This one is about a Jaguar, named Tambako who lives in Amazonia. He is my main roleplay character. I love playing with him. I wrote the synopsis of the story and Kalandra wrote it for me.
Kalandra : Thanks a lot for the story, I love it!!!

I love Jaguars and Amazonia seems a so nice place, this is why I created him and I wanted thit this story happens in this place. I hope you will pass a great moment reading it (this was my case!).

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Tambako - The Jaguar Prince by Kalandra and Tambako
© 2000 Tambako
Please don't modify or put the story on a site without my permission. Thanks.
 

--It began on a day like most others in Amazonia. The sun, high in the sky, bids morning to the birds that try to catch him as races towards the overbearing Moon. The winds pull the trees causing the shadows of the jungle to dance like a flame. The air was clean and fresh, smelling of peace, flowers, and of hope for tomorrow. Yes, it was indeed a day like most others in Tambako's homeland.
--Tambako, one of Amazonia’s jaguars, was content to merely sit in a tree and enjoy the day. Well, he was trying to relish the glorious morning but his mind was still plague by his mother’s illness. She had fallen sick days ago for what seemed no real reason. To further the problem, his father was gone, off exploring the Dark Stream again. It is a place full of mystery and magic, a place Tambako was unsure of. But for all his troubles and uncertainties, his father always came back, caring some trinket or gift for him or his mother. He just wasn’t sure what to do about her, maybe if he-
--"What do we have here?" His careful thought shattered by an all too familiar voice.
--"It looks like another lazy jaguar." Jen and Jay, two of the jungles more annoying macaws, descended to a nearby branch. They were friends, all be it a rather gawky bunch, to the troubled cat. Jay was is Jen's 'better half' and the half Tambako liked more. She was the female of the pair and she was often not as loud as Jen. Facing the large cat, Jay offered,
--"How does the day find you, Tambako?" As if as on cue, Jen added,
--"It seems to find you idle," with a loud cry of laughter.
--Tambako ignored the snide remark from Jay’s husband. "I am fine. You?"
--Jay spread her wings. "We are in good health, and good spirits, dear."
--"Shouldn’t you be taking care of your mother?" asked Jen.
--"Shouldn’t you be chasing the sun?" asked Tambako countered as he stood to stretched.
--Jen jumped down behind the jaguar. "No, the young ones chase the sun, we have better things to do."
--Tambako was tempted to turn and knock the bird from the branch. "Like annoying the peaceful animals of the Amazonia?"
--"No, just the slow ones," replied Jen.
--"How is your mother?" asked Jay. There was sincerity in that question, he wouldn’t have answered Jen had he asked the same question.
--Tambako shook his head. "Not well, I’m afraid."
--"Good, one less jaguar to worry about!" The Jaguar's anger erupted and he was about to use it but Jay was quicker.
--"Jen! Now that’s enough! We don’t wish anyone ill." Her voice almost made Tambako laugh, but he settled for a controlled smile instead.
--"True enough. I apologize to both you and I wish your mother well." He was annoying but not cold hearted.
--Tambako prepared to jump down from the tree. "I just don’t know what to do."
--Jen stepped forward and pressed his beak into the jaguar’s hindquarters. "Well, you won’t find it up here." Not expecting the contact, Tambako's leg slipped and the rest of his body followed suit. Turning quickly to his feet, he contacted the ground hard. "And they still land on their feet." Laughter came from the trees above.
--Still throbbing form the fall, the ground now felt soft under the jaguar’s paws. He walked over to a nearby stream and drank from the cool water. The birds continued to laugh as they glided down from the tree to fly above Tambako’s head. The jaguar continued to drink, watching the reflections of the birds on the surface of the water. It took him a moment, but seeing their pattern, he judged the time right and jumped straight up, pulling Jen from the air. The jaguar landed with the Macaw pined beneath his two forepaws.
--The laughter stopped.
--"Ah, what are you doing?" asked Jen. Her husband was upside down to Tambako so the cat had to lean back quite far to look in the bird's eyes
--The jaguar smiled. "I haven’t had my breakfast yet and an annoying parrot sounds just about right."
--Jen started to squirm, trying ineffectively to get out from underneath the much heavier jaguar. "You wouldn’t! I’m just a scrawny bag of bones."
--"Now Tambako…" said Jay as she landed a few feet from the cat’s side.
--The jaguar leaned his head down close to Jen. "You know, the circle of life and all, nothing personal."
--Jen’s eyes widened as he looked at Tambako’s sharp grinning teeth. "No, please, I’m sorry I pushed you. I won’t annoy you anymore. Please don’t eat me. Please." The jaguar leaned closer the frightened bird and opened his mouth. His nose presses against the bird’s chest. The feathers tickled almost causing the cat to sneeze. Tambako tenderly placed the bird's head within his open mouth.
--"Tambako!" cried Jay. Jen sat silent, his beak parted in a quiet cry.
--The jaguar paused and ran his coarse tongue across the paralyzed bird's beak, careful to avoid any other part of his head. The cat's eyes looked in Jay's direction as he stood up and returned to the stream's side, leaving the macaw stunned, sacred out of his mind and most importantly, drenched.
--For a long moment, he didn’t move. Tambako saw another opening to get the bird again so he wrapped his tail carefully around the bird's waste. Lifting him off the ground, he brought the terrified bird around to his face and said,
--"That'll teach ya, wont it?" then dropped him to the ground. Jen, suddenly realizing he was out of harms way, jumped up. "What was that? Eww, now I’m covered in jaguar spit." The macaw jumped over, into the stream.
--"I would never actually eat you," said Tambako as he watched his bird friend bath in the cold stream. Jay was laughing hysterically at her mate’s misfortune.
--"Oh great, now I smell like a jaguar," commented Jen as he plunged his head underwater.
--"No, you see, I wouldn’t want to waste my time with a… how did you put it?" asked Tambako as he watched his friend raise his head above the surface.
--"A scrawny bag of bones…" supplied Jay as she rolled on the ground laughing.
--Jen splashed water at his wife and Tambako. "I can’t believe you did that."
--The jaguar smiled and stood rapidly. Jen flinched back, fearing another licking. "It’s not healthy to push a jaguar," said Tambako, smiling broadly.
--Jen jumped out of the water and shook violently. He gave a glance to his laughing mate, and stuck his head under his wing. "You could apologize." Jen pulled his wing back, his beak shining with jaguar slobber. "Disgusting." He shook his beak clean. "I’ll never get all of this off me."
--The jaguar walked over and gently patted the bird on the head. "Okay, I’m sorry. Besides, you should be lucky I don’t give pay-backs more often."
--"Humph! It’s about time." Jen jumped away from the cat and flew up to a tree. Jay joined him. Tambako turned and began to walk way.
--"Where do you think your going?" asked Jay.
--"I think I still have a lot of thinking to do, so if you don’t mind…"
--Jay shoved her husband. "Tell him."
--"After what he did?"
--"He could have eaten you, you know."
--Jen looked over at his wife, determined not to speak. He could never say ‘no’ to her. "Fine, I’ll tell him, but only because of you, I don’t owe him any favors."
--"Yes dear." Was her only reply.
--The bird jumped down from the tree and landed in front of the walking jaguar. "Umm, why don’t you try walking along the stream." Jen pointed with his wing. "You might find what you’re looking for."
--"I'm not looking for anything, Jen. But, since I am looking for a quite place to do some thinking… Okay, thanks, I'll go take a look." replied Tambako.
--Jen leaped back into the air and returned to his mate’s side. The jaguar turned and followed the stream in the direction indicated by the macaw. As he traveled away, he could hear Jen continuing to complain, and Jay only laughing at him.
--Find what I’m looking for? It had been a strange suggestion by the two birds. What was he supposed to find?
--At least the journey was pleasant. There was plenty of shade and the rushing of the stream was calming. Tambako couldn’t recall traveling this way ever before and that was odd because he loved to explore. Tambako was enjoying the walk, letting his mind wonder towards his mother.
--He still didn’t know what to do for her. He had been with her constantly ever since she had grown sick. He had brought her food and water, and tried everything he could think of but she still wouldn’t get better. It was this morning that she recommended he go off and leave her alone. She looked up at him with her unique scarlet eyes, and told him not to worry. He hadn’t argued, she needed her sleep and he wasn’t helping by constantly being at her side.
--How could he not worry?
--A blur of an image appeared in Tambako’s sight. He turned only to have an unknown object collide with him and knock him from his feet. He rolled, quickly jumped up, and prepared for an attack. It would be just like Jen and Jay to send me into a vicious jaguar’s territory.
--It was a tapir, a particularly old one. "Watch where you‘re going," commented the creature in a dry voice.
--"Oh, pardon me." Tambako settled out of his tense stance. "Umm, didn’t you run into me?"
--"No, young one, I didn’t see you," replied the tapir.
--"How old are you?"
--"I’m Bakuo, the 'Wonder Tapir'," replied the stranger.
--"A pleasure to meet you. I’m called Tambako."
--Bakuo turned, acting like he hadn’t even heard and walked away from the jaguar. He paused and looked back. "Alright… Well, aren’t you coming?"
--"Coming? Where? Why?"
--"You’re the one that came to me. Why should I know why you are here?" Bakuo continued his walk, motioning the jaguar to follow.
--Tambako shook his head and quickened his pace to catch up. He rapidly closed in on the old creature. "I’ve never seen you before, how long have you lived here?"
--"Blue of course. The sky is always blue, young one." Bakuo gave a questioning look to the jaguar.
--"Excuse me?"
--"Come now, we don’t have time to chat, we have to get there soon." The tapir quickened his pace. The young jaguar kept up easily.
--"We have to be where soon?"
--"Yes you have splendid hair, but you’re leading, so where are we going?" asked Bakuo.
--Tambako paused. "I’m leading? What?"
--"Bakuo turned around and stopped. "Wait? Good, we’re here than. What do you think."
--The jaguar looked around. "There‘s nothing special about this place."
--"Okay, now that we’ve here, why did you come looking for me?" asked the tapir.
--"But I didn’t come in search of you," protested Tambako.
--Bakuo began to walk around the jaguar. "What’s your name, young one?" The tapir paused behind the standing cat.
--"I told you already, I’m Tambako."
--"You told me that already." Bakuo reached out and grabbed the end of Tambako’s tail. "Do you need help with this? Want a longer tail?" Tambako only rolled his eyes. The tapir lifted up the jaguar’s tail. "How about to here?"
--Tambako turned quickly. The tapir let go of the cat's tail. "Excuse me! I think you have the wrong jaguar."
--"You stink wrong jaguar? Is that what your wish is, to stop stinking? Well, a wish is what I'm here for. That’s why everyone else comes to see me." The tapir sat down.
--The jaguar shook his head. "A wish?"
--"Oh no! I don’t want a wish, you make the wish, I grant it for you." The tapir rocked back and forth. "That’s why I'm called Bakuo, the 'Wonder Tapir'."
--Is this what Jen and Jay wanted me to find? "Sorry, but I should be go. I need to get back to my mother." Tambako started to walk away.
--"Come, now you didn’t come to waste my time did you? What is your wish, young jaguar?" The tapir was growing impatient.
--With a sigh, Tambako said, "Well, I wish my mother would be over her illness."
--"Hmm, indeed an odd wish. I can do it, but are you sure that’s what you want your wish to be?"
--"Yes, why wouldn’t I be?"
--Bakuo stood up and placed his to paws together before him. "It is your wish." The jaguar was about to leave when the tapir began to chant. A small shimmering of light began to rise from the tapir’s body. The glow increased as Bakuo began to shed light. The air grew silent as all the noise was removed from the jungle. The silence remained, only leaving the chanting of the tapir. Then, in a flash, all the colors before Tambako inverted. Green became brown, red to blue, black to white. Tambako was about to yell when the world returned to normal.
--The tapir leapt forward and hugged the jaguar. "There you go, your wish is done." For such an old creature, the tapir had quite a crushing grip.
--"Really? Thank you." Tambako smiled. "Thanks a lot." The jaguar turned and began to walk of quickly; he couldn’t wait to see his mother.
--"Take care, jaguar." Bakuo called after Tambako. "Come and see me again." Tambako disappeared into the jungle, heading home. "Nice cat, I wonder what his name was."
--As Tambako disappeared into the forest, he heard the tapir mumble something about strange wishes and frogs.
--"Mom! Mom!" called Tambako as he approached home. What if the tapir’s magic had worked? Tambako reminded himself he would have to thank Jen and Jay sometime.
--The sun was setting. Even with his fast pace, it had taken him several hours to return home. He jumped lightly over the fallen log that marked the start of his family’s territory. He raced pasted the cropping of rocks that had often been his playground when he was young. Finally, he stopped at a small clearing. Within the small clearing was a giant tree. Tambako didn’t know how long the tree had been there but he did know the massive tree was home.
--"Mother," he said. No answer… "Mom?" Tambako approached the tree. What if the tapir’s magic hadn’t worked? What if something bad had happened why he was gone? What if…
--"Mom!" yelled the young jaguar as he quickened his pace towards the tree. He rapidly approached the seventy-foot tall monster and began to circle the massive trunk. He paused, almost falling over his feet, he entered the opening at the tree’s base that led hollow cave beneath it.
--It was cool and slightly damp underneath the tree, and smelled of old earth. The small entrance passage way suddenly opened into a large chamber. It was exactly as Tambako remembered it, with one exception. Where was his mother? "Mother, where are you?" he asked.
--His heart told him that she was in trouble, but his mind's logic told him that if she were hurt or possibly dead, she would still be exactly where he left her, but she was not here!
--Tambako raced about his home searching for this mother. She was nowhere to be found. Breathing deeply, he collapsed in the middle of his home. What had that tapir done? The jaguar closed his eyes, fighting off tears. I shouldn’t have left her.
--Tambako’s eye opened as something weighty object landed on his nose. It was a toad. "What are you doing here?" he asked the amphibian. This was quite unusual, nothing came down here. Who was crazy enough to enter a jaguar's lair?
--The frog replied, "Croooaaaak."
--Tambako gave a small laugh as the toad shifted around on his nose. "Have you seen my mother?" It was a stupid question since he knew nothing about toad speech.
--The toad struggled to keep balance as the jaguar talked. "Crooaak."
--The jaguar smiled. "I’ll take that as a ‘no’."
--The toad hopped forward on the jaguar’s nose. It sat right before his eye, bent down and kissed Tambako between the eyes. "Crooookk."
--"Umm," he was startled by the action, "thank you… I guess" That was strange. Tambako looked closely at the affectionate amphibian. There was something familiar about the tiny creature. The toad smiled as the jaguar continued to examine the small creature. He was beginning to get a headache form looking cross eyed at the tiny green form. He laughed until he noticed the frog’s eyes.
--"Mom!" Tambako jumped up, sending the toad tumbling to the ground. The cat squatted down next to the toad and looked into its scarlet eyes. "Is that you, Mom?"
--"Crooaakk."
--"Ohhh… Okay! If you are my mother, hop three times and croak… " Said Tambako. The frog jumped three times and did her famous,
--"Crookkk."
--"It is you!" The jaguar pounced down before the toad. He kissed the toad on the head. "Yuck."
--"Chroak."
--"What happened?" asked Tambako. "Oh no! That tapir must have misunderstood my wish. He changed you into a toad. No wonder he was mumbling about strange toad wishes…"
--The toad jumped forward and hugged her son. "Cooaa."
--"I have to fix this." Tambako sat up. "I’ll be back mother. Don’t worry, I’ll set everything straight." With that he ran out of the underground chamber.
--The toad wished her son good-luck, "Croookk."
--"Bakuooo…" called the jaguar as he traveled along the stream. It was dark, making travel difficult. This was horrible, why had the tapir changed his mother into a toad? "Bakuooo!"
--Tambako was knocked from his feet as the tapir collided with him from the side. "Oh, there you are," proclaimed Bakuo.
--"Good, I found you." Tambako sighed and breathed deeply from all his running. He tried to speak, but was out of breath.
--"Do I know you?" asked the old tapir.
--"Of course, I’m Tambako. You granted me a wish earlier today.
--"I don’t remember you giving me a wish. I’m the Wonder Tapir, I'm usually the one who gives wishes." Bakuo turned and began to walk away.
--Tambako wanted to simply sit down for a moment and rest his tired muscles, but he forced himself to follow. "No, you gave me a wish."
--"Okay, you want a wish? I can do that."
--"No, I want you to fix the last one you gave me."
--"Why would you want another one if I already gave you one?" asked Bakuo.
--This was going nowhere. The jaguar jumped in front of the tapir. "Listen to me!"
--Bakuo reached out and rubbed his paw on the jaguar’s head. "There, now are you satisfied?"
--"I need you to fix the wish you gave me earlier today," said Tambako, growing impatient.
--"No, thanks. I already had lunch today."
--"Lunch? What are you talking about?" The jaguar was confused.
--"What? I can’t hear you? My hearing isn’t as good as it once was. Speak up lad."
--So that was it, the tapir was hard of hearing. Tambako spoke louder. "Bakuo, I need you to change my mother back to a jaguar."
--"Why?"
--"You changed her into a toad," shouted Tambako.
--"Oh, I’m sorry."
--"Please change her back."
--"But you already are a jaguar! You want me to change you fur? Your pelt looks fine."
--"No, change my mother back," yelled the jaguar.
--The tapir walked over and placed a hand on the jaguar, then jumped onto the jaguar. "There, now I’m on your back. Now what?"
--The jaguar shook the creature off him. "No, listen! I want you to change my mother from a toad to a jaguar."
--"Now don’t call your mother a toad. I’m sure she is a nice cat," said Bakuo as he sat down.
--"No, I mean yes, but," Tambako leaned close to the tapir and yelled into his ear. "I want you to change my mother back to a jaguar."
--"Back from what?"
--"A toad."
--"Your mother is a cold? How strange…" said Bakuo.
--This was going in circle. Tambako opened his mouth to speak when an idea came to him. Using one claw he wrote in the soft dirt, ‘Change my mother back to a jaguar, please.’
--The tapir came over to the text, read it, and said, "Sorry, my sight isn't as good it once was, but that’s a nice drawing."
--Tambako roared. "Change my mother back!"
--"Fine, I can do that. You young ones are so demanding these days!"
--"Thank you."
--Bakuo stepped forward and scratched the jaguar behind the ear. "All better?"
--Tambako collapsed to the floor. "Why can’t you understand me?"
--"What, speak up!"
--The jaguar fought back tears. "Please, just change my mother back."
--The tapir walked over to the defeated jaguar. "Don’t worry, if you don't know your wish yet, come see me when you decide, it will all work out." Tambako stood and began to head home. "Hey, where are you going?" The jaguar disappeared into the darkening night. "You could at least tell me your name!" The tapir shook his head.
--Tambako crawled into his home. His mother was waiting happily. She jumped over and hugged her son. "Crooaaakk."
--"Mother, I’m sorry. I couldn’t get Bakuo to turn you back. He can’t understand anything I say."
--"Crooook."
--"I tried, but that stupid…" he stopped, it wasn’t his fault he was old, "I hope you understand."
--The toad jumped onto her son’s head, and scratched him between the ear, the spot his mother always rubbed him. "Craaaaaaaaaaa. Crooo."
--"Thanks, mom. I guess you’re hungry aren't you? I should go get you something." Tambako gently place his mother on the ground. He tried to smile. "What do toads eat? Bugs I asume. I’ll go see if I can find you some."
--The toad called after her leaving son, "Croooaaakkk."
--Yes, it was a good idea for him to go get something for his mother to eat. She was hungry, and he did want her to see him crying.
--Bugs were much harder to catch then Tambako thought. Fortunately, it proved difficult enough to distract his mind from his mother’s situation. It took him about an hour to catch what he figured was enough bugs.
--He tried one of the little insects. "Yuck, ack-eem how do amphibians eat these things? They’re disgusting."
--Tambako began to travel home; careful not to let any of the bugs escape. He didn’t want to see his mother like she was, but she needed him, now more than ever. The night was growing unusually cold, and unusually dark. Even Tambako’s feline eyes were having trouble seeing in the black veil of the night.
--The jaguar tripped, falling chin first into the ground. All the bugs he had capture escaped his grasp and flew happily away. "Noooo…" cried Tambako. He doubted if he could catch anymore bugs with it so dark. What was he going to do?
--A small insect landed on the path before the jaguar. What a lucky break. He pounced forward, forgetting all he had recently learned about the art of bug catching. The small dragonfly drifted rapidly away and disappeared into the night.
--"Tambako?"
--The young jaguar jumped to his feet. "Yes?"
--"Tambako, it is you! What are you doing out here so late?"
--"Dad?"
--Tambako’s father, Dran, jumped down from a nearby tree. The large jaguar gave his son a large grin, his shining teeth contrasting his black fur but matching the long white scar that was manifestation of his many travels to the Dark Stream. Tambako wasn’t sure how his father got the scar that lined over his right eye, his father still had to tell him the story. All Tambako knew was that Dran had gotten the mark before hie was born.
--"I’m glad to see you, Son," said Dran with his deep soft voice. "Out catching bugs?"
--"No, well I mean yes." Tambako looked towards the ground.
--Dran approached his son and placed a large paw on his son’s shoulder. "Is something wrong?" Tambako let out a deep sigh, he knew this would not go well.
--"Yes, father… Umm… Mom was… well… she was sort of turned into a toad."
--Tambako’s father reached down and gently lifted his chin. "Excuse me!"
--"Mother was turned into a toad."
--"Humm… Well… How?"
--Tambako told his father the entire story ending with his bug catching escapade. His father still talked calmly. "You should always expect trouble when your journey begins with Jen and Jay." Tambako laughed. "So that’s why you’re out here? Getting your mother a little snack."
--The young jaguar nodded. "Well, she hasn't eaten anything all day and now she's a frog so…"
--"I’m glad I can trust you to take care of your mother why I’m gone, even as a frog." Tambako smiled, swelling with pride. "But, most toad eat bigger things than bugs, and if I know your mother she’ll want something fairly big."
--Checking the trees above him, Dran jumped into the air and snatched a small snake from a branch. "I think this should do." Tambako’s father pressed one claw through the snake’s head. "She won’t eat it alive and this way it won’t escape." Tambako was impressed.
--Tambako kicked himself mentally for not simply killing the bugs he had caught. "You think Mom will be alright?"
--Dran walked towards home with Tambako quickly following. "Well, she’ll be okay for the time being, but we need to find away to get her back to her old furry self."
--"But how? Bakuo doesn’t understand a word I say."
--"Hmm. Then you’ll have to communicate with him some other way."
--Tambako moved closer. He was amazed at how smoothly his father walked in the dark, almost as if he knew the night like a good friend. "But, he can’t read what I write either."
--"How about Amazonian Sign Language?" asked his father.
--"You know sign language?" He laughed,
--"No. I'm happy that you think so, but I know someone who does."
--"Really?" asked Tambako
--"Yes, her name is Janess." Tambako looked as his father’s gaze grew distant, looking as if he was trying to read his own memories that were hidden in the shadows of his mind. His eyes grew distant and unfocused. "It has been a long time since I’ve seen her." Dran smiled, and looked at his son. His eyes returned to their normal caring emerald green. "Yes, you’ll have to go find her."
--"Me? Why, me?" asked Tambako, amazed.
--"It’s about time you started traveling on your own m'boy. And anyway, I just got back from the Dark Stream so I need a little rest. No matter what you think, your father isn’t invincible."
--Travel on his own? Tambako couldn’t believe it. He loved to explore, but he had never travel very far from home. The young jaguar looked up at the stars peaking through the leaves. They knew what was in his future, and were watching.
--The next morning Tambako set outside and enjoyed the morning sun. He was still a little tired, he had spent most of the night talking with his father. The journey he was going to take was indeed a long one. According to his father, he needed to follow the setting sun for two days, and then follow the Blue River south until he found Hawkbirth Rock and Janess.
--Tambako’s parents were waiting to watch him off. His mother sat peacefully on his father’s head. Dran waved good-bye to his son forgetting about Tambako’s mother. She slide off Dran’s head and grabbed onto his jaw at the last moment to keep from falling to the ground.
--"Good luck, and watch yourself out there." Dran offered as Tambako's form began to fade into the forest.
--Tambako continued on, listening to his father laugh as he looked, cross-eyed, at his mate sitting on his nose.
--Tambako’s travels started out uneventful. He traveled, hunted, and thought alone. He enjoyed the cool day, and leapt around light in step and spirit. His first night alone was unsettling. Actually, he had spent many nights out on his own, often because traveled too far exploring, but he always knew he would return home the next day. It wasn’t the same this trip; it would be days and maybe weeks before he returned.
--The jaguar rested high in a tree. He looked at the stars, and wondered about his coming days. He talked to himself, or maybe to the stars. It was odd listening to his own voice, but something in it was soothing to his ears.
--The young jaguar slowly drifted off to sleep, mumbling to himself, promising to succeed.
--The Blue River was easy to find. The river was the second largest in Amazonian and split the jungle in two. Tambako was glad he didn’t have to cross it. He had heard all the stories of cross the fast rushing waters. His father was included in those stories, for the Dark Stream was on the opposite side of the Blue River.
--Tambako went over and drank from the river. The water was ice cold, coming down from the snow covered Amon Mountains far away. Tambako smiled as he looked at his reflection. "Aren’t you one handsome jaguar," said Tambako to himself.
--"That he is," said a voice from above. It was a smooth voice, sounding much like the winds dancing upon a field of long grass.
--Tambako rapidly turned and looked up. "Oh, I was just talking to myself." How embarrassing.
--"Possibly so, but you were quite right," replied the voice.
--Tambako was unable to find the owner of the voice. "Excuse me, let me introduce myself. I’m Tambako."
--A branch moved and hung from the tree. No, it wasn’t a branch but instead a snake. It was gorgeous, for a snake. Bright green covered his entire body. The color reminded him of his mother and father's eyes, it was very close.
--The serpent spoke, "Ah, Tambako… a noble name to say the least." The snake moved to the tree’s trunk and slowly slid down towards the ground. "I am Kess, a simple serpent. Far removed from the beauty and majesty of a jaguar."
--"Why, thank you. But all creatures have their own form of splendor," said Tambako, watching the snake approach him from the tree. The jaguar didn’t know any snakes so didn’t know what to expect and took a defensive point of view.
--Feeling his anxiety, Kess spoke, "You have nothing to fear form me, strong jaguar, I don’t intend to hurt you." The green form turned his head to look at itself, "Look at me, I am a small snake. I wouldn’t be able to overpower you even if I wanted to. Even if I bit you, which I wont, what porpoise would it serve? I can't eat you and you would no doubt kill me if I tried." The snake stopped before the jaguar and leaned up, placing his face at level with Tambako’s. "Besides, the last thing I want to do is hurt one as magnificent as you." The jaguar blushed.
--"Thanks, again."
--"You are new here, am I correct? I know most around here and most know me," said the reptile.
--"Yes, I’m on a journey," said Tambako, stepping back a few steps. He still didn’t trust this smooth talking stranger.
--"Looking for anything in particular? That is, if you don’t mind me asking."
--"Yes, but you need not concern yourself with my adventurers," replied the jaguar.
--"If that is your wish, but I might be of help to you. I know this place fairly well. I can keep you from getting lost."
--"I wouldn’t want to trouble you anyway."
--"No trouble, I would enjoy the company. Unfortunately most do not want the companionship of a snake," said Kess. He seemed hurt by his own statement. Tambako started to feel sympathy for the creature.
--"Well, I do have a long way to travel." He offered.
--"You don’t seem to trust me, fair jaguar. Why is that?"
--"My father always taught me to be weary of strangers."
--The snake laughed. It was an odd sound; sounding more like the reptile was choking on a hiss than a laugh. "And I must be the strangest thing you have ever seen, no? You father is a most wise feline."
--"I know that."
--"He sounds as if he has traveled a lot, am I right?"
--"Yes."
--"What is his name, I’ve probably heard of him if he has ever passed this way before, I always keep track of interesting people, sort of a hobby if you will."
--"Dran."
--"Excuse me?"
--"His name is Dran. So I take it you have heard of him before?"
--The snake’s eyes widened. He smiled a most cunning grin. There was something hidden in that smirk. "Ah, I have indeed heard of Dran. Dran, wander of the Dark Stream. He has a long white scar, correct?"
--"Yes, he does! Have you met him?"
--"Met!!! Indeed, I saved his life once."
--"You did?"
--"That I did. Of course, he also spared mine." The snake hissed as if he caught himself in a mistake.
--"What is it?"
--"Oh nothing, just bad memories. So, you are his son?"
--Tambako swelled with pride. "Yes I am."
--"I would be honored to accompany the son of Dran."
--"Alright then, let's go."
--"Where are we heading?"
--"Hawkbirth Rock."
--"How do you propose to go about getting there?"
--"Following the Blue River of course."
--"So your taking the long way?" Long way? Well, if there was a shorter way, he was all ears.
--"Alright then, if you know a shorter way, than were to?"
--He stretched his long body in a direction and told him,
--"This way. Shall we go?" The two began to travel. "What do you need from Hawkbirth?" Tambako told him the story of his mother and Bakuo. "Hmm, most interesting. I hope we can solve your problem."
--The two continued to travel. The conversation was sparse and short. It seemed Kess did a lot of thinking. The snake would slide along, caught in his thoughts, gazing every so often at the young jaguar. When the snake did speak it was often to ask about Dran. After about half a days worth of travel Kess’s head snapped up, triumph in his eyes.
--"See that white scare near my tail?" asked Kess. Tambako stopped and looked back at the serpent.
--"Yes."
--"Your father gave it to me."
--Tambako paused on that. "What?"
--"It could have been a lot worst. I'd rather have a scare and my life than no life and a scar." Tambako couldn’t argue with that!
--"Oh, I see."
--"I never really thanked him for that."
--"Who, my father?" asked Tambako.
--The snake turned and looked the jaguar in the eyes. "Could you do me a favor?"
--"Well, you have to tell me what it is first… So what is it?"
--"I haven’t eaten in awhile, and I was wonder if you would mind carrying me. You are such a young and strong creature, and I am weak and old," said Kess.
--"I could just hunt something for you to eat."
--"No! I mean, no. I need to catch what ever I eat. A snake thing."
--"I understand. I can wait until you find something."
--"No, I just need some rest. Snakes can go a long time without eating, we just can’t crawl for long stretches. I promise you, I don’t weight much."
--"I don’t know…"
--The snake moved closer. "What would your father do? Would he make a poor tired snake continue on his own?"
--With a sigh, Tambako said, "Oh alright… Okay-okay. Climb on."
--"Excellent." Kess moved forward crawled up Tambako’s leg and wrapped himself around the jaguar. "You have your father’s compassion. He carried me in the same way."
--Kess wasn’t too heavy. "Alright, let’s go. How much longer to Hawkbirth Rock?"
--The snake whispered into the cat’s ear, causing a shiver to race down Tambako’s spine. "Not much further, my friend. Not much further, at all."
--Hawkbirth Rock was a grouping of rocks. It resembled a large nest. The sun was setting when the two arrived and the evening shadows of the rocks cast a black image of a hawk.
--"They say that the great Phoenix was laid and raised within these mighty stones," said Kess from the back of Tambako.
--"We made it."
--"It wasn’t difficult with young muscles like yours. Now let me down and see if you can go find Janess. Will you meet me here tomorrow? I need to go hunting."
--"Sure." Tambako leaned down and let the reptile off.
--"I think I might have another way of solving your problem. I’ll go check on that too."
--"Really?" asked the jaguar enthusiastically.
--"Why do you think I have been caught in my own thoughts during our journey?"
--"Well, I figure I was poor company."
--Another laugh. "No, far from it. So I can trust you to meet me here tomorrow?"
--"Yes, I promise."
--"You are too kind. Thank you. Now go find Janess. And be back early, we will need to be off quickly if my second solution is to work."
--Tambako watched as Kess slithered off. He wondered why his father hadn’t told him to look for Kess. He seemed like a most helpful creature. Tambako turned and headed towards Hawkbirth Rock.
--"Hello?" called Tambako. "Is anyone here?" The jaguar’s words bounced delicately of the large rocks. "I’m looking for Janess." There were a lot more rocks within Hawkbirth then it appeared from the outside. "Hello?"
--What if Janess wasn’t still here? What if she had left long ago? His dad had said he hadn’t seen her in a long time. "Hello? Janess?" Now he was glad Kess had an alternative.
--Tambako continued to explore the cropping of rocks. The sun was almost set and he was becoming tried. The long travel with Kess on his back had taken more out of him than he expected. He was just about to give up when the rocks parted to reveal an opening. Within all the rock was a small groove of grass.
--To one side was a small brook that babbled the day away. To the other side was a tree, and in the middle was a jaguar. Her back was to him, and her head was hanging low. Maybe it was because it was getting dark, but Tambako could swear the jaguar before him was crying.
--"Excuse me?" called Tambako.
--The jaguar turned around startled. She reached a paw up and wiped her moon-pale eyes. They were beautiful eyes, sparkling like two fallen stars. Tambako had to shake his head to unlock his gaze into the other jaguar’s eyes. "I'm sorry, if this is a bad time…"
--The jaguar shook its head. "No, it’s alright. I was umm… Where are my manors? My name is Kenjara." Again the jaguar wiped her eyes. "Sorry. What brings you here?" Its voice was soft and gentle, sounding like nothing Tambako had heard before. By her voice alone, Tambako knew it was a she.
--"I’m Tambako. I was looking for Janess, but if this is a bad time I could come back later."
--The jaguaress turned away sharply at the name Janess. She walked over to the brook, and placed her face into the cool waters. She sat up and gazed into the waters. After a few moments, she looked back at Tambako. "Come in, come in." Tambako approached halfway towards Kenjara.
--"Maybe I should…"
--"No, it’s okay. I’m sorry, but you won’t find Janess here. She-" Kenjara turned away to look back into the waters. "She past away. She’s among the stars." Janess was dead!
--"Oh, I’m sorry," said Tambako. He stepped a little closer. "I’m taking it that you knew her."
--"Yes, I’m her daughter." The jaguaress kept her back to Tambako. Even though Tambako couldn’t see her face he could tell she was crying by the small ripples in the brook cause by her tears.
--He slowly approached her side. He gently placed a paw on her shoulder. He wasn’t sure what to say so he remained silent and let his presence speak for him.
--"I’m sorry. You came all this way, and here I am crying the day away." Kenjara reached to wipe her eyes.
--Tambako reached out and stopped her. She looked at him, her pale eyes blurry with tears. "Don’t stop crying because of me. Go ahead, let it out. I came all this way and I’ll wait until you’re done."
--Kenjara jumped forward, wrapped her forearms around Tambako, and cried on his shoulder. He wasn’t expecting the action, but didn’t mind it. "Thank you," she whispered among sobs. Another shiver raced down Tambako’s spine, but this was a far different feeling then the one cause by the snake’s whisper.
--Tambako was silent, and let Kenjara drench his fur. The sun was long set, and the moon high when she finally finished. "Why did it have to be her?" asked Kenjara, her voice hoarse.
--"We all have our times," said Tambako, keeping his voice soft.
--"I know, she taught me that much, but why did she have to get sick? I tried everything to save her, but nothing worked." Kenjara might have cried more if her body would have let her.
--Tambako thought of his mother. "At least you tried."
--"But maybe I could have done more." Kenjara let go of Tambako and drank from the brook, quenching her thirst.
--"For some reason I doubt that." Tambako joined her at the brook’s edge. He looked down slow moving water and watched the star sparkle on the brook’s surface.
--"Why?"
--"Were you there for her, getting everything she needed?"
--"Yes…"
--"Did you stay awake at night, just so you could listen to her breathing and know she was still alive?" Tambako felt tears of his own coming.
--"That too…" She was now starring at the handsome figure beside her, he was in the same pain she was.
--"Did you stay at her side, even though you knew you were watching her die?"
--Silence.
--Tambako continued, "And did you listen as the last few word left her mouth?"
--Again silence.
--"Then did you run away, as fast as you could, and roared at the heavens for the injustice? Did you carry her word with you to the highest point and place them upon the Winds for the world to feel?"
--For a moment she didn’t reply, "But how did you know?"
--"Did you feel the wind? And finally, did you cry and vow never to forget her or all that she taught you?"
--"How do you know all this?"
--Tambako turned towards Kenjara. "Because my mother was also very sick. I tried to save her, but I made a mistake. That’s why I came here, to fix that mistake."
--"Oh, I didn’t know."
--A single tear appeared in Tambako’s eye. It traveled down his check and onto one of his whiskers. Then, in a small splash, the tear vanished into the endless brook. He remained quiet.
--"Are you crying for your mother?" she asked.
--"No, I’m crying for you, because you had to live all my recent nightmares."
--Kenjara stepped closer and pressed her face against Tambako’s cheek. "Well, that one will be enough. I’ve done enough crying for both of us."
--Tambako simply smiled.
--"Your right. I might not have been able to save her from her sickness, but I can do everything to save me from her death. I think Mom would have liked that."
--"I think she would." She pointed to a cropping of rocks at the highest stable point of Hawkbirth. "Do you see those?"
--Tambako looked up to where she pointed. "Yes…"
--"That’s where she rests now, she will remain there for as long as I can keep her there." Tambako gazed up at the grave. For some odd reason, he did not feel saddened by the sight. From his point of view, the formation of rocks looked as if they were protecting the dead cat's body.
--He knew it was stupid but he told her what he thought and she gave him a tiny kiss and thanked him.
--"I’m just grateful you came when you did." She gave Tambako a playful shove. "Mother always told me friends would appear when they are needed."
--"And loved will grow during the darkest moments." Did I just say that, thought Tambako.
--Kenjara only gave a smile to confirm Tambako’s embarrassment. "Now, what did you need my mother for?"
--Tambako told her his story. Kenjara listened.
--"And without your mother, I don’t know if I'll ever be able to make Bakuo understand me," finished the jaguar.
--"You don’t have to worry about that?"
--"What? Why?"
--"My mother taught me sign language." Kenjara raised her paws and waved them before her. "That means, I would be glad to help you." Kenjara made a few more motions and ended with one paw on her heart.
--"And that means?"
--"You’ll have to figure that one out on your own." Kenjara smiled and Tambako made a decision, that he wouldn’t be content in life unless he could make her do that more often.
--"What if I just tickle it out of you?"
--"What!"
--Tambako pounced forward and landed on Kenjara. He proceeded to tickle her. She laughed and eventually pushed him off into the brook. "Oh, I’m sorry. That should teach you not to try to tickle me."
--The jaguar stood up, dripping wet. He splashed some water at Kenjara. She dodged the liquid attack but didn’t manage to avoid the leaping Tambako. Again he proceeded to tickle her. This time they rolled together into the brook.
--Kenjara jumped out of the water. "That’s cold! How could you?"
--Tambako sat in the brook and looked down at his paws. "I’m sorry, I didn’t-" Tambako was unable to finish the sentence as the jaguaress pounced on his and forced him back into the water.
--"Got'cha," she declared as she exited the water.
--"No you didn’t," said Tambako as he pulled her back in.
--The night was nearly over and the two soaked cats laid side-by-side, looking up at the stars. The wind was particularly cold as is rushed over their wet fur. They moved closer if only in hopes of keeping warm.
--"You know what the last thing she said to me was?"
--"Your mother?"
--"Yes. She said, ‘Don’t worry about me, Kenjara, go out and find your destiny.’ And then she signed this to me." Kenjara repeated the movements in the air, letting the dark sky be her background. Her paws danced before her, looking as if she was give the very signs to the stars themselves. Maybe she was.
--"What does that mean?"
--"I will always be with you."
--Tambako repeated the words, "I will always be with you…"
--A sniffle came from Kenjara.
--"You’re not crying again, are you?"
--"No, I’m done crying. I just miss her."
--"You’ll always miss her, Kenjara."
--"I know, Tambako."
--"But that is a good thing. Because you can never forget someone you miss."
--A few moments of silence.
--Kenjara talked, "My mother began to teaching sign language me when I was very young. It was our own special language. We would go for weeks without saying a word. It was a special connection, being able to hear each other without speaking. To hear her voice by only seeing her move."
--"I can only imagine."
--"I swear at times I can still see her movements in the swaying of the branches and the rippling of the pond. I can still hear her. Does that sound crazy to you?"
--"Not at all."
--"Weeks without a single word, and we would still be close of heart. I miss her so much." Kenjara’s hands moved again as she placed a few signed words on the heavens. And as her hands moved she whispered, "Good-night, Mother. Where ever you are, I love you." She finished with a sigh.
--Then they sat, silent as the sky itself.
--"Umm, Jara? And you don’t mind me calling you that do you?"
--"No, not at all, that’s my nickname anyway."
--"Could you teach me sign language?"
--Tambako continued to look at the sky, but he could feel her gaze upon him. "Nothing would make me happier." Kenjara raised her arms. "Okay, let’s start with this…" He was startled, he hadn't expected to start tonight, but it would be nice to do something.
--The night continued as Kenjara taught. The two laughed and let their paws dance together among the stars. It wasn’t the most elegant of ballets, but it was simply a beginning. Eventually they fell asleep together, their arms falling tired upon each other, and they dreamed together of what tomorrow would bring.
--Tambako awoke suddenly in the night. He was forced awake by a horrible dream. In the nightmare he had failed his parents. He was forced to watched them die. He knew he could save them, but didn’t know how. But the horrible dream didn’t stop there. Next Tambako had to listen to Kenjara yell at him. She said she hated him. She wished he were dead just like his parents.
--A most horrible dream indeed.
--Tambako’s breathing slowly calmed. He looked over at Kenjara, near at his side. He smiled and gently pulled her closer. She only moaned slightly, and went back to sleep. Tambako placed his head on her chest and took comfort in her warmth.
--A thumping noise came. It was Kenjara’s heart. Tambako quickly forgot the dream as he let himself be enveloped by the steady rhythm of Kenjara’s beating heart. Oh how he wanted to now all the secrets of that heart.
--The two jaguars awoke earlier than either of them wanted to. Tambako had promised Kess he would meet him. Kenjara only mumbled as she stumbled and stretched.
--"You know you’re a little irritable in the morning," commented Tambako.
--Kenjara gave him a glance. "Only when jaguars keep me up all night and expect me to get up early."
--"I told you, I’ll go. I promise I’ll come back for you after I’ve met with him."
--Kenjara came forward and leaned into Tambako. "No, it’s alright. I’m just still waking up. Ignore me."
--"Great, let’s… Are you sleeping?"
--Kenjara straightened up and rapidly looked around. "What? No, I was just…" She fell back against Tambako and slowly talked back into sleep.
--Tambako stepped to the side, causing Kenjara to crash to the ground. Her eyes rocked open. "I’m up. Ouch, or I’m down. But since I’m already on the ground…." She yawned and again drifted to sleep. Tambako debated just leaving her there, but that would probably make her angry, so he walked over to the brook and splashed some water on Kenjara. She jumped up and gave a small howl. "Okay! Fine, I’m awake."
--The two exited the rocks.

--Carter was a small red bird. Even with his small size he was always willing to help others no matter how big the task was. He was known by most creatures in the area around Hawkbirth Rock for he was kind and gentle. This small bird was always willing to give advice, and not too proud to take it.
--Yesterday had been a most joyous day for the small bird. He was in love and he found out last night that she shared his affection. He was light hearted and flittered around and sang for all to hear.
--He stopped on a branch outside of Hawkbirth. He always flew the same route every morning, and today was no different. He looked at the large cropping of rocks and thought of his own nest in the near future.
--"Ah, what a glorious day," shouted the bird. He began to sing.
--His song softened as he watched two jaguars come out of Hawkbirth. Normally he would enjoy the sight, for Janess and Kenjara had often been good to him. They had saved his life once when he had been foolish enough to fall out of a tree and break his wing. But he, like most others around here, knew of Janess’ passing. So who was the second jaguar?
--"Hmm, most curious. I wonder if the Winds brought a nice young companion to her side." twittered Carter.
--"They do make a nice couple don’t they?" asked an unfamiliar voice from behind.
--Carter didn’t recognize the new comer’s voice, but he didn’t mind the company. "That they do. I honestly have not ever seen Jara up this early. She must like this new jaguar if she’s willing to do that."
--"Indeed."
--Carter jumped up and down at the though of another sharing his heart made joy. "I do believe I’ll fly over here and say good-morning."
--"Shouldn’t you warn them about Kess?" asked the voice.
--What an odd question. The little red bird turned around and found no one. "That trickster of a snake? I do believe he isn’t anywhere near here. At least I hope so." The small bird laughed.
--"But it does look like they might be traveling. Why else get up this early unless you are a love-stricken bird?"
--"You make a good point, Stranger. They do look like they might be up for a journey. You’re right, no one should go out around here without knowing about the evil Kess." Carter spread his wings. "Do take care of yourself," he said in departure.
--"Of course, I will. You should do the same."
--Just as Carter bent his knees to leap into the air, he lost his footing. The small bird tripped backwards onto the branch. Something had bumped him. "Opps!"
--Laughter boomed around the bird. He recognized the laughter as a snake’s wry amusement. Carter really didn’t need to worry; he didn’t know a snake he couldn’t escape. Carter spoke as he pushed himself up, "Come, now. I am hardly worth your time reptile."
--Again Carter was knock from his feet. The laughter continued as the branch began to move. No wonder Carter could see the owner of the voice. The snake surrounded him, wrapping around the branch and tree. The small bird had been blinded by his joy that he didn’t even notice the masterfully hidden snake. Suddenly it hit him. "Kess!"
--In an explosion of movement, the snake whipped around the small bird. Carter was trapped, surrounded by the snake’s constricting body. Carter was filled with fear as Kess’ reptilian face appeared before him. The creature’s mouth snapped over the bird's head. "You should know better. I am everywhere!"
--"No," cried Carter as the air was slowly crushed from his lungs.
--As the snake spoke his entire body vibrated, causing Kess’ very words to penetrate into the bird. The snake talked directly in Carter’s head. The red bird was forced to listen. "I won’t let you ruin my revenge!"
--Carter could feel his bones slowly snapping. Suddenly his left wing cracked and pain surged through his body. "Please, spare me," the bird wheezed. "I won’t tell them."
--"I’m sorry, my little friend, but I can’t take that risk."
--"Then… at… least… make… it… quick…" pleaded Carter. He was gasping for each word.
--The laughter returned. If Carter didn’t know better he would have assumed the surrounding laughter was his own for it penetrated so deep into him it could have come from his soul. "Why should I make it quick when I can enjoy agonizing snap of your bones?"
--"Have mercy."
--"All other snakes would, but I’m no ordinary snake. I am Kess."
--With his fading breath, Carter tried a futile scream to warn his long time friend, "Ken--"
--Kess choked the very word away, as if it was his own to do what ever he pleased. "I will have my revenge, and no one will stop me. Not even you, my little red friend."
--The world began to grow dark as the bright colors of the glorious day faded and dulled. It seemed with each snap another shade of the world disappeared, forever. The small bird’s last thoughts were of his love, for no matter how much the colors of the world faded the brilliant hues of her wings would never leave him. For not lack of breath would drive her image from his soul.
--"Take care, indeed," said the serpent with a hiss.
--Kenjara was waking up. Slowly. Tambako tried to keep her attention by talking to her. "Have I thanked you for agreeing to help me?"
--"Only a million times," she said. Her head suddenly snapped up like she had remembered something. "Oh, I wonder if we’ll see Carter."
--"Who?"
--"He’s a long time friend of my mother. He comes by here in the morning everyday, I’m just usually not up early enough to see him."
--"Is he another jaguar?" asked Tambako.
--"Oh, no he’s just a silly little red bird, but one couldn’t ask for a better friend."
--"I can’t wait to meet him."
--A few moments passed as Kenjara sharpened her claws on a tree. "So who are we waiting for?"
--"I’m suppose to meet a friend here. He asked me to last night."
--"Who?"
--"Kess."
--Kenjara looked at the ground. "Hmm, why do I know that name…"
--As if being called, Kess dangles down from a nearby tree. "Good-morning Tambako, lady. I am glad you’re here."
--"Of course, I promised," replied Tambako.
--"Why who is this?" asked Kess.
--"Oh, this is Kenjara."
--Tambako’s friend gave a little bow. "Nice to meet you, Kess."
--"The honor is mine," said Kess.
--"Where have you been?" asked Tambako.
--"Oh, you guys where later than I expected so I went off to get a little something to eat."
--"Sorry about that, someone didn’t want to wake up." Tambako gave Kenjara a glance. Kenjara only smiled. "But, she had agreed to help me. So, I think we should get on our way."
--"Wait!" shouted Kess, a little louder than he wanted.
--"For?" asked Tambako.
--"Umm… last night I checked on my alternative. It can help you," quickly said the snake.
--"But, I already have Kenjara to help me."
--"Yes, with sign language, but what if the old tapir can’t see her gestures good enough."
--Tambako looked away. "I hadn’t thought of that."
--Kenjara walked close to her new friend. "I’m sure he’ll understand me."
--Kess hissed. "But, I have another solution. There is a cave that has a special fountain in it. The water from that fountain has the ability to clear one’s sight and hearing. The macaws usually drink the water just before the courting season so they can hear each other’s calls."
--"That sounds perfect," declared Tambako.
--"Yes, it does," added Kenjara.
--"Indeed, it does. So, shall we go?" asked Kess.
--"Actually, I was hoping we could wait for a friend of mine," said Kenjara.
--"What’s his name, my dear?" asked Kess.
--"Carter."
--The serpent smiled. "A little red bird, perchance, with a high spirit?"
--"Yeah, that’s him."
--"He was just here. He had to leave. He was twittering something about being in love," said the serpent.
--Kenjara gave a little hop. "Oh I bet it’s that cute little Vaneara, he’s been talking a lot about."
--"I think that’s what it," said Kess.
--"That’s great. Good for him. Mother would have been so happy that he finally found a mate."
--"Love is a marvelous thing, isn’t it?" asked Kess with a knowing grin.
--"I’m just sorry I missed him. Maybe when I get back I go looking for him."
--Tambako looked over at his new companion. "You’re coming back here?" He didn’t know why he had thought differently.
--Kenjara offered a look of thought. "Of course, I’m coming back. Why wouldn’t I?"
--"I don’t know, I just…" For some reason Tambako felt hurt. "Never mind."
--"Yes, let us get going," said Kess. "May I ask a favor, Tambako?"
--"Sure."
--"I was hoping you might carry me again this day. I'm stuffed and need time to digest before I do any harsh exercise," commented the snake.
--"Harsh?"
--"Walking is a harsh exercise for an old snake like me."
--"Alright I guess so, come on down."
--"Excellent, most excellent indeed," hissed the snake.
--Tambako’s muscles were aching. The lack of sleep and the constant weight of Kess was taking its toll on the cat. He wanted to lay down rest, but didn’t want Kenjara to see any weakness with him. Why was that?
--Tambako looked over at his new female friend. She was simply the most beautiful jaguar he had ever seen. Granted, he hadn’t seen very many, but the way the light danced off her fur, and how the glint in her eyes made his heart skip told him that he was right. Tambako continued to walk staring at the beauty beside him. Was this a dream?
--"Umm, kind jaguar?" said the snake into Tambako’s ear.
--The jaguar snapped back to reality and turned his head sharply so he could see his passenger. "What is it?"
--"You’re about to run into a-" Tambako looked forward just in time to run into a tree. "Oh, never mind. Just be careful please."
--Kenjara laughed at her friend, and declared him ‘a silly-jaguar’. They continued. Kenjara bounced lightly on her feet and looked around with enthusiasm. It was like she had never traveled very far from home before.
--She hadn’t!
--Despite his effort to watch the trail, Tambako’s gaze constantly returned to his female companion. He was getting really tired. Kess noticed and whispered in his ear, just quiet enough so that Kenjara couldn’t hear. "She is a lovely one, isn’t she?"
--Tambako nodded.
--"Just look at the slick figure. See the way she smiles at you every so often?" asked Kess. Tambako was silent. Kess gave a small laugh. "Ah, and I’ve noticed the way you heart skips each time she says your name. Don't be shocked, I can feel you heartbeat when I’m wrapped around you, just like all my victims." Tambako shuddered causing Kess to give a hidden smile. "You know what it is? Love. I know it all too well. Especially with females."
--That made Tambako turn his head to look at the snake. He was about to speak, but Kess was faster. "Watch where you are going! Don’t speak, she’ll think you crazy for talking to yourself."
--Tambako was silent. The snake shifted forward, placing this mouth right next to Tambako’s right ear. The reptile’s tongue tickled the cat’s ear was he spoke. "Yes, I’ve seen this before. It was with your father, Dran." Again Tambako shuddered, it was someway the snake said his father’s name. "He had the same look when he glanced upon Janess."
--Tambako couldn’t help it, he blurted out, "What?"
--Kenjara looked down from the sky and said, "Excuse me?"
--"Oh, I just though Kess said something," replied the jaguar.
--Kess raised his head up. "Yes, I did. We are almost there, just turn towards the setting sun now. It isn’t much father, I promise."
--"Okay, I’m enjoying the journey anyway," said Kenjara. "Oh, and Tambako."
--"Yes?"
--She smiled. "You are indeed a silly cat." Tambako returned her grin.
--Kess settled down next to Tambako’s ear. "Yes, your father had feelings for that young girl’s mother," he whispered. "I could see it in his eyes."
--Tambako shook his head, trying to get the snake and his words away. But, Kess was going nowhere. The snake said, "Don’t worry. He was too much a gentleman to act upon his emotions. The fool wasn’t willing to share his heart. No, he had his quest. Obviously he found another, and had you. I could never understand that cat. Too noble and too smart for his own good."
--Kenjara jumped suddenly from the path. "I’ll be right back. Wait for me here?"
--"Of course," said Tambako as he watched the jaguaress disappear into the jungle’s bushes. With her gone, Tambako turned suddenly. Kess was thrown from the cat’s body and landed on the ground. Tambako pinned the snake jump bellow the head. "Now listen here, Kess. I won’t listen to you speaking badly about my father. I don’t care if he had feelings for Kenjara’s mother, he loves my mom. So, if you want me to leave you out here on your own, I will, you keep quiet. Got that?"
--Kess hisses and gasped for air. "I understand." Tambako’s paw raised from the snake. "I hold your father in high regard. I told you he saved my life. I was just thinking of how much you resemble him. I just don’t want you to make the same mistake he did. Tell her how you fell."
--Tambako was about to speak when Kenjara returned. "What’s going on?"
--Kess spoke quickly, "Oh, I just wanted to stretch a little. I’m ready to get back on, Tambako." He almost told him no, but his better judgment wouldn’t allow him to.
--Reluctantly the jaguar kneeled down and let the snake back onto him. "Ready?"
--"Of course," replied Kess.
--Kenjara bounced over to her friends. "Look what I found." The jaguaress opened her paw to reveal a small white flower. "It’s a Crisium. They’re very hard to find. I was luck to find this one." She reached up and placed the flower behind Tambako’s right ear. "Perfect," she declared. Then she stepped forward and smelled the flower, rubbing her face deep against Tambako’s. "It smells lovely."
--Tambako smiled a grin as white as the flower. "Thank you." The perfume of the flower slowly drifted to Tambako’s nose. It was an admirable smell, hinting towards the aroma of world at sunset. "It’s wonderful."
--"They call it the Night Smile for its smell and appearance. I’m glad you like it." Kenjara turned and began to walk down the trail.
--Kess leaned over and smelled from the flower. He sneezed and pulled back. Tambako thought he heard Kess say, "Like you father, indeed," but he allowed it to be just the wind.
--The journey continued quite opposite to Kess’ promises. Each "Just a little bit further," from the snake seemed to mean at least another mile. The sun was close to the ground and the journey still hadn’t ended. Tambako’s entire body ached from the long day and the constant extra weight from the snake. He wanted so badly to just curl up and take a nap. Each paw that fell to the ground, grabbed on, and refused to let go but Tambako pushed on, promising his tired feet it wouldn’t be much further.
--"Are we even close?" asked Kenjara. She was getting tired as well.
--Kess smiled. "Yes, we are. It should be right around that corner." The snake pointed with his tail.
--"This better be it, Kess. Or we’re quitting for the day," said Tambako.
--"I second that," added Kenjara with a yawn.
--"I assure you it is just around that bend. Go faster so we can get this day down with," said Kess. "Kenjara, you lead."
--"Okay," she replied, and took off at a short run.
--Tambako had to fight to keep up. Why did they need to run this last bit? His muscles were screaming for him to stop. Suddenly pain surged up. The jaguar winced as his body demanded he stop. He began to limp as he followed Kenjara. "Maybe we should stop, I need-"
--"There it is!" exclaimed Kenjara. She stopped and waited for Tambako to catch up.
--There it was, right where Kess indicated. The cave was gigantic, stretching wide across the trail before them. The large dark opening resembled a mouth, one that was quite ready to eat two little jaguars and a snake. The cave was no only dark, but it seemed to draw light from the objects around it. Even the trees that surrounded the cave seemed to pull back in fear of being eaten by the menacing opening. The air was cold and still. Tambako’s mother had warned him about still air; the last thing that should stop moving was the Winds.
--"It this it?" asked Tambako, hopeful that he might be able to get Kess of his back.
--The snake replied, "Yes," and slithered off Tambako’s back. The jaguar sighed in relief.
--"Looks scary," said Kenjara as he moved closer to Tambako.
--"I agree, are you sure this is the right place?"
--The snake smiled. "Oh, this is the right place. Looks can be misleading. It just looks bad because it is so late. I do apologize, the trip took longer than I expected."
--"I’m glad we made it," said Kenjara as she yawned again. "Let’s go inside in the morning."
--"NO!" shouted Kess.
--Tambako looked curiously at his companion. "Why do you say that?"
--"Umm, because I just wanted to see this day have a proper ending. We did come all this way, and I was hoping to see the fountain today."
--"It will still be there tomorrow," said Kenjara as she settled to the ground. "We’ll sleep right here and make sure the cave doesn’t go anywhere." He took strength from her grin.
--"No, you mustn’t," said the snake as he snapped his head around in thought.
--"Why?" asked Tambako.
--"Umm, the fountain may be dry tomorrow."
--"What?" questioned Tambako as he fell from his feet. The ground was hard but the jaguar had never felt anything as soft, except maybe Kenjara’s fur. He had to fight falling asleep.
--Kess spoke rapidly, "The macaws will come to drink tomorrow, and the fountain will run dry for another year."
--"But I thought the macaws didn’t court for another three months," said Kenjara, letting her eyes droop.
--"Not in this part of the jungle. We have come along way. The macaws court here at the same time the Crisium, or Night Smiles, bloom. The flowers only bloom during a few hours, that’s what makes them so hard to find. I wouldn’t have remembered all this if you hadn’t found one. Yes, Night-Smiles, know I remember their name. For all the male birds smile tonight with thoughts of the tomorrow. We must go tonight." The snake shook his head. "How could I forget the Night-Smiles?"
--Tambako stood and gave the snake a vicious look. "I hope this is worth it." The jaguar walked over and bumped Kenjara. "Come on, let’s get this done and over with."
--Kenjara opened one eye. "Are you going to wake me like this everyday?"
--Tambako’s heart leapt at the thought of everyday with Kenjara. "It’s okay, you can stay out here. Kess and I will go find it?"
--Kenjara slowly stood. "No, it’s okay. I’ll come. This better not take long."
--"Not much longer, my dear. Not much longer, at all," said Kess.
--The cave was dark and so cold the two jaguars kept close for warmth. Kenjara also stayed close to Tambako so she could lean on him and almost fell asleep. She mumbled into his ear. "I’m so glad I met you, Tambako."
--"And I you," said the jaguar as he yawn. Water dripped from the ceiling and the cave smelled of decay and death. Neither jaguar noticed, they were too exhausted.
--Kess was leading, his tongue dancing in and out. He slid happily along as if he was right at home. "Come, come. There will be time for talking later."
--"Tambako?" asked Kenjara, her eyes all but closed.
--"Yes?" Tambako’s muscles began to moan again against the extra weight of Kenjara.
--"I don’t know if it’s just that I’m worn out, but I feel I should tell you something. Tambako, I…" Her words drifted away as she approached falling asleep.
--Tambako gave her a little shove. He wasn’t sure what she said, but he replied, "I feel the same way."
--Kenjara smiled. "Good, then we can…"
--"Come on, stay with me," said Tambako.
--Her eyes opened a little. "I’m alright. You want to hear something strange?"
--"What’s that?" asked Tambako. His muscles felt like water, ready at any moment to leave him and disappear into the small cracks on the cave’s floor.
--"Oh, I was just think about something my mother said."
--"Yes?"
--She yawned. "Just a story…"
--Tambako kept talking to her, trying to keep her awake. "About?" It was hard, for he felt fatigued himself. It wasn’t a normal feeling of being tired, it was almost like the cave was draining him of what little strength he had left. Tambako had never felt so tired in his life. The feeling was beyond the agony in his muscles, it reached deep within him pulling even at his fur.
--"About a cave. My mother told me once of a very dark cave that could make one fall asleep and never wake up." She gave a little laugh.
--"That sounds like what we have here," he joked.
--"Want to hear another strange thing?"
--"Sure."
--"You know the Crisium?"
--"Yes?"
--"The Night-Smiles."
--"Yes?"
--"I think my mother was the only one that called them that. She had unique names for everything."
--"So?" he asked.
--"I wonder how Kess knew about them."
--"Maybe you mother’s name got around. Maybe he overheard it."
--"Yeah… but I don’t think he knows sign language… My mother told me about them during one of those times we weren’t talking… I think she made up the name so I could remember the signs for night and smile," she said, pausing every so often to fight off sleep.
--Tambako’s mind didn’t want to respond. He knew what she said meant something, but what? "So, he lied to us about them being like the macaw’s grins?"
--"I guess so."
--"But why?" he asked.
--"I guess he really wanted to come into the cave."
--"What for?"
--Kenjara responded with only mumbling as she nodded off.
--"Kess?" called Tambako.
--Before the snake could respond, the cave opened into a huge chamber. The cave’s ceiling soared high into the air. Tambako couldn’t even see the top of the cave for it was so high. Trees could have grown to their full height and not have tickled the ceiling. The sides of the cave also grew, spreading far apart. The chamber was almost as wide as the Blue River. At the room’s center was a large lake, and from is sprang a fountain of water. From what Tambako was seeing, not all the macaws in the world could drink that fountain dry.
--At the lake’s side was hundreds of skeletons. The bones sat collapsed at the lake’s edge, doomed to forever drink of the cold water. Tambako gasped, and Kenjara fell to the floor, deep asleep.
--Kess turned around and smiled. "Welcome to the Cave of Forever Silence, son of Dran," said the snake. Tambako looked at Kenjara and debated joining her in slumber. "Who ever enters the cave is doom to sleep forever, and to never leave."
--"Why have you brought us here?" asked Tambako as he stumbled towards the snake.
--"Its actually quite obvious, but is also obvious that your nothing compared to Dran. You really haven’t figured it out?" Tambako only continued to advance on the snake, he felt bad about leaving Kenjara. "Revenge," declared the snake.
--"What did I ever do to you?" asked the jaguar.
--"Not you, fool. Against you father."
--"You want revenge against my father?"
--"Of course."
--"But he saved your life." Tambako tripped over a large bone. It wouldn’t be so bad just to stay on the floor. The ground was made up of nice soft dirt. Tambako yawned and closed his eyes. No, he had to go on! The jaguar stood, he was almost upon the snake.
--"Yes he did save my life but at the cost of my pride, reputation, and complete humiliation. I was trying to trick him, but instead he out smarted me. He got me caught in my own trap. And then he saved me from it. I wish everyday he had let me die, for he was the only one to ever out trick me." The snake hissed. "Still to this day people tell the tale of how Dran the jaguar out-tricked the mighty Kess. Everyone feared me once, but know they only laugh at my name."
--"I won’t let you do this. We will escape," said Tambako.
--"It takes the strongest to escape from the Cave of Forever Silence. It takes one full of energy to survive the cave. One that hasn't done any traveling for the day, one like me. I tricked you and you right into my trap, you carried me and tired yourself out. You are both now too tired to escaped the cave." The snake laughed, letting the shrill noise echo around the cave. "You are young… Young and foolish!"
--Tambako pounced at the snake. Kess easily dodge the lazy attack. "Pitiful," said the snake. "I may not have been able to kill Dran but his only son will do."
--The jaguar remained on the ground where he had fallen. "How do you know I’m his only son?"
--Kess gave a sharp laugh. "He never told you about his curse? He never told you about his journeys? Ha, Dran is a bigger fool then I thought. Why would he tell his family about his past?" Tambako only moaned. Kess continued, "Your father is a fool, and I can’t wait until he hears about his son’s death." The snake smiled. "You, and that pretty friend of yours, will rot here and I will survived to watch Dran cry. I always knew Dran was a failure, but I never thought he would be so stupid as not to tell his own son his destiny."
--"No! That’s not true, we make our own destiny." Tambako turned and jumped on the snake. He pinned the reptile underneath his body. "I told you not to speak of my father like that!"
--Fear gripped Kess. "What, you should be asleep by now! You can’t still be up! Get off me!"
--Tambako bent down, opening his jaws wide. "I won’t let you hurt anyone else," he declared as he moved to deliver the fatal bite.
--Kess pulled out from underneath Tambako just in time to avoid being bitten. "You can’t still be awake! That’s impossible. Never-the-less, you can't win, you will never be able to outsmart me, never." Tambako turned and jumped at Kess. The snake dodge, his body still full of energy. Tambako tumbled to the ground. The snake moved close. "If the cave won’t kill you, I will." The serpent pulled back and prepared to strike. The snake dived towards the near-asleep cat, his fangs ready to bite into the cat’s neck.
--The jaguar turned sharply and caught the snake on the head with his paw. The snake was sent flying towards the edge of the lake. Tambako pulled himself to his feet and he walked towards his foe.
--The bones from the various skeletons raised around the cat. The jagged foreign bones sat around him like bushes and branches. The pale white pillar reached out like hands at the jaguar. It was a jungle of bone like in this nightmare. The remains of so many dead discouraged the young feline.
--Tambako tripped on an unseen something. His chin bounced hard against the ground, causing his vision to blur. He closed his eyes to regain his normal sight. His eyelids refused to open. He was trapped in the darkness created by this own body, locked away by his own desire to sleep.
--The dreams began to came, offering him joy in his slumber. He was standing on a small patch of blackened earth, quite contrary to the lush green around him. There was Kenjara! In his mind, she waved to him and smiled. Slowly the darkness faded into a world of color, smell and taste. She was still there, standing in a field of long grass, beckoning him to join her. The smells of a fresh day assaulted Tambako’s mind. He wished he could feel the grass tickle his paws. All Tambako needed to do was join her.
--The image of Kenjara spoke, but there came no words. Tambako could not hear her. Again and again she called out towards him, and each time no noise came. Actually there was no sound at all. It was completely silent! It was beyond silent for there didn’t even exist the noise to break it. Tambako was surrounded by a void of silence.
--Eventually a noise came. It started quietly as a thumping but the noise grew louder. Still it was only a thumping. Over and over the noise beat growing ever louder. The noise continued. Tambako wanted to scream as the noise grew from a tap to a thunderous explosion. It sounded as if the world was ripping apart to the beat of a drum.
--Tambako knew that noise... Where had he heard it before? It was a heartbeat! Not a normal heartbeat for it pumped so loud that everything must have heard it. There was something else about the noise. Tambako figured it out, the deafening noise was his own heart beating slowly.
--The image of Kenjara still called to him. Still he could not hear her, for his own heartbeat was making that impossible. He wanted so much to hear the words as they left her lips. What was she saying? All he had to do was walk further into the field and he could hear.
--Tambako lifted his foot; he was going to join Kenjara on the field of grass, but then she stopped talking. Tambako paused. She was only smiling. Kenjara raised her arms before her and began to sign. Even though all Tambako could hear was his own heart thundering away, he could still understand what she was saying. He didn’t know many signs but did recognize three important ones,
--"I…"
--"Love…"
--"You!"
--Tambako roared! The dream world faded from his mind. The loud noise of his heart disappeared. He was back in the cave. He opened his eyes and stood. "Kess!" he yelled.
--The jaguar continued towards the lake, and where Kess had landed. Every so often Tambako would slip as a bone would fail from underneath him, each time he stood back up. He found the snake pulling himself out from underneath a pile of bones.
--The serpent cursed at the jaguar. "Why won’t you just die?" Tambako moved closer. Kess backed away towards the lake. "Now, Tambako, don’t do anything foolish." The cat remained silent. Kess stopped suddenly. The snake turned and looked at the lake. He was only a foot away. "Curse you," he shouted.
--Tambako prepared to pounce on his enemy. He crouched back. His foot slipped as a bone bellow his right leg snapped. The cat crashed to the floor only a few feet away from the snake.
--The snake smiled. "Not much longer. Soon you will fall asleep forever."
--Tambako tried to stand, but failed. His belly was pressed tight to the floor. Before him was Kess, to his left was a large tusk from an elephant’s skeleton. To his right was a skull, a jaguar’s skull as pale and white as the flower Kenjara had given him. Tambako had never seen a jaguar skeleton before. He didn’t like it. The skull’s hollow eye mocked Tambako. It gave him a perfect grin of all it’s teeth, looking as if it wanted to say, "Join me."
--Suddenly an image of his own skull appeared in his head. Would anyone ever find his remains? He doubted it. No matter how horrible of a thought it was, he still couldn’t move. Than another image came. This one was of Kenjara’s skeleton. This made Tambako jumped to his feet once more.
--Kess hissed. "This is not fare! No one is that strong willed."
--"Good-bye, Kess" said the cat.
--"I just need a little longer and the cave will finish you for me." The snake began to move to Tambako’s left. The jaguar stepped forward and caught himself on the tusk. The giant bone rocked and swayed on its side. The end Tambako was standing on fell sharply to the ground. The other end shot high into the air.
--Tambako let his paw off the tusk and it rocked back to its normal position. A plan came to the cat and he smiled.
--"What are you smiling about?" demand Kess. "You’re about to die." The snake moved closer towards the tusk. Slowly the snake put his coils on the far end. Tambako glanced down at the large elephant horn. "Oh, I see," said Kess. He pulled himself off the tusk. "You were going to push that end when I got on this one. You wanted to launch me into the air and hopefully into the lake. You knew the waters of that lake would kill me, didn’t you? You see all these skeleton’s at the water’s edge and figured the water was poison. It is. Sorry, but you can’t trick me like that!" Kess smiled to himself. "No one out-tricks Kess."
--Tambako jumped at the snake and collapsed to the ground before the tusk. He could not stand. Kess smiled as slithered away from the cat. He circled before Tambako. "You failed. I have won today. Dran will be most disappointed with you," said the snake. The serpent move slowly slid around and under bones, taunting his fallen enemy. "You almost had me, you realize that. All I had to do was step on that tusk and…"
--Kess stopped talking as he slid underneath the jaguar skull. He entered the back and crawled out underneath the teeth of the feline skull. He paused halfway and looked up at what he was crawling beneath. "Well, look at this. It’s another cat! You’ll look like this in no time. Just as pale and featureless as this one." Kess began to laugh as he looked closely at the skull he was below. "I wonder what Dran’s skull will look like? Or better yet, how about Kenjara’s?" The snake began to hiss with laughter. He turned back to have one last look at his defeated victim.
--Tambako was gone!
--Kess looked around frantically. All he saw was a blur of fur as Tambako jumped over him. Before the snake had a chance to react, Tambako drove the skull into the ground, pinning the snake underneath it. Kess howled in pain as he tried to free himself from beneath the skull. He couldn’t the teeth presses hard into him. He was trapped!
--The soft dirt under the serpent cushioned his decent and the teeth of the skull didn’t penetrate his skin. But the two longer side teeth dug into the soft earth too far for Kess to dislodge and even if he did, the effort required would tire him sufficiently for the cave's fatal effect to take hold.
--"You tricked me!" he shouted. "You evil jaguar, you tricked me! Hisssss. You knew I wouldn’t fall for the tusk, you knew I couldn’t resist taunting you with the jaguar skull, you knew I would get underneath it, and you knew you could trap me with it. Curs you to your grave."
--Tambako smiled. "I would be lying if I said I hadn’t though of it."
--"Set me free!"
--"Why?"
--"You can’t leave me here to die!" shouted Kess.
--The cat yawned. "I’m sorry, I couldn’t understand you." His grin broadened, "Too bad, for you, that this fountain doesn't clear hearing."
--Kess screamed and tired again to squirm away from the skull. "No, no, no… NO!"
--"Good-bye, Kess," said Tambako.
--"A curse upon you."
--"What ever…"
--Tambako turned and walked off. He paused and gave one finally glance back at Kess and the skull that pinned him to the ground. It looked like the skeleton jaguar was biting through the snake. And, for some strange reason, the hollow eyes of the jaguar skull didn’t seem so empty. They had a purpose now.
--"I will get my revenge," shouted Kess as Tambako once more walked away.
--"If you say so, Kess." He was much too sleepy to continue arguing with the snake.
--Tambako slowly drifted back across the chamber. He tripped a few more time, but still found the strength to stand. It seems like it took forever to reach Kenjara. He stood above her and watched her sleep peacefully. He watched as her body slowly raised and fell as she breathed.
--Tambako smiled and gave Kenjara a gentle push. She didn’t respond. He pushed her again, harder. Still, Kenjara slept. He shoved her. Still no response... He shouted her name, and she still slept.
--The laughter of Kess filled the cave. The serpent shouted, "At least you won’t be able to save your beloved Kenjara. Remember, it was I that killed her."
--Tambako ignored the snake and shook Kenjara violently. Still the jaguaress slept. "Come on, Kenjara. Wake up, please." He reached down and gave her a kiss. "This is for your own good," he whispered. Tambako leaned down and bit Kenjara’s ear.
--The female jaguar jumped to her feet. "Ouch!"
--"Aaahrrkk…" The snake sounded as if he had choked, "Than I leave you with one last bid of bad news, Tambako, son of Dran. I killed Carter, her beloved friend. If I can not kill you, I will put as much sorrow in your lives as I can."
--Tambako almost turned to attack the snake, but he would not give him that satisfaction, instead he only replied with.
--"Thank-you, Kess, now we wont have to worry about him anymore."
--Kess screamed, his last chance at any type of revenge had just been denied to him. He then went into a frantic dance-like struggle, trying with everything he had to break free. Bending over to Kenjara, he whispered,
--"We have to get out of here."
--She yawned. "Why?"
--"This is the Cave of Forever Silence."
--Kenjara’s eyes snapped open. "Oh no!"
--"We have to hurry, I don’t know how much longer I can stay awake," said Tambako.
--The two began to run. Kess’ laughter quickly followed behind them. They exited the chamber and continued back towards the entrance.
--Tambako fell. He collapsed behind Kenjara. The jaguaress stopped. "Come on, Tambako, we need to go." Tambako didn’t move. She raced back to him. "Get up," Still no response. She bent down and bite his ear and still no movement. "No… Tambako, get up," she cried and still nothing.
--She sat at his side. "Get up," she pleaded.
--Tambako remained asleep.
--She pressed her face deep against his. "Please, Tambako, please get up." She began to cry, "I can’t loose you. I just lost mom… I refuse to loose you. Please, wake up." Her tears fell upon his head and rolled into his eyes. "Please Tambako. We need to save you mother. Can’t you hear me?"
--She continued to cry. Tambako remained motionless.
--Her tears flowing rapidly. "This can’t be happening. I can’t loose you both. I need you Tambako. I…" Her words were washed away by her tears.
--Tambako moaned. "I thought you said you were done crying?"
--"Tambako! You’re awake!" Kenjara jumped forward and helped him to his feet.
--"Hey, it’s been a long day. I was just taking a little break."
--"Well, enough of that. Let’s go."
--The two continued together. They leaned against each other for support and walked slowly. Kenjara leaned on Tambako, Tambako leaned on Kenjara. One foot after another, they walked together. Eventually they reached the entrance. They continued walking until they reached the forest's edge.
--"Tambako?"
--"Yes?"
--"You can wake me any time you want from now on. Okay?"
--"And you won’t be grumpy?"
--"I promise."
--Together they slept deep into the night. At that time they were one, using their minds only. Their dreams mixed and blended with each others creating a world all their own, a place without any 'Kesses' or 'Sicknesses' a place of rest and… love…
--They awoke late the next morning, neither complained about the time, neither had anything to complain about… Almost… Tambako still had Kess' words about the death of Carter in his heart, but he would hold them until their first priority, his mother, was solved.
--The two traveled slowly, and slept often. While they weren’t sleep they talked. A long the way Kenjara taught Tambako new sign language. It wasn’t easy, but she was a great teacher.
--Soon the jungle became familiar to Tambako. They quickened the pace to where they might find Bakuo. It had been a long journey, but a fun one.
--"So, where do we find this Wonder Tapir?" asked Kenjara.
--"Well…" Tambako jumped to the side just in time to avoid Bakuo. "He usually finds me."
--"Ouch," declared the tapir. He stood up from the ground. "Hmm, something usually breaks my fall."
--"Bakuo," declared Tambako. He rushed forward a hugged the tapir.
--"Do I know you?" asked Bakuo.
--"I’m Tambako and this is Kenjara."
--"What? No, I’m Bakuo," replied the Tapir.
--Kenjara smiled. "Oh, I see the problem."
--"Problem? No I make wishes," said Bakuo.
--Kenjara laughed. "Let see if I can do this." Kenjara moved in front of the tapir. She raised her paws and began signing. Bakuo remained silent and watched. When Kenjara was finished she walked over next to Tambako.
--"Oh, I see," started Bakuo. "Luckily, I know sign language. I learned it so I could give anyone, even the deaf, their wishes. I must apologize, Tambako. I misunderstood your wish. I did think it a little strange, but you’d be surprised what I’ve been asked for."
--Tambako smiled.
--Bakuo continued. "Here, let me fix the problem." The magic returned around the tapir, just like before, and again, suddenly all disappeared. "There, that’s all taken care of. Sorry about that."
--"Thank you," said Tambako.
--"What, no I don’t need supper," replied Bakuo.
--Kenjara stepped forward to sign for Tambako. The jaguar stopped her. "Here, let me try," he said. Tambako stepped forward and signed, "Thank you."
--"Oh, I get you," said the tapir. He signed back, "You’re welcome."
--Kenjara signed, "We should be going."
--"Okay, you two young ones take care. I think I’m going to quit my wish granting days," said the tapir with a smile. "Actually, I’ll do one more for you two. Anything you want?"
--Tambako thought for a second and then signed. His only wish would be for Carter. Tambako told Kenjara to wait for him at the forest's edge after she had told him she already had everything she needed.
--With a few quick signs, he asked the tapir if he could somehow revive the small bird. The tapir looked supprised,
--"Of course I can do that, I'm a Wonder Tapir remember? But…" and he signed the remaining portion to the cat. Tambako smiled. How wonderful, he thought.
--Bakuo stepped forward and hugged Tambako. "The best wishes are those that we have already been given, we just need to recognize them." He let go. "Now, you two go off and have some fun. Oh, and please do come by and visit me sometime."
--"We promise."
--"Thanks-you," he gave a small bow to each saying, "Tambako, Kenjara."
--Tambako returned home to find his mother a jaguar once more. Even better, she was completely cured of her illness. Tambako hugged his parents tight and introduced them to Kenjara. The rest of the days was spent as Tambako retold their story.
--Darn was so proud of his son and told him so. He agreed to tell his son his entire story as well someday soon. Tambako’s mother cried with joy. She thanked her son a thousand times for helping her, and hugged him a hundred.
--It was great to be home, it was great to be a family again.
--It was late the next evening when Tambako found himself alone with Kenjara. The two sat together on a small hill in a field of tall grass. The sun was setting and the stars were starting their dance. What a journey it had been.
--The two spoke at the same time, "I was wondering…"
--"Oh, you go first," said Tambako.
--"No, you."
--"Umm… Okay. I was wondering what you wanted to do next." He smiled at her.
--"I wanted to return back to my home at Hawkbirth Rock."
--"Oh." Tambako felt his heart fall.
--"I was… Umm… Hoping you would come with me…"
--Tambako’s head snapped up. "Really?"
--"Yes."
--"I’d love to. Yes, I think I will come with you."
--She smiled. "Great."
--"What were you wondering?"
--"Oh." A small laugh. "I was wondering what you wanted to do next."
--"Be with you."
--"I’d like that a lot, Tambako."
--"I think I would too, Jara."
--The two jaguars laid their backs to the ground and stared at the night sky together. There was a moment of silence, as they listened to the Winds howl.
--Tambako spoke, "Can we wait a little while to go back to Hawkbirth?"
--"Sure, why?"
--"My father says he has a few things to tell me tomorrow. Actually, a few things to tell us both."
--She looked over and smiled. "Of course we can wait."
--"Thanks."
--Kenjara yawned. "I think I’m getting tired."
--"So do I."
--Kenjara's paws raised into the air. She signed to the stars, "Good-night, Mother. Where ever you are, I love you." She looked over at Tambako. He looked at her. She signed to him, "And, I love you."
--He replied with sign, "I love you too."
--They smiled together and looked back up at the stars. And there they sat together in silence and discussed their future.
--"Well look at that," said Jay.
--"What?" asked his mate.
--"Out there in the field. It’s Tambako, and he has a female with him." The macaw spread his wings.
--"That’s wonderful," replied Jay.
--"What are they doing, it looks like sign language."
--"I think it is."
--"What good is that?" asked Jay with a hop.
--Jen looked at her mate and smiled. "Saying everything you can’t express with words."
--"Well there’s nothing I can express with word."
--"I know, dear. The entire jungle knows that."
--Jay laughed. "So, you want to go annoy them?"
--"No, let’s let them be."
--"Then what else do you purpose we do?" he asked.
--Jen leaned over and kissed her husband.
--"Oh," he said. He snuggled close to his wife. "What do you suppose those signs mean?"
--Jay translated, "I’ll be there to wake you up everyday."
--"I didn’t know you knew sign language. Wake you up everyday, what is that suppose to mean?"
--"It means, it none of your business." With that Jen shoved her mate from the tree. She quickly jumped off the branch and flew after him. Together they swirled and dance the night away.

-2 days to future-

--As Tambako and Kenjara worked their way toward… home, Tambako looked into the trees.
--"What'cha looking for?" Kenjara asked, inquisitive as always.
--"Actually," he pointed to a red blur in he sky, "That!" Kenjara focused her eyes on the red flash and gasped.
--"Carter!" she yelled out, "Carter…" The red blur back-winged to a stop. The two cats exited the forest to meet the small bird.
--"Your alright!" announced the red creature.
--"Of course, why wouldn’t we be?" He looked confused,
--"Didn't you meet with Kess?"
--"Well… yes we did, he tried to trap us in The Cave of Forever Silence, but Tambako here," and she indicated the creature to her right, "got the best of him and he's resting peacefully in the cave himself." Carter gasped, "How'd you know?" she finished.
--"Because I was attacked by that foul creature and I thought he had killed me, but I awoke the last night to find myself in a tree stump! Guess he wasn’t as cold hearted as I thought."
--"Guess so." Interrupted Tambako.
--"Oh! Please forgive me, my mind has been wheeling with the thoughts of what that terrible creature might have done to you. I am Carter, red bird of Amazonia, friend to a friend." He bowed his wings parallel to the ground.
--"My name is Tambako, pleased to meet you Carter." He gave the best bow he could, but it was his first and he felt strange, so he stopped quickly.
--"Were going home, Carter, would you like to join us?" Kenjara offered.
--"Actually, no. Nothing personal, you see, I would like to get back to Vaneara as soon as possible, now that I know that your safe." Kenjara giggled,
--"Alright, will I see you tomorrow?" She questioned.
--"If you're up early enough, and I'm… allowed to come see you." He grinned.
--"Take care, Carter. We will be up tomorrow to see the day off right."
--With that, the two cats and bird took their separate ways.

--It is said that conflict breads conflict, but if that's true then the opposite must be true as well…

--Love breads love!
 

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