Six weeks later, the heavy rains had passed, leaving the Chitwan forest washed in a beautiful, bright green. Agni’s release back into his kingdom was quiet and simple, just the way it should be. The heavy steel door of his transport cage slid open with a sharp clang. The tiger didn’t rush out. He paused at the exit, his coat gleaming beautifully in the sun. The long surgical line on his side was already covered by a fresh growth of thick orange fur.
With a single, effortless leap, he cleared the truck and vanished into the thick brush. Two months later, Paul hiked back out to collect the memory cards from his hidden trail cameras. Back in his studio, scrolling through the photos, the monitor suddenly flickered to a shot captured in the dead of night. The camera’s flash illuminated a massive male tiger crossing a dry riverbed. His stride was long, powerful, and free. Agni was a solitary ghost once more.