Page 65 of Beasts of Mine

I stopped, the amber-eyed leopard told me, looking deeply proud of the accomplishment.

“Because Cat threatened you,” I replied to the amber-eyed leopard, glancing toward Cat as he deliberately turned his attention elsewhere. The darker leopard approached the platform and inspected the steps before raising his head toward the shelter.

You are sleeping here? the darker leopard asked me, his green-gold eyes traveling over the cot visible through the open side.

“For a few nights. Photography assignment. Good wildlife activity,” I told the darker leopard, stepping aside so he could see more of the platform. His attention moved toward the thicker forest southeast of camp.

Water? the darker leopard asked me, turning his head back while one ear remained angled toward the trees.

“There's a stream that way. Mara walked me to the route,” I told the darker leopard, pointing toward the marked side trail.

Come, the darker leopard told me, rising and starting toward the vegetation as if that single word explained his entire plan. I blinked as his tail disappeared between the first broad leaves.

“Excuse me?” I asked the darker leopard, remaining beside the platform while he stopped and glanced back.

Come, the darker leopard repeated, his green-gold eyes fixed patiently on me. The amber-eyed leopard immediately started after him, while Cat rose more slowly from beside the platform.

“This feels suspiciously like I'm being kidnapped by wildlife,” I told all three leopards, reaching for my camera anyway because apparently that wasn't enough to stop me.

Bring water, Cat instructed me, waiting beside the trail while his gaze dropped pointedly toward the bottle hanging near my pack.

“Bossy,” I told Cat, grabbing the bottle and clipping the radio securely onto my waistband while he gave me one long, unimpressed blink.

The darker leopard didn't follow Mara's route, which bothered me for approximately thirty seconds until I understood why. The marked path curved downhill through a muddy section I'd already noticed during the walk in, while he kept us on higher ground, weaving between massive roots before rejoining the official route closer to the stream.

The alternative was drier and considerably easier.

“You knew a better way,” I told the darker leopard, stepping over a fallen branch while he stopped several feet ahead and waited for me to catch up.

Yes, the darker leopard replied, watching until I reached him before continuing at the same measured pace.

“Of course you did,” I muttered to the darker leopard, shaking my head as I followed. The stream appeared between the trees a few minutes later, narrower than the creek where I normally met Cat, with water clear enough to reveal pale stones along the bottom. The darker leopard continued upstream rather than stopping at the first access point, and I followed with Cat behind me.

The amber-eyed leopard disappeared into the vegetation to my right and reappeared less than half a minute later carrying a round yellow-orange fruit between his teeth. He trotted toward me and dropped it directly in front of my boots with enough pride in his posture that I nearly laughed before I even understood what he was doing.

“Is this for me?” I asked the amber-eyed leopard, crouching beside the slightly bruised fruit while he sat in front of me with his chest lifted.

Yes, the amber-eyed leopard told me, raising his head as though he'd just accomplished something requiring tremendous skill.

“Do I want to know where you found this?” I asked the amber-eyed leopard, turning the fruit carefully in one hand while checking the skin for insects.

Tree, the amber-eyed leopard replied, looking completely serious as his tail curled around one hind leg.

I stared at him.

“Very informative,” I told the amber-eyed leopard, sliding the fruit into the outer pocket of my bag while trying not to smile.

His tail flicked immediately, and he looked absurdly pleased that I'd kept it. The darker leopard continued upstream until he reached a narrower stretch where water moved quickly over clean stone.

Better, the darker leopard told me, lowering his head toward the stream before glancing at the firm bank beneath my boots. I crouched beside him and immediately noticed that the soil was more stable here, the water clearer, and there were far fewer tracks along the edge.

“Less animal traffic,” I told the darker leopard, studying the mud while I unscrewed my bottle.

Yes, the darker leopard replied, settling onto his haunches as though pleased I'd noticed.

“You brought me somewhere safer to collect water,” I told the darker leopard, finally understanding how deliberate the detour had been.

Yes, the darker leopard repeated, tipping his ears forward as though that should have been obvious from the beginning. I glanced toward Cat and found him entirely unsurprised, then looked toward the amber-eyed leopard, who was attempting to smell the fruit he'd just given me through the side of my bag.