Jagannatha, Bebinn, Jaya, Eir, Aditi called to her young ones, We go — now.

They glanced to the ledge when they saw her tension and moved towards the safety of the forest without question, watching the figure on the cliffside as they moved in file. Aditi was last to leave, never allowing herself to lose sight of whatever it was that had suddenly appeared. Somehow, she knew her life was about to change, forever.

The family of tigers retraced their path towards their lair, moving swiftly as they headed first towards the river and then turned towards the distant ocean. Halfway to the ocean they came across a wide field of boulders — deposited as glaciers from a distant ice age melted—running towards the river and across, creating a series of rapids and a shallow crossing point. Following a well-used trail, they travelled parallel to the field and gingerly crossed the river over the boulders as they moved towards their hunting ground.

Why are we moving so fast? Bebinn asked. What was it about what we saw that makes you so nervous, Aditi?

It was some time before she responded, leaving the others to wonder just how afraid they should be. They had never seen their mother fearful of anything, until now.

I don’t know, she finally answered. It’s just that there is a story that I have not yet recounted, one I barely remember. In fact, I did not intend to tell it since it seemed so foolish to me. It has been told for many thousands of cycles of the moons and nothing has ever come of it. I didn’t believe anything ever would; now it seems I may be have been wrong. I will tell you more later if I recall more, but the essence of it is that many thousands of cycles past, a people came to this Island from a distant place.

You mean the K’Tar? Jaya interrupted.

No, not the K’Tar. The K’Tar have always been here. These people came here through the tunnels behind the waterfall — the same waterfall we check on every day when we visit the pond. They are called “The Ancients” and legend is that they are from another world. They arrived under desperate conditions and barely survived their experience with the Shakarri. We killed them at every opportunity until they fled our home — they had become our favourite prey.

But how did we know that they were from another world if we were killing them? Bebinn interjected.

Aditi flicked her tail in mild annoyance at the interruption. Because one of the Shakarri Joined with one of the Ancients. This was unheard of — until it happened. A very long time ago, an Ancient came across one of the Shakarri in mortal peril at the treacherous water we visit every day. The Tiger — as they referred to Shakarri — was facing imminent death when the Ancient, against all reason, chose to rescue him at her own peril. It was then a powerful truth was revealed — that in the Shakarri world, a choice must be made if death is cheated.

Her offspring stilled, held rapt by her story as Aditi surveyed each young tiger in turn. No one interrupted her now. The Tiger must either die, she continued, or Join with the rescuer and serve that being until death finally comes to that one. For some reason, this Joining is not possible with the K’Tar, only with the Ancients, though in truth I cannot imagine such a thing with the K’Tar. They would never try to save us.

As she spoke of the Shakarri’s traditional enemy, Aditi hissed and flexed her claws before continuing her narration. Still, it was many cycles of the sun before we knew that these beings were from another world. Her eyes flashed with golden intensity in the dim light of the lair. The story says, however, that another Ancient will return one day, at a time when our race is threatened.

You mean from the K’Tar? Bebinn asked once more, unable to restrain her anxiety. Will Chhaya be safe?

I don’t know, Aditi responded. We have fought the K’Tar before, but this time feels different. The Shakarri are fractured, not strong as they have been, and Chhaya may not be safe.

Where did this story come from? Jaya asked.

I don’t know where it originated, but my mother passed it down to me as her mother passed it on to her and on down through our lineage. What I do know is that no harm must come to this new Ancient — if that is who he is — until we know with certainty why he is here.

Jagannatha, impatient as always, finally asked, Are we hunting or not? I’m hungry.

They spent the rest of the evening searching for prey but, while Jagannatha and Eir were actively searching, the other three were distracted by what they had heard. The hunt was unsuccessful, and at daybreak they went back to their lair hungry and unsettled.