For the rest of the day, Luke continued his work at the stable as usual, moving from task to task with a quiet sense of accomplishment that simmered beneath the surface. The chores that had once seemed tedious now felt lighter, as if the weight of uncertainty had been lifted just enough to let him breathe easier. Something had shifted, and he could feel it in the air around him.
The stable seemed different, not physically, but in the atmosphere. There was a kind of peace that hadn't been there before, and though no one said it out loud, Luke could sense that even the animals had picked up on the change.
As he worked, his eyes occasionally drifted toward the lioness and the tiger cub. He couldn't help but smile at the scene unfolding before him. The lioness, who had once been consumed by grief and fixated on her loss, now had something to focus on—something to care for. The cub, while still small and wary, had started to explore its surroundings more freely.
