"Diane. It's time to go. Casey's already asleep, and it's way past your bedtime too." Declared the exhausted mother, as she struggled to carry her sleeping toddler.
"Hey! Mrs. Robbins, do you need a ride home?" asked a young woman in a baseball cap.
"Perhaps. Thank you! I need to see if my husband is on his way first." she said, trying to remember the other woman. Then it came to her. The young lady had been in charge of the costumes, but ironically seemed to have absolutely no interest in fashion.
After a quick text, she said "No thank you, Patrick is already on his way. I do appreciate the offer, though."
"Any time, Ma'am." she replied, smiling.
"Diane! It's time to get ready to go. Dad's going to be here in a few minutes." she called out, her voice reaching all corners of the spacious trailer.
Still no response. Mrs. Robbins now had the attention of everyone there.
Five minutes later:
After a quick search, it was obvious that Diane was not in the building. The entire crew spread out, searching in and under trailers, and even through stored props.
"Velvet! Come here, Velvet!" rang out Nick's familiar voice.
Everyone ran out to see. Mrs. Robbins was in the lead, and the first to see the empty travel cage, with the open door.
She instantly went down on her knees, and sobbed.
"Mommy?" asked Casey, stirring.
"Oh, everything's going to be alright, Honey." she sobbed, as she rocked him back and forth.
In a meadow, about a half mile away:
The huge tiger stretched, and sniffed the young girl who was fast asleep next to her. Satisfied, Velvet padded a short distance away to a small stream, and drank.
On her way back to the sleeping child, she heard a rustling in the nearby blueberry bushes. Then she heard a gentle huffing. Increasing her pace, she made the final hundred yards in several powerful leaps.
When the bear emerged from the woods, Velvet was already standing over Diane, who was still asleep. The tigress roared her challenge to the huge bear.
The bear, terrified, climbed into the nearest tree large enough to support his weight.
Nick and several other crew members, including Brian Sputtzer, the director, had been working their way towards the meadow. Upon hearing the roar, they sprinted the rest of the way.
"What's wrong, Velvet?" asked Diane sleepily, as she rubbed her eyes. The big cat ignored her, eyes locked on the treed bear.
Diane slowly got to her feet, and was standing with one arm draped over the tiger when the men came charging into sight.
Startled, Velvet pinned back her ears, and bared her teeth.
"Stay there." Nick cautioned his companions, as he slowly approached.
"Hey, girl. What's got you so upset?" the animal trainer asked, in a soothing voice.
"I think she's mad at something in that tree." Diane replied, completely calm despite the nervous tiger standing next to her.
Nick nodded, noting that Velvet was now ignoring him, and staring up into a tree. He took a mini flashlight out of his pocket, and pointed the beam upward.
When the light hit his eyes, the big bear bawled like a cub. "Let's go back, so that bear can get on with his walk." Nick suggested to the two. Then he gently slipped a soft leather collar around Velvet's neck, and led the way back to the set.
Brian Sputtzer, who had stayed well back, whistled softly. "What I wouldn't give to have this on film..."
Ten minutes later:
"We found them together, Mrs. Robbins. Your daughter is safe and sound, thanks to Velvet here. She treed a large bear to protect Diane." explained Nick, while the panicked woman grabbed her child, ignoring the fact that a tiger was nuzzling the back of her neck.
"You're saying... That tiger kept a bear away from my baby?" she asked in disbelief.
"It's true, Mom. We fell asleep, and when I woke up she was roaring at it." spoke up Diane, breaking free from her mother to hug Velvet.
Forgetting to be afraid, Mrs. Robbins reached out and petted the tiger.
"I was telling the kids earlier that they can come visit her sometime, as long as it's alright with you." said Nick, smiling.
"As far as I'm concerned, she's family. Of course we will visit her!" declared Mrs. Robbins.