Trust
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Josie Clarson, Grade 4
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Short Story
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2021
A lean figure came into view. It padded softly towards the calm water's edge. Dipping it's great head, it began to drink. Watching from afar, a group of tourists began to excitedly board a boat. As the boat glided softly over the water, the great beast looked up. Spotting the boat and all the tourists on board, it bounded away into the dense Amazon rainforest. It’s glossy coat and muscular body soon disappeared from the tourists’ minds, as they continued to glide down the calm waters of the Amazon. As the Captain moored the boat, the passengers hurriedly stood up and, one by one, began to file out of the boat. The Captain gracefully stood up and, as he walked off the boat and onto the sand, he explained how the Amazon rainforest was endangered. He spoke with such poise and confidence, like he had done it a billion times before. As he led the way through the rainforest, the group of tourists could only just stare in amazement at all the colours, sounds and smells all around. Their cameras were all clicking so fast, it was if there was a thousand giant mosquitos following them, so none of them, not even one, heard the soft warning growls of a panther protecting her cubs. The Captain was the first to stop and, with a shaking arm, motioned the tourists to stop as well. The Captain’s fear was unmistakable as he explained that this was a situation that he had never experienced before. The panther, feeling intimidated, emerged out of her secluded cave and, in one swift movement, was in front of the terror stricken tourists. With shaking legs, the tourists began to run back towards the boat, a little girl of eight bringing up the rear. Ella was running her fastest when she dropped something. Turning around to pick it up, she spotted a panther standing over it. Too terror stricken to even think, she could only stare as a huge paw came flying her way. Then she blacked out.
Ella woke up with a start, only to see a fully grown panther licking her face. She somehow felt safe with this gigantic creature. Suddenly it came to her why she felt this. She remembered this panther from years ago when, as a little girl, she had been to the rainforest in a cabin with her mum. She had set this panther free, except the panther was smaller. Trusting the adult panther with her life she rolled out under the animal and climbed onto the it's sinewy back. As soon as she was on, the panther set off with incredible speed towards the tourists.
Back at the boat the tourists were panicking. Ella, the youngest member of the expedition, was missing! They’d all filed out of the boat, when the Captain gave a surprised, glad and amazed shout. It was Ella ...riding the panther! A deep trust had been built, all because of one kind act.