The plan was in motion. The stable doors creaked open as the carriage was brought inside, and Sigmund carefully manoeuvred it to a stop in a cleared area. A metal cage was secured at the back of the carriage, and inside lay the tiger cub, its small form trembling slightly. Its bright eyes were open, looking around with an almost frantic sort of curiosity, mixed with fear. It wasn't asleep—far from it. The cub's vulnerability was stark, and Luke was struck by its innocence.
The tiny creature's hopelessness was evident, made worse by knowing it had been rejected by its kind. Something about that struck Luke, bringing his thoughts to Ilyrana. She too had faced rejection from her own family, cast out and left to find her way in a world that didn't always welcome her. The situation wasn't the same, of course, but the sentiment—the feeling of being abandoned—resonated.
Sigmund interrupted Luke's thoughts with a tap on his shoulder.
