Night's Warmth

Chapter 2 - Awakening

The next day, the sky's rays illuminate through the windows of the living room. It hits me straight in my eyes when I open them just a tiny bit, quickly waking me up.

"Ah!" I quickly sit upright on the couch. I then yawn and stretch. I get up from the couch and look at the clock; It's around 9 AM. I drink some water from the kitchen and walk to my bedroom. As I open the door, I wonder how the tiger is doing.

I turn to close the door and when I turn back, I freeze. The tiger is awake and is sitting upright on my bed. It looked like he was checking his wounds, as I see his hands spreading in front of him. He must've heard me open and close the door as he stares at me with a surprised expression. I finally catch his eyes; They're dark orange, similar to topaz. I feel nervous but I try to speak.

"U-Umm.. H-h-"

*thud*

...

In the blink of an eye, the tiger suddenly pins me against the wall, snarling at me very loudly. His hands tightly gripping my wrists so painfully I could feel some of my bones breaking. The fur of the back of his neck rises. For some reason, I can't let out any sound nor let out any tears but I'm trembling strongly out of fear. As we both face each other, I could see his eyes display a combination of anger and fear.

The tiger slowly moves his face near me and I quickly turn my head to the side and close my eyes, prepared to meet my fate. I think to myself, "So this is what I get for treating a wounded tiger.."

...

...

Huh? Nothing happened? I slowly open my eyes and turn back to the tiger. I see him staring at me with eyes wide open, as if he's shocked by his own actions. I could feel his grip slowly loosening as he continues to stare at me with both astonishment and shock. Meanwhile, I'm confused as to what this tiger's thinking right now.

After what feels like an eternity, he lets go of me and I try to catch my breath as my heart beats so quickly and strongly. I quietly wince in pain because of my wrists. I look at the tiger, who's looking down at his body again, staring at the bandages around his body. I gulp nervously and take one step near him and try to talk to him again.

"A-Are.. you.. okay?"

The tiger suddenly turns back at me and grabs my shoulders. His large height towers over me and he looks down at me. Judging from his expression and demeanor, I probably remind him of someone he knows.

The tiger's grip tightens slightly on my shoulders as he studies my face intently. His eyes flicker with a mix of emotions; Confusion, suspicion, and perhaps a hint of recognition. I hold my breath, unsure of what he might do next.

After a tense moment, he releases his grip and takes a step back, his gaze still fixed on me. His voice, when he finally speaks, is deep and husky, but surprisingly calm.

"I... I am fine," he says slowly, his voice rough. "You must be the one who saved me.. Thank you... for your help."

I nod, relieved that he's not hostile anymore. "You're welcome. I found you outside my cabin last night... you were very injured."

I look at the tiger with concern. "Do you.. remember what happened? When I treated your wounds, it looked and felt like they were there for some time now.."

The tiger's brow furrows as he tries to recall the events. He shakes his head slightly, indicating his lack of memory.

"I... I do not remember much," he admits, his voice tinged with frustration. "Everything is... blurry. But I remember... pain. And fear."