Chapter 3 - Incredible discovery

I slept very well last night, but I had a strange feeling during my sleep, a comforting warmth, so relaxing that I had never felt anything like it before.

Today I decided to go to Ray Forest, to collect herbs for Grandma.

Apparently there is a tournament coming up soon, to evaluate pets alongside their masters and see how deeply bonded they are through magic. During these tournaments, pets often get wounded, that's why I collect medicinal herbs. I enjoy it too, I learn a lot from it.

Because my parents won't let me go outside, I'd go in secret, as usual. I'd been to this forest many times before, I know it well.

— "Yuuki, I am going to the forest now. Please stay calm and wait for me at home. I will be back soon."

Yuuki suddenly started meowing, as if he understood exactly what I'd said. He didn't want to let me go, he stayed on my lap and refused to move. Every time I moved him off, he came right back, like a magnet.

So I wondered if I should just take him with me. Honestly, I was a little scared he'd run off if I left him.

— "Yuuki, do you want to come with me?"

Yuuki meowed and rubbed his face against me. I took that as a yes. So I decided to bring him along, with a harness, in case he tried to escape.

We left for the forest. Yuuki was strangely calm the whole way, perched on my shoulder as I walked.

Once we arrived, I started collecting different herbs, sorting them into small bags.

Suddenly, I heard a noise a bit further into the forest. I walked slowly toward it and found a magnificent jaguar. He wasn't moving. He lay on the ground as though wounded.

I approached carefully and noticed a gash across his chest. There was so much blood, and he seemed to be in terrible pain.

I didn't know what to do. I was panic-stricken. What should I do? If only Grandma were here.

I felt so sad, so powerless, unable to help him.

I clenched my hands, crying and praying, telling myself: if only I could heal this jaguar.

Then a light appeared, right beside the jaguar, exactly over his wound, and the wound slowly began to disappear.

I had just witnessed a miracle. I didn't know if it had come from my prayer or simply my thoughts. It couldn't have been a coincidence.

For the first time I had a thought almost forbidden, "maybe with that power, my family will finally look at me."

The jaguar woke and rose to his feet. I hadn't imagined he would be this big, this impressive. I froze in fear as he started to approach me.

— "Please don't attack me, I saved you."

The jaguar suddenly sat in front of me and said, "Thank you."

I thought I was dreaming, a jaguar who could talk.

— "You can understand me when I speak to you?"

— "Of course, I can understand you. My name is Lobo, and I'm grateful to you for saving my life."

I could hardly believe it, I could heal and talk to animals. But first, I needed to be sure this power was real.

— "Oh, you are welcome, Lobo. I'm Amaria. Do you have a master, by any chance?"

— "I do. My master and I were attacked, and he ordered me to run as far as I could. I was already wounded, and so was he. So I ran, and kept running, until I had no strength left."

— "Oh, that's terrible for your master. Do you have any idea where he might be?"

— "I can track him by scent and since he's wounded, it should be easier to find him. Dear Amaria, please, I have a request. Would you come with me and help my master with your power?"

— "Well... I only just discovered this power. I am not sure how it works. I don't know if I will be able to save him."

— "That's all right. I don't even know his condition right now. Even if it doesn't work, you're my only hope, my last hope."

— "Alright. I'll do my best."

— "Let's go now, we shouldn't waste another second. Climb on my back, it'll be faster."

— "Okay, let's do that."

I climbed onto his back, his fur was so soft. He ran incredibly fast, sniffing the air the whole way as he searched for his master.

— "Alright, I found him. Hold on tight, I'm going to go faster."

— "Okay."

We found his master lying unconscious on the ground, in very bad shape.

I approached him. He was a strikingly handsome man, with golden blond hair.

I concentrated as hard as I could, praying to heal him the way I had for Lobo. A light appeared before him, enveloped his whole body and his wounds disappeared.

— "Thank you for saving my master, Amaria. I won't forget this. If you ever need my help with anything, you can reach me through your cat friend here. He'll be able to find me."

— "You are welcome. Oww allright, I'll remember that too. Your friend is healed now, so I need to get home before my parents notice I'm gone, I left in secret. Please take care of him. I hope we'll meet again, Lobo. See you soon."

After the light faded, the man opened his eyes. He had beautiful, striking blue eyes that suited his blond hair perfectly. He looked like someone important, someone the whole village would recognize on sight.

I left quickly to head back home, and thought about the last words Lobo told me about Yuuki. Maybe they knew each other before. But how a cat and a jaguar can know each other, that would be strange. Or maybe I think too much.

Well, right now that should not be my priority to think about. I hope my parents won’t notice my absence.

***

— "Lobo... I think I saw a woman healing me. She had brown hair and brown eyes that we rarely see in our city. I hope I'll be able to meet her again."

***