Africa.

I sit, crouched in the brush, eyes wide, breathing heavy. I try to slow my breath so they won’t find me. Innnnn, outttttt, shhhhhhh. I am repeating this mantra in my head over and over. I’m kicking myself for wearing a bright red cardigan and my favorite perfume today. They will probably find me. Actually, why was I even here in the first place? Coming into the earnings of my great aunt, who had suddenly died, was the worst thing that could have happened to me. I had imagined exploring the world. Going to places undiscovered. My uncle had advised me to buy a place to live and settle down. But, why? I had never been out of the country before. Let alone, Africa. Ohhh, why did I have to choose Africa?? Paw thumps on the ground bring me out of my thoughts. I lower myself even more, trying to be as close to the ground as possible. Slow, even breathing now I’m trying to plan my escape again. I was with a tour safari group a few hours ago. Until our small jeep was ransacked by a pack of she-lions. Africa was in the worst drought in history and the prey was dying off. These big lions were trying to find anything they could. Our jeep tire had become lodged in a mud plot, a small pond had evaporated. We were absolutely stuck. The four of us in back were instructed to sit tight while the driver got out and tried to free us. He told us we were in Lion-Land. All of the sudden he jumped back in the car and told us to get down! As I was bending over, out of the corner of my eye, I saw five, giant lions surrounding us. One of the gals, I assumed the leader, had jumped up on the driver’s side window and smashed her paw through the glass. The driver tried to dodge her and jump to the passenger side. But all at once, she crashed her entire head through the rest of the breaking glass and pulled the driver out by his neck through the small entrance, encased in her sharp teeth. He didn’t even make a sound. At least it was quick.

Under the brush now, I can see four of the five lions approaching, raising their noses to the air to catch my scent. They were relentless. They wouldn’t stop. I was the only one left. They were about ten paces away from me. I carefully look around again, there was just no where left to go. I had successfully averted them three times now. The leader of their pride I could tell was growing angry. I knew she wouldn’t stop until she had all five of us. One for each of her family with her -they had to survive. I knew behind me was a large, stone wall of sorts. I was in the brush at the base. To my sides, the rock face ran at least thirteen yards in both directions. Too long a distance to dart away, too high to climb. I was doomed. Suddenly I can hear the paws stop. I look forward again, and I can see them all standing in a close group. The alpha turns her head behind her and makes a sound to her partners. They reluctantly disperse back in the direction we all came. Then she turns her eyes straight. Right at me. I try to stifle tears as she starts inching closer, and closer…closer. She has a look, a look that says she’s got me now. I know I shouldn’t run because that would make it all the more exciting for her. I decide to stay there and accept my fate. I lay on the ground and curl up. This time I let my tears fall. I hear her. She’s very near. Small sticks from the brush crack under her tremendous weight. I feel her hot breath on the back of my neck and she starts smacking her teeth. She‘s purring. How insidious.

This is it….

*THUD*

The noise was so startling, I jumped to all fours. The lion lay there, in front of me -still and…dead. Dead? What? My eyes dart around her body in a snap to try and grasp what just happened. I see in her neck a small needle-like stick. I cautiously move just a bit closer to see it clearer, and I immediately back off. Just the smell makes me woozy. Some gravel falls behind me from the top of the rock. I freeze. My eyes wide. I collect that whoever saved my life is probably up there. Who is it? Do I dare turn around? I decide to look, I always have to look. Maybe after-all I will buy a house and settle down when I get home…if I make it home. I’m done with adventure for this lifetime. I take a deep breath and turn around. There, at the top of the rock is a very large man. He has the biggest muscles I have ever seen. He has paint all over in beautiful yet daunting symbols, and he’s completely nude besides a small cloth. He looks at me with wild eyes. I wonder what he’s thinking. I don’t want to find out. I get up and I start running as fast as I can. Anywhere. When I get some distance I decide to glance behind me. Bad idea. The man is right on my tail. How did he get down so fast? I try to pick up my pace, but I’m too tired. I decide to call it quits. I collapse on the ground to accept my fate, once again. He catches up and stops above me. He pulls my shoulders and makes me sit up. His eyes are the most stunning brown I have every seen. So much story in them. I search his face for any emotion of what he might be thinking but there’s none, he’s a statue. And just like that he picks me up and slings me over his shoulders. I make a huge fuss, kicking and screaming. He has a hard time holding me, so he drops me hard on the ground. Ouch. He shakes his head at me, I knew that was the universal sign for “knock it off.” I wouldn’t, though. He slings me up again and I repeat my fit. This time I feel his hand and a tremendous pressure on my neck. Things start fading to black and sleep is coming fast.…where are you taking me? Ohhh why’d I have to choose Africa?