Leopard 02 - Wild Rain

he could no longer see her. She had looked so defeated, so unlike Rachael. He wanted to go to her, felt he needed to go to her, but Kim wanted to tell him of his father’s vision, stressing the importance of it, warning Rio that something was not right with the party searching the forest for medicinal plants.
    “He knew the names of all the plants and their properties,” Kim explained, in his slow, deliberate way.
    “My father does not know why he had such a vision when the man clearly knows the ways of the forest.”
    Rio took a step toward the door, shifting slightly in an effort to try to see Rachael. “Many men come into the forest knowing its ways but not respecting them, Kim. It’s possible this man is one. Could he be a poacher, after fur or the elephants?” The more information he had the better to judge if more trouble was coming their way.
    Kim followed his single step. “Perhaps. He had weapons enough.”
    “Tama would never lead him this way, especially if the party is a group of poachers. The debt of honor would never extend that far.”
    “No, but if he is more than a poacher, if his game is larger, if it is the woman or you, Tama won’t know until it’s too late.”
    “Was there anything in the vision to make your father think either of us are in danger? If there was more to it, tell me, Kim.” Rio took another step toward the door. His heart was beginning to pound and his mouth went dry.
    “My father was disturbed by what he saw, so much so that he sent me to you. He could not interpret the vision fully. He felt that there was much danger, but he didn’t know if it was to the man, to you or to the woman. He said I must come and let you know.”
    “Thank you, Kim, tell your father he is much honored and I appreciate his warning and that I’ll heed it.”
    It was far too quiet on the verandah. There was a sudden hush in the forest and then creatures began calling frantically. Rio stiffened, swore softly, eloquently, repeatedly. “She’s gone.” He uttered the two words to taste them. To make them real. Black anger swirled, rioted, destructive and mindless. He fought it back. “Rachael.” He said her name as a talisman, to help him think, to bring back intellect when he needed a cool brain.
    “What is it, Rio?” Kim asked, taking a step back, recognizing danger when he saw it. When he felt it.
    Rio’s face was a mask, his eyes glittering, and danger emanated from every pore.

    “The Han Vol Dan. Damn it all to hell, she went through the Han Vol Dan. Her leg isn’t even healed yet. I told her not to do it, but she just has to do whatever the hell she wants whether it’s logical or not.”
    He was furious. Absolutely, completely furious. It had nothing to do with fear for her, for her safety or her injured leg or that he might have lost her. Or that she might have left him. He clenched his fists hard, trying to keep the roaring from his head. “She isn’t safe in the forest by herself.”
    Kim merely looked at him. “She has become her true self. She will know how to care for herself.”
    “It isn’t that easy. We can’t stay in the form too long.” Rio stripped off the jeans he’d so hastily pulled on. “Thank you for the warning. Stay away from this man. If he’s who I think he may be, he’s very dangerous. Give your father my thanks. Good fortune to you, Kim.” He was being impolite with a man raised on tradition, ritual and above all else politeness, but it didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered except to find Rachael and bring her back safely.
    “And good hunting to you.” Kim looked away courteously as Rio leapt to the branches above, shifting as he did so, claws out for traction. He began to follow the sounds and silences of the forest. He knew every tree in his realm. He would find her. He had to find her. The burning black temper swirled in the leopard, making him doubly dangerous, so animals shifted out of his way, immediately sensing his mood.
    He nearly flew across the trees, hurdling branches and shrubs. He stopped only to lift his face and scent the wind. There were no signs of humans in his territory, but that didn’t mean they weren’t coming. Tomas was bound to send a party in after him. He did it every so often, hoping to find his home. Poachers often came to the area, sweeping the forests of Malaysia, Borneo and Indochina for the sun bear, the leopards and elephants, even the rhinos, the most protected of their animals. And the research teams