A few days later, Zenayda and I woke to find Griselda had packed a small sack and had her traveling cloak on.

“What's going on?” Zenayda asked her, standing up quickly from the bed. I could hear the fear in her voice. Griselda smiled at us, placing a hand to her cheek. I thought her eyes looked overly wet, but when I looked again, they were normal and filled with nothing but kindness and understanding.

“Nothing is wrong, my dear. I’m so glad you came to us. You know Shadow, Leonore and I, and even Reggie, love you very much, right? You have been the greatest apprentice I could ever have hoped for. You will be a much greater healer than I have been and I’ve been at it for some time,” she hugged Zenayda and looked at me over her shoulder. Zen was still much smaller than Griselda, but I had a feeling she still had some time before she’d come to her full height. Griselda nodded at me.

“But...” started Zenayda. “You haven’t taught me everything yet, right? What if I forget something?! You can’t go!” pulling away from the witch. Griselda wiped a tear from Zen’s face.

“You have the books and you have an amazing memory, Zen. We both know you won’t forget. I can only hurt you by staying. You have reputation and standing with the town now. It’s what you need to continue. You should consider moving into town for part of the year, maybe winter? Maybe courting that nice young man? That will help tie you to the town and keep my witch reputation at bay,” she said moving to leave the cottage.

“But, where will you go? Will you come back?” Zenayda asked her voice rising.

“No, my dearest. I will not come back,” she said only answering part of the question. Zenayda was too upset to notice.

“You can’t leave! Everyone leaves!” Zenayda yelled at Griselda. I knew she was right. It was something I had learned early as well.

“I'm sorry, love. I must leave. And I’m sorry you’ve already had so much loss in your young life. It’s not fair and I wish I didn’t have to go. But I do. And, from now on, your life will be different. You won’t be abandoned again,” Zenayda was shaking her head and crying, but Griselda continued. “Do the divining spell if you don’t believe me. See it for yourself. This is a new time for you. All of you. Take care of them, dear one.”

Zenayda ran to her and threw her arms around the witch’s waist, crying openly. Griselda just folded her arms around her and held her close, her eyes shining.

“Thank you, Griselda. Thank you for teaching me and taking me in. I... I hope you’ll be proud of me,” Zenayda said at last and pulled away from her.

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“Oh, I am very proud of you. Proud of all of you,” she said, her eyes lingering on mine. We walked to the threshold and watched Griselda walk resolutely in the direction of the town. She looked back with a smile and cast a spell on us, circling her hands and pushing. We both gasped and looked back at her. She smiled, and then turned away from us and walked out of sight.

We didn’t like watching her leave. I could sense Zenayda’s distress mirrored my own. But it seemed she was walking toward something inevitable. We also knew there was nothing we could do to change her future.

We stood there for some time. The forest leaves wavered in the gentle breeze, the sun warming our faces. The chittering of woodland creatures going about their little lives reached our ears. I looked up at Zen as she looked down at me.

I had to go do something, find one last thing inside me. I meowed at her to let her know I’d be back soon. She froze staring down at me.

“Did you just say you’d be back soon?” she asked. I meowed again.

“Of course,” I sent into her mind. She gasped, but I turned and trotted down the opposite way Griselda had gone.

I went down game trails and took in the familiar sights and scents of the forest. I reached deep within myself and found the deep roar of the panther. When I opened my jaw, a roar escaped me and I leaped forward onto the strong muscled body of a panther. I ran up to the maw below Panther Peak spraying all around the opening. They would know a new leader was in the forest now. They wouldn’t touch Zenayda or any of us at the cottage.

I went up to the top of Panther Peak and looked out at the landscape that Griselda had shown me. It was less of a mystery now, but was still beautiful. I sat there for some time as the sun began to set, the Glaxor River reflecting the orange and yellow of the sky.

I opened my mouth and caught the smell of smoke. Looking toward the village a column of black smoke was rising. Oddly, it turned over the tops of the trees and headed up to the silvery top of Ice Mountain. I watched it for some time, but before dusk I headed back to the cottage. I caught a couple hares on the way.

Zenayda seemed relieved to hear me approach and quickly cleaned the two hares and set them to cook over the fire. She wasn’t afraid of me in panther form any more. She sat next to me near the hearth and we both watched the fire as she petted my fur and rubbed my ears.

“I'm glad you’re home, Shadow,” she said softly. “It's so empty in the cottage now.”

I roared softly at her. It was alright. We had each other. I looked into her eyes and she smiled.

“Yes, we have each other,” she said out loud. Even Reggie slithered over and coiled into her lap and Leonore squawked so we wouldn’t forget them. Zenayda laughed although I could see a few tears still slip down her face.

Eventually, everyone leaves for good. Griselda didn’t come back. But I had found my home. I thought about searching for Griselda, but Zen needed me as I needed her. She had Leonore, too, of course. But I was more than a familiar. I was a friend and a teacher. I could help pass on what Griselda had taught me. Our lives would have meaning healing those of the village that sought our help.

Zenayda was my life now. I would not let her wander off never to return like Mother, Xenir, or Griselda had. I would stay with her wherever she went and keep her safe. I knew where the panther lived inside me. I knew I could keep her safe and I’d never let anything happen to my Zenayda. She couldn’t leave because I would never leave her.