I no longer needed a leash; Penny knew my mind before I did. She sat at my knee, waiting. I stopped a moment and listened to my heart and knew it was time to go, so off we went. 

We stepped across the threshold, onto the path and paused. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply the air alive with promise. Penny rolled on her back, wiggling, stretching, and grunting with pleasure. She got up, shook all over from nose to tip of tail, and then looked around. With a woof she ran down the path. I realized that Jesus was standing at the intersection waiting for us. She ran full out, tail flying, jumped up and he caught her in mid-air. Penny gave him a wiggling hug with lots of kisses while telling him of her love with her doggy purr. 

Aslan arrived, came, and nudged me hello. I leaned down to hug and scratch behind his ears. I was delighted to see him, smell his lion scent, and fell his warm breath on my cheek. What a gift he is. Penny jumped down and ran to greet her friend. Aslan gave her a big lick that rolled her over, and she rolled back with a nip to his leg. Play.

I walked quickly to Jesus to have my hug. Held in his “everlasting arms” I breathed more deeply and relaxed. 

“I have something to show you,” he said turning down the path to the meadow. 

I followed, as did Aslan and Penny. 

As we strolled along, I noticed how quiet the forest was. No bird songs, no breeze moving the branches, no bug or bee sounds. Even the frogs were still. I said, “It is quiet today.” He nodded.

“And Bear is not with us,” I said. 

“It is not a bear day.” 

I wondered what that meant, but I have learned to accept what he gives and wait to see what of the rest might come. 

We entered the meadow and all around the green pasture were wild cats. I saw Aslan’s pride, and cheetahs, leopards, jaguars—black and tan ones—mountain lions, and even bob cats with their ear tuffs. There were families, and the kits and cubs were playing with each other. Great rolling heaps of fur. Penny watched for a bit, looked up at the both of us and with a nod from him, she joined in the fun. 

We walked over to the stream and sat with our backs to the rock wall and settled in to watch the show. And what a show it was, all sizes and colors chasing each other only to fall in a heap. Squeaks, grunts, whines, barks, hisses, and other manner of voices made for a feast of sound. If one got too vigorous, a reprimand from mom soothed over the fuss. The dads were in the background looking protective. 

“What a delightful show,” I said. 

“There is more, watch” he replied. 

I never knew how they all knew, but the play suddenly stopped, and all the little ones rejoined their parents and lay panting. Penny came and lay down between us, after she got a quick drink in the stream. It became very quiet. 

Directly opposite from where we were resting, the bushes began to shake, and the rustling captured everyone’s attention. What, I wondered….

Out stepped the biggest Bengal tiger I had ever seen. The largest of all the cats, it was longer than a Mini-Cooper, and weighed about 600+ pounds. It was magnificent. I turned and asked, “Richard Parker?” 

“Yes.”

He walked slowly to center of the green meadow and stopped. Penny growled faintly down in her throat, tensed, and sniffed the air to figure out just what this huge creature was. I put my hand on her back, and she settled, some. 

Jesus stood and stepped closer to the tiger. Richard Parker moved closer and then sat. Jesus took another step, and the huge animal bowed his head and lay flat before him. I was not so surprised as the Lord reigns here. Jesus squatted down and rubbed his giant head. And he began to purr! I laughed out loud with delight. Now, this was no ordinary purr, more like an 18-wheeler parked with the diesel engine running. The ground vibrated. Penny jumped to her feet with surprise, turning in a circle with her head down as she felt the ground tremble. 

Then Richard Parker rolled onto his back. 11+ feet of him. Paws relaxed in the air, tail twitching. His orange-gold coat glowed yellow in the sun, marking the black stripes. His tail was more true orange, and the stripes became rings. His whiskers were black, very long and pointy sharp. Jesus looked back at me and smiled. I took that as an invitation and moved closer. Penny decided that was all she needed and up close she went, her nose in action. She circled, and then jumped on the moving tail, game on. I laughed at the sight.

“Richard Parker,” I said, “the last I saw of you was your backside as you walked into the Mexican jungle. Your hipbones were sticking out. You seem to have gotten your fighting weight back. I am glad you are here.”    

I sat on the grass next to his head, that was the diameter of serving platter, and began to rub and scratch. He turned toward me and licked my hand. Just a little lick. His teeth were really impressive, huge in fact, inches across. His eyes were dark with yellow centers, tiger-eyes like the jewelry. His ears were smallish, compared to the rest of him, with the white communication spots on the back. Truly a magnificent creature, no wonder it is found in myths, stories, art, and as national pride. “Lord, you are truly an imaginative Creator.”

I heard some rumbling and looked up. The kits and cubs were cautiously moving in to explore. He was still and tolerant because they began to climb all over him. One white snow leopard cub moved up until it was up under the tiger’s chin, on the purring throat. It nestled in and went to sleep. 

I don’t know how long we were there, but it was a scene I shall not forget. This huge killing machine, submissive and gentled. At one point I looked over at Aslan who was lying next to Jesus and silently watching. “You are still king,” I said smiling. Jesus seemed to be enjoying all the fun as much as I. He would catch me looking at him, and he would smile. 

One by one, the young ones moved back to their families and faded into the brush and trees. Richard Parker carefully got to his feet. I was still seated, and his shoulder was over my head. I reached up and grabbed a handful of fur and pulled myself up. Then I leaned over to hug him. His scent was different yet. More like Penny when she needs a bath, sweaty and skanky.  My arms were way too short to give a good hug, but I hoped he got the idea. He rippled his skin, nodded to Jesus, and walked to the middle of the stream. He paused for a drink and then disappeared into the forest opposite.

“Jesus, thank you for such a special treat. I wondered what had happened to him.”

“You are welcome.”

He turned to walk us back to the path, and then I realized that the forest sounds were back. All’s well, I thought, as Penny and I left for home. All’s well.