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Youssef awoke to the cold of the iron floor beneath his body, still in the form of a jaguar. Pain numbed his limbs—his wounds had been recently treated and wrapped in makeshift bandages. He looked around slowly; he was surrounded by other cages filled with wild animals… a faint whimper from an injured monkey, a hoarse growl from an old lion, and the sound of wind whistling through neglected windows.
Anger rose in his chest like a storm… anger at his captivity, his injuries, his helplessness. He roared violently and struck the bars of the cage, but his voice was swallowed by the deaf walls. No one came.
Suddenly, the back door opened quietly… A young girl crept in, her steps cautious, as if afraid to disturb the air itself. Her anxious eyes searched the darkness, then she began opening the cages, one after the other. She moved quickly, and despite the fear in her expression, there was determination in her heart.
When she reached Youssef's cage, she stopped. She froze in place, her eyes fixed on him… Something about him unsettled her. Perhaps it was the size of his body—or his gaze. It wasn't the gaze of a beast, but of a broken man. A silent question flickered in her eyes: Should I open this one too?
He stepped closer to the door calmly, lowered his head toward the ground. Tried to seem less threatening, as if pleading… or begging her to trust him. Her heart pounded violently; she nearly turned and ran. But then she heard the guard's voice approaching, shouting nearby. That's when she gathered her courage and opened the door. She didn't know if she'd just made the right choice—or a deadly mistake… then she ran.
He didn't know where she was going, but he followed. His body ached, the wound on his leg had reopened and was bleeding again. He ran through the pain, instinct leading him toward her.
Outside, a young man was waiting in an old car, the engine groaning like a frightened heart.
She ran to the car and flung the door open. The moment she saw Youssef following her, she shouted:
— Wait, Noah!
Then she opened the back door for him without a second thought and climbed in. Youssef entered after her, bleeding silently.
Noah drove off, cursing under his breath, not even noticing what was in the back seat until they arrived at a small cabin at the edge of the forest, surrounded by trees on all sides. He stopped the car, turned around to say something, and locked eyes with glowing golden ones in the darkness. He froze… as if time had stopped.
Then he screamed:
— What is that?! Is that a jaguar?!
He and Judy jumped out of the car in panic, slamming the doors shut.
Noah (angrily):
— Why didn't you tell me it wasn't a dog… or a cat?!
Judy (with an awkward smile):
— It is a cat… just a slightly big one.
Noah:
— Have you lost your mind? Weren't you afraid it might eat us?!
Judy:
— No… his eyes were gentle.
Noah (sarcastically):
— You're insane…
Inside, Youssef was in pain, letting out a muffled growl from the agony. The argument came to a sudden halt.
Noah:
— What are we supposed to do now?!
Judy (with an eerie calm):
— Don't be afraid, he's hurt. He won't hurt us… at least, not tonight.
Noah:
— Get him out of my car now!
She opened the back door. Youssef stepped out slowly, staggering, then sat on the ground, his breathing heavy.
Noah got back in the car, still yelling:
— I hope I don't see you in my next documentary titled "Jaguar Devours Deranged Girl in the Forest!"
Judy (teasingly calm):
— Drama queen…
Then she turned to the jaguar, her eyes glowing with strange tenderness:
— Don't be afraid… I'll take care of you.
She opened the door to the wooden cabin and said softly:
— You can come in.
She brought disinfectant and cotton and sat next to him, gently cleaning his wound as if touching something sacred.
Judy (gazing into his eyes):
— Strange… your eyes don't look like an animal's. There's something human in them… like you understand me.
Then she added, still looking at him:
— This place isn't really my home. Noah and I found it months ago. It's deep in the forest, but still close to the city. We use it as a hideout, away from prying eyes.
When she finished, she placed food and water beside him, then entered a room inside and locked the door tightly. He heard the sound of a wooden box being dragged behind it. Then, silence.
Youssef smiled… a barely visible smile, then his body began to change. The jaguar form faded, and he returned to his human shape. He stood in front of the door for a moment, then transformed into a falcon—and soared into the sky.