Me and Jade stared at Nick for a long time in his office. My eyes were still wide. Nick? He can talk to lions like me?! No way this is a dream. When did he start doing that?

Nick's voice interrupted my thoughts, "What are you doing here? And...Why is there a lioness here in my office?"

Jade frowned at him, "We...Thought you were hiding something."

I shook my head from my thoughts, "Yeah, we thought you were hiding something."

Nick shrugged, "Hiding what? What are you talking about?"

I glared at him, "We thought you were hiding something in that truck outside."

Nick frowned, "Seriously kid, hide what? I'm not hiding anything."

I angrily asked, "Then what do you call this? We've just realized that you can talk to lions like me."

Nick's eyes went wide, "And I've just realized that you can talk to lions too, like me."

Jade rolled her eyes, "Alright enough! Who are you anyways?"

I pressed Nick, "Yeah you're not telling me, or Jade everything."

Nick sighed, "It's a long story."

I crossed my arms, "We're all ears."

Nick waved his hand, "Not here. Not while my daughter's here."

I had a curious look on my face, "Wait, does Amber know you can talk to lions?"

He shook his head, "Lets talk somewhere and I'll tell you everything." Jade growled at him and Nick looked at Jade, "Also tell YOU everything."

Jade smiled and calmed down, "That's better. Lets talk."

*****

Me, Nick and Jade went back to my barracks without anyone noticing and Nick told us everything, including how he got his ability to talk to lions and how it affected his family.

I frowned at Nick, "Really? Is that why your wife left you? Because of what you have?"

Nick nodded while he was sitting on a chair, "Yeah, you see...I didn't want to tell my daughter all of that. I...Didn't want her to think that I'm some kind of freak."

Jade asked, "And let me get this straight, years ago when you first came here. You became friends with a lioness? Just like Casper and me?"

Nick smiled, "You know kid, I had a feeling that you had a friend just like Jade. I would have guessed."

My eyes went wide, "You seriously figured it out? How?"

Nick said, "Well there are some similarities of what I said when I first came to Africa and some when you first came here three years ago. It was easy to figure out that you were friends with a lioness."

My head was spinning. All this time, all this time, he can actually talk to lions. And he never told anyone this, not even Amber.

Nick said, "Look Casper, I've had it for years. You see when I breathed into that experiment by accident when I was a little boy, I never knew that this would happen. You see my parents were involved in that human talking to lions experiment years ago. But the good thing is, it gave me a new perspective on life."

I smiled at him, "What happened to me, gave me a perspective as well."

Nick smiled still and then he said, "Listen you two, I don't want Amber to know about this, one reason, she's pretty afraid of lions, reason number two, I'm trying to mend my relationship with her as well. I don't want to lose her just like I lost my wife, she didn't believe me at all and she left me. Don't tell Amber, ok? Promise?"

I nodded, "I promise."

Jade put a paw to her chest, "I won't tell anyone."

Nick giggled, "Of course you won't, you can't talk to anyone else but me and Casper."

She said, "Oh." Then she had a happy expression, "Ok, then!" Then all three of us laughed.

After we were done laughing, my face became serious, "Look there's something I really need to ask you, alright?"

Nick looked at me and I said, "In that food truck, what was in it? Was there something in there other than food?"

Nick had a quizzical look on his face, "Casper, I really don't know what you're talking about. I really don't."

I pressed him, "There wasn't anything in that truck other than food?"

Nick said, "No Casper. What do you think I was hiding?"

I looked at him. Maybe he really isn't hiding anything. Maybe it was just some animal who snuck in the truck and looked through the food. Well one time when I was talking to Amber, she was talking to a meerkat. Maybe a meerkat got into the food and one of the marines cleaned it up. It's a possibility.

I had a guilty look on my face, "Look Nick, I'm sorry. I never really knew what I was looking for, maybe it was just some animal who got in the truck earlier and got to the food."

Nick nodded, "Honestly, there was something in there. But something left a mess in the truck when me and the marines were about to unload the truck. Guess it was hungry."

Jade shook her head, "Don't look at me! I never even left the barracks at all! Hey I love human food, but not that much!"

I shot a glare at her, "What? You never liked the food I gave you all that much?"

Jade had a guilty look on her face, "Well sometimes it tastes weird. Even the meat sometimes taste weird."

Nick giggled, "You probably like eating food from the wild, is that right?"

Jade grinned at him, "Yep."

Nick laughed, "Well hate to tell you this girl, but this base doesn't have any wild animals for you to eat here."

She whined, "Aw, but I want to eat real food!"

I rolled my eyes, "Like isn't the food I give you not real enough?"

She took a swipe at me with her paw, "You shut your mouth!"

I laughed and she pounced on me and we landed on my bed. We both laughed together.

Nick shook his head, "This reminds me of something that me and my friend from years ago did, we sometimes wrestle."

While Jade was on top of me, she shot up her head, "Well when me and Casper wrestle, I usually win!"

While she pinned me beneath her, I yelled, "Whatever woman!" That's when Jade laughed so hard again.

I pushed her off of me, "Thank you, you can get off of me now." After Jade got off of me I looked at Nick and said, "See what I'm dealing with."

Nick grinned at me, "I can see that." Then Nick got up from his chair and went walking to the door, "Well I guess it's time to go to bed. It's been a long night."

I got up from the bed and said to Nick, "I'll be with you outside." Then I looked at Jade, "I'll be back in a minute, ok?" She nodded and then I went to Nick and went out the door.

Me and Nick are outside in the night. Almost everyone went to sleep by now. I looked at Nick with a apologetic look and said, "Um Nick, I'm sorry."

Nick gave me a concerned look, "For what?"

"About sneaking in your quarters, causing a disturbance. I didn't mean it. Its just...When you're so suspicious of this particular person, you want to do a little investigating, you know?"

He waved it off, "It's ok. I'm not mad, and I'm sorry for barging into my office with my gun in my hand."

We both giggled and then Nick said, "You know, it's strange. Just by pure coincidence the two of us meet with the same ability to talk to lions. It's odd."

I shook my head, "I don't think its odd at all. I think it's called fate."

Nick smiled at me, "Well, I'll tell you one thing kid."

"What?"

Nick said, "Me and you have one thing in common. Some people refer to us as freaks, but we're not."

I nodded, "I would never think of you as a freak, even when you talk to lions."

Nick then had a guilty look, "Well I'm sorry for not telling you about my ability to talk to lions, a long time ago."

I waved him off, "No need, I didn't tell you about me either, because I thought you wouldn't believe me."

Nick giggled, "Good point."

I smiled at him, "So I guess I'll be seeing you in my barracks tomorrow? Jade would love to visit you, you don't seem so bad."

Nick smiled as well, "Boy, I haven't hung around with a lioness since I was younger. But yes I will, when I'm not busy."

I nodded, "Ok, then goodnight then."

Nick said, "You too." He was about to walk away when a question formed into my mind.

I hollered, "Hey Nick."

Nick turned around and I asked, "Did you put a note on my door to the barracks by any chance?"

He had a quizzical look, "What note?"

"The note on my door that said, 'I know what you are.' Did you write it?"

Nick shook his head, "I never wrote you any note. In fact I think what that note meant is that someone knew about your ability, but I never wrote it. Someone else probably did." Then he went back to walking back to his quarters.

I just stood there. Nick never wrote that note. Someone else did. Who?

*****

The next morning, a lioness from Jade's pride went to search for Jade in the savannah, but so far no Jade.

While the lioness was near the tall grass, she could hear something in there. She stopped and called out, "Hello? Jade? Is that you?"

No answer.

The lioness called out again, "Listen Jade, it's time to come home now, it's been a few days already!"

Suddenly someone pounced on her and pinned the lioness to the ground.

The lioness tried to thrash the predator off of her, "Get off!" The lioness roared and then the predator bit down into her neck and the lioness gasped for air and then died.

The predator got off of her slowly and let ou a very loud roar.

*****

I was having my morning walk in the base. Just enjoying the breeze.

While I was walking I saw Amber sketching in her sketchbook. I went up to her and startled her, "Oh!"

I raised my hands, "Oh god sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Amber giggled when she realized it was me, "Whoops, no its alright Casper. I was just in my own little world."

I shrugged, "Hey there's nothing wrong with that." I took a step toward her, "May I sit by you?"

She smiled, "Sure." She patted the spot beside her and I sat down beside her.

I tried to look at her sketchbook, "What are you drawing?"

She shrugged, "Nothing, just stupid stuff."

I smiled at her, "Oh please, I don't think whatever it is you draw is stupid. Even though I'm not good at drawing, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't find interest in how you draw."

Amber looked at me and then she relented, "Well alright, I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a look." She handed me her sketchbook and I opened it.

When I looked at her pictures I was surprised by how good she is. The detail looks pretty good. She drew one tree in the savannah and it looks like the real thing. Man she has talent.

I was flipping through pages and asked her, "How'd you get so good at drawing?"

Amber smiled, "My mom's an artist. You see when I was little while my mom and dad were together. She taught me how to sketch."

I exclaimed, "Sound like your mom is pretty good at what she does."

Amber nodded, "Yeah she is."

I was looking through the sketchbook and saw one page in particular. It was a picture of a lioness and her cubs. I looked at her, "Did you really see a lioness?"

She shook her head, "No, that's pretty much from my own imagination. You see, I had this dream about a mother lion who lost her cubs in a storm one night. The next day she tried to find them, but she didn't and she was so sad. The following night she went to sleep and then the cubs she has lost found her sleeping and slept by her. And they lived happily ever after."

I said, "Wow, that...Was beautiful."

Amber blushed and then she said, "Thank you. I sometimes think about that dream."

I had a curious look on my face, "Why?"

Amber sighed, "Well....You remember when I said that I don't have a lot of friends?"

I nodded, "Yeah and that's why you talked to that meerkat the other day, because you were lonely."

She giggled, "More or less yeah." Then Amber started telling her tale, "I wasn't lying to you when I said I don't have friends, I really don't. I mean...I try to make friends but they always-"

I finished, "Treated you differently?"

Amber nodded and continued, "It wasn't that hard to figure out. I mean I just feel different than everyone else. I even tried to get a boyfriend for once in my life, but I never did, none of the guys of where I'm from weren't interested in me. In fact sometimes I think I'm that lioness. The one in my dream, I sometimes think that's the reason why she's alone with her cubs, I guess that's why I don't see any other adult lions in my dream. Sometimes it bothers me, but it's also beautiful in a way."

I had a pitiful look on my face, "I'm...Sorry."

She waved her hand, "It's alright. I try not to let it get to me. I usually talk to my mother. But I also talk to my dad as well."

I asked her, "Where are you from?"

She answered, "London. That's where my mother lives. My dad lives in the states. You see my dad met my mom in London before I was born and they lived together in the states for a long time. But when I was twelve, they divorced and I lived with her in London ever since. I hardly ever talk to my dad anymore."

My eyes went wide, London! Wow, I heard that's a beautiful place.

Amber smiled and asked, "So what about your parents? Are they still together?"

I nodded, "Yeah, they've been together for a long time. You see they're scientists and I guess that's why they're common interest in that kind of work kept them together forever."

Amber giggled, "Well your parents are lucky to have found each other."

I sighed, "Well...They travel all the time. Usually when they do, I usually have aunt Tabitha to talk to. I also talk to my sister as well, but Tab is my favorite person to talk to."

Amber then asked the biggest question of all time, "Listen...I don't mean to intrude or anything but...Do you...Have a girlfriend?"

I blushed a bit and then answered, "I used to."

Amber tilted her head, "What do you mean?"

"Well, you see when I came here three years ago. I used to have this girl name Shawna as my girlfriend. But she lives in another sate and we couldn't handle the long distance relationship. So we broke up since last year. But we still keep in touch with each other on facebook."

She said, "Sounds like you two were...Very close."

I closed my eyes, "We were."

Amber looked shocked, "Oh I'm sorry. It wasn't my business."

I shook my head, "No. Don't worry about it. I'm...Sorta over it now. I...Still think about her."

Amber smiled, "Well that's too bad. You want to know why?"

I looked at her, "What?"

"When I first met you, I was pretty nervous. Cause you were...Different than everyone else here in this base. But then I realized you are the most kind, caring person I could have ever met. You never treated me any different when I was....Talking to a meerkat, you didn't call me weird."

I smiled at her, "Well, like I said before, it's not weird at all. I would have done the same thing."

We were staring into each other's eyes and then slowly she learned closer to my face. But before she could do anything, she pulled away and turned her head away from me.

I had a concerned look, "What is it?"

She had a nervous look on her face and shook her head, "I'm sorry....But I can't." Then she got up, picked up her sketchbook and ran off.

I got up as well and yelled for her, "Amber!" But she didn't stop.

I had a sad look on my face after she left. Did I do something wrong? Why did she have a nervous look on her face?

*****

Eileen, Robyn, Tabitha, Walker, and Nick came into the barracks after Amber left me. While I am sitting by Jade, I told them about Nick, about last night, about how he could talk to lions.

Robyn looked at her Captain with wide eyes, "Really? Captain, I never knew you could talk to lions like Casper here."

Nick grinned, "There are some things you didn't know about me Corporal."

Robyn smiled, "I could see why."

Tabitha giggled while she was looking at Nick, "Oh boy, looks like Jade finally has another human to talk to."

Nick looked at Jade, "I know. She loves talking to me."

Jade smiled at Nick, "I love talking to all humans, Nick."

Nick giggled and then Tab asked him, "What did she say?"

Nick looked at Tab, "She says she loves talking to humans."

Walker exclaimed, "Well no dip!" Then all of us laughed.

Jade then asked me, "Casper, when can I get out of here again? I'm getting antsy again!"

I groaned, and then Nick said to her, "Aw, tired of being here?"

Jade nodded.

Nick smiled, "Well what if I say that I'll distract one of the guards near the jeeps? That way you and Casper can leave the base without anyone noticing you."

I looked at him, "Really? You would help us out?"

Nick nodded, "Sure of course! I'm the Captain in this base and I'll help you leave this base just for today."

Jade smiled at him, "Nick, you're a life saver. Better than Casper here!"

Nick laughed, but I didn't, "Jade! Not cool at all!"

She looked at me, "Well it's the truth! When I tell you I'm antsy sometimes, you don't help me!"

I glared at her, "Yes I do. Its just sometimes it's hard."

She rolled her eyes, "Sure it is."

I giggled, "Whatever girl."

Nick then said, "Well if you guys are planning on leaving, I'll go hand you the keys and distract the guards for a bit. Just to help you get Jade out of here."

I nodded, "Sure and thanks!"

He waved at us, "Well I'll go get the keys. Talk later." Then he went out the door.

Eileen asked, "What are you guys planning on doing?"

I smiled, "Well since Jade here has been stuck in these barracks for three days already, I think me and her will enjoy the scenery for a while."

Robyn smiled, "That sounds like fun, but I can't go with you. I'm busy ordering the Privates around for today."

Walker said, "Yeah and I promised Nick that I would help out the marines today, loading and unloading stuff. That kind of thing."

Eileen shook her head and she said, "I'm not in the mood to go with you guys. Not after what happened with Chad."

I said, "Eileen, Chad won't find me and Jade. Besides he's further away from here than you think."

Eileen had a nervous look on her face, "Well ok. I just hope you won't get into trouble."

I waved her off, "Oh we won't, what could possibly go wrong today?"