Fiction|Challenge Response
Pure Thievery
When the thief loses what he didn’t intend to give.
He stood in the shadows of the jungle, hidden within the foliage and trees, his sapphire eyes trained on the procession of humans preparing to traipse through the ancient temple. His long black tail swished back and forth in anticipation as he waited patiently for opportunity to present itself, unaware of the dark figure leaping among the trees overhead.
When the guide pointed to the weathered carvings high above the doorway, each tourist followed with their eyes, minus the young girl holding her sandals, dancing and digging her toes into the dirt and moss.
Stealthily leaping out of the jungle, Tanner raced behind the guide, and dove into the darkness of the temple. The gold pendant at his neck swung wildly.
He walked silently down the cobblestone hallway, the silky pads of his paws prohibited any sound. His ears twitched front to back, the excited chattering of the tourist group become more faint. By-passing several of the initial rooms, he worked his way into the depths of the dimly lit temple.
Pausing in a doorway, his wide pupils scanned the darkness. Seeing only sacks with gold coins spilling out of the mouth, he turned his attention back to the hallway in search of another room. Which room was it in?
He was in search of the vibrant cobalt scarf, shimmering with silver embroidery, he had seen on one of his many explorations. It would be perfect to win Janelle’s heart. She could be rather bossy at times but she was definitely the most beautiful panther he’d crossed paths with.
Tanner shook his head as his friend’s voice echoed in his mind. “Dude, just get her a big, fat rat like everyone else gets their girl.”
Tanner had only taken a few steps when a dark figure whooshed by, ruffling his smooth fur and gently pulling his whiskers after them. He whispered to no one, “What was that?”
His breath quickening, he quickened his pace in search of the scarf — and the invader.
Tanner stopped in the doorway, stunned by what he saw. Illuminated by a large crack in the wall, someone was wrapping Janelle’s scarf around their neck. More shocking than that, when they turned around, he was greeted with glowing eyes peering out from behind a large leaf tied around their head!
Unsure what to do our say, Tanner blurted out, “Hands up! This is a robbery!”
The fiend quickly threw a handful of small objects at the ceiling, causing tiny heart candies to explode and rain down on his fur.
While Tanner brushed crumbs from his face, the thief leapt up the wall to the network of vines invading the room over head.
Tanner blinked away the candy dust, “Hey! Get back here! That’s my scarf!” He joined his newly found enemy in the spider web of twisted vines. They leapt from one to another, swinging and stumbling as they bound through the vines like uncoordinated monkeys.
Seeing the thief jumping to a network of vines, Tanner quickly sliced a couple of vines with his dagger-like claws and watched them fall into a tangled mess.
He smirked and let out a deep chuckle as he walked toward the masked marauder to retrieve his blue prize waving in victory.
The web of weakened vines gave way under Tanner’s weight. He clawed frantically to regain his footing as he began to fall into his own twisted prison of vines.
He crashed hard into his nemesis, knocking the mask from their face and air from both their lungs.
On his back swing, they collided again. Both wrestled against their restraints, binding them tighter — and closer together, until they were nose to nose.
Tanner’s eyes opened wide at the face staring back at him. “You’re a woman!”
The beyond gorgeous feline made a face at him before whistling. Who was she calling?
They each attempted to cut the vines tightly binding them as they heard the tourists drawing nearer — Tanner a little less enthusiastically than his nemesis. Was she really though?
He began to pay more attention to her than to the vines he was cutting when her head froze, her eyes boring into him. Through clenched teeth, she threatened, “You will keep your paws to yourself or I’ll slice you to ribbons!”
Realizing he’d not been paying attention, Tanner retracted his hand.
Seeing movement near the crack in the wall, he noticed a large, orange-purple-maroon squirrel. “Come here boy.” He encouraged. “Come chew on some vines.”
The other panther rolled her shining eyes, “Oh brother.” She called to the Malabar squirrel with several soft chirps. The colorful squirrel scampered over to her and began methodically chewing the vines as she looked smugly at a very shocked Tanner.
“You can talk to squirrels?!” She’s bilingual! This woman became more intoxicating the longer he was bound to her. She was unlike any other panther he’d known. She was resourceful, daring, adventurous.
Without thinking he bridged the tiny gap from his lips to hers.
Her emerald eyes grew several carats larger before snapping her gleaming white teeth at him. “You’ll not do that again if you want to live!”
And feisty!
Feeling a shift, Tanner glanced up to see the squirrel move to another vine and begin chewing.
The feline seemed quite pleased with herself. She had the scarf. She had help to escape. But Tanner wasn’t about to let her go. He didn’t even know who she was.
Looking around the room, he somewhat casually inquired, “What’s your name?”
She narrowed her eyes at him, “None of your business.”
Tilting his head to the side, “So, None-of-your-business, why do you want the scarf?”
She enunciated each word, “It’s none of your business.”
Not taken aback, he tried again. It’s not like she was going anywhere for a while. “Well, None-of-your-business, are you from around here?”
The pitch of her voice rose, “That’s none of your business!”
Tanner felt another jolt of the vines. Or was it his heart? Finally a feline who was more than just a pretty face. “So, None-of-your-business…,” he trailed off, unsure what to say next.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, she corrected him. “Sabela. My name is Sabela. Now stop calling me None-of-your-business.”
Tanner smiled and thought to himself, “I’m wearing her down!”
The duo hung in silence, the squirrel still gnawing at the vines, as the tourist group walked by, peering into the darkened room as they went. The small girl from earlier, danced in the dust of the doorway. “Kitty!” Her mother grabbed her hand, ushering her along as the panthers let out a relieved sigh.
Feeling a more pronounced jerk of the vines, Tanner watched her closely, not wanting this moment to end. “The scarf looks beautiful on you, Sabela. It brings out your eyes. It’s yours — I’ll not try to take it.”
She eyed him warily before there was another jerk of the vines and the two of them landed hard on the cool stone floor.
Groaning, Tanner rose quickly, kneeling over Sabela. “Are you okay? Can you stand?”
She looked at his outstretched hand and tentatively took it, feeling his warmth climb up her arm. Standing rigid, she looked at him. Really looked at him this time. She could see the gentle fire in his eyes. The genuine concern — for her. “Thank you.”
Still holding her paw, Tanner raised it to his lips, and kissed it gently. Both their eyes shot open as they felt a jolt. Or was it static shock?
Sabela, eyes on Tanner, turned to leave. Pain shot up her leg, nearly collapsing her, as Tanner reached out to catch her.
“Will you let me help?” Tanner looked into her eyes with nothing but concern.
Sabela paused before nodding. He gently picked her up and walked carefully so as not to jostle her leg.
They spoke quietly as he made his way down the maze of corridors to the exit.
When they emerged from the temple, the sunlight warmed their fur as her head rested on his shoulder. The breeze picked up, causing the scarf to shimmer and flutter in the warm rays as they made their way into the jungle.
Ultimately finding their heart’s desire, their adventure was just beginning.
$1,000,000 and pts - Ultimate heist
5 pts - Foreshadowing - dark figure leaping among the trees
1 pt - Tally box
1 pt - Sacks of gold coins
1 pt - leaf mask
1 pt - stolen scarf
2 pt - Hands up! This is a robbery!
1 pt - Heart candy explodesThis story is written in response to Bradan Writes Stories’s challenge above and my challenge below. Check them out and join in as well! I double-dog-dare you!
2 pts - Unlikely love
1 pt - girl is dancing
1 pt - exploding hearts
1 pt - broken heart candy falls through the air
1 pt - Tanner laughed at his tangled fiend
1 pt - tragedy - both caught in vines
1 pt - kiss - threatened to rip him to shreds, shocking kiss on paw
1 pt - pet - Malabar squirrelFind me at The Infinity Library and The AI Infinity Library on Substack!
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