Elizabeth closed her eyes again thinking about the little boy! My baby! I am sorry. If you truely are my son, I hope you know that love you. But if my baby you are already in heaven, then you must know that I am about to meet you soon.
Soon, she felt an enormous amount of pressure on her shoulder, immediately yanking out half of her body out of the abyss. She opened her eyes in surprise. I am still alive? Her heart raced as the lion let go off her shoulder and studied her face much closely. She did not even realise that she was not even breathing. The giant beast"s skin was almost touching her face!
If he doesnt kill me, I think i am going to die of heart attack anyway!
Suddenly, the lion bent his frontal legs and grabbed Elizabeth"s waist in its mouth. With just one small jerk, Elizabeth was out of the abyss completely, still hanging inside the beast"s mouth. Elizabeth was sure that she was soon going to be ripped apart by the beast, while the lion walked a certain distance, with Elizabeth"s waist inside its mouth.
Suddenly, the lion let go off her waist softly, making her fall on a dense bus.h.!.+ Elizabeth was more than amazed. The liom was unusually soft and careful with its aactions. She touched her waist and not a hint of scratch or pain could be felt by her. Elizabeth lay flat on the ground, while the lion turned towards the other direction and growled again.
Elizabeth was still in shock of being fully alive and unscratched. As the lion growled, various movements from behind the bushes and trees could be heard by her. Soon various animals appeared from every direction amd surrounded her in the form of a circle.
Elizabeth carefully stood up on her trembling feet and looked at the animals, reminding him of Rhehan"s drawing. In the drawing too, he was standing in the middle of jungle, with a man, with various animals surrounding them.
"I...I am Rhehan"s mother. C....C....Can you tell me something about him?"
Elizabeth did not know what made her say those words, specially to wild animals. She had no idea if the animals were going to group attack her or scare her off, sparing her life.
But she had somehow started to believe in Rhehan"s tales. It was not his imagination! Something did happen in these woods!
All the animals stood still, starring at the woman s.h.i.+vering in fear! Suddenly a white bunny, hopped towards her, sniffing her feet. Elizabeth stood like a bewildered statue as each animal turn by turn came and sniffed her. The giant ones sniffed her face too, bringing their nose right on her lips.
What exactly is happening here? Elizabeth was no longer s.h.i.+vering. Infact she herself did not realise that she was now less scared and more surprised! Tears were forming in her eyes looking at the animals standing calmly sorrounding her. The more she looked around, the more she hoped for her son to be alive!
Elizabeth could not control her emotions any more and she fell down on her knees on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. "Please tell me about my son!! Is he alive? What happened to him? Please!!! Please !! I beg you." She had folded her hands and was crying uncontrollably.
Suddenly a huge shower of cold water was splashed on her, cleaning the entire mud from her body. She looked up and saw a huge white elephant sprinkling water on her, with its trunk. The cold water not just cleaned off the mud but also calmed down her emotions. She stood up on her feet again and wiped her face with her hands.
Suddenly, her waist was once again grabbed powerfully, this time by the white elephant. Somehow this time she did not scream or feel scared. The elephant yanked her speedily on the lion"s back, taking Elizabeth by surprise.
Soon the lion, started walking rapidly, followed by other animals.
At this moment if anybody told Elizabeth that earth was actually square in shape, she would have believed it! She was actually sitting on top of a lion, while being followed by a huge group of wild animals. The lion was striding towards the dark deep jungle, while Elizabeth was literally hugging its neck to avoid falling! For some reason, she thought, the beast did not seem to mind her hug and she even layed her head on his neck. Her love for animals was indeed natural!
Soon the lion halted abruptly and roared loudly. Elizabeth looked up and gasped in horror. A huge monastery was in front of her and it was quite similar to the drawing. The red and brown colored besutiful building was making her heart beat faster, thinking about Rhehan"s drawing!
A monastery amidst the west woods? How is this even possible?
The lion roared again and Elizabeth understood that the ride was over. She tried to get off from the back of the huge lion but she failed miserably. Just then a huge hairy chimpanzee came forward and picked her up from her shoulders and made her stand on her feet, steadily.
"Thanks." Elizabeth smiled at the chimpanzee greatfully. After a few seconds, she realised what she had done! She was thanking a wild animal!
As Elizabeth smiled, the chimpanzee stuck out its big red tongue and licked her cheeks happily.
"Errrrrr.....Ummm..." Elizabeth could not find any further words to say.
She looked at the big Lion, this time straight in it"s eyes.
"Thank you for saving me back there." She smiled at the lion and hugged it"s neck again!
The lion roared loudly in response, just next to Elizabeth"s face, making her hair blow crazily. The roar startled Elizabeth and she stood upright awkwardly!
"I am going inside then. See you all in a while." Elizabeth waved hesitantly at other animals. She had no idea what she was doing! All she wanted was, to show her indebted grat.i.tude to her son"s childhood friends.