9. Chapter 9

Argo had just completed his fifth run down the mountain and

had announced that snowboarding was his new favourite sport. Galina had cheered

as Bengali high fived his friends, wishing all the while she could have done

the same. Well, maybe since Crys wasn’t

here she could technically get away with it and Argo wouldn’t say anything.

Deciding to leave well enough alone, Galina looked up at

Rangerkitty who was still skiing down the slope. She moved left and right, and

appeared to be having great fun, while at the same time, challenging herself on

the skis. Suddenly, a gasp escaped the white tigress’ throat causing both Argo

and Bengali to look over and see Rangerkitty steer herself towards a cliff and

go right over it.

“Ranger!” Galina screamed running and stumbling through the

snow towards her friend thinking the tigress was in peril, but overbalancing

she lost her footing falling. Argo started after her and Bengali made to grab

their snowmobile when they all were shocked to see Rangerkitty emerge through

the grove of pine trees, upright on her skis, smiling broadly shaking her poles

high above her head in triumphant victory.

Galina wiped the snow off her face in stunned silence as

Rangerkitty approached turning her skis sideways to a stop. “How sweet was that?” she exclaimed; the three of

felines could only gape.

“We thought you were dead!” Bengali yelped.

“What do you mean going off the cliff like that?” Argo

thundered.

Rangerkitty recoiled at their shouting and gazed down at

Galina who had fallen face first in the snow. Galina dusted her hair off of the

snow and looked up at her friend. “I thought you party rocked--that was

amazing!”

Grinning, Rangerkitty fell down into the snow and hugged her

friend. “Thanks! I have always wanted to try that sort of jump!”

She looked up and saw Bengali and Argo both grinning.

“It was pretty

cool, actually.” Bengali confessed.

“I wanna try!” Argo exclaimed. “Let’s go!”

“Shouldn’t we be getting back to Tygra and Crys?”

Rangerkitty asked the tiglon. “They are by themselves at the lodge and are

probably waiting on us.”

He sighed, “I guess you’re right. Ben and Galina, you both stay and have fun;

Ranger and I will head back. We’ll all

meet up there, okay?”

Bengali and Galina nodded in agreement and the white tigress

rushed over to the snowmobiling taking control over the device before her

mate. Bengali bit his lower lip in

terror getting behind Galina; she turned the handlebars, whipping them up at

breaking speeds towards the mountain top for one more unexpected run.

Argo took Rangerkitty’s gloved hand and led her to a second

snowmobile the staff had brought them. He climbed into the front seat, excited

to be driving this time. “RK, don’t worry so much, they will be fine. The two

of them could actually use a little alone time together, if you know what I

mean.”

Rangerkitty nodded; the tiglon was revving the engine much

more than necessary; however, it was only because he was having fun with

it. If Panthro were here, he would have

chastised Argo for overdoing it on the machinery.

“I do so want them to get along…” she said

quietly.

Argo had heard her, even over the loudness of the

engine. Twisting from the waist, he gave

her a peck on the cheek. “I want it very

much also. Why I bet they’d get along

famously if they could just get rid of the prejudices they have for each

other.”

“What would those be?”

The tiglon grinned, noticing how lovely Rangerkitty looked.

Her cheeks were slightly blushed from the exertion and the cold, and gods help

him, if he weren’t mated he would have given her a huge smooch right there. Of

course, the fact that she was betrothed to his cousin and idol is what kept him

in check.

“They both think the other is too good for them; they are

aloof and believe they’re better than the other.”

Rangerkitty gasped. “Argo, how can you say that? Tygra is the most humble and non-aloof person

I know! It’s part of the reason why I love him so much! I could never be with

an arrogant and superficial person! He’s just really good at… almost everything!

And he’s humble about it so he doesn’t brag! He’s just very efficient and is

content with doing a good job! Why is that considered aloof?”

Argo sighed, understanding her argument and knowing his

cousin, he absolutely agreed. “However, I think it’s tough when your reputation

precedes you. People know of his greatness, and I think many are intimidated by

that. Crystalandra isn’t intimidated by anything or anyone, but I get the

feeling she might be slightly intimidated by Tygra, whether she wants to admit

it or not and she knows how highly I regard him.”

Rangerkitty watched Argo and he once again ran his right

hand through her hair. “I think Crystalandra is trying harder not to like him on purpose. I’m hoping

this weekend will change that.”

She smiled, touching the hand he had in her hair. “I hope so

too.”