PROLOGUE
KIARA had received Pan as a gift on her eight birthday. At first, she was hesitant to care for a wild animal, but with the help of her parents and a team of experienced handlers, she learned how to nurture and train him. He had grown into a majestic creature with shimmering black fur and piercing green eyes.
Therefore the unexpected happened. The day that Kiara and her family leave for a camping holiday like normal people. They have they family time.
While they're having fun running around the forest 'till she notice Pan's groaning and roaring. She saw him from a distance trying to walk but with his claw scraching the grass. Hindi niya alam kung bakit nilukob siya agad ng kaba. Ang siyam na taong gulang na Kiara ay agad kumaripas ng takbo papunta sa kanyang alaga.
"Pan... Pan... Pan!.." Tawag niya sa pangalan ng alaga. And Pan continue groaning in pain. When he check his body, the arrow behind Pan's back took her breath away. "W-Who did this to you.." Lumingon - lingon siya sa paligid at baka makita niya pa ang gumawa nito sa alaga niya.
Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang palaso at sinubukang tanggalin iyon pero nasasaktan ang alaga niya. Nanginginig ang katawan ng bata sa pagpipigil na umiyak dahil alam nitong hindi iyon gusto ng kanyang alaga. His roared echoed inside the forest. And Pan's blood is all over her. Her hands and clothes.
Despite her struggling to pull the arrow behinds Pan's back, she did pull it out. The bloods dripping down from the arrow and scattered into the grass.
"Pan... Hold on, we're going to your doctor. You're strong, you're not gonna die!" Aniya habang nakatitig sa dugoan niyang kamay at sa hawak na palaso. Niyakap niya ang duguang katawan nito at sumigaw ng sumigaw. "Mommy! Daddy! Sister!"
Hindi pa naman sila nakakalayo sa camp kaya sumigaw lang siya ng sumigaw. Wala siyang magawa, ayaw niyang iwanan ang alaga niya. Hindi niya rin naman ito mabubuhat dahil malaki pa ito sa kanya.
She called for help, she scream for Pan's life. Maya-maya pa may narinig na siyang mga yabag ng mga paa kaya mas lalo siyang sumigaw para mahanap siya ng mga ito.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
Magkasunod na dumating ang magasawang Lazarus kasama ang kapatid na si Jearah pati na ang mga bodyguards nila. Napatigil lang ang mga ito ng makita ang sitwasyon niya. She saw his mother gaze roam around the area, then her mother run towards her.
"What happened sweetheart?" Her father asked gently. Her parents immediately enveloped her with warmth but that didn't do anything.
Instead she pushed them. "We have to leave this place, Daddy! We need to go to the Vet! Pan is in danger, look at him!. . . H-He got shoot by these! Some bad humans are here!" Pinakita niya ang palasong tumama kay Pan na nasa kamay niya at tumutulo pa ang dugo doon.
"We gotta go now! Please! Please!"
The more Jairel Lazarus gazed at her daughter, the more she saw bravery shining through. Her daughter's tears flowed uncontrollably as she cried, unaware of her mother's watchful eyes. In that moment, Jairel realized her youngest daughter possessed a unique kind of courage.
Unlike her oldest, Jearah, who exuded confidence, Jaire embodied bravery in her own way. Jairel couldn't help but notice the difference between her two daughters - Jearah's boldness and Jaire's quiet strength.
Nagkatinginan ang magasawa.
"Okay, baby! Prepare the chopper now! Make it fast. This is an emergency!" The urgency in her father's voice sent a shiver down Kiara's spine. She clutched Pan tightly, showering the panther with kisses as she waited for the bodyguards to ready the helicopter.
Her mother and sister enveloped her in a warm hug, but Kiara's eyes never left Pan. Her father was on the phone, his voice low and urgent. Kiara's anxiety spiked as she gazed at Pan, whose eyes were growing dimmer by the second.
"Pan, no, no, no! Don't die! Don't leave me!" Kiara's voice trembled as she pleaded with her beloved pet. She stroked Pan's fur, feeling his warmth seeping away.
Her mother and sister exchanged worried glances, and Kiara's father ended his call. "We'll get him to the vet, sweetie. Hang in there." His reassuring words did little to calm Kiara's racing heart.
As the bodyguards approached with the helicopter, Kiara's panic reached a boiling point. "Mom! Sister, look at Pan! He's not responding!" She buried her face in Pan's fur, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The helicopter's rotors whirred to life, and Kiara's father scooped her up, while is being carried by the bodyguard. "We're going to get him the help he needs, baby. Stay strong." But Kiara's world was narrowing to a single, terrifying thought: losing Pan.
As the helicopter touched down on the Schwerin estate, Kiara's anxiety reached a fever pitch. "He's not gonna be okay until I bring him to his doctor! He's gonna die! Pan's gonna die!" she wailed, her tiny body shaking with sobs.
Her parents exchanged worried glances, their faces etched with concern. The bodyguards rushed to open the door, and Kiara's father carefully lifted her out, Pan's still carried by the bodyguard with his head down.
As they emerged from the helicopter, Kiara spotted Dr. Rodriguez, Pan's veterinarian, hurrying towards them from a few meters away. Her eyes locked onto the doctor's reassuring smile, and a glimmer of hope flickered to life within her.
"Dr. Rodriguez! Thank goodness you're here!" Kiara's father exclaimed, rushing towards the doctor.
Kiara's eyes never left the doctor's face as she carefully handed Pan over. "Please, save him! Make him okay!" she begged, her voice trembling.
Dr. Rodriguez's gentle hands took Pan from Kiara, and she began examining the panther's limp body. "Don't worry, Kiara. We'll do everything we can. We'll get him the best care possible."
As the doctor rushed towards the estate's medical facility, Kiara's parents flanked her, their arms wrapped around her trembling form. "Pan's gonna be okay, sweetie," her mother whispered, trying to comfort her.
But Kiara's gaze remained fixed on Dr. Rodriguez's retreating figure, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that every second counted, and she could only hope that the doctor would work his magic to save her beloved Pan.
Kiara's worst fear has come.
Dr. Rodriguez's hands moved gently over Pan's limp body, checking his vital signs. Kiara watched anxiously, her heart racing with every passing second. Her parents stood beside her, their faces etched with concern.
Finally, Dr. Rodriguez looked up, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. Kiara's heart sank as she saw the doctor's expression.
"Kiara, I'm so sorry," Dr. Rodriguez said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Pan's pulse is fading fast. I'm afraid we can't save him."
Kiara's world came crashing down around her. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut, unable to breathe. "No, no, no," she whispered, shaking her head. "Pan can't die. He can't leave me."
Dr. Rodriguez's eyes filled with sadness and sympathy. She reached out to comfort Kiara. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. Sometimes, even with the best care, injuries can be too severe. Pan's time has come."
Kiara's body shook with sobs as she gazed at Pan's lifeless body. She felt like she was losing a part of herself, like her heart was being ripped apart.
As the reality of Pan's passing set in, Kiara's grief poured out in a torrent of tears. She clutched Pan's fur, holding him close, as if trying to will him back to life.
Her parents wrapped their arms around her, holding her tight as she wept. "We're here for you, Kiara," her mother whispered. "We'll get through this together."
But Kiara knew that nothing could ever fill the void left by Pan's passing. Her beloved panther was gone, and she would never be the same again.
KIARA'S footsteps echoed through the palace corridors, her long strides a testament to her eagerness to escape. She had one destination in mind: the library. The musty smell of old books and the whispered tales within their pages were the only things that brought her solace these days.
As she turned a corner, the sound of pattering feet followed. Kiara's eyes rolled heavenward. Jearah. Her persistent little sister. Ever since Pan's passing, that was 3 years ago and it felt just like yesterday. Kiara had been trying to push everyone away, including Jearah. But Jearah refused to take the hint.
"Kiara, wait up!" Jearah called out, her breathless voice growing louder. Kiara didn't bother responding. She just kept walking, hoping Jearah would get the message.
But Jearah was relentless. She chased after Kiara, her laughter and chatter filling the corridors. Kiara's annoyance simmered just below the surface.
Why couldn't Jearah just leave me alone?
As Kiara pushed open the library door, Jearah's footsteps quickened. Kiara felt a surge of irritation.
Couldn't she see i just wanted to be alone?
Before Kiara could react, Jearah's feet flew out from under her, and she landed with a splat on the wet spot the royal maid had been cleaning.
Kiara stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes fixed on Jearah's sprawled form. For a moment, she felt nothing. No sympathy, no concern, just a vast emptiness. She gazed at Jearah, who looked up at her with a mixture of surprise and hurt.
The royal maid rushed over, helping Jearah to her feet. "Oh dear, are you alright, young princess?" she cooed, brushing off Jearah's dress.
Kiara remained still, her expression unreadable. She watched as Jearah dusted herself off, a small smile playing on her lips despite the fall. For a fleeting moment, Kiara's mask slipped, and she felt a pang of... something. But it was quickly snuffed out by the numbness that had been suffocating her since Pan's passing.
Without a word, Kiara turned and walked into the library, leaving Jearah and the maid behind. The door creaked shut, and Kiara vanished into the silence, leaving Jearah to wonder if she'd ever reach her sister's heart again.
Kiara's eyes fluttered open, her gaze clear as the still waters of a serene lake at dawn. The tranquility was short-lived, as the memories of that fateful day came flooding back like a relentless storm. Jiro's face, etched with determination, his final words, his ultimate sacrifice... The images still haunted her, even in her sleep.
The weight of grief crushed her chest, making it hard to breathe. She felt like she was drowning in the ocean of her own sorrow, suffocating under the pressure of what could have been. Why couldn't she have done something, anything, to save him? The question echoed in her mind, a relentless mantra that offered no solace, no respite.
Jiro had given his life for hers and her child's, a selfless act of love and protection that would forever be etched in her heart. She remembered the way he smiled, the way he shielded her from harm. The memory of his bravery, was forever seared into her mind, a bittersweet reminder of what she had lost.
As she lay there, the darkness closing in around her like a shroud, Kiara knew she'd never forget the sacrifice Jiro made. His memory would forever be a part of her, a constant reminder of the love and loyalty he had shown her. She could almost hear his voice, whispering words of encouragement, feel his gentle touch, see the unwavering dedication in his eyes.
The pain still felt like a fresh wound, refusing to heal. Kiara's eyes welled up with tears, and she let them fall, mourning the loss of a friend, a guardian, a hero who had given his life to save hers. She wept for the memories they would never make, the laughter they would never share, the adventures they would never embark on.
In the silence, Kiara's heart whispered a promise to honor Jiro's memory, to live the life he had given his for, and to cherish the time she had with those she loved. Though the pain would never truly fade, she knew she had to find a way to heal, to keep moving forward, for Jiro's sacrifice would not be in vain.