The next day, I decided to take some of the meat and pack a bag of snacks to spend time with my animal friends. I took the rabbit in my arm and headed for my father’s grave. 

As if the crow knew I was coming, he swooped down and landed on my shoulder. He pecked at the strap on my bag and I cracked a smile. 

“Yes, I have your snacks this time,” I said. I lowered the bag down onto the base of the statue and opened it up. 

Both the crow and rabbit watched as I took out their snacks. They began eating once it was laid out and ready for them. I ate my own snack, a few bite-sized sandwiches specially made by the kitchen this morning. 

I was hoping the cougar would show up, but I wasn’t going to rush it. The crow who usually helps me was still eating after all. But while on my last sandwich, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and turned to look. I noticed the cougar carefully and quietly stepping around the trees and through the underbrush towards me. 

It paused when we made eye contact and so did I. I moved first, biting down on the last bit of my sandwich. I chewed quickly so I could swallow. 

“Did you come for your snack? I’ve got some deer meat like I promised,” I said. I grabbed my bag and took the meat out. 

The cougar took a few more steps forward but refused to get any closer than that. I was a bit grateful. With its hesitant behavior, I felt more and more secure in the thought that it wouldn’t attack me. 

I set the meat on the ground between us and retreated back to the base of the statue to sit. I noticed the crow looking at me. He quickly went back to finishing his snack though. 

The cougar sniffed and moved forward until it was standing in front of the meat. Then it began chewing on it happily. I couldn’t help smiling while I watched. 

When the rabbit finished his snack, he jumped on my lap and settled down. I carefully stroked his head and enjoyed the sounds of the forest. 

Once the cougar was done eating, the crow flew towards it. He cawed and moved around the cougar as if he was trying to talk to it or play with it. The cougar tolerated the annoyance for a second before swatting at him with its paw. I couldn’t help laughing as the crow continued bothering the cougar no matter how hard it tried to stop him. 

I decided to visit and give the cougar a snack once a week. When it seemed like a routine was forming, I found the cougar sitting and waiting near my father’s statue more often than not. There was still distance between us, but the cougar seemed to be getting more and more comfortable with us. 

The rabbit was hesitant to go near it but he managed to sit closer than usual after a few weeks. The crow continued to bother the cougar but instead of lashing out every time, the cougar started ignoring him or giving half-hearted growls. 

The cougar’s progress, and even my own, in our relationship made me feel giddy. I was excited to visit and see just how much closer we might have gotten. 

Whenever I visit Callum, which has become more like every other week, I don’t usually see the cougar. But the day after bonding with it again, I went to visit Callum, and I noticed the cougar was following us.