Rare Find by Dale Mayer Page B

walked forward and bent over to give the big guard dog a scratch behind his ears. Waves of grief and anger poured from the big animal. "Sorry, Tripod. I'm here to help. We're doing everything we can. You keep her in your thoughts and I will too. Together we'll keep her grounded so she can find her way home." At least he hoped.
     
    The dog whimpered. Stefan understood. He could sense the dog's distress. And the dog's confusion. "You probably haven't been fed either, have you?"
     
    He checked out the dog's energy. There was a thread of hunger but it was suppressed under the distress. Even if he set food out for the animal, chances were good the dog wouldn't eat.
     
    He walked into the kitchen and found dry kibble. He poured several cups into the dog dish. Tripod could eat when he wanted to. If he wanted to.
     
    Sue, from the center, could also deal with that problem. She had pitched in last time Tabitha had been incapable.
     
    Sending out a second wave of soothing energy to Tango, Stefan strode calmly to the back enclosure. It spread from floor to ceiling at the back of the house and was connected to a larger outside enclosure to give the tiger more roaming space. Stefan stood and waited.
     
    Tango's roar reached him before he saw the elderly white tiger. Did Tabitha even know how old this guy was?
     
    Tabitha was in her late twenties and this guy had been in her life since she was little. Tango's father, Tobias, had been with her grandfather for decades before her. And Tobias's mother before that – probably given another name starting with T as well. Stefan remembered Tabitha mentioning something about it being a convention her grandfather had used after his wife, Tansy had passed away.
     
    She'd been the impetus for this house and enclosure having been as crazy about tigers as her husband. Stefan also understood Tango had been here all his life. He was also born with a minor defect in his leg – if Stefan remembered correctly.
     
    The massive animal sauntered toward Stefan. The cage wall was the only thing between them. He knew Tabitha spent most of the time with Tango. In fact, her bedroom had some kind of doorway as well. The large cat had never known freedom in the sense of being wild.
     
    And times had changed. There were large reserves around the world that were dedicated to taking care of animals like Tango. Exotic Landscape covered acres of land – and yet it was never enough. The property value of a piece this size within commuting distance to Portland was astronomical. And Tabitha couldn't care less about its monetary value. The property value to her was all about the amount of space she could give to each animal.
     
    Tango? How are you?
     
    The roar of pain rippled through Stefan's mind. Tango was afraid. For Tabitha.
     
    There was so much information rolling off the big animal yet it appeared to be emotional in nature. Stefan couldn't see if Tango actually understood what had happened. He'd know Tabitha wasn't here though. And that was enough to throw both animals out of their comfort zone. All animals were intuitive, but beloved pets even more so.
     
    Stefan had no idea what would happen to Tango if Tabitha didn't survive. Her father was alive but had as little to do with the place as possible. And from what Stefan understood from Tabitha, Dennis wouldn't keep it running if anything happened to her.
     
    Tango was too old to move to another reserve. He was past his twilight years. And his energy said he was close to going. Tabitha had broken down in tears more than once over the thought of losing her feline companion.
     
    The old tiger didn't appear to be in any actual physical pain. But then, Tabitha was a strong healer, with animals her focus. It made sense for her old friend to live so long and be so healthy if she'd dedicated a certain portion of her healing energy to that purpose.
     
    He could see an odd thread of energy heading from Tango to Tabitha's bedroom. Then maybe that was to be