When Mollie woke up, a quick glance at the clock on her wall told her that it was later than usual. She wasn't exactly an early riser, but 10 AM was very late. It was a quick scramble to get out of bed and ready for the day ahead of her-but by 10:30, she was walking over to the gardens with a piece of toast hanging from her mouth as she put her hair up. She slowed her pace when she saw Nabila and Jerry standing in the center of the gardens, obviously mid-conversation. It wasn't exactly a secret that they both liked each other, unless you asked them. Completely oblivious, both of them.
Mollie thought it was rather cute. She eventually stopped walking, leaning against the wall and electing to finish her toast before heading to work. The gardens needed tending, and she knew Nabila couldn't do it all on her own. Besides, if anything was dying, there weren't too many people around that could see Mollie give them a little boost.
"Hey guys." Mollie waved lightly as she walked past Nabila and Jerry, trying to make a beeline for the shed.
"Hey, Mollie wait up a sec!" Jerry called out when she was halfway to her destination. She stopped, turning around just in time to see an awkward wave goodbye before Jerry hustled over to her. "The King needs to see you."
"Oh, what's up?" She asked, eyebrows knitting together. It wasn't like Ezekiel to send Jerry out to get her, he usually just caught up with her on his evening walk. "Everything alright?" Jerry glanced around.
"C'mon, he'll tell you." He didn't give her a chance to object, turning and starting towards the throne room. Mollie huffed, shooting an apologetic look at Nabila-unsure if she could even tell from this distance-and hurried after Jerry. In a few minutes, Mollie was walking down the slopped center isle.
"What's wrong?" She asked, instantly noticing shiva's absence.
"Shiva has fallen ill." The worry was apparent in Ezekiel's voice, as well as painted across his face. "I...I don't know what do to do." Mollie knew a bit of Ezekiel's real backstory, that he used to be a zookeeper and didn't just find Shiva in the woods somewhere. If he thought something was wrong, then she knew it must be true.
"Where is she?" It was a quick walk to the small porch that over looked the Royal gardens, Shiva laying on her side in the sun. A loud purr rumbled from the tiger as Mollie sunk to her knees on the wood floor. "What do you think it is?"
"She must've eaten something, it's all I can think of." Ezekiel's kingly voice had dropped now that they were alone. While Mollie did love all the theatrics that came with her home, she was still privy to the real Ezekiel.
"Well, she feels warm but if she's been in the sun long that doesn't answer much." Mollie sighed, her hands resting in the soft fur. "I do know a mix of herbs that's helps stomach pains, but as far as I know it's only ever been used on, well...not tigers." She sat back at thought for a moment, taking a mental inventory of what she knew she had back in her room. "I think I have everything."
"Let's try." Ezekiel nodded. Mollie quickly set off, going over the recipe in her head as she quickly routed her way back to her room. In only ten minutes she'd returned to Shiva, the herbs mixed onto some chicken she'd grabbed from the kitchen. She left the bowl sitting near Shiva before heading back into the theatre. Ezekiel was back in his throne, pensively staring into the middle distance, while Jerry was snacking on one of the pomegranates from the gardens.
"I put it out for her, now she's just got to eat it." Mollie said, making both men aware of her presence. "But I mean, my mom gave it to me the same way when I was a kid and it worked. I don't see why it wouldn't now."
"Thank you, Mollie." Ezekiel laid a hand over his heart. "Your efforts are greatly appreciated by the King."
"Nice work, dude." Jerry gave her a thumbs up and a wide smile.
"It's no problem." Mollie waved her hand. "It's not hard work at all, really you could do it yourself if I wrote the recipe down." She scratched her head, briefly looking for a pencil and paper before remembering that didn't matter at the moment. "Anyway, if you need anything else, you know where to find me." With a final wave, Mollie ducked out the back. She leaned down, petting Shiva's head as the tiger licked her chops, having just devoured the entire plate of chicken.
YOU ARE READING
THE ROMANTICIST | C. GRIMES
Fanfictionmollie mccloud had only ever seen the human world through a tv, until said world crumbled and she set out into it. after finding and joining a human settlement called the kingdom, mollie has plenty of learning to do. along the way she makes friends...
