Page 12 of Tiger's Voyage

“Maybe not, but clean hands make me feel better.”

I handed them the giant box of chicken and took a biscuit out of the basket, buttered it, and spread marionberry preserves over it. Leaning back against the tree, I watched the dappled sunshine through the leaves as I slowly ate my biscuit.

“How far to Phet’s? It only took Ren and me a day or so to hike out there last time.”

“We’ll have to sleep in the jungle tonight,” Kishan answered. “We’re on the far side of Suki Lake.”

“Oh. Hey! Save some chicken for me!” I cried as the box was quickly emptying. “How can you two wolf down that much chicken in just a couple of minutes?”

“Serves you right for staring into space,” Ren said.

“I wasn’t staring into space. I was appreciating the environment.”

“I noticed. Gave me a good opportunity to ‘appreciate the environment’ myself,” he smirked, teasing me.

I kicked his foot. “You should have at least saved mesomething.”

Ren grinned and handed me one of the last drumsticks. “What did you expect? Two or threetinychickens to feed two hungry tigers? We need something at least the size of … what would you say, Kishan?”

“I’d say something the size of a small buffalo.”

“A small buffalowouldbe good or maybe a goat or two. Did you ever eat a horse?” Ren asked.

“Nah, too stringy.”

“What about a jackal?”

“Nope. Killed several though. They liked to hang around and wait for me to be done with my kill.”

“Boar?”

“At least one a month.”

“What about a … are you okay, Kelsey?”

“Can we change the topic of conversation?” The chicken leg drooped in my fingers. I stared at it and imagined the animal it used to be. “I don’t think I can eat this anymore. In fact, no more talk about your kills at the dinner table. It’s bad enough I had to see you two hunt.”

Ren chewed and teased, “Now that I think about it, you’re just about snack-size. Don’t you think so, Kishan?”

Kishan studied me with a teasing glint in his eye. “I’ve often thought Kelsey would be fun to hunt.”

I glared at Kishan. He bit into a biscuit and winked.

Ren pulled his knees up to his chest and laughed. “What do you say, Kelsey? Want to play hide-and-seek with the tigers?”

“I don’t think so,” I said haughtily as I carefully cleaned my fingers with another wipe.

“Aw, come on. We’d let you have a head start.”

I leaned back against the tree trunk. “Yes, but the question remains … what would you do when you caught me?”

Kishan buttered another biscuit while he tried unsuccessfully to hide a smile.

Ren leaned back on his elbows and tilted his head as if seriously considering the question. “I guess that would be up to the tiger that caught you. Wouldn’t you say, Kishan?”

“She won’t run,” he said.

“You don’t think so?”