Chapter 2

Goliath stared at Winnie, her eyes as bright as the sun’s shadow; Goliath’s fur ruffled in the occasional breeze as the moonlight threw shadows upon her back. She purred in the moonlight as Winnie took a step closer to the innocent tiger, Goliath’s claws peaked out of ginger paws as they padded back a step. The tiger’s fangs were as sharp as a stolen sabre and it’s nose was as black as the midnight moon. However, Winnie was not frightened by all this, she remained calm and kept taking small steps towards the innocent animal as it purred against the gentle breeze.

“I think Galioth likes you, she doesn’t often like refugees, you know. But she seems pretty calm except that her claws are out, but she usually does that with new people,” Mr Lakely said to Winnie as they headed back to the lighthouse. Winnie grinned, her first actual friend. She knew Galioth was a tiger but at least she wouldn’t judge her and her thoughts. As Winnie and Mr Lakely made their way to the edge of town, the breeze had suddenly transformed into a gruesome wind as the trees whispered into the evening air.
“Bit chilly, ain’t it?” Mr Lakley smiled as he buttoned up his coat.
“Is that Goliath?” Winnie whispered as she saw some marigold eyes staring at her through the bristling trees and suddenly heard a gentle roar.

“Yes, she’s always watching; so be careful!”
“Why would I need to be careful, she’s an innocent creature,” Winnie explained, smiling.
“I know, but not always. You can’t tell anyone about Goliath, she’s our secret, people would shoot her and use her for clothing purposes, which isn’t right. So, tell no one.”

That evening, Winnie sat on her bed, reading her favourite novel as Goliath pounced into her mind. She thought of the innocent creature being killed and people wearing her flesh, it wasn’t fair. Goliath did nothing wrong, sometimes she may seem intimidating but really she was just scared. Winnie sighed and put down her book, Goliath was friendly: she was different from mean humans that could actually act like a threatening animal. After all these thoughts, Winnie had an idea.

Every night, Winnie would now sneak to the forest as quiet as a criminal undercover. But first, she would slink off to the cabinets downstairs and take some pork for Goliath, it was only fair if Winnie treated her nicely. She would head into the deepest parts of the forest and search for Goliath with the meat in her pockets. Goliath would follow her back to the lighthouse and they would sleep together: Winnie under the covers and Goliath snoozing on the end.

Winnie and Goliath had, over the autumnal months, formed a bond so strong it was unbreakable. Every day after school, Winnie would head to the forest with some leftover ham sandwiches and play with Goliath until it was time for supper. Winnie and Goliath would sleep together every night and Goliath hadn’t hurt her once. Tigers are innocent.