Eep and Guy sat a little ways off from the family fire on the beach one night. They wanted to be away from the light so they could look up at the sun speckled sky. The pair sat back-to-back and hand-in-hand, leaning against each other for support.
"Want me to tell a story?" Guy asked.
"Why not?" Eep replied with a yawn.
"Let's see." Guy gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Here we go. Once upon a time, there was beautiful young tiger."
Eep smiled. All of guys stories started this way.
"And this little tiger was something special indeed. In a family where everyone was scared of the unknown, she embraced it. One day, she got a chance to save her family and she took it. She took her family on the greatest adventure of all time, and she brought them to Tomorrow."
"Hmm," Eep murmured, sinking a bit lower into the sand. "Good story."
"Don't fall asleep on me," Guy urged, nudging her. "I'm not done yet. During this epic journey, the little tiger and her family had some help from a stranger. Of course, because they didn't know this stranger the family was against him. The little tiger liked him though. And he liked her, too. She convinced her family to like him. The little tiger made one very lonely stranger feel… loved."
Eep's droopy eyes opened again and she moved her head so she could see Guy's face. "How long were you alone?" she asked quietly.
"Twelve years," Guy replied hoarsely.
"Twelve years of just you and Belt?" Eep gasped, eyes wide.
Guy chuckled. "Actually, six years of just me and Belt. The first six were just me."
"Guy…"
He cut her off. "It's cool. I managed. And now I've got you." He smiled at her.
Even though she attempted to smile back, Eep ended up yawning.
"Tired?" Guy asked.
Eep nodded and slumped to the ground. She sighed happily and burrowed into the sand. Guy grinned and laid down next to her. He put one arm under his head and reached the other out towards her.
"G'night, Eep," Guy whispered, figuring she was already asleep.
Eep pulled herself closer to him until her head was resting on his shoulder and her arms were around his torso. "Night, Guy."