Her Jaguars

Chapter 3

Ember’s POV-Five Years Later

I aced my GED a couple months after meeting Sawyer and then took a six-week certification course for photography. Sawyer had to convince me to allow him to buy me my own camera set. I was so used to people not loving me or helping me out that I got unsettled every time he wanted to buy me something. It’s not that I hate it, it’s more like I feel guilty that he bought me something after the fact. He convinced me by telling me it would be a graduation present and I could pick it out myself, money wasn’t a problem. In his words, “The better the camera, the longer it will last.”

I had decided on the Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera with fluorescent light, UV protection, and circular polarized lens filters as well as a wide angle and a telephoto lens and a tripod. I figured it was the best for where I was at the time and by the time I needed a new one, I’d be well into my career and could buy it myself. With Sawyer having taken me in, I didn’t need to spend a whole lot of money.

I had spent six months with Sawyer when I got my first job. I had taken some beautiful pictures of a barn swallow feeding her babies. I had sent it out to several nature magazines and one called me back saying they wanted the picture. They were fascinated that I could get so close to the birds without disturbing them.

Now I am in Brazil, more specifically in Manaus where the sss River meets Rio n***o, taking pictures of the town with my handy Canon as a way of saying goodbye to the camera. I know it seems a little too sentimental, but this camera was the first material object I truly had upon starting my new life. I like it and it’s still pretty good with taking pictures, but the Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Digital camera I just bought with some of my savings will take better shots than my DSLR for the magazines who like my work.

As I walk around the little town, I find myself content. I love being in nature, but being in a place that is surrounded either by forest or a river, makes me feel at peace. I head into what looked to be a type of cafe, needing food and needing to find a way to get to my hotel, which from what I saw was in the forest. Kind of like a retreat.

I walk into the cafe-esque place, and sit at a table in a corner. I order some food and look through my pictures on my camera while I wait. My phone pings, letting me know I got a text. I pick it up and smile when I see it’s from Sawyer.

Sawyer: Having fun in Brazil?

Me: Of course. This place is amazing. It’s the closest I have felt at peace ever but that’s probably due to all of the trees lol

Sawyer: That is great! You are coming back though right? I miss hanging out with my lil sis

I smile as I read his text. I have always felt he was like a brother to me. I love how sweet he is with me and how much fun we have when we’re with each other.

Me: I miss you too, Leo as well. I should be done here in a week or so. I’ll be in the rainforest for most of that time. I’ll text you when I can and I will definitely text you when I am on my way back.

I set my phone down on the table as I see the waitress bring my food over and set it down. I tell her thank you in Portuguese and dig in. When I am finished, I head up to the bar to pay for my food. The man behind the bar takes my money and checks me out.

“Excuse me,” I say in rough portuguese, “Could you help me with something?”

The man turns around, smiling. “I speak English too. What do you need?” he asks with an American accent.

“Oh, you’re American, that’s great. I only learned enough Portuguese to get by since I won’t be here for long nor around many people… Sorry, I’m rambling. I was wondering if you could point me to anyone going near the Jungle Lodge? I’m staying there while I'm here and I would prefer to have a local take me instead of going myself and getting lost.”

The man looked at me for a second, probably trying to figure out why a girl like me was doing in the middle of nowhere with only a duffle bag and camera case. I’m beautiful, I know that. It took me a long time to realize that; being bullied my entire life left me with very little self-worth. But Sawyer and Leo helped me realize that I am a beautiful woman. With my big turquoise blue eyes, heart shaped face, caramel skin, and honey colored hair. Not to mention my hourglass figure; I have curves, I’m not one of those toothpick models you see in magazines.

The man looks back into my eyes and shrugs, “I live near there, I can take you if you need a ride, but that won’t be for another hour.”

I look at him; he’s handsome, from a merely observational standpoint. Dark hair, milk chocolate eyes, tanned complexion. He looks muscular, but more toned and less body builder. I smile sweetly at him, “That would be great, thank you so much. I’ll just walk around and see what else is around, see you in one hour?”

“Sounds good,” I smile, grabbing my duffle bag and walking out with it on my shoulder.

I look around to see if there is a place I would want to go to pass the time and see a little souvenir boutique place. I head over and walk in, thinking about what Sawyer and Leo might like this cute little place as a souvenir. I always try to get them something from the places I go to and see.

I looked around, trying to see if anything would be something the guys would like. I gravitated over to the jewelry, finding them interesting. There were necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and earrings varying in many different colors. They were very beautiful and made me think the guys would like them, especially Leo. I grabbed my camera and took a few photos of the different jewelry.

“Excuse me? What are you doing” I heard a woman behind me say in portuguese. I turned around to see a woman who looked to be in her 60s. I smiled at her sweetly and said in my rough portuguese, “Sorry, I love the way these looked so much that I thought I’d take a couple pictures so I could show my friends back home.” I show her the pictures on the camera’s screen. “I plan on buying some, it is just that they are all so beautiful.”

The older woman smiled up at me, her eyes shining. “Thank you so much miss, they were handmade by myself and my daughter,” she says, then turns around to wave to her daughter to come over. She looked to be in her late 30s or early 40s as she rushed over, asking if everything was ok. The older woman talked to her, I assumed she was explaining our conversation. I showed the daughter my camera screen like I did with her mother. The daughter looked at me with pursed lips, like she was trying to decide whether she wanted to ask me something.

“Would it be possible that we could have some of those photos? We have been trying to get good pictures of our things for our website, so we can sell them online. It was my daughter’s idea to try and get more money by selling online. Your photos are very pretty and show all the different colors our jewelry has.”

I looked at her, shocked. I couldn’t believe that someone whom I didn't work for would ask me for one of my photos. After a minute, I smiled brightly at her, “Of course you can have the photos. Do you have an email I could send them to you? If the place I’m staying at has Wi-Fi, I can send them to you when I get there. If they don’t, I will have to send them when I get back home in a week or so,” I tell her, grabbing a pen and paper out of my bag so she could give me her email.

She smiles widely and takes the pen and paper; while she writes down her email, I turn to look at the different pieces of jewelry. I decide on the multi-colored necklaces and bracelets, getting two of each. I see a pair of earrings that look similar to tiny dreamcatchers, and decide to grab those too. I grab a pair of purple ones for me and blue ones for Leo. Leo is more feminine of the two guys and occasionally likes to be genderfluid in his dressing. I think he’ll love wearing them.

I turn around, asking the younger of the two how much everything I had in my hands was. She shook her head, waving her hands in front of her, “No no no. You don’t have to pay. A gift for giving me the photos.”

“Are you sure?” I ask her, furrowing my brows. “I don’t mind paying for them. I only took the pictures because you have suck beautiful jewelry.”

“I insist; I don’t know if you are professional or not, and I know what I asked was very sudden and shocking. Consider it as payment for your professional looking pictures,” she said, smiling as she handed back the pen and paper.

I look at her, still a little shocked that she would want my pictures. I mean yes, they are of her product, but this is a first for me. I finally nod my head, “Ok, I will agree to this. Mostly because my brother and his boyfriend back home will think this is funny, because these are for them.” I hold up the necklaces and bracelets to show her what I’m talking about. “I always try to get them something local when I;m on my adventures.”

She walks up to me and gives me a hug. Again, I am caught off guard with how friendly and nice she is to me. I slowly wrap my arms around her, returning her hug. When she lets go, I smile, then look at my watch. Seeing that I had 15 minutes left until I needed to meet the guy at the bar, I waved bye and said, “Sorry, I’m meeting someone who said he would take me to the lodge I’ll be staying at this week.”

“Wait, here, take this,” The younger woman said, giving me a woven small purse looking bag, “for your stuff.”

“Thank you-” I started to say. Turning fully to her I add, “ I just realized that I didn’t even ask for your name. I’m sorry, that was very rude.”

“It is ok, we were caught up in our conversation. My name is Izabel. May I ask your name?”

“Ember. My name is Ember.”

“Like a fire still going. That is a good, strong name. I am sure you will do great things,” Izabel says, smiling widely.

“Thank you. For the complement and the gifts. Maybe I’ll see you again before I leave,” I state, smiling back. As I walk away, I call to her, “I will also make sure I get you those photos.”

Once I’m out of the shop, I jog to the bar. I can’t run due to the baggage I’m carrying. Being as short as I am doesn’t help either. As I get to the front door of the bar, I see the man walk out. He looks around before he sees me and waves. I walk up to him smiling.

“You ready to go?” He asked me in English. I nod and he waves his hand at me to follow him.

“Thanks again for the ride— Sorry, I never got your name earlier,” I say, walking up next to him. I notice he shortens his stride so I don’t have to practically run to keep up with him.

“Dylan Mackey, nice to meet you–” he pauses, I’m assuming to get my name from me. We walk around the corner of the building, and I tell him my name as we walk up to the car. I put my things in the back of the car and climb into the passenger seat while Dylan gets into the driver's side.