After I hunted and found nothing I chose to go back to the rocky hillside where my village stood. When I returned I went to the square of the village to drink the nectar all of us drank when we turned eleven, the nectar was supposed to help summon a spirit animal. I did not expect an animal. I sat in a chair with my bow under it and waited for my turn. The woman in the green cloak called,”Terra!”
I walked up and she said “Terra kneel to receive the nectar.” I kneelled to receive the nectar, it was thick and sweet like honey. The woman then whispered, “You may stand.”
I got up, there was an odd feeling in my chest, the sky turned dark, I heard an elephant trumpet in the distance and all of a sudden there was a bolt of purple lightning and a panther as dark as the night sky appeared. The clouds turned back to their normal wispy white color but the panther sat calmly were it was. I walked up to it, it’s bright yellow eyes looked into my soul and it stood, I touched its head and the sensation in my chest faded away. I hugged its neck and said quietly so only the panther and I could hear,” I will call you Zumba.”
When I return home my mother was stirring some stew and my father was reading on the couch. I walked through the door my mother chucked pans and pots at Zumba and my father threw his book at the poor panther. Because they did not come to see me drink the nectar, they did not know Zumba was my panther. I shouted loud enough for the village to hear,”Enough!” Zumba stopped trying to dodge the objects and sat by my side, calm as ever.
“Why did that wild animal follow you home Terra? Did you feed it?” My mother exclaimed.
“We told you not to feed the animals that follow you that will only make them follow you here!” My father scolded.
“Mother, Father when I drank the nectar I summoned a spirit animal!” I glanced at the huge black cat then back at them, "I named him Zumba, after brother to honor him and in a sense give him new life after he was killed by a lion when we hunted together.”
Father looked at the calm panther, I could see he was hesitant about trusting the large predator then he spoke,”Terra?”
“Yes,” I replied calmly.
“You can keep that beast outside of the hut”
“Bu-”
“I do not want to hear it. Either he stays outside or he goes”
My mother stood up for me and said,”Or he can go into passive as a tattoo.”
I had forgot about that, I rolled up my sleeve Zumba looked at me I could see sadness in his eyes.”Father he will not go into passive.”
My Father looked at him as if he were a piece of trash and said to me,” Then he goes outside.” My father got up a grabbed a thick rope tied it around Zumba’s neck and took him outside and tied him to a small tree. Zumba looked at me with sad and hurt eyes. I looked at him with the same eyes. I looked at my father then ran to my room and collected a large leather pouch from a chest in the corner of my room. I got some matches, clothes, some books,and some arrows. I got up to to eat some dinner and my mother was putting her special stew in some bowls then put them on the table.
We ate in silence then I said,”Why does he have to live outside I promise he will be good.”
Father replied, “Why did you name that mindless creature after the person that saved you from those lions.”
“Father!!!” I bolted to my room and waited til it was dark then I went to the the kitchen and shoved all the food I could in my leather pouch.
“He is afraid of your panther.”
I turned around and saw my mother, “Mother I have thought of this, I know this is best for Zumba and I but just a little secret you are my favorite parent.”
My mother smiled at me and said, “Your brother is still alive.” She opened her hand and a little hummingbird shot out, “This is bella your brother’s hummingbird. I went to see him drink the nectar and this little bird shot out of the clouds and onto his shoulders. She will take you to to him. Ok.”
The little bird sat happily on my shoulder. Then I smiled at my mother and than I left. I got outside to retrieve Zumba but he was got then I was pushed to the ground and Zumba rolled next to me ready to play I stood up and told him, “This is no the time to play ok boy, maybe later.”
We three traveled from night to mid-day that is when the lions attacked. We were entering the jungle when, a roar as loud as thunder rolled across the savanna then the lions appeared and started circling us I slid the bow out knock an arrow then I hit one of them now there where four. Bella poked the eyes of one of them and it bled to death then she got another lion. I shot one of the lions in the heart and it died quickly. Zumba fought the biggest one and it bled out.
I ran and ran far away from the savanna with the panther at my side and a hummingbird in my hair. I slowed down to rest and I heard, “You can stop running now you are safe now.”
I turned and there he was a tall young man stood there I embraced him and whispered to him, “I found you. I missed you so much. I love you.”
