Hey all,

I have now (25-08-16) read through and corrected more than the greater share of the errors. I've also finally completely rooted out the past/present tense problems. At least I think. Anyways, it's a lot better to read than it was before. Personally, I think the storyline of this one is pretty awesome and with so few favourites, a little underrated. But that's just my own 'modest' opinion speaking. Please review to let me know yours!

Kind Regards,

J. Caesar

Chapter 1: The pack members

With the Ice Age far from being over, animals were forced to migrate out of the colder areas in search of food. However, the voyages to areas that haven't yet been covered with snow were long and harsh and required travels across vast areas without food or water. Luckily, there were occasionally oases on the route which still offered fresh grass and refuge. Today, once again, a great variety of animals that were hungry or wanted to rest, prior to resuming their long walk to the south, had arrived. As their numbers were huge, it was evident that they attracted the attention of predators. From the tall grass nearby, they were watched patiently by several pairs of hungry eyes. Unaware of the incoming danger, one Macrauchenia started to venture away from the rest of its herd. The eyes followed it keenly as the herbivore strayed off and brought itself in a vulnerable position. The eyes exchanged glances. It was time.

Out of the blue, three sabre-toothed cats jumped up between the animal and its group with loud growling. The panicked animal bolted, distancing itself even more. Just as sudden, two other sabres appeared, causing the animal to change direction. As the predators gave chase on the left side, their three congeners joined them on the right side. Though the Macrauchenia managed to stay ahead of them so far, the tigers knew it wouldn't be for long. A few seconds later, the last pack members, that had been waiting further on, blocked the last escape path.

Surrounded by eight killers, the animal had nowhere to run anymore. However, that didn't mean it wasn't going to put up a fight. As its assailants closed in, it attempted to kick them away with its powerful hind legs, yet it failed time after time. The hunters were simply too agile to be struck and as the prey continued to struggle, it tired itself and soon, wouldn´t be able to fight back at all. One of its efforts nearly made it stumble. A fatal mistake as it exposed its neck.

"Diego! Now!"

A male leaped forward and landed his fangs into the weakest spot of the herbivore, the throat. More of its pack members aided in subduing the animal by piling on their prey. When the Macrauchenia stopped moving, the hunt was over and the sabres enjoyed a well-earned dinner. The hierarchy was simple. The two lead males, Soto and Diego, ate first, then came the rest. After half an hour, everybody had eaten their fill and they abandoned what was left of the carcass to the vultures, that had already been circling above their heads for a while now. It was getting dark and the highest ranking male, decided it was time to call it a day.

"Good job everyone, now let's go back to the caves. Tomorrow we will hunt in the morning before the animals start migrating again."

The sabres followed their leader, who moved north. That being said, two members seemed to have other plans as they wandered off in the wrong direction. Soto spotted this and turned to his second in command.

"Diego..."

The addressed sabre stopped and looked at his superior, waiting for his orders.

"...make sure everyone gets back now, I don't want someone to blow the operation because they're tired."

Diego copied his boss's gaze and confirmed with a nod that he understood what was asked of him. As he turned around to shadow the straying couple, a smaller, female sabre tries to join him. Soto was quick to blocks her way.

"Not you Lucy..."

Lucy's posture was like Diego's, but her head was a bit rounder and her fur had a lighter taint. She was younger too, although this didn't mean she wasn't equally deadly as a hunter.

"But I can help..."

"Move!"

Lucy bowed her head obediently. She knew better than to argue with the clan leader and she preceded him in the direction of their resting place. One of the other males had watched the scene and positioned himself next to her.

"I'm sure Diego can do fine on his own, Lucy. Shall I walk you home instead?" He solicited.

"Nice try Oscar, but no thanks."

She pushed Oscar aside, leaving him with an annoyed look on his face. He didn't like being rejected. Unfortunately, standing on the road caused Soto to bump into him. The latter repaid him that favour with a glare. These kind of glares Soto was able to muster, could look so deadly, that they were perhaps his strongest weapon of maintaining order and fear amongst his sabres. Oscar was no exception to this. He almost stumbled across his own feet as he made an apologetic gesture and moved along quickly to avoid further agitation of his leader.

.

Diego soon caught up with the runaway. As he prowled closer, he could not help but to overhear the conversation they were having, for it regarded a topic that intrigued him.

"Don't you worry about will happen after tomorrow, Kurt?" The sabress asked.

"I don't know Allison, what's there about tomorrow?" Her companion replied.

Allison was older than Diego, her fur being of the same colour, but with dark stain on her right front shoulder. Also, her paws were a little shorter than Diego's, causing her body to be closer to the ground. Her interlocutor, Kurt, was older as well. His fur was brownish instead of orange. He was heavier build and had actually more similarity with Lenny than with Diego. His left sabre tooth was shorter than the right one, albeit it was dulled the same way indicating that had probably been damaged a long time ago.

"When the animals leave our area." Allison continued.

"Well, then new ones arrive." Her friend replied optimistically.

"Yea, but what if they don't?"

"Then we'll have to find food elsewhere, I guess."

"But that means we need to head into other territory than our own. That means other predators to compete with."

"You worry too much about future things, Allison."

"You think?"

"Yea, and besides, other predators have also shown up in our territory and we've driven them off simple enough. Maybe we can steal new hunting grounds."

"But what if there are no other hunting grounds?"

"There are. And when these grounds are depleted, I'm sure even Soto knows better than to stick around. But for now, food is still plentiful. You got to live more in the present, Allison."

"Perhaps you're right Kurt. Maybe I should."

"Yea maybe you should." Diego added, emerging from the vegetation.

"Diego! How did you…" Allison let out surprised.

"I was send to follow you from the moment you went in another direction than Soto had in mind."

"That does sound like Soto, always suspicious, always mistrustful..." Kurt commented.

"If I hear what you think of him, I don't blame him for doing so." Diego answered.

"Don't say that it isn't true, you know it is."

"All I'm saying is that you should be glad he didn't appeal to his mating rights when he took control of our pack."

Kurt fell silent. He realized that Soto, as top male, had indeed the authority to take all females of the clan, including his mate Allison. The only reason he hadn't done that, was because he cared too much for the power he had managed to claim, to share it with anyone.

"I'm more than glad he didn't." Allison grinned and she cuddled Kurt's shoulder.

Diego smiled, but stopped immediately when it felt as if he was more or less insulting his superior, which he wouldn't dare.

"Could you give us just a little more time alone, Diego, please." Allison asked with a sweet voice.

"My orders are to get you back."

"Pleeeeeease. Soto hardly gives us any time together. We'll be back soon, I promise."

Diego wasn't a juvenile, yet compared to his two friends, he was quite a youngster. He had done an excellent job in climbing up in the ranks so quickly, reaching the position of second-in-command so early in his life. He hadn't done so by neglecting orders. And his orders were clear. Bring them back asap. He looked from Allison to Kurt and back. They looked him expectantly. Maybe he could make a small exception for his friends, could he not? It was not like they were never coming back. No. Soto hated any form of delay. And just as he figured it to be for the best to take them back immediately, his good nature beat him to it.

"I'll wait over there, but no more than 10 minutes okay?"

"Thanks Diego." the couple responded.

.

When the three got back to the caves, Soto was waiting for them. And as Diego had already feared, he was not at all pleased by their untimely arrival.

"Why are you so late?" he demanded.

As none of the three answered fast enough in his opinion, he started to shout.

"Diego. I thought I had told you to bring them back right away? And you, Allison? What were you planning, simply abandoning the rest of the pack?"

"Soto, if I may..."

"No Kurt, you may not! Let me tell you something. You sure are older than any of us, but you've shown us today that wisdom clearly doesn't come with age!"

A sniggering arose from the caves behind him. As if struck by lightning, Soto turned his sight to the entrance. The others, who had first been peeping around the corner, duck back into the caves. Irritated by the interruption, Soto, shifted his gaze back to the three latecomers, putting up a faked friendly voice this time.

"So, again... Why are you so late?"

"Soto, we..." but Allison couldn't finish.

"It was my bad, I took the wrong way back and we got lost."

Soto shot him a quizzical look as Diego bowed his head, pretending to be ashamed.

"Diego," Soto replied calmly, "I hadn't expected this from you. Standard punishment for failure means your position would go to another, but you have not failed me before. I hope from now on it will remain that way…"

Diego didn't know what to say. Had Soto really forgiven him? Just like that?

"…And you will be on the morning patrol for the next few days."

Clearly not.

"As for you two. Don't let me see you sneaking off anymore, or you don't have to come back at all."

As they all went inside, Diego felt a poke.

"Why did you do that?" Kurt whispered.

"Do what?" he whispered back.

"Take the blame."

"But I was too blame, after all, it was I who chose to give you your time."

"Thank you Diego, you have your heart in the right place" Allison said.

"You'd make a fine leader someday." Kurt added.

As they retreated to their separate sleeping places, Diego smiled. Kurt and Allison were good friends of him and helping them out had felt like the right thing to do, despite it had meant contradicting his orders. Still. On one hand he might be glad to hear his actions were appreciated, on the other hand he was angry for burdening himself with a morning shift. He really hated getting up so early.

End of chapter 1.