Page 39 of Sanctuary

Misty and Sarah helped Paige up, and the three of them stumbled through the gate. Indra came in, and then the door slammed shut behind them.

“Walk to your right,” he said. “There’s a small door. Stay low, or you’ll hit your head.”

The door lifted inward, and Misty pushed on it. The hinges slid open effortlessly, and she held it back and allowed Sarah and Paige through. She looked at the main door of the cage and saw three lions. They had followed Simon. He still carried the injured one.

“Can you get inside?” Misty asked.

“I’ll put Summa down at the entrance, and he’ll need to be pulled through, then I can get in by going around to the other door.”

Misty ducked low and waited for Simon to place Summa on the ground.

“Help me,” she said when she tried to tug and his body didn’t budge.

Paige helped without uttering a single complaint, and they managed to get him inside. Another metal door located across the eight-by-ten room swung open, and Simon entered. Straw covered the floor, and out of the elements, it was tolerable. Once they changed out of their wet clothing, they might be able to warm up again.

“We need to stitch his wound,” said Simon, looking worriedly at the cat.

“Can we ch-change fir-first?” Sarah said, her lips trembling so hard it was difficult to understand her.

“Hurry,” Simon told them and stepped out of the pen. “I’m going to put the lions in another cage and lock them in the back section like this one.” He placed his hand toward Misty. “This is the key that locks all the cages. It’s the only one. No one can get past the outside door without it.”

“Will you need it to lock the lions in their cage?” Misty asked.

Simon looked down at her, an angry expression appearing on his face. His hand came up and he hit his palm against the side of his head.

“Stupid, Simon, stupid.”

Misty jumped up and grabbed his large hand. “No, Simon. You are not stupid. You’re the smartest man I’ve ever met.” And he was. Simon was definitely smarter than her father.

“I do stupid things,” he said, his head hanging low.

“We all do stupid things,” she told him.

“Can you read?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m a good reader and I still do stupid things.”

Slowly, a smile grew on Simon’s face. “I won’t hit myself again.”

“Good, because you’re my friend and I don’t want you hurt.”

His expression changed once more and Misty thought he might cry. Instead, he dipped his chin at her before he walked out to care for his cat friends. He took the key.

Summa hadn’t moved, and Misty wondered if he were still alive.

“Here,” said Sarah and began handing out the items.

Misty, who had once been shy about shedding her clothes in front of anyone, tore off the wet material and gratefully pulled a dry T-shirt over her head. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to get warm.

“We have the thermos with some hot chocolate left,” Paige said as she went through the items in the tarp. She found the thermos and began sorting what they had. She handed out blankets before she lifted the heavy canvas material.

“Move close together. It will help us stay warm.” She patted her hand against her side like Simon had done. “Come on, Indra, you’ll help us stay warm too.”

The tiger didn’t seem to have a problem with the lion on the other side of the cage, and he walked toward Paige like he understood what she was saying. The four of them huddled beneath the tarp with Indra in front of their knees. Paige took a drink of hot chocolate and passed the plastic lid to Sarah, who swallowed some before she passed it to Misty.

“There’s a little left,” Misty said after she took her sip.

“See if Indra wants some,” said Paige.

---