The Explorer and the Doctor - John and Lily Dolittle

Chapter Two - Kingdom of Pirates

The journey from England to Monteverde took three days time.  Luckily, John's seasickness had subsided - Lily's ginger root had definitely helped with that. He was even able to enjoy part of the journey, not having to spend it lying in a hammock with his stomach churning like the waves beneath them, carrying them to their destination.

Monteverde was an island paradise fit for a king - and it was.  A king of pirates and bandits, that is. 

"Welcome to my home!" Lily announced as their ship approached the docks. A colourful marketplace traced through the streets leading up to an elaborate stone palace at the centre of the island.

The ship docked, Lily sailing right up to the boardwalk with ease, and a group of men dressed in colourful attire, their skin covered in paint and tattoos, greeted them as they disembarked.  

"Hola  Papa." Lily strode open-armed towards the bald man in golden yellow robes at the front of the party.  She kissed her father's cheek.

"My daughter, you have returned. Welcome home."

"Thank you. And I've brought a very special guest-" She turned and gestured to John. "Papa, this is Dr. John Dolittle, and some of his friends from his sanctuary. Doctor, may I introduce my father, Rassouli, King of Monteverde."

"Hello, Your Majesty," said John, wondering if he should bow.  "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Rassouli regarded John through a narrow-eyed gaze. His eyes were already dark in colour, and appeared even darker under the paint that covered his face. Maybe he was just squinting under the harsh sun. John was already sweating and they had only just arrived on the island! He would soon have to shed his jacket.

"Hello, Doctor. Welcome to Monteverde."

"Thank you."

"I trust you had a good journey."

"Yes, very good - besides a little sea sickness on my part. But your daughter knew exactly what she was doing out there, so we were in good hands the whole way!"

"Yes, she is a very talented explorer, my Lilya." Rassouli put an arm around her, smiling affectionately.

"The doctor is here to help Barry," Lily explained.

"Ah yes, my beloved tiger cub. He's been acting strangely lately," Rassouli explained, just as Lily had. 

"Well, I'm happy to take a look at him," John said, holding up his bag of medical supplies. 

"Very good, I would appreciate if you would.  Stay as long as you need, Doctor. We will ready a room for you in the castle."

"Thank you, that's very kind."

Rassouli and his band of men turned and retreated back to the castle. Lily gestured for John and the animals to follow.  "Come on. I'll take you to see the tigers while your room is being readied."

"Thank you." John followed her through the grand gates of the palace and into the grounds.  Lily had to stop a few times to wait for him to catch up to her, smiling at his obvious wonder at her home.  A fenced-off area acted as a tiger enclosure. A lone cub lay in the beating sun.  John would say he appeared sad.

"This is Barry, our youngest cub. He hasn't been eating or sleeping as much, or as active, instead lying around like you see now. And he's been isolating himself from the other tigers, his family."

"Well, I'll have a look." Despite the heat, John donned his lab coat as usual when dealing with animals, and carried his medical bag through the enclosure gate. 

Lily watched as he slowly approached the tiger cub. She heard a low growl, like a rumble in the back of one's throat.  At first, she thought Barry had noticed the doctor and had growled in response to being disturbed, but then she realized that it was Dolittle himself doing the growling.

Barry's head peeked up as he watched Dolittle approach, listening to the man continue growling before growling back. 

"He's definitely upset about something," Dolittle called over to inform her. "Let's see if we can find out what..." He crouched down so that he was now level with the cub.  Barry was now on his feet and was approaching Dolittle. He growled; Dolittle growled back. Dolittle growled; Barry growled back.  They were speaking to each other. 

Lily watched in awe for a few minutes, unable to pull herself away from the enchanting scene, before rushing into the palace.

"Lilya,  my dear, the doctor's room is prepared for him whenever he is ready," her father informed her when she found him.

"Gracias, Papa. You must come, quickly! You must see this." She grabbed his arm and practically dragged him outside to the enclosure. Now she saw that Dolittle was sitting cross-legged on the ground, Barry sprawled out in his lap while the doctor stroked his head.

"He's speaking to Barry," Lily exclaimed, softly as to not interrupt the doctor's work. "It's incredible! Excelente!"

After a few more minutes, Dolittle scooped the now sound-asleep tiger cub out of his lap and lay him on the grass in the shade.  Barry looked much more relaxed now than before.  With that, Dolittle crept back out of the enclosure.

"He is under a lot of pressure," he explained to Lily and Rassouli.  "His mother is constantly telling him to be more like his siblings, and so he never feels good enough.  I believe that if we start some therapy, I can help him overcome this family issue."

Father and daughter exchanged an impressed glance.

"Well, I must say I am impressed, Doctor," said Rassouli.  "No wonder none of us were able to get to the bottom of this.  I cannot thank you enough.  We shall have a feast in honour of your arrival and to thank you for assisting my tiger cub. Come, the celebrations begin now!"

Lily showed John to his room, leaving him some time to get settled.  Later, he dressed in the colourful robes provided for him and headed down to the dining hall. 

Lily, dressed for the feast as well, couldn't help but chuckle as Dolittle appeared, looking slightly uncertain in his new clothes.  "Here." She placed a string of colourful beads around his neck.  Then she held up a small bowl of paint. "May I?"

"Yes, certainly." He closed his eyes as she dipped three fingers into the black paint, gently tracing them down his cheeks. "Now you look like one of the crew!"

"Thank you, I'm glad," he chuckled.

"I hope you're hungry," she told him, leading him into the dining hall. "Papa has prepared quite the feast in your honour!"

"Well, that's very kind of him. He's been very hospitable." He didn't add, 'For a pirate king'. Lily was a pirate too, a pirate princess,  and she was one of the sweetest people he had ever met. 

"Ah, Doctor, so glad you could join us." Rassouli said.  "Traditional Monteverde dress suits you." Lily could tell that her father was only saying this - he clearly didn't think the clothing suited the doctor. He was only trying to be kind. 

Rassouli sat at the head of the long table, of course. Lily sat to his left, John sitting beside her. On Rassouli's other side sat two lionesses, like guards almost.  

"Your father certainly loves his wild cats," he remarked.

"Yes, he definitely does," she agreed. "This is very exciting," she told him.  "We don't usually have guests."

"Well, I'm honoured, truly."

"And we are honoured to have you."

They touched glasses before both took a sip of their respective drinks in their own little private toast to each other. 

(Her home is an island of pirates - Lily is honestly so cool!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :))