1 Chapter 01

I have always been intrigued by the story of the leopard and Mount Kilimanjaro. I first heard about it from an underclassman. He was an artist and a walking work of art itself.

I first saw his works in an art gallery. I am a photography major, so naturally I would have some of my works on display. Roaming around to check on some of other's works, a specific painting caught my eye.

"Mount Kilimanjaro by Lucien Clay"

It was a landscape of a snowy mountain with rays of light peaking from its summit and a leopard at the base of the mountain. For a split second, I felt melancholic looking at the painting. It had a weird balance to it where the lower area of the painting had a colder vibe than the upper area. Isn't the summit supposed to be colder than land. It was very confusing yet I couldn't take my eyes of it. I had a sense of familiarity with the painting but there was a debate within me and mixed emotions about the leopard.

After a while of standing infront of the painting I felt a presence beside me that I didn't notice earlier. As I turn my gaze, little did I know that I would see someone more captivating than the painting.

I have to admit that as I laid my eyes on him, I felt captivated to the point I couldn't look away. He had bright emerald eyes, slightly curled golden locks and a smile so intoxicating. He was just beautiful like the type of person you could only admire from afar.

I shaked my head in disagreement with myself. "A guy shouldn't think such thoughts!" I shouted in my head. But damn did I forget I was a guy after I saw him smile.

I snapped as soon as I heard him speak. "Is there something in my face?" He asked.

"No." I replied trying to sound my calmest.

"Do you like it?" He asked looking at the painting.

"It really caught my eye. It makes me curious of what the leopard is thinking."

"It's thinking if it should climb the mountain." He then said.

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"I'm the leopard." He answered.

"But you're human"

He once again smiled and shook his head. "You're a funny kid. What's your name?"

"Kazuya Nakamura, how about you?"

"I'm Lucien Clay." He replied.

Realization hit me like a truck. He's the artist!

"Where did you get the inspiration of the painting" I asked out of curiosity.

"Have you ever heard about the story of the leopard who claimed Mount Kilimanjaro?" He asked.

"Not really but I have a feeling of familiarity towards the painting for some reason." I replied in all honesty.

"Well like I said, it's about a leopard who climbed the mountain and just found itself stuck wherever he was." He then looked up as if he was thinking and said "When I think of death, I think of that leopard. Why had he climbed so high up the mountain? Did he get lost while hunting down prey till he reached the point of no return? Or had he climbed higher as if possessed by some urge and collapsed trying? What's his carcass like? Was he trying to go back? Or to keep going higher? Either way he must've known he wouldn't be able to make it back"