly in the long blonde hair of the woman beside him, and from the slight wince that pulled at Ashley’s pretty face now and again, it was clear to Leandra he wasn’t being gentle. The poacher held Ashley at arm’s length, facing the edge of the precipice. His intent was easily deduced; if Leandra attempted any kind of frontal assault, he had only to give the young photographer a quick shove, and she would fall into the rocky waters below.
Swiftly, Leandra assessed the situation, studying the surrounding jungle to determine how she might use the natural environment to her advantage. She instantly rejected a direct confrontation; the poacher would have all the time in the world to take aim with his rifle and shoot her down, no matter how fast she ran or how well she dodged. The ground between Leandra and the man was open, completely bereft of any kind of cover. Stealth would avail her little, which was obviously why he had chosen this place. Undeterred, Leandra shifted her attention to the precipice itself, and smiled as a plan formed in her mind.
The edge of the drop was sheer, but below, the jungle encroached right down to the water’s edge. Leandra moved wraithlike along the edge of the tree-line, circling her quarry’s position till she came to the base of the cliff. Looking up, she was pleased to note that the rock wall before her provided numerous cracks and outcroppings that would make acceptable handholds. The poacher was paying no attention to what lay behind him, obviously considering the cliff unclimbable. Leandra realized this was the other reason he had chosen this particular location to set himself up; he figured to force a frontal assault by reducing the range of direction from which she could attack.
Leandra grinned ferally. He was underestimating her abilities again…and she intended to take advantage of that mistake.
Slowly, wary of any sound or scent that might signal she’d been mistaken in her assumptions, Leandra crept from the jungle cover and slipped into the knee-deep waters. The sound of the nearby waterfall effectively masked any sound, and she reached for the first hand-hold. Tugging a few times to ensure the rock wasn’t loose, Leandra hoisted herself upwards, testing for and finding a solid foothold before reaching for another grip higher up.
The climb was difficult, but not near as impossible as the poacher had guessed. Leandra’s fingers were toughened from years of constant struggling against her home, but they were aching by the time she neared the top of the precipice. Thick vines twisted across the rock-face here and there, at times providing a helpful hand-hold, but more often proving an obstacle to her ascent. Spray from the fall made sections of the rock slippery with green moss, making it difficult to find purchase. Still, Leandra kept her mind focused on the task at hand, determined not to let Ashley be harmed because of her.

When she drew closer to the top of the precipice, Leandra found she could make out words from above, and she smiled when she heard the angry tone Ashley was using.
Above the river, unaware of the striped figure steadily drawing nearer, Ashley glared at the man pulling her hair. "You’re a dead man, you know," she said coldly. "I’ve seen what she does to guys like you…it’s not pretty."
The poacher just smiled and gave her hair an extra twist. "I respect her abilities, girly, and I’m not taking any chances this time." He surveyed the broad stretch of open rock that lay before him…barren and devoid of shelter. "If she wants you back, she’ll have to give herself up sooner or later."
Ash snorted derisively and pulled at the hand that gripped her — not because she hoped to escape, but just to demonstrate her defiance. She was conscious of the drop behind her, already having judged her chances of surviving a fall as about fifty-fifty. If she hit a submerged rock, it was all over, but if she was lucky enough to land in a deeper patch of water, she’d almost certainly be okay. Still, she wasn’t too keen on testing the odds just yet. "What even makes you think she’ll care that you’ve got me?"
"I saw the way she reacted the last time you were in danger," he said confidently, glancing at her smugly. "She dropped everything and ran to protect you. I’ve seen hunting dogs do that to protect their masters…it’s the same thing. She’s got an animal’s loyalty, and I’m gonna use it to put her down."
Ashley couldn’t help but smile inwardly at that assessment, knowing it to be true. She will protect me, she thought. Just like when Grady grabbed me. She’s loyal and defensive…and she’ll save me even it means risking her own life to do it.
"Why?" she demanded out loud. "What do you care about her? Why not just leave her alone?"
Again, he eyed her smugly. "I think you know why. It’s the same reason you’re out here in this god-forsaken Park." He glanced pointedly to the camera still strapped about Ashley’s neck. "White gold. We’re both here to shoot it…just in slightly different ways." He leaned closer. "Believe it or not, we’re a lot alike, you and I. The only difference is, you carry a camera, and I carry a gun."
"We’re nothing alike!" Ashley spat. "And you can forget about the white tiger; it doesn’t exist!"
"What?"
Ashley grinned triumphantly, pleased at the sudden change in her captor’s attitude. "That’s right. It’s just some bullshit rumor! A tourist got a look at Leandra, and thought she was a white tiger." She laughed at his angry surprise, not caring that his hand gripped tighter at her hair. If she was going to die, the least she could do was protect Shar-

Ranjana. "Even if you kill Leandra, you’ll be walking out of here empty-handed…and probably with every ranger in the Park hot on your trail."
The poacher’s eyes widened a moment in frustration, his mind clearly processing this information and judging whether it was the truth. However, the frustration faded as he latched onto something more interesting. "Leandra? That’s her name, is it? Leandra?"
Ashley’s smile faltered uncertainly, and she wished she hadn’t let that slip. For some reason, just sharing Leandra’s name with this man seemed like a betrayal of trust. Her lips tightened stubbornly, but her captor yanked hard on her hair, his eyes threatening worse. Ashley gasped in pain, clawing futilely at the hand that gripped her. "Yes."
"Leandra?" The poacher looked back towards the jungle, his eyes lost in thought. "Leandra Thornton?"
Before Ashley even had time to think about refusing to answer, a striped form leapt from nowhere and crouched a split second on the very edge of precipice. The poacher sensed the movement and swung around, rifle spinning, but Leandra darted forward with the speed of a panther, grabbing the barrel and yanking it skyward. There was a sudden flash as the striped woman lashed out with her free hand, punching the rifle from the man’s grip and tossing it over the cliff. At almost precisely the same instant, Leandra twisted to the side and landed a vicious kick to her adversaries ribcage, forcing his grip on Ashley to go limp and giving her the opportunity to pull the younger woman behind her and out of harms way.
The poacher recovered quickly, however, pulling a second knife from his side and holding it forth. Leandra displayed her bone claws, their edges rough but wickedly sharp. The two hunter’s squared off while Ashley retreated a few paces from the edge of the precipice, not wanting to be a distraction for Leandra, but needing to stay close in case she could help.
Leandra studied the man before her more carefully. "You know who I am, huh?" She smirked. "I’d thought most people would have forgotten by now."
"Not likely," the man returned. "I used to hear stories about you all the time. In fact I was looking forward to meeting you…but then you went and pulled a Houdini, disappearing off the face of the earth." He waved the knife to warn her back, studying her with greater interest now. "Everyone always wondered what happened to you."
"Well now you know." Leandra paced along the edge of the cliff, balancing gracefully without a thought to the drop behind her.
"I’m surprised no-one managed to put it together," the poacher continued. "You vanish, and then a year later the ‘Indian Menace’ suddenly starts picking us off one by one. Kind of a coincidence, don’t you think."

Ice blue eyes narrowed. "I just gave everyone what they deserved," she said softly, a low growl rumbling deep in her chest. "But you have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am, but…" She raised a dark brow curiously.
The poacher smiled thinly. "My name is Corbin. Jack Corbin."
Leandra burrowed through the names that had lain for so long, unused, in the deepest parts of her memory, and after a moment she found the right one. She nodded. "I know that name," she said softly. "You’re the man who led the expedition into Garamba Park about six years ago — the one that almost wiped out the white rhinos there." The man bowed slightly in acknowledgement. Leandra’s growl grew louder. "You’re a butcher," she stated coldly.
"No moreso than you were," Jack sneered.
"Perhaps." Leandra knew she couldn’t refute her own actions…but her determination to repent was renewed. "But now I hunt the hunters. And you know what?" She grinned, showing sharp canines. "I’m better at this than I ever was at poaching."
The steel blade flickered in the suns feeble rays. "We’ll see."
The two circled one another, eyes locked together, watching for signs of weakness or intent. Jack feinted high with his knife, drawing Leandra forward before aiming a strike at her right shoulder. Leandra had anticipated that her opponent would try to hit her there, knowing it could earn him a swift victory, and she easily twisted to the side, dodging back then leaping forward, her claws snapping out in twin arcs. Jack retreated momentarily before pushing in again, slashing repeatedly to keep Leandra from making a move and forcing the dark woman to fall back to the very edge of the cliff face. The striped woman was unbothered by her precarious position, pacing along the precipice with the agility of a tight-rope walker. Jack snarled and pressed the attack, trying to force her over, but Leandra ducked and rolled out of the way, skillfully avoiding the silver flash of steel.
On the sidelines, Ashley watched breathlessly as Leandra fought against the poacher. Looking around for a weapon of some sort, she quickly spied a short length of branch lying among the stones and grabbed it up, knowing that if Leandra were struck down, she would have to carry the fight herself. Studying the two wary combatants, Ashley immediately saw that Leandra was a lot swifter and more agile than her enemy, and probably matched the burly poacher in terms of strength and endurance. Still, Jack Corbin had only to land a single hit to the weakened muscles in Leandra’s shoulder, and victory would most likely be his. Ashley knew the odds were uncertain, and she waited to defend her friend should she be needed.
Jack was breathing hard after only a few minutes fighting, but he was pleased to note that the tiger-woman was panting slightly too. The jungle humidity sapped the strength quickly, and Jack knew it was best to finish this thing quickly. He hadn’t wanted to take

the formidable woman on in hand-to-hand combat, but again his plans had been disrupted. Knowing he needed to neutralize Leandra’s advantage of speed, Jack rushed the dark-haired woman and grappled for her arms. Leandra snarled as she saw what he intended, but couldn’t move aside in time to avoid being pinned against the drop behind her. Jack grabbed each of her hands just behind the wrist and tried to push her backwards, but Leandra refused to back down. Bone claws racked against the poacher’s arms, but Jack ignored the pain, sensing victory. With every muscle in his forearms and neck straining to press his momentary advantage, Jack edged their way closer to the edge of the precipice. Leandra, growling determinedly, fought to hold her ground.
"I may not get my white tiger," Jack grunted, "but at least I’ll be able to say I killed the ‘Indian Menace."
Leandra hissed, baring pearly-white teeth, the muscles in her shoulder burning as they absorbed ever more strain. "Better men than you have thought the same thing," she snarled.
Watching the two as they wrestled for control, Ashley wondered if this was the right time to jump in. Jack was focused entirely on his struggle; she could sneak up behind him and club his on the back of the head easily. But just as she started creeping forward to help her friend, Leandra made her move.
The end was, as it usually is, almost blindingly fast. Leandra twisted her arm and managed to slip free from the poacher’s grasp, if only for a moment. But a moment was all she needed. With a primal roar of triumph, the striped woman lashed out with her claws, raking them in a savage uppercut across Jack Corbin’s face. Shocked, Jack lost his control. Moving quickly before he could recover, Leandra spun them both around, then used her shoulder to deliver a hard push to Jack’s chest. The poacher swore furiously for a second, his anger making him slow to realize that his feet were half-hanging over a long drop. He wavered a moment on the edge, still gripping Leandra with one hand…then, with a strangled cry, he fell…
…Refusing to release his solid hold on Leandra’s wrist.
"NO!" Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Ashley watched, horrified, as Jack used his last strength to drag Leandra over the edge after him. She saw the surprised look that flashed through the dark woman’s cobalt eyes…saw a momentary panic and concern. Her legs froze, ignoring for a heartbeat any orders to move forward. By the time Ashley had rushed to help, Leandra had fallen without a sound, disappearing over the ledge.
"NO LEANDRA!!" Ashley dashed to the edge of the cliff, tears already streaming down her face. For a moment, the fear was overwhelming, and she couldn’t even process the terrible events. This couldn’t happen! Not now…not ever! Ashley threw herself down on the rocky ground and peered into the churning waters below. Through her blurred vision, she saw no sign of either Jack or Leandra, and a sob wrenched from the back of her throat as she felt a burning pain fill her heart. The crushing reality of the situation broke over

her, the hope that this was all some terrible nightmare vanishing, and Ashley shook her head in denial. "No…Please no."
In that moment, the jungle seemed silent for the first time since she’d arrived.
Then, like a miracle, a familiar raspy voice called up from below. "Ashley?"
Emerald eyes widened instantly, tears forgotten. "Leandra?"
A barely audible grunt. "Can you give me a hand? I’ve hurt my leg."
Ashley gave a half-sob, half-cry noise and rushed to look over the edge again. There, dangling from one of the thick vines that wrapped across the cliff-face, was Leandra. Sweaty, her face creased into a grimace of pain…but alive!
"H-hang on Leandra! I’ll get something to throw down!" Ashley scrambled away quickly, wiping her face and feeling a sense of such relief flood through her body that it made her physically weak. Looking around in a daze, the young photographer’s eyes latched onto a thick, rope-like vine hanging not far away, and she quickly grabbed it up, tearing it free from its roots with desperate strength. Dragging the length back with her to the edge, she tossed one end down to where Leandra hung, then grabbed the other and planted her feet firmly. "Can you climb up?"
A pause. "Yeah…I think so. You got the other end?"
"I got it."
"Okay."
Ashley braced herself as the vine suddenly pulled at her, and she redoubled her efforts to hold on as she took the weight from Leandra’s body. After several agonizing minutes, a painted, slightly bloody hand appeared over the edge of the crag, searching for a hold. Ashley immediately grabbed for it and helped the dark woman up to safety, struggling when the heavier woman almost pulled her over. As soon as she was certain Leandra was out of harms way, Ashley threw her arms around the striped woman and clutched her desperately close.
"I thought you were gone!" she cried. "I thought…"
"Shhh. It’s okay. I’m fine now." Fingers combed reassuringly through her tangled hair, and Ashley pressed herself harder still against Leandra, shaking with the strength of her relief. It was several moments before she managed to regain her composure enough to draw away and look up into soft, sapphire eyes.
"Don’t you ever scare me like that again, you hear me?" she said hoarsely.

Leandra smiled and wiped away the tear marks with the back of her hand. "I promise." The two sat quietly, just soaking in the presence of one another, before Leandra winced and shifted her position. "I think we should get back to the cave," she observed, looking down at her left thigh. "I got banged up a bit when I grabbed the vine."
Ashley snuffled and followed the dark woman’s eyes, gasping when she saw the wicked gash on Leandra’s leg. "Oh my God!" She reached out to help, but withdrew when Leandra flinched. "You’re right Leandra…that needs a bandage."
"And probably a few stitches, too." Leandra frowned. "I have everything I need in my supplies. Can you help me up?"
"Of course." Ashley got to her feet and helped Leandra stand. The dark woman limped quite severely, blood flowing sluggishly down her leg from the wound, and Ashley didn’t even ask if she could help. She simply grabbed the dark woman’s arm and wrapped it around her neck, supporting some of her weight as they began making their way slowly back towards Leandra’s home.
Leandra smiled quietly, and accepted the assistance without comment.

* * *

Some distance downstream, a trembling hand emerged from the swift-flowing river and grabbed for a half-submerged log that had fallen into the water. Gasping for breath, Jack pulled himself more fully onto the lifeline, his body aching and weak. His right leg was broken; he could feel the splintered bones grinding against each other, bringing flashing stars to his vision. He suspected at least two ribs were cracked; his breathing came in harsh and painful gasps. Blood still flowed from the deep gashes scored across his face by the tiger-woman’s claws, running into his eyes and matting his dripping hair. Still, he managed to haul his body free from the chill, mountain-fed waters before collapsing on the muddy bank. Broken. Bleeding.
But alive.
Jack had been a hunter all his life. He was a shrewd and ruthless businessman…and though it didn’t happen often, he knew when he was beaten. This hunt was worthless now. He was in no condition to carry the fight any further, and wouldn’t be for some time. It was going to be a struggle just to make it out of the jungle in one piece, especially if he didn’t find safe ground before the night-hunters detected his presence.
There was no white tiger. He believed the words of the blonde photographer; they rang true in his head. While he was willing to deal with the dangerous tiger-bitch if it meant