"Henceforth, this is my forest, this is my new home," he concluded, his voice echoing the magnitude of his decision. "I will live here until the universe decides to take me out of this place."
He had already calculated his odds of survival. His assessment was complete: water was abundant, the game trails indicated healthy populations of animals for sustenance, and his military training provided the necessary skills. Satisfied, he moved inland, searching for a suitable base camp. He finally spotted a massive hardwood tree whose dense canopy offered deep, restorative shade. Kealen entered the space, used his hands to sweep the loose debris and clear the sparse undergrowth, and settled down for a much-needed rest.
Some hours later, Kealen rose, refreshed, and decided to take a short exploratory walk to familiarize himself with the immediate surroundings. He hadn't gone twenty paces before he saw the same tiger tracking him silently from the dense underbrush.
Kealen stopped. The animal didn't growl or retreat, it stood fixed, seemingly mesmerized, like a lost domestic cat craving attention. He advanced slowly, his steps cautious, but the tiger remained motionless. Seeing its unusual docility, Kealen knelt down and extended a hand. The tiger cautiously approached, allowing Kealen to rub the coarse, warm fur along its neck.
"You're now my family, my guidance," Kealen murmured. "They might call you a beast out there, but I call you my companion. I will protect you, and you should protect me as well."
The tiger simply leaned into the touch, rubbing its head against Kealen's chest. The major rose and made a gesture, indicating that they should move out and explore the forest together. He stepped forward, but the tiger remained rooted to the spot, failing to grasp the simple human instruction.
Chuckling at the challenge of training a wild animal, Kealen returned and, with a grunt, lifted the adolescent tiger into his arms. The animal seemed to find a profound peace in the major's embrace. Kealen felt a surge of happiness; he now had a friend in this lonely, unforgiving forest.
They walked a short distance, the tiger heavy but quiet in Kealen's arms, until it suddenly tensed, convulsing violently. It let out a deep, rattling roar—a noise far too powerful for the seemingly gentle creature Kealen had just been cuddling. He immediately dropped the weight, stumbling back in surprise.
The young tiger landed lightly, transforming instantly from a peaceful companion into a coiled spring of muscle and fury. It charged forward, its gaze locked onto a single target. Kealen felt a surge of confusion and fear, unsure what had triggered the outburst. Before he could fully process the danger, the tiger launched itself into the air, landing squarely on a spot where a massive male lion had positioned itself in an angry, predatory crouch, ready to devour anything that approached its territory.
Kealen watched, frozen for a second, as his new companion engaged in a serious, brutal battle. He was utterly astonished. He had misjudged the tiger, thinking its initial calm stemmed from weakness. The sheer speed, ferocity, and raw energy it applied in attacking the lion was a testament to its true nature.
Unarmed, Kealen felt a cold surge of adrenaline, but years of military training suppressed the panic. He immediately turned and sprinted back toward the distant site where the plane crashed, remembering a sturdy piece of salvaged hardwood he'd noticed earlier. He ran with the reckless abandon and efficiency only taught in the harshest special forces scenarios. His only prayer was that the tiger would survive. He wasn't afraid of the lion—he had hunted and killed large predators before—but the lack of a suitable weapon was his only challenge now.
He returned just minutes later, breathless, the heavy club gripped tight. The battle was already nearing its brutal conclusion. The lion was collapsing, its movements slow and desperate, while the tiger, though bleeding from several deep gashes, had the clear advantage. Kealen didn't hesitate. He brought the piece of hardwood down five times onto the lion's skull, ensuring a swift and final end.
"I now conclude that you're the king of the jungle," Major Kealen declared, settling beside the heaving animal. "I never made a mistake in choosing you. Together, we will rule this forest."
The tiger rose, shaking off the blood and debris. Ignoring its injuries, it moved deliberately toward the exact center of the cleared ground the lion had been guarding. The area was oddly level and unnaturally tidy—too clean to have been maintained solely by an animal; it bore the markings of human work, perhaps months prior.
The tiger began scraping vigorously at the earth with its front paws. Kealen understood then: the lion hadn't just been sleeping, it had been guarding something specific. The strange concentration of the animals indicated that a critical resource was hidden here, and Kealen needed to find out what the lion was protecting and why his tiger companion was so determined to dig.
He looked around, found a thick, sharpened branch, and began digging beside his companion. The tiger seemed immune to pain, focused only on its task. Kealen dug faster, with a strength he never believes we're still in him. He dug barely a foot before his improvised shovel struck something shockingly solid. He dropped the branch, clawed the remaining dirt away, and let out a sharp cry of disbelief. He couldn't believe his eyes.
He tore away the last layer of soil, his breath catching in his throat. What met his eyes was not rock, not bone, but the unmistakable gleam of something far more precious. A shallow vein, studded with nuggets of pure gold, snaked through the disturbed earth beneath his fingers. It wasn't just a piece; it was a concentrated, undeniable display of wealth, lying barely a foot beneath the surface. His sharp cry of disbelief was swallowed by the sudden rush of wind through the canopy.
The tiger, sensing the profound shift in his companion, let out a soft chuff, nudging the glittering seam with its massive head before looking up at Kealen. Its amber eyes held an ancient, almost knowing depth, as if it had simply presented Kealen with a gift it had been guarding.
This wasn't just a forest anymore. It was a profound, dangerous secret. Kealen's initial vow – to live simply, to survive until the universe decided his time – now seemed laughably naive. He had sought peace, a solitary existence, a connection with raw nature. Instead, he had stumbled upon something that could shatter any semblance of tranquility, drawing eyes and greed from beyond the river and the earth.
He looked from the gold to the tiger, then back again. This magnificent creature hadn't just saved his life; it had led him to an unimaginable fortune. The bond, forged in blood and unexpected affection, now held a weight far beyond mere companionship. This forest, his new home, had revealed layers he hadn't known existed. He had found not just a companion, not just a king of the jungle, but a silent guardian of untold riches.