**Diary Entry 15th June**
The evening sun dipped low over the English countryside, casting a warm golden glow across the fields. Our hiking group was making its way back to the campsite after a long day exploring the Lake District when I spotted something unusual near the riverbank. A dark shape thrashed in the murky water, and as I squinted against the fading light, my stomach droppedthat was no fallen branch. It was a lion.
Impossible, I thought. Lions dont belong here. But there it waspowerful, yet struggling desperately against the current. Something was wrong. Lions can swim, yet this one was clearly exhausted, maybe injured. While the others froze in shock, instinct took over. I dropped my rucksack and camera and plunged into the icy water.
The river fought me, the current dragging at my limbs. The lions sodden fur made it impossibly heavy, and for a moment, I thought I might fail. But the idea of watching it drownno. I couldnt. I hooked an arm around its neck and hauled with everything I had, muscles burning, lungs screaming.
Finally, somehow, we reached the bank. The lion lay motionless, its chest still. Desperate, I dropped to my knees and pressed my hands against its ribs, pumping in time with my own frantic heartbeat. My arms ached, my vision blurred, but I didnt stop.
Thena twitch. A shallow breath. Another. Slowly, those amber eyes opened.
I scrambled back as the lion staggered to its feet, heart pounding. This was it. Id saved it, only to be torn apart in return. But the beast just studied me, swaying slightly. Then, without warning, it stepped forwardand licked my hand.
Rough, warm, almost gentle. A thank you, if ever there was one.
We stood there, man and wild creature, bound by something raw and wordless. Then, just like that, it turned and vanished into the trees, leaving me trembling on the riverbank.
I dont know how or why a lion was in that river. But today, I didnt just save a life. I touched something untamedand for a moment, it touched me back.
