The Man's Threat and His Story
Everyone stared at the man as he gripped a stick, pointing it threateningly at them.
"If you take another step, I will kill all of you!" he shouted.
Cheetah prepared to pounce, but Tharlor stepped between them and softened his voice.
"Hey, we're not here to harm you. In fact, we saved you—we healed your wounds. So please be kind, because we've been kind to you. Can you tell us where you come from and where you're going?"
The man looked at Tharlor in surprise and asked,
"What are you doing among these animals? Are they your pets? I want to see your parents—take me to them."
Tharlor burst out laughing, the only one amused.
"Don't you hear his questions?" he asked his friends.
They were stunned—this man had been shouting nonsense since they found him.
Then the horse stepped forward and explained everything the man had said.
Tharlor replied to the man,
"My biological parents aren't here. All of us here share the same parents—the forest itself. These people you see around you are my siblings. So if anyone here is supposed to be a pet, it's you, because you're the only one who speaks a completely different language. And as for the horse, he's not going back with you—he's family now. You better remember that."
The man looked astonished and confused.
"Don't you want to meet your biological parents?" he asked.
Tharlor shook his head.
"I'm okay with my friends—Tree, Cheetah, Hippo, and Eagle—they are my family."
The man staggered and said,
"I won't lie. My name is Jack. Your friend would have told you that we were attacked by bandits on our way here. They beat me and took my daughter away. But your friend brought me here because this is our primary destination—you can ask him."
He paused, then continued,
"Now, you might ask why our primary destination is here. You might think I set out with my daughter to kill you, as the horse would want you to believe. But that's not true. My daughter shows I come in peace—looking for a better place to take her for a holiday."