RRR - Honey Gold Eyes and Tiger Cubs
Hey guys, long time, no write. Real life has been really busy and I’ve just not been feeling that spark from before. I am not sure how many more stories I will manage to write for the fandom, or how many people are even reading my stories, but I did want to contribute to the Tales of the Tiger 2023 (@talesofthetigerrr) event.
It’s really rough, and I am definitely out of practice, but I think it turned out ok in the end. Let me know what you think!
Bheem puffed up his chest, chubby fist tightening around his small wooden stick. He adjusted the small sling bag his Amma had given him that morning. He gazed around the tall trees, craning his neck as far back as he could to see if something looked familiar. His Nana was going to be mad Bheem had wandered away. Again.
But there had been a really pretty baby squirrel. He’d just wanted to see it closer. He didn’t realize he had wandered from the group until he lost sight of the animal. And now he couldn’t find them. Oh, they were going to be very angry.
Bheem bit his bottom lip, hard. He was eight years old! He could find his way back! He was one of the best trackers. Peddanna had said so to his Nana. Bheem had heard him, even though he was actually supposed to be asleep. Peddanna said he could even become the Protector one day. Protector! Him!
Bheem had had to curl into a ball to keep from shouting from joy! Everyone knew the Protector was the strongest and bravest and cleverest and coolest person in the tribe! Everyone. So, if Bheem was going to become a Protector, he was not going to be scared. Or cry. And when he made his way back to the village all by himself, Amma would make him a big plate of laddu all for him.
He tried to retrace his steps. He had come from the direction opposite of the sun, so if he walked toward the sun, then maybe he could find his friends. He walked forward, eyes darting between the trees to see if he could catch sight of anybody. He focused so hard on what was ahead, he forgot to also pay attention to his feet.
Accidentally stepping onto a slippery patch of mud, Bheem flailed as he fell roughly to the ground, hissing as rocks scratched his arms. He pushed himself up, falling back on his butt. He bit the inside of his cheek harder as he ran a hand over his red arm, whimpering when it made pain shoot up his arms. Moving slowly, he brushed away the tiny rock and leaves still stuck to his arms and knees.
He took in a few deep breaths, wiping away furiously at the tears in the corners of his eyes. He was not going to cry!
He reached to grab his stick, slowly rising to all fours, and then stood up. He checked that nothing had fallen out of his bag. He took a few more steps, this time, eyes firmly on the ground in front of him till he reached a more well worn dirt path. A road! If the ground was so clear that means other people must come this way often! If he just followed it, he was going to go home!
Pleased at himself, Bheem started to walk down the path.
Which way was home? What if he was going further into the forest?
Nana always said it was dangerous to be alone in the forest at night, especially if you didn’t know that forest.
Bheem definitely did not know this part of the forest.
Bheem bit his lip as he swiveled his head both directions, trying to find a clue for which way led home. As he stood there trying to decide which way to go, he heard a weak whimper.
Could they be lost too? Bheem perked up. If he could find the other person, then surely between the two of them they could find their way home. Amma always said two heads were better than one.
“Hello?” Bheem called out.
Maybe they hadn’t heard him.
“Hello?” Bheem shouted, cupping both hands to make himself sound louder.
A couple of birds that had been resting on a nearby tree took off, but there was no response. Bheem didn’t think he should call out again. What if he woke up a bear? Bheem had seen a bear the hunters had killed. A bear would probably step on Bheem and not realize it.
Bheem chewed on his lip. What if the other person was also hurt? Bheem was not very big, he didn’t think he could help them much. But maybe they knew the way home! And he could go home and bring help!
Amma always told him that he should try to help people as much as he could though.
Decision made, Bheem squeezed his eyes shut and listened as hard as he could.
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