Primal Touch

by Amber Jacobs

  Still in awe of the majesty and power of the great tigress, Ashley could only agree.

  The two of them spent several hours with Shar-Ranjana and her cubs, the tigress patiently enduring both Ashley’s interest and the rambunctious antics of the youngsters. Fortunately, Ashley had grabbed plenty of film, and she merrily snapped away at the indulgent yet dignified expression on the mother tiger’s face as her cubs grabbed at her flanks and tried to play with her.

  Ashley was also amazed by the subtle and not-so-subtle interactions that went on between Shar-Ranjana and Leandra. The tigress seemed to treat her human cohort as she would a sibling, the two trading friendly swats and lots of growling and head-rubbing, which Ashley understood 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.

  As the sun reached its zenith, it started becoming clear that Shar-Ranjana was growing weary of their company and wanted to be left in peace. Ashley knew enough about big cats to recognize her lashing tail and subtly back-turned ears as signs of irritation, so she didn’t protest when Leandra suggested she take her final photos before they left.

  “I learned tiger-talk the hard way,” she added with a wry smile. “Most people think of cats as being fairly aloof, but that’s only because so much of their communication is subtle—tiny things like how they move or stand can tell you a lot. And it can be even harder with bigger cats like tigers because they don’t purr.”

  “They don’t?”

  “Nope. Any cat that roars can’t purr; it’s always one or the other.”

  “Huh…I never noticed that before.”

  “Luckily they all still seem to understand the same basic signals: purring, growling, head-rubbing…all pretty universally understood. And since tigers aren’t the only big cats out here, territories tend to overlap and it’s important for me to be able to keep track of who’s in the area. I’ve been chased off more than once by a cat who wasn’t used to me being around.”

  Not long after, the great white tigress called her cubs back to her side and led the way back to the denser jungle paths, casting them a last look back over her shoulder before leaving the clearing.

  Snapping a final shot of the great cat before she melted back into the dappled shadows, Ashley felt a mixture of sadness and gratitude. She glanced at her companion and found Leandra looking back at her with deep intensity. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I really don’t know what else to say.” She smiled and reached out to squeeze her friend’s arm. “That was very special, Leandra.”

  Leandra stared at Ashley’s hand for a few seconds. She looked up to meet her gaze and then smiled. “I’m glad you liked it.”

  The two watched the jungle undergrowth for long moments in silence, then turned in unison and left the clearing.

  “I still can’t believe I got that close to a white tiger!” Ashley exclaimed, wearing the same grin she’d sported since they’d left the clearing. “That’s got to be a 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. Ashley was practically vibrating with rapture, and Leandra 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 now wished more than ever that Ashley didn’t have to go back to the States. Every time she reminded herself that her friend would be gone in a week, Leandra felt her heart ache with anticipated loss.

  She thought back on the last four years—the months that lasted forever, the silence in her head that could not be filled by the noises of the jungle—and feared that, this time, she would surely go insane. How could she go back to the way things had been? Ashley had burst the walls of isolation that had been Leandra’s home for so long, and there was no hope of rebuilding them.

  Staring helplessly at the young woman walking beside her, enthralled by the light in her eyes and the laughter on her lips, Leandra struggled against the uncertainty that was creeping into her mind. She feared 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 her lonely world.

  Always before, she had been assertive with the women she seduced: cool, determined, and assured of success. For the first time, she feared the consequences of rejection, feared she might lose something she couldn’t get back. As much as she wanted to bed Ashley—and certain long-dormant parts of her body were aching with the strength of that desire—she put more value on the simple friendship and comfort she found in her continued company.

  “Say, I’m kind of 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, after all.” Dark, hopeful eyes batted their lashes persuasively at the tall woman.

  Leandra’s mood lightened. “Sure. I could use a bite myself.”

  “Great. Lead the way, oh mighty jungle-woman.”

  Leandra turned their footsteps in the direction of her camp, slipping lightly 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.

  They walked for several hours, Ashley’s strides beginning to slow with fatigue after the long hike. Leandra accommodated her pace, feeling winded herself. She was relieved when they finally reached the flatlands leading up to the mountain where she made her home. Moving along the familiar trails with a relaxed guard, Leandra was so looking forward to taking a well-deserved rest back in her cave—idly wondering what the chances were that she could talk Ashley into trading foot rubs—that she almost missed the subtle alarm bells ringing in her senses.

  Something felt amiss.

  Leandra froze in her tracks, raising a striped hand to signal a halt. Ashley stumbled to a weary stop beside her, eyes widening as she noticed Leandra’s alert posture, and she scanned their surroundings nervously.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Shhh.”

  Leandra tilted her face upwards, her entire body intent on the jungle around her. Faint scents still lingered in the air: sweat and leather and the familiar tang of gun oil. Nothing appeared out of place, but Leandra hadn’t survived so long out here by taking things for granted. She concentrated on the sounds of the animals, recognizing instantly that something wasn’t right. A pregnant sense of expectation lay heavy in the air, the creatures here obviously waiting for something to happen before they called attention to themselves once more. Leandra knew the signs.

  Something was hunting close by.

  A less experienced human would have missed the barely audible click. A normal person would never have noticed the barely visible glimmer of sunlight off metal. Leandra was far from normal, however, and her reflexes had her moving even before her brain had fully processed the information.

  “Get down!”

  Throwing herself at the startled woman behind her, Leandra brought them both to the ground, trying to cushion their fall with her body. A second later, the booming crack! of a rifle blast shattered the telltale silence, and a fist-sized chunk of timber burst from a nearby tree. Crouched protectively over her winded friend, Leandra’s cold eyes scanned the surrounding wilderness with predatory intent, her every pore open and waiting for some kind of motion. Ashley caught her breath and rolled onto her stomach. Wide-eyed and uncertain, she faced the attack with more confusion than fear.

  “What was that?”

  “A rifle,” Leandra whispered. “Stay quiet. I’m not sure where they are.”

  It was all so clear now. Leandra cursed herself, knowing she should have seen this coming. The untracea
ble shot from the other day…the air of disquiet and tension which hung over the scene. Leandra realized she’d been lured out into the open, had allowed herself to become the hunted. A poacher was out there, no doubt seeking to eradicate the threat that had plagued the black market animal trade these past four years.

  She waited with honed patience for her adversary to make the first mistake. Her hands gripped the twin sets of claws eagerly, every muscle taut and ready to pounce when the moment came.

  Fortunately, whoever was out there was either foolish or arrogant. Scarcely a minute had passed before she heard a faint rustling sound and the metallic snick of a rifle bolt loading another round. Her eyes instantly pinned the location of the noise—a sheltered patch of undergrowth perfect for an ambush. Pressing Ashley to the ground with a look that told her to stay put, Leandra crawled forward silently, stalking the unseen attacker.

  Rising for a moment from the cover of the grass, she ducked as a second shot rang out, kicking up the dust close by. Leandra didn’t hesitate, all thoughts of fatigue vanishing with a surge of adrenaline. She sprang forward into the shadows with a savage and very authentic roar. She heard a curse, then detected movement. Without thinking, she ducked the rifle butt that swung at her head. Lashing out with her right hand, claws extended, she found nothing but air and darted forward again. This time she managed to overbalance her adversary, and he stumbled out from his cover. Leandra followed quickly, pausing to study the rugged-looking man who regained his feet with impressive speed.

  “Bitch,” the man spat. He reversed his hold on the empty rifle, turning it into a club.

  Leandra growled low in her throat. She made a quick assessment of her opponent and recognized a veteran of the field; the man held a fighter’s stance with confidence. Moving closer, she feinted to the side and then charged him.

  He swung the rifle butt at her head. Leandra ducked the swing and smashed the base of her palm into his arm. The weapon flew from his grasp and spun away into the forest, lost. Unperturbed, the poacher quickly drew a large, gleaming knife from a sheath at his side and raised it ominously.

  Leandra and the man shifted back and forth, neither willing to make the first move. As they tested one another for signs of weakness, a second man, armed with a makeshift club, appeared from hiding and began to creep closer to Leandra’s exposed back.

  Ashley jumped up from where she’d landed in the grass and screamed, “Leandra, behind you!” Leandra spun around and lashed out with a clawed hand, keeping the second man at bay. She recognized him—he was the same man she’d rescued Ashley from on the day they’d first met. The first poacher pressed in, trying to take advantage of her distraction. Moments later, her powerful leg caught him in the stomach and kicked him onto his back.

  Winded, he gestured toward Ashley. “Get the blonde,” he gasped to his cohort.

  A wave of panic and fury rolled over Leandra, clouding her vision. “No!”

  Leandra moved much faster than the enormous, red-bearded man. She ducked his clumsy but forceful swing and darted in behind his guard. Before the man could backpedal or force her to retreat, Leandra struck. Twin sets of claws snapped out, tore across his unprotected belly, then retreated.

  Crouching low, Leandra watched the man’s look of shock and pain turn to one of dawning comprehension. He clutched at his stomach with trembling hands, desperately trying to hold himself together as he stared back at her in horror. He turned and managed only a few steps back toward the patch of undergrowth, before falling face down on the ground, his life staining the grass deep crimson as it flowed from the mortal wound.

  The first poacher had regained his feet and was closing in on her with an expression of grim determination. Leandra turned to face him, tangled braids falling in a dark curtain over her face. She bared her teeth in a snarl, feeling a feral growl rumble up from deep in her chest as she began stalking forward.

  Ashley, still struggling to catch up with this sudden turn of events, covered her mouth to stifle a cry as the poacher’s knife darted toward Leandra’s chest. Leandra narrowly evaded it and sprang forward with a feral hiss. This time, she didn’t hesitate. Not bothering with jabs or feints, she lashed out with savage strength and raw fury.

  The poacher stumbled backward, trying to put some distance between himself and the furious jungle-woman, but Leandra pressed her assault relentlessly. She blocked a second frantic stab and slapped the steel blade out of her enemy’s grip. He managed to respond with a hard backhand, and Ashley winced and almost ran forward, but Leandra accepted the blow stoically before twisting to the side and jabbing her elbow into his kidney. Again she pressed in, every line of her body radiating anger and lethal intent. Another successful attack drew a neat set of bloody lines across the man’s chest, tearing through the cloth of his shirt with wicked ease.

  The poacher no longer seemed so confident of victory, and he looked around for a possible weapon. Seeing none, he swung a desperate punch at Leandra’s face. She dodged to the side a fraction too late, the blow connecting with her right shoulder.

  It was a minor hit, and watching from the sidelines, Ashley fully expected Leandra would shrug it off with little effort. She was horrified when, instead, Leandra clutched her arm and screamed in agony, turning away from her opponent and dropping limply to the ground as though struck by lightning.

  Ashley watched in stunned confusion as her friend curled around herself in obvious pain, her right arm somehow paralyzed by the glancing blow. The poacher hesitated for a long moment, clearly every bit as surprised as Ashley felt, then seemed to realize that the advantage was his once more. He lashed out with a sharp kick to Leandra’s face, sending her onto her back, still holding her arm against her body. The poacher looked from the trembling woman to the jungle, then to the body of his companion.

  By now Ashley had grabbed up a thick tree branch and was running forward, intent on taking over the fight until Leandra recovered from whatever had downed her. The poacher saw her coming; their eyes met, and she felt the cold appraisal of his gaze…felt him weighing the threat she posed, the value of continuing this fight.

  Although he could probably have handled Ashley, he must have decided it was time to retreat and lick his wounds. With a curse and a last dark look, he turned and ran back into the cover of the jungle.

  Ashley dropped her makeshift weapon when she saw the man flee, not wanting to admit how relieved she was to see him go. Sprinting over to Leandra, she threw herself on the ground beside her and tried to think of something to do that would help. Leandra’s eyes were squeezed shut, involuntary tears escaping and running down her face. “Leandra? What’s wrong?” Ashley’s hands fluttered uncertainly over her friend, reluctant to touch her lest she make things worse. “Is it your shoulder?”

  A faint nod. Leandra was calming a little, but she was shaking all over.

  “Is it dislocated?” Ashley asked. “I know how to reset it, if you’ll just let me look—”

  “Don’t touch me!”

  Ashley’s hands withdrew instantly as Leandra recoiled in fear. “I won’t hurt you, Leandra, but I need to see what’s wrong.”

  “No. Please. Just give me a minute, and I’ll be okay.” Leandra struggled into a sitting position, holding her right arm tightly against her body. She gasped and swayed a little, but remained upright.

  “What happened?” Ashley wanted to examine the injury, but she respected her friend’s desire not to be touched.

  Leandra shook her head. “It’s nothing. He hit me in a bad spot, that’s all.” She smiled grimly, the left side of her mouth already swelling from the kick she’d received. “I just need a few moments to rest, then we’ll get out of here. No telling when he might decide to come back and finish the job.”

  Ashley sat beside her friend, still regarding her with concern. She looked over at the body of the second man and shuddered. “What should we do about him?”

&
nbsp; “Nothing,” Leandra said, scowling. “Let the carrion feeders do their work. The rangers have enough problems without having to deal with burial detail.”

  Ashley sighed. “Fine.” She killed him because he was coming after me, her mind acknowledged. She’d heard the desperate tone in her friend’s voice when she’d rushed to intercept the poacher, had seen the angry, protective expression on her face. But knowing Leandra was a killer and actually seeing her kill were two very different things. I must be crazy, Ashley thought. How can I be falling for this woman? She kills without remorse, without shame. How can I feel so safe around her when I know what she’s capable of?

  The answer came easily to mind as she studied her recovering companion. Because I know she’d never hurt me. She trusted me enough to show me Shar-Ranjana, even though she’s only known me a week. She invited me into her life and spoke with me, after staying silent for four years. She’s lived out here as an animal for so long that death is just another part of life for her.

  “All right,” Leandra said grimly, struggling to her feet with another gasp of pain. Ashley helped her up. “Let’s go.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Clearly, Leandra was still hurting. Ashley was certain that, beneath the faded paint, her face would be pale and drawn.

  But Leandra brushed her concern aside. “I’ll be fine. It’s happened before. Sometimes it takes a while to get better, that’s all.”

  “All right.” Ashley watched her friend carefully as they walked, noticing Leandra’s tightly clenched jaw and the dizzy, glazed look in her eyes. One way or another, I need to see that shoulder. She’s in pain. How can she expect me to just do nothing?

  Halfway up the mountain to the cave, Leandra was swaying noticeably and had lost the stealth that normally characterized her movements. She tripped over loose stones, and her breath came in short, hard gasps. It was all Ashley could do to keep herself from stopping right there and demanding to inspect the injury, but she knew Leandra would fight her off. She waited until they were safely back at camp before she confronted her.