Chapter 1: Trail of Broken Hearts

'This is fate. This is destiny. But... why me?'

Throughout her life, the silver pelted tigress had always had this guilt of undeserving. She had done nothing for the world. She had influenced nothing. She had made no difference. Time and time again she was reminded of the little impact she made for the Epsilon pack.

Fate or destiny, she wasn't sure. Being born into a pack didn't seem to fall under either category. It seemed so flawed that she couldn't choose how to live herself and had to be forced to adapt to the life that she was born into.

'As if everyone were exactly the same.'

Over the years, she learned to deal with it and accept the world around her. Even if it didn't make a difference. It was clear that she wasn't destined for absolute greatness like everyone else. Even if she was, she knew that she would inevitably lose everything that meant anything to her.

'Because I never would have deserved it in the first place.'

And throughout the years, she waited. She waited for the unavoidable truth that was to become her Hell. Even when she had exactly what she needed. The only thing she needed.

'Someone to love'

It was that same someone who had helped her throughout those difficult times when her life seemed to meet an end. The same one who had his own problems to take care of and yet never seemed to care about anything other than her. It was these two traits that made her realize that she was happy. He made her happy.

He wasn't the one to smile often. But, whenever he did, she always treasured it for how special it was. Whether it was because he had woken up to see her for the first time that day leaning up against him, or maybe she had said something to him that was so soft and emotional that he couldn't possibly stop himself from giving in and letting that same soft expression spread across his lips on all those countless occasions for the short time they had known each other for.

'Such a Softie.'

She was always shocked in disbelief at how easy it was to talk to him. It almost seemed unnatural how the two of them talked to each other. There were only a few occasions where they had an argument, but it was always out of worrying and the protection of the other.

'He cares about me... so much.'

And it warmed her up on the inside so much knowing this. How he would tell her every morning the moment she woke up how beautiful she was. How he would always ask what she wanted for breakfast, lunch and dinner. How he would always catch her saddened face whenever she felt down, and always found some way to make her feel better.

Days and nights went by with not one passing by as boring, wasted or uninteresting. He made every day mean something. She felt alive. She had a god damn life. Something that most couldn't even come close to having. Her time spent in the Epsilon pack showed all that was needed for that reality. It was nothing but waking up, eating and sleeping. All the male sabers got to go hunt for food everyday, so their days weren't as boring.

'I needed to get out of there. And I did... Eventually.'

She owed her entire life to Diego. Without him, she was positive that she'd be dead. He let her travel with him. He kept her warm for those first couple of nights with the temperature around the island at an all time low. He kept whispering into her ears as they fell asleep, telling her that she was safe. She was okay. Everything was going to be alright.

'And he was right.'

000

"You do know how beautiful you are, right?"

That almost minute of silence and thought pondering was completely decimated as these words were heard to her right.

Shira had been up rather early that day, wanting to start it off somewhat differently than usual. Not that she didn't enjoy slowly arising from her sleep, feeling the softening comfort of his warmth against her, only to make the previous night's sleep all the better.

She nearly jumped at the sound of his voice. She loved it so much, but just about anything could startle her if it sneaked up on her.

No sooner did she feel his presence lay down beside her. She was nearly ready to respond back when she suddenly felt a slow, wet lick run up her neck. It was futile to resist the lust within her and couldn't help it as she let out a purr just as lengthy.

"And adorable. Don't forget adorable." He added.

She could only smirk, lower her head and hide her blush. These gestures were only kept for so long until she felt his paw gently touch her cheek, pulling her face to face with him.

Instantly mesmerized by the emeralds in his eyes, she also found it futile to look away from them.

"That's much better." She heard him say, knowing that he was referring to the sapphires in her eyes.

"I am not adorable." She smiled, still locking her gaze with his.

"That's fine. Think what you want." He said as he leaned in and kissed her on both sides of her neck, "But youare beautiful." He whispered into her ear, "And I'm going to remind you that everyday for the rest of your life."

She could feel the truthfulness in his words, just knowing that every waking day, she would be reminded that her self image wasn't as bad as she thought it was.

That was all Shira could take before she pounced on him, sending him toppled onto his back side as she rested on top of him.

"Hold me. Just hold me, Diego." She told him as she felt his paws reach around, pulling her in closer while laying her down beside him. He started stroking her backside as she began licking his neck. She could feel his throat vibrate from the purring, knowing that she was getting to him.

She lustfully breathed in between every lick that she made up his neck. All the while, Diego was gently scratching behind her ears and whispering about how amazing she was. She never would have guessed either. Someone who saw her the way Diego did. Beautiful. Amazing. Perfect. No matter what, her conscience always told her that she could never have these traits. Yet, Diego spoke from more than what his heart had.

"I could do this all day with you." Diego said as he nipped playfully at her ear, the sound of her earrings clanking together as he did.

"It wouldn't surprise me, Softie." She giggled and said.

"Still calling me that, Kitty?"

"Yep. Get use to it."

They shared a laugh as they brought their heads closer together with their eyes fully locked on the other. It was times like this where she couldn't feel happier. What she was feeling wasn't temporary happiness. She was well aware of how her life was, what it led up to and what might be in store for her. None of which gave her a feeling of guilt or undeserving. She truly was happy. For the first time in her life.

Shira suddenly thought of something that she never would have guessed she'd ask, "Things will stay this way, right?"

She almost sounded scared as she said this. It seemed so out of the ordinary to say, all things considered and all that was happening at the moment. She still felt happy. She still felt safe. But it didn't stop her mind from going crazy with "what if".

It almost seemed silly when the words came out of her mouth. She could see that look on Diego's face. That same one he'd give her whenever she seemed like she was over reacting. Where he would always stroke the back of her neck, running with the fur that perfectly formed down the center of it.

"What makes you say that?" He spoke only in the softest and most gentle tone.

"Don't you wonder the same thing?"

"I wonder a lot of things about you." He answered with a grin spreading across his face. She knew his playful side. He was just trying to keep her happy, which he always managed to successfully do.

"You know, for one, I always wondered how you couldn't see yourself as beautiful as you really are."

"For God's sake, Diego." She blushed as she buried her head in both of her forelegs. She couldn't help but giggle at how much of a smart ass Diego was being. Not in a mean way, but in more of a nice and playful way. What he just said was one of many prime examples of how he so cleverly managed to do that.

"You're welcome," He whispered in her ear as he ran his tongue up her neck, "Beautiful."

"You mean Kitty?"

"I don't know. I kinda like this one better. It's the only word that's ever popped into my head whenever I look at you."

Her heart melted as he spoke those words. They only reminded her that it was no wonder it took so little time for her to fall for him. Much so, that she began to feel her eyes water up as she wrapped herself around him once more. It was all she could ever ask of him. She wanted to feel safe. She wanted to be cared about. She wanted to snuggle up into his warmth whenever she pleased. He provided all of it and so much more.

"I love you, Softie."

"I love you too... Kitty."

000

Those last few words he spoke almost seemed to make there way subconsciously through her head as she became more and more aware of the reality around her. For a second, she thought that he was right there beside her. She smiled as she began to wake up, feeling with her paw for his presence, only to sense nothing in return as she opened her eyes for the light of that day. She rolled over, leaning on one foreleg while bringing the other behind her neck to stretch. She blinked a few times before letting her eyes wander around the small cave, seeing it in its empty presence.

She collapsed herself back to the floor, unable to control her tears as she clenched both paws together with her face pressed against the cave floor, bawling her eyes out miserably. Unfortunately for her, he was not there this time to rid of her tears, pull her in close and shift her mind to a much happier mindset. She recalled all that had happened. The life she currently had... and the other one she use to have. The one that had been taken from her. Twice.

'But why? Why Diego? Why not me?'

The pain was indescribable. The only one she ever loved. Dead. Gone forever. She wanted to so badly put it past her and move on. Yet, ending her life seemed just as promising. Even easier, to say the least.

'Then maybe I'll see him again.'

Taking that path seemed to be filled with more and more benefits. Her suffering would end. Yet, these types of thoughts terrified her. Before, she never would have imagined the thoughts of suicide. Having this existential crisis hovering over her thoughts became more dangerous as the week progressed. Since she's lost him, her mind had started shifting her values from his life to her own. Having been reminded every day since that death was inevitable, she couldn't help but think and worry about her own.

What bothered her more so was the fact that this state of isolation could have been avoided. One of them could still be here.

'If not Diego, then StarFire.'

It could have very much been so. The fact that she lost both of the only two that were by her side. Losing both at nearly the same time. The absolute best she could hope for at that point was to quickly move on. Maybe she'd only dwell with the insufferable pain for a night or two and then move on after that.

'It'd be a cold day in Hell.'

It was typical for her emotions to get the best of her as she had found the past week to be the worst she's ever lived. It was more than enough that she could think about as she struggled to get up for the first time that day, her limbs growing weak of motivation and strength as she exited the cave, wanting to take a walk through the wintered wilderness in hopes of clearing her head.

She had hoped during the first day or two after there deaths, that StarFire... maybe he'd come back... a second time... maybe. He was some how resurrected once, for a reason she never expected to understand, so it only filled her with hope to think that he could come back again.

'It's been a week since then.'

Her hope slowly died as the days kept passing throughout the week. Because of this, she found herself more and more often thinking about that night when she lost him. She remembered the forest that had once been flooded with that thick, purple fog, now resembling any other ordinary forest. The curse on the forest was broken ever since BlackFire was defeated. Her heart only had him to thank.

'Thanks for everything, StarFire. We did succeed. But... apparently it wasn't good enough.'

Shira would give anything to have that forest cursed again. If only to have the one she loved back. She could give a damn less if the forest's curse spread throughout the entire world. She just wanted Diego back by her side.

She tried not to, but she couldn't help but recall the moment he was killed. After the forest had grown scarce of the fog, Shira had taken Diego off the tree, pulling the "black" stone out of his chest. She laid him down on the forest's floor and followed suit as she hugged every inch of his body, crying her eyes out like never before. She repeatedly kissed his forehead. She choked to believe what had happened. What apparently had to happen. She tried whimpering to him, having her lips ever so close to his own. She shook him in hopes that he was still alive, but as she rested her ear in his chest, she knew what this was. She instantly accepted it. She wanted to be ready for something like this to happen.

'But not like this.'

All she could do was take the two stones that caused all of this and leave the forest. She couldn't stand looking at Diego's body any longer. She didn't have the sanity in her to create a burial for him. She just left to find a cave and cry herself to sleep, always hoping for a better day tomorrow. Only this time, she felt that all hope was gone.

Now, she was left wandering the new born Epsilon forest alone, no longer withholding any packs. The Deltas were dead and as far as she knew, so were the Epsilons. Living the vast majority of her life inside the forest, she knew the place by heart. She had walked throughout the entirety of the forest over the past week. Not once had she seen any saber from the Epsilon pack.

'Or anything alive for that matter.'

But she couldn't draw conclusions here. She wasn't certain what happened to the Epsilon pack. Yet, this thought only hovered in the very back of her mind. What's really been on her mind was about him. She wanted to move on so badly. She wanted some direction to take her life. She wanted some place to go. Some place to belong.

'I belong with him. In his warmth every night. It shouldn't have been taken from me.'

She made her way out of the forest, noticing the river that ran out with her as she walked over to where she first met him. She had been there every day since everything had ended. She would play out the event that happened in her head. Where he would jump out of the tall grass to the left of her as she leaned forward for a drink, pinning her down and looking into her eyes with his own. Those same ones that played a part in how she fell for him so easily. But now, she knew that she'll never see them again. It tore her up to think about it. And so, she just stood there, looking into her reflection in the river. She couldn't help but feel remorse for her mirrored face, getting to see the tortured looks in her own eyes. She didn't stop from whimpering quietly to herself, her thoughts going out to Diego.

She couldn't help but blame herself for losing him. She could have so easily backed down on the numerous chances she got when they were traveling together. Returning to the Epsilon forest the first time nearly got them killed by the Deltas. She hated herself for not piecing the puzzle together more clearly. It's not like she didn't know what she was getting herself into with the cursed forest and all, because she did. She knew she was risking everything. She had been running from everything forever, and the one time she didn't, she lost her only reason to live.

'I'll never make that mistake again. I'll run from everything like the god damn kitty I am from now on.'

Figuring that she had been out for a good majority of the day, she decided to head back to the secluded cave she had been staying in all week. On the way, her mind suddenly recalled a few memories that had happened throughout her encounter with StarFire.

'Since Shira had the most suffering in her life, she will get eternal happiness instead of you, Diego.'

What StarFire had said that first night she had met him. When he saved both Diego and her from the Deltas. He had explained how he was not intentionally fated to be StarFire, saying how Shira had suffered the most out of anyone and was why StarFire had saved them both.

'However, who ever is chosen is also allowed to chose someone to also be given this reward.'

Shira stopped and thought for a moment as she recalled these words.

It's not my decision. It's hers. And Shira, I'll give you all the time you need to think about this.'

She still didn't know exactly what he meant by this. What did he mean by eternal happiness? How was he going to provide it?

'Is it some three wishes sort of thing or what?'

The more she thought about it, the more lost and confused she got, leading up to depressed. She knew she had to face it and move on. It's better off just living the rest of her days alone. At least then there wouldn't anything to worry about.

'When all of my worries come true, I'll have nothing to worry about.'

In a way, she felt off the hook. The constant every day stress of losing him had been put to rest now that it actually happened. Yet, she couldn't find any good side to this positivity. This negative positivity.

As she re-entered the cave and sat down, she let her mind wander aimlessly. It only kept up for a short while as her eyes fell gaze to the two ever shining stones in the back corner of the cave. She had completely forgot they were there since she had woken up.

Walking over to them and picking "StarFire" up as she sat back down, her mind couldn't help but question everything she had heard from the human.

"StarFire... What did you mean by that?" She quietly spoke as if the stone was a telepathic communication to the dead.

She really wished she would've asked more back then. So many unanswered questions were evident during those times.

'My eternal happiness would be to live the rest of my life with Diego by my side. I could have just told StarFire that right then. Could it have saved him? Could it have changed everything?'

All things considered, she only saw it as that last strain of hope still lingering on the edge of her claws.

"Can I... still save him?"

"Of course you can."