A Touch of Death

Jagter (15)

For the past four months all I have done is train. The first couple of weeks were studying the connection to Magick then it was focusing on my connection with my gift then somehow combining them which took me a while to figure out. Then I had to use the Magick to manipulate my gift and use it as a lasso to drag it into a box consisted of a lot of mental work which was very tiring.

We were at the usual clearing and I was deep in my mind when something crashed into me losing my concentration and snapping my lasso in half, my snapped open to see a caracal standing on top of me.

“Delaney, don’t move!” Jack hissed.

I ignored him. Although I was still frozen, I noticed the caracal wasn’t attacking me, it was rubbing his head on my neck and purring. I heard footprints and heard Zahara curse in African. For a wild cat this one was pretty tame but then again it did look pretty young. It still had some kitten fluff.

I hesitantly raised my hand, everyone was yelling for me to stop and stay still but I ignored them all. I placed a hand on the caracal’s head and started to pat it. The cat’s purr deepened and it started licking my face.

Its scratchy tongue tickled my cheek and I laughed as it continued to lick my cheek. I sat up and the caracal moved lay on my lap, “What happened?” Zahara demanded

“I don’t know. One minute I was meditating next minute I was pounced by this cat,” I explained.

Zahara stared at the cat in wonder, “Why would a wild cat pounce you like this? Even if it is young, it is still wild enough to kill humans," Zahara said, "But he's not eating me!" I protested.

Everyone stayed silent as they watched Caracal lay on my lap and made itself comfortable. I looked up at Zahara, "What if she's like some kind of familiar?" I asked.

"Don't you already have a familiar kleintjie?" Zahara replied.

I nodded, "But what if she was, I don't know, a bonded companion?" I suggested.

Zahara's eyes widened with realisation, "There have been reports of wild animals bonding to witches. Most people just think it's just a hoax," Zahara explained. 

Jack was still staring at the caracal with wide eyes, “I think we should call it a day,” Jack huffed.

“I think that’s a good idea. Are you going to name her?” Zahara asked me.

I glanced at the content cat on my lap, “Jagter,” I murmured.

“A very suiting name,” Zahara complimented.

I smiled and glanced at the caracal, “Jagter, how do you like it?” I asked the cat.

The cat’s ears twitched and it looked up to me. It purred and crawled off my lap to sit beside me loyally. I scratched the caracal behind its black, pointed ears then stood up and walked with Zahara, “The caracal will disturb my people,” She told me.

“I know,” I replied solemnly.

She sighed, “It is not the first a wild animal has walked through our camp and besides, it is basically tamed because it has bonded to you,” She explained.

“How does the bonding work exactly?” I asked.

“From what I have heard the wild animal somehow forms a bond with the witch and some think that the reason the animal becomes tame so quick is because of the emotional bond that you two now share. So it feels human emotions somewhat and will be able to know who is a danger to you and who isn’t,” She told.

I nodded knowing it was difficult for Zahara to explain seeing as she had never witnessed it or heard much about it. When we reached the camp everyone stopped and stared at the cat that followed me.

They whispered to each other and I rolled my eyes. Zahara chuckled; it was still daylight so I decided to go to the rabbit fields. The training hunters usually went there to train. It also entertained the children, chasing them from hole to hole.

It was pretty awesome if I say. they had let the rabbits breed enough so that there was plenty for the training hunters to catch and still left enough for them to breed. Although the past few months they had been breeding like crazy so there were way too many rabbits and not enought hunters in training.

Jagter followed me and when she spotted the rabbits sprinting from hole to hole she instantly crouched. I walked up to hill not too far away and sat down to watch. I laughed as Jagter continued to chase the rabbits.

I think Jagter wasn’t that hungry because she wasn’t really putting much effort into it, just playing really. Someone sat beside me and I saw it was Nala, “Hey,” We greeted each other.

“Jack told me what happened, I think that’s the closest he’s come to a heart attack,” She joked.

We laughed and watched Jagter chased after numerous rabbits, “He’s come to known you like a daughter in the past few months,” Nala stated.

“And I see him as a second father and a very good teacher,” I replied.

Jagter seemed to have had enough and caught small hare and dragged it over not too far from us but far enough to eat in privacy.

“I think it’s pretty cool how you have a pet caracal,” Nala told me.

I frowned. Was Jagter a pet? Not really, I didn’t think of him as a pet. Even though I only met the cat not an hour ago I thought of the cat as a very loyal friend. I shrugged, “I don’t really think of Jagter as a pet. Witches never have pets, we have companions and familiars,” I told her.

Nala nodded, “I’m sorry. I should have known better, I’ve been introduced into the supernatural world for so long,” she apologized.

“Don’t be sorry. I can imagine being introduced into a world like this would be difficult if you’ve known normal all your life,” I told her.

“Not when the love of your life is beside you,” She admitted.

I smiled at her statement. She was one of the few humans who could take the information in and not go to the officials. A lot of witches have had to perform memory spells to make them forget. Those relationships didn’t last very long after that.

It started to get dark and we stood up to start heading back to camp, Jagter perked up and carried her carcass over further away from the rabbit fields so scavengers could eat the carcass without discovering the fields. Smart cat.

Jagter the jogged to catch up to us and leapt up onto my back. I squealed and laughed when Jagter curled herself around my shoulders. She was still small so she wasn’t as big or heavy as she was going to be when she’s older.

“Hop down Jagter,” I murmured.

She understood perfectly and landed on the ground silently to walk beside me. I went to get some dinner and some of the woman stared at Jagter, “Moenie bekommerd wees nie, sal sy jou nie seermaak nie, [Don’t worry, he won’t hurt you,]” I assured the woman.

She smiled but her gaze to Jagter was still slightly nervous. I went and sat next to Jack who was already eating next to Nala. Jack eyed Jagter suspiciously and I quickly grabbed his arm which made him jump.

Nala and I burst out laughing as Jack grew a brilliant shade of red, “It’s okay sweetheart,” Nala chuckled as she kissed jack on the cheek.

I watched as Jack wrapped his arm around Nala and she welcomed his embrace, jack placed a small kiss on Nala’s head and I looked into the fire burning brightly.

I wonder how my family was doing at home. Had the triplets come into power yet? Had any of my sisters started dating? Had Adrian moved on?

The last question put a heavy weight on my heart. I don’t think I’d be able to forgive myself if I saw Adrian with another women, we might had only been dating for a couple of weeks not even that but he made me happy and he was someone that I needed in my life.

If he even forgave me.

I bided everyone goodnight and Jagter followed me to my tent and slept at my feet.

--------------------------------------

Afrikaans translations

Jagter - Hunter

Sterk een - Strong one