Chapter 7
Emily
I had said my goodbyes to everyone including Hunter. My year had started, and I was excited to say that even now I was getting to live. I had never thought that I would be heading to Russia, or even out of North Huntingdon. I board the plane thinking of what I might find when I get to Russia. Everything will be so different, and I might not even find someone to teach me everything. Snow leopards are very secluded, and are kind of solitary. The only time you will see more than one snow leopard is when it is a mother and her cubs. So this was a long shot, but I might find that one cat who will help me.
The plane takes off, and I drift to sleep. I was not going to stay up for twenty hours, that is ludicrous for any human being to be able to do that. Once asleep, I have the dream with the snow leopard and the mountain lion once again. I get to the same place where the snow leopard and the mountain lion lock eyes, the mountain lion having clarity written all over its muzzled face. As the snow leopard watches, the mountain lion shifts into Hunter. He slowly walks towards the snow leopard, "Emily, is that you?" He sounds amazed, as if I had changed that much. But even I could see that the leopard in front of him was larger, and beautiful. The black crescent spots caressing darker shades of grey, and its fur was long and well kept. The leopard steps back at the human in front of it. "Em, it's me. Hunter, I know you remember me." Clarity rose on the leopards face, as it quickly trots to Hunter, purring loudly. He began to laugh as the leopard knocked him to the ground and started to rub its face against his. "Well you are a happy kitten aren't you? What got into you?" The leopard shifts, and it's me. "Well I just thought it has been a long time, so I thought I would surprise you." We both laugh, and then he wraps his arms around me. In the dream I was looking in his eyes as I asked, "So what happened to that one year? Did you loose me?" He snorted, "You made it impossible. This was the first time I had a sliver of your scent in five years. I even went to Russia myself, and still couldn't find you." We continued to talk, and then things got serious. We looked at each other, eyes locked when Hunter asked, "Are you ready to accept this?" I nodded, and the dream ended.
I wake up to a flight attendant in my face. She stated that we had landed and it was time to get off the plane. With a groan I uncurl my limbs and sleepily walk toward the exit. I am Hunter's mate, but the amount of time it would take would be hard. But I had to make this game he had planned hard for him. After all, I was supposed to be helpless. With a smirk I look for the people Mark had contacted. Apparently this was a former pack member that had found his mate in Russia, and decided to stay. I have no idea how much of this is true, but Mark has shown me nothing but hospitality since we sorted everything out.
I walk into the baggage claim and all of the sudden, I am confounded by a large bear hug. I stand crumpled in the mans embrace as I am lifted up and twisted around. I tap his shoulder, "Excuse me sir, are you the friend of Mark?" His accent was thick, almost hard to understand, "Indeed I am, and you must be Emily. My name is Tyler, and I will be your guide to the Altai mountains." I smile as his scruffy beard brushes against my face as he puts me on the ground once again. "Sorry about that. It is just your scent is driving me crazy! It is like a cool breeze from the mountains mixed with pine needles. I have never smelled anything like it, not even from other snow leopards." "You have met others? Where?" He began to laugh a hearty laugh, "The mountains, where I am taking you. I am friends with an old snow leopard up there. I have asked and she has agreed to help you understand your power."
I felt giddy, so giddy that I wrapped my arms around Tyler and pull him into a bear hug of my own. He hesitated and then returned my embrace, "Well at least I know you are excited about this whole thing. And I told her about the deal you have with the mountain lion, and she says that you will be out of here within a month or two. That way, you can make the game fun for the mountain lion. And show him what you as a snow leopard can do." I chuckle as we break from our embrace, "Well I don't know about being out of here in a month, but I can certainly try."
