The young man could only remain silent.
He did not understand a single word Anindira was saying, yet his expression shifted slightly when he saw her brows furrow.
That small change was enough to trigger a response from Anindira—a sincere smile bloomed on her face, expressing her gratitude for the young man’s concern.
“Don’t worry!” Anindira exclaimed, patting his wrist as if reassuring him that she was fine.
Slowly, Anindira took the crushed leaves from him and rubbed them over her body.
From time to time, she winced, soft sounds of complaint escaping her lips as the sharp sting pierced her skin.
Eventually, tears began to fall.
Partly because of the pain that was difficult to endure, and partly because of the emotional burden she had been suppressing ever since she became lost in the forest that night.
The young man was startled when he saw Anindira crying.
Wearing a confused expression, he tried to lift her face and reached for the crushed leaves in her hand.
However, Anindira quickly clasped his hand with both of hers.
Her eyes were filled with tears, yet her lips carried a smile.
Her gaze looked straight into his eyes.
“It’s okay,” Anindira said, taking a deep breath.
“It’s okay…
Don’t worry!” she exclaimed while shaking her head.
“Hehehe…”
A strange laugh, somewhere between pain and relief, escaped her lips.
“It only hurts a little…
just a little…
It’ll heal soon…
don’t worry!”
She kept repeating those words, her tear-filled eyes continuing to look at him sincerely.
Deep inside, the young man thought,
I don’t know whether she’s crying because she’s in pain or because of something else.
I want to comfort her, but no matter what I say, she won’t understand it…
In the end, he simply moved closer and lifted Anindira onto his lap.
Slowly, his hand stroked her head.
He did not understand what the girl was feeling, nor did he understand her words, but he knew he needed to remain calm and stay by her side.
Anindira was surprised when she was lifted onto his lap, but the comfort was undeniable.
It soothed every tension in her body.
She was too exhausted to overthink anything.
She let her emotions explode, crying as much as she wanted, pouring out every grievance and frustration she had been holding back.
The young man remained silent, gently stroking her back.
Several hours later, after crying to her heart’s content, Anindira finally fell fast asleep on his lap, wrapped in a comforting sense of safety.
The sun began to reveal its rays, its warmth touching Anindira’s skin.
She blinked repeatedly as she slowly woke from such a deep sleep.
Her mind was still hazy, her thoughts turning as she tried to remember what had happened the night before.
The memory of herself crying and wailing in the lap of that strange young man resurfaced.
She blushed, imagining that her face would have turned bright red if her skin were fair, trying to hide the embarrassment that suddenly overwhelmed her.
She wished it had all been a dream…
But the lingering pain throughout her body quickly reminded her that everything that had happened last night was real.
Around her lay scattered fragments of dried eucalyptus leaves, silent witnesses to the young man’s simple treatment.
Even though her body still ached in many places, she could not suppress a faint smile. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Strangely enough, she felt that she had slept very comfortably.
Far from feeling the hardness of the tree trunk beneath her, she remembered an unusual warmth—the warmth of someone who had watched over her.
It was a comfort difficult to explain, yet it made her feel safe amidst the dense wilderness surrounding her.
“Mmmhh…
Ahh…
This feels nice…” Anindira murmured as she stretched her body and rose from her deep sleep.
“AH!…
Sir, thank you for last night—”
Her words stopped abruptly.
Her mouth remained open.
Her eyes widened so much they nearly popped out of their sockets.
Her heart raced violently, as if it wanted to leap out of her chest.
Hot blood rushed to her head.
Her breath caught.
Her lungs felt tight.
Her tongue went numb.
Her body froze, every muscle turning rigid.
In less than a minute, her face turned deathly pale.
Fear and shock exploded through her heart and mind.
Her eyes stared in disbelief at the figure crouched before her—a massive creature with blue eyes and jet-black fur that gleamed beneath the morning sunlight filtering through the leaves.
The scent of wilderness, damp earth, and animal fur filled her nose, making her grimace.
A black jaguar—larger than any jaguar she had ever seen in documentaries—sat calmly before her, its muscles taut and ready to move.
Its black fur shimmered darkly, like water hidden beneath shadows.
Its *Sapphire-blue eyes stared directly at Anindira.
Every breath it took sounded heavy, rumbling through the silent morning air.
“Ja-jag-jag…
JAGUARRR!!!”
Anindira’s voice was barely audible, trapped in her throat.
Her body trembled, not only from fear but also from the slightly chilly morning air touching skin still weakened by last night’s injuries.
She wanted to move.
She wanted to scream.
But her arms and legs were stiff, as though frozen by tension.
Every one of her senses confirmed the same thing:
This creature was not only huge and powerful—it was wild, and capable of launching an attack in an instant.
The jaguar slowly raised its head.
Its blue eyes glowed like *Sapphire stones amidst the forest shadows, while its fur shone with a dark black sheen.
It looked at Anindira calmly, yet its predator’s aura sent a chill straight into her bones.
Anindira stood trembling.
Her entire body shook violently.
How am I supposed to save myself?
she muttered inwardly.
I’m dozens of meters above the ground…
Ough!
Why did that man have to bring me up so high…?
I don’t know what to do in a situation like this…
THUMP THUMP THUMP
Her heartbeat thundered so loudly she could feel it in her throat.
Her breathing became ragged.
Her chest felt tight.
Drops of sweat began to form on her temples, leaving warm trails across her cold skin.
Her face looked pitiful.
Her lips trembled slightly.
What am I supposed to do now?!
she thought in panic.
Is there anyone who can help me?
Her eyes darted around.
Towering branches stretched high above.
Leaves swayed beneath a gentle breeze, their shadows resembling dark ghosts.
Only a few rays of morning sunlight pierced through the gaps, casting thin beams across the damp forest floor below.
Where is he?!
her heart cried out desperately.
Why did he leave me here alone?
That’s so cruel…
Was it too troublesome to keep watching over me?
At least say goodbye before leaving.
Please help me…
where are you, Sir?
GROAR!
A soft roar, yet powerful enough to shake the air, came from the jaguar before her.
Anindira jerked in surprise, nearly losing her balance on the slippery tree branch.
The predator’s blue eyes were now focused entirely on her.
Anindira held her breath.
Every nerve in her body tightened.
“Huh?!” she cried, her eyes widening.
The jaguar’s gaze sent chills across her skin.
There was something familiar about it, as though an instinct deep within her was telling her that this creature was not an ordinary predator.
She narrowed her eyes, trying to read the animal’s movements.
The forest felt eerily silent.
Only the jaguar’s low roar echoed among the branches, deepening the bone-chilling dread that surrounded her.