Page 133 of Tiger's Voyage

Over my shoulder, I said, “Take your victory and shove it up your muzzle, tiger nose!” I headed back to my room to the sound of his quiet laughter.

The next morning, Kishan knocked on my door. I’d been dreaming about Ren as a white tiger, hunting me. I sat straight up in bed as Kishan opened the door, and then I shouted, “I amnota gazelle!”

Kishan laughed. “I know you’re not a gazelle. Though your legs are almost as long. Hmm. Itwouldbe nice to chase you and stare at those legs.”

I threw a pillow at his head. “Why did you wake me up?”

“One—it’s already nine. Two—we’re at the green dragon’s island. So get up and get dressed, Kells.”

19

The Green Dragon’s Hunt

We were anchored near a big island. Warm sandy beaches stretched as far as the eye could see, but farther away from the shore, the island was thick with trees of all types. Colorful birds flew overhead. It was warm, much warmer than the blue dragon’s fog-covered island. This island was full of color and sound. We could clearly hear the screech of monkeys and the call of birds.

Ren soon joined us and set our weapons down on the table. He walked over to stand next to me.

Kishan said, “Listen. Can you hear them?”

“Hear what?” I asked.

Ren touched my arm. “Shh.” He cocked his head and closed his eyes.

I listened hard but could hear only the cries of various animals.

Ren finally opened his eyes. “Cats. Panthers, do you think? Leopards?”

Kishan shook his head. “No. Lions?”

“I don’t think so.”

I couldn’t hear anything except monkeys. “What does it sound like?” I asked.

“It’s more of a scream than a roar,” Ren explained. “I’ve heard it before … from the zoo.” He closed his eyes and listened again. “Jaguars. They’re jaguars.”

“What are they like?” Kishan asked.

“They look like spotted leopards, but they’re bigger, more aggressive. They’re smart. Calculating. They have a strong bite. They don’t go for the jugular, they bite through the skull.”

“I’ve never heard one before,” Kishan said.

“You wouldn’t have,” Ren continued. “They’re not native to India. They’re from South America.”

Nilima and Mr. Kadam joined us as we began to strap on our weapons.

Mr. Kadam questioned, “You’re thinking about heading through the jungle, then?”

“Yes,” Ren replied as he secured my quiver of golden arrows. “We’ll take the boat over and head through the jungle entering … there.” He pointed at a section of trees that looked identical to all the other trees to me but he insisted the terrain would be easier in that spot.

Mr. Kadam followed us as we made our way to the bottom of the ship. “If you need help, have Miss Kelsey send a flare with her power.”

“Right,” Kishan agreed as he leapt into the boat and held out his hand for me.

Mr. Kadam opened the wet garage and lowered the boat into the water. After it was in, Ren dropped off the side of the ship and landed agilely right next to me. Kishan started the motor, took the wheel, and spun us around to face the beach. I almost fell as the front of the boat rose out of the water. Ren reached out a hand to steady me, but I pushed it away and wrapped an arm around Kishan’s waist instead. When I looked back, he was glaring at me.

Ren leapt out when we reached the island and dragged the boat up onto the beach. Just as my feet touched sand, I heard a voice. It was rough, gravelly, and as it rumbled in my mind, the trees shook. It felt like a tiny earthquake.

Who sets foot on my island?