Chapter 1

Nala stared out her window at the high noon sun. It would be long before her father called her for supper and she wanted to go for a ride. She called for a slave to bring her cloak in case it got cold when the sun went down. She knew it wouldn't be but some of the slaves reported things to her father. Nala strode into the stable an d a slave immediately started getting her horse saddled up. She glanced around the stable and leaned against the wall wondering why it was made out of marble, though the floors were made of wood for the horses safety of course. She knew that her family had a lot of money, they always had, but a resource as valuable as marble shouldn't be wasted on a stable. Once her horse was brought to her she mounted easily and rode off across the north field, towards the forest.

Nala reined in her horse at the edge of the forest. The leaves were gleaming in the sinking sun, and all the animals were returning to their homes for the night. Suddenly, she saw the tall grass shift and an enormous dark orange tiger stepped out into the fading light. Nala held her breath as the magnificent beast glanced up at her and then continue to walk along the edge of the forest. She had never seen a tiger so close up or so near the city. Her father, the reigning Caesar, had made hunting tigers illegal since they were almost extinct.

Suddenly the tiger fell, a spear protruded from its side. Two hunters ran out of the forest but stopped cold when they saw her and realized who she was. They looked back at the dead tiger and up to her and started running. They quickly disappeared from sight but Nala remembered their faces vividly. A pathetic whining sound started coming from the grass, and a tiny tiger cub stumbled out. He nosed his mother and nibbled on her ear, begging her to get up. When she didn’t move the cub snuggled against her warm belly.

Nala slowly climbed off her horse and crept towards the orphan cub. It hissed at her and prodded his mother’s side with a tiny paw. Nala reached forward and the cub swatted at her hand, but she didn’t back away. She placed her hand gently on the cubs back, feeling the skin shiver at her touch. Nala stroked the soft fur and picked up the kitten by his scruff. The small body immediately went limp as if his mother were carrying him. Nala struggled to get back in the saddle while holding the cub, but she finally remounted. Cradling the cub in her arms, she told her horse to go home. The stallion quickly trotted across the fields towards the great city of Rome.

Taking only back roads, Nala came to her family’s villa and handed her horse to a slave. She burst through the doors to her father’s room with the cub still in her arms. Caesar looked up, shocked at the intrusion, and his guest stood in respect. “Father,” she walked right past the guest, “there were two men in the forest today. They killed this cub’s mother. They ran away but I remember their faces. We could find them.” Caesar looked at the terrified cub and his hard eyes softened.

“We’ll talk about this later Nala. You know better than to come in unannounced when not summoned. I’m very busy. My life can’t stop every time you want something.”

“But Father, they broke the law. You should be interested in this too. It’s not only because I like tigers and…”

“We will discuss this later,” Caesar interrupted. Nala frowned, turned on her heal, and stalked out without acknowledging the visitor. On the way to her room the cub started to whine pitifully. Nala tried holding him a different way but the meowing continued, she put him down on the cold marble floor but that made the cub whine louder. Finally, she took the cub to her slave’s quarters. Sarabi, Nala’s slave, took the baby tiger to the kitchen and started to heat some milk in the stove. She poured the milk into a bowl and dipped her fingers in it. She put them in front of the cub’s mouth and he started to suck on her fingers. Sarabi slowly lowered her fingers below the surface of the milk and the cub’s mouth followed. Once the milk was gone Sarabi lifted the cub into Nala’s arms and he fell asleep listening to her breathing.

Nala and Sarabi went to Nala’s room and watched the cub sleep. “What are you going to name him?” Sarabi whispered.

Nala looked up. “I’m not sure yet, I hope my father will let me keep him.” They both looked up as Caesar walked in with Nala’s older brother, Marcus, behind him.

“I thought you were joking Father! Nala with a tiger cub, remember that every pet you have ever given her has died within the first two months.” Marcus grinned broadly and leaned against the wall.

Nala glared at him and handed the cub to Sarabi. “Father, I want to keep him and take care of him.” she walked over to her bedside table and picked up a pastel and two sheets of papyrus, “that’s probably not why you’re here though. I’ll start drawing the hunters.”

“Nala,” Caesar sat down on the bed and stroked the sleeping kitten, “where did you say you found the cub?”

Nala looked away. “By the forest.”

“You know you’re not supposed to go near the forest. We’re at war with the French, and they just took Piombino. That’s too close for comfort, what would we do if they captured you?”

Nala sighed. “I can take care of myself Father. Besides, that horse you gave me would gallop back to our great city at the first sign of danger.”

“Yes he would, but you had to dismount to pick up the cub did you not?”

Nala handed Caesar the drawings and turned to Marcus begging for support with her eyes. Marcus pushed off the wall into a standing position, “Father, don’t be so hard on her. I’m sure she’ll never do it again and besides if she hadn’t gone to the forest she never would have found the tiger.”

“She’s nearly sixteen, she should know better than this Marcus. You can’t always come to her rescue.”

“I know,” Marcus sighed, “but what is to be of the tiger? Certainly not the arena!”

“Of course not! Do you really think that I would send a tiger into the arena when I have laws against hunting them? No,” he turned to Nala, “you may keep him if Marcus can find a trainer for him.” Caesar stood and called for his slave as he left, handing him the pictures of the criminals. “Give these to the guards, I want these men found.”