Chapter 5:An Unlikely Bond

Joy knelt beside his new companion. "You saved me, Leo. Now it's my turn to save you," he said, his voice resolute. He worked quickly, tearing strips of cloth from his shirt to bandage the leopard's wounds. Using herbs he had gathered earlier, he treated the injuries as best as he could.

For days, Joy nursed Leo back to health. The bond between them grew stronger, forged not just by kindness, but by their shared fight for survival. Together, they became an unstoppable team, facing the dangers of the jungle side by side.

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the endless jungle in hues of amber and crimson. Joy sat cross-legged beside a small fire, watching the meat roast on the makeshift spit. Beside him, the leopard he'd named Leo gnawed on a chunk of meat, his sharp teeth tearing through it effortlessly.

Joy leaned back, smirking. "Hey, Leo," he said, breaking the silence.

Leo, sensing Joy's playful tone, pounced lightly on him, his massive paws pinning Joy's arms. He nipped at Joy's jacket sleeves, his teeth grazing but never hurting.

"Whoa, whoa! What are you doing?" Joy laughed nervously, squirming under Leo's weight. "Didn't I save you from those hyenas? Don't make me regret it, buddy."

He paused, then added with a mischievous grin, "If you make me angry, I might just throw you into this fire and eat you instead!"

Leo froze, his golden eyes narrowing. Then, with a low, menacing roar, he backed off.

Joy held up his hands in surrender, chuckling. "Alright, alright! I was kidding. No need to get all scary on me."

Leo huffed and returned to his meal, his tail flicking in annoyance.

Joy, still smiling, looked at him thoughtfully. "But seriously, Leo, you've got to protect me out here. This jungle's crawling with predators."

Leo glanced at him briefly, then let out another low roar.

"Ah, right," Joy said with mock realization. "I forgot. You're one of the predators."

As if amused, Leo nudged his head against Joy's arm. The gesture was warm, almost affectionate.

Joy sighed and stared into the flickering flames. "Leo, I need to get out of this place. I have a life waiting for me. Tia Carter, the love of my life… I was going to propose to her." His voice softened. "But then, I blacked out. And when I woke up, I was here, in this endless jungle. I don't know how or why, but I have to find a way out. I need to see her again."

Leo watched him silently, his ears twitching as if he understood every word.

The next morning, Joy was jolted awake by a sharp tug on his jacket. Groaning, he opened his eyes to see Leo biting the fabric and pulling at it insistently.

"Hey! Leave my jacket alone!" Joy grumbled, sitting up. "I don't have a wardrobe out here, you know." Leo ignored him and tugged harder, stepping back toward a faint trail in the undergrowth.

"What?" Joy asked, blinking. "Are you trying to tell me to go this way?"

Leo nodded, his tail swishing with purpose.

Joy sighed, brushing dirt off his clothes. "Fine. But you're coming with me to the end, got it?"

With Leo leading the way, they gathered their few supplies and set off. The jungle was alive with sounds—the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the distant growls of unseen creatures.

As they walked, Joy tried to lighten the mood. "So, Leo, do you have any friends? Family? Someone you care about?"

Leo padded forward silently, his focus unbroken.

"Come on, don't ignore me," Joy teased. "You've got to have a wild cat crush or something, right?" Leo glanced back briefly but said nothing, his pace steady.

Suddenly, Leo stopped, his ears perking up. His body tensed, muscles coiled like a spring.

"Leo, what's wrong?" Joy whispered, gripping a sturdy branch he'd been using as a walking stick.