Daemon growled and huffed as he chased the deer through the black woods, launching himself and digging his over sized fangs into the back of it's neck, sighing in relief as it went down. He didn't wait to begin his feast, the rush of the chase coupled with fresh blood, he devoured about half the carcass quickly, swiping at any vultures who got too close. However once he was full, he backed away, allowing the vultures to gnaw on what was left. Daemon stretched and groaned, he should probably get back to... Whatever herd he had.

However, sensing other presences around him, he stopped and looked around, narrowing his eyes.

"Whose there?" He snarled, watching as two sabers came into view.

"Very good..." Oscar chuckled condescendingly as Zeke began circling around him.

"... This isn't your territory I don't want any trouble." He said and frowned, getting into a defensive stance.

"Well... You got trouble." Zeke chortled and Daemon sighed, great... More males needing to assert their dominance.

"... Just let me leave and we won't need useless bloodshed." Daemon stated seriously, however, Zeke couldn't help himself.

He hurled himself at the black tiger, who growled and jumped out of the way, swiping aggressively, catching his back thigh, watching as Oscar charged at him. This was hardly fair, but he figured that was the point. Normally, tigers fought because another saber was intruding on territory, this was completely random and it rubbed Daemon the wrong way, and not just because they targeted him. This fight was intense, but Daemon had been alone so long, he knew how to handle multiple opponents.

He snarled and pinned Oscar down after he had shoved Zeke roughly against a tree, they had thoroughly underestimated him. He raised his paw and watched with satisfaction as Oscar winced, readying to be sliced.

"Leave me be... Let this be your only, warning." He spat before getting off of Oscar and huffing as both he and Zeke looked at one anther with worry before scampering off.

Daemon nodded but groaned, he didn't get out of this unscathed after all... He had multiple cuts and bruises, but Oscar had managed to puncture his left thigh, causing undeniable pain and blood loss. He winced and began limping back towards the herd... He didn't arrive until morning and when he did, the smell of blood caused everyone to perk up.

"O-Oh my goodness! Daemon are you okay!?" Sid yelled dramatically as he ran towards the wounded tiger.

"I think so... Two other sabers ganged up on me on my way back... Got me good." He murmured, Diego's ears flattened as he heard.

Shit... Take care of him huh?

"Do you need a ride?" Manny offered and Daemon took a few seconds to think about it before laying down and shaking his head.

"No... I just need a few minutes." He sighed, Diego couldn't help but be impressed that he beat both Zeke and Oscar.

Zeke was a bit of a joke but Oscar was definitely a worthy opponent and with both of them? He was certain that Daemon wouldn't return... But he did, and he worried that he'd be figured out. He watched the blood drain from Daemon's leg and frowned... Did he feel guilty? He set out the hit on him!

"... You sure you don't want some help?" Diego asked hesitantly, standing up and walking over to the other male.

"You want to help me?" Daemon asked.

"Well... I'm offering." Diego replied, ears still flat against his skull.

"... I suppose if you're offering." Daemon said and nodded.

Diego leaned down and began lapping gently at the wound, watching as Daemon cringed, digging his nails into the floor and groaning. Oscar did get him good... This wound could be potentially fatal... Maybe Zeke and Oscar didn't fuck this up after all... After a few minutes of cleaning up the puncture, Daemon stood back up despite the throbbing pain and the loss f blood which impressed Diego further.

"I'm alright, we need to get moving, this kid has a family to reunite with..." He murmured and began limping forward towards half peak.

Diego, Sid and Manny looked to each other in concern before following after the wounded tiger. They made sure to keep the pace at something he could keep up with and let him stop and rest when he needed it, although he made sure to go until he couldn't anymore. After the bleeding finally stopped he continued walking, despite everyone feeling his pain from his facial expression.

"Maybe we should stop." Manny said.

"I'm fine." Daemon replied.

"You know you don't have to be okay." Sid said and Daemon silently glared at the sloth, he would not be a hindrance...

He quickly sped up his face and walked forward to catch up with Diego who had suddenly began jogging back to them.

"Hey! Great news! I found a short cut!" He called.

"Short cut?" Manfred asked.

"Yeah, faster then the long way around." Diego said oddly cheerful.

"I know what a short cut is..." Manny scoffed as the baby pulled at his fur.

"Sounds god." Daemon said and began limping forward towards the cave opening, not realizing that the humans were only a couple hundred feet away.

"No thanks, I choose life." Sid said resiliently.

"Then I suggest you take the short cut." Diego snarled, causing Daemon to look back with a raised brow. What was his problem?

"Are you threatening me?" Of course, Sid had to go against anything Diego said.

"Move, Sloth!" He yelled, causing a sudden avalanche.

"Everyone inside!" Manny said and everyone began running inside, Daemon, who was wounded, could barely make is and fell once he made it inside, however before he could check his wound, everyone looked up at the trembling icicles that threatened to impale them.

Daemon watched the others begin to run towards the cave entrance, only to find it sealed... Thankfully the icicles calmed.

"Okay... I vote short cut." Manny said and Daemon sighed, however,, his ear rose a bit as Diego approached him.

"Need some help up..?" He asked, tilting his head, Daemon wanted to say no, but he couldn't get up... He sighed and nodded.

Diego then leaned down and gently pushed him, helping him get some leverage to stand. Daemon frowned, he hated being an invalid but he looked over.

"... Thank you..." He said and began limping after Manny and Sid.

Diego watched him and followed, catching up after him and walking beside the other male, there was something about him... He caught himself staring at Daemon's scar again... But not before Daemon caught him.

"If you're curious you could ask." Daemon mused, Diego felt his cheeks heat up as he quickly looked away.

"... What happened?" He asked discreetly.

"... I was apart of pack... A pretty big one... But I was different..." Daemon sighed as he looked to his paws. "... They... Told me if I wanted to become one of the Gammas of the pride... I had to steal something from a small tribe that lived about a mile from us and if anything happened they would come in and save me... I was told that I had to steal a necklace from the shaman... It was an odd request but I trusted them..." He said, Diego could tell where this was going.

"... I waited until the tribe was around the fire, eating their dinner and dancing before I snuck into the tent... But as I walked out I had been spotted... There were so many of them, they surrounded me and began burning me... I screamed and yelled, begging my pack to help me... But I watched as they abandoned me..." Daemon said and looked up and away from Diego. "... I'm sorry if I misjudged you before... I shouldn't let my past experiences cloud my judgment..." Daemon said and looked back to Diego with a soft smile, Diego felt a clenching in his gut. Ouch.

"... I'm sorry that happened to you..." Diego said and looked over to Daemon, meeting his yellow absorbing eyes, Diego suddenly felt a swelling in hic chest and he quickly looked away. "... I'm pretty sure that won't happened to you here." He said and Daemon chuckled softly.

"I think you're right..." Daemon said and gently bumped Diego with his shoulder. "Don't look so down. You're doing a good thing for Manny and Sid... Mostly Manny." He chuckled and Diego managed a small laugh.

"Yeah definitely..." He said and watched Daemon walk. There was still something about him that Diego felt drawn towards... And it worried him, he had to remember the mission Soto gave him.


After chasing the baby through cavern after cavern, thankfully Manny got ahold of him again and relief was in the air. However as the herd walked through the icy cave, they ended up in another rock cave filled with drawings of another tribes past... Despite not being a fan of humans... He loved their art... And he smiled, Diego watched Daemons relaxed expression, and he realized it was one of the first genuine smiles he had seen from Daemon, but as he watched, he saw a sudden shock form over the other males features. Diego frowned a bit before walking to his side...

The drawing depicted multiple men surrounding a black beast, drawn as a monster... Diego frowned in an angered fashion.

"... This is what we are to them..." Daemon muttered and looked away, disgusted by the drawing.

"... You aren't a monster, Daemon." Diego quickly said and walked over in front of him, watching the pained gaze actually hurt Diego.

"... I'm not..? Look at me, Diego..." Daemon said and hesitantly looked up to meet Diego's stunning emerald eyes.

"... You're not... I have to ask, why do you want to help this baby so much after all the humans have done to you?" Diego asked, Daemon's head lifted a bit as he looked to the baby as Manny had his own moment.

"... I don't know... I look at him... And I see myself... Innocence not yet soiled, I want to protect that like my pack never did for me I guess... Stupid I know but..." Daemon sighed and looked away again.

Diego frowned and leaned forward, gently bumping Daemon's shoulder with his forehead, saying nothing but watching Daemon smile.

"Hey, love birds." Manny called, causing the two tigers to stiffen and look to the grossed out mammoth and the cooing sloth. "Let's go we gotta get moving." He said and Daemon cleared his throat, however Diego looked to the drawing before reaching forward and clawing Daemon's portrait before nodding to Daemon who smiled and gently bumped Diego once more before walking after Manny.


The four animals readied to sleep for the night, Daemon settled near Diego who welcomed the company surpassingly... Maybe Daemon wasn't such a bad guy, everyone had their own bad experiences... But Diego felt guilt... He was still lying to them... Even if his words to Daemon earlier in the day were true... He was leading them ultimately to their demise... It kept him up that night.

"You alright?" Daemon asked, causing Diego to jump.

"O-Oh... Yeah I'm alright." He said and coughed softly, not wanting to wake up the baby or Manny for that matter.

"You seem troubled... Wanna go for a walk..? I could use some not-hurried exercise, but after what happened last night... I would like a companion." He said and smiled, grunting as he stood up. Diego frowned but nodded before standing and walking away from the sloth and a mammoth.

The two sabers walked side by side, however as Daemon suddenly collapsed, Diego gasped and went to the other males side.

"I... Wasn't expecting that." Daemon chuckled nervously, carefully standing back up.

"Here, lean on me." Diego said, giving Daemon some support as they walked towards an unfrozen river. Daemon could use a drink.

"Thanks..." He said as he laid by the river side and leaned down, beginning to lap at the cold refreshing water. "Wanna lay with me?" He offered, Diego felt his gut turn with guilt before he reluctantly laid down next to the other tiger, their hips pressing against one another, Daemon noted the silence. "Diego, seriously... What's wrong..? You've been really quiet... Is everything alright?" He asked.

"Oh... Yeah everything's alright... How's your leg?" Diego asked, quickly trying to change the subject.

"It's... Well... It's alright I guess, it hurts but I think it's healing, the cold helps." He said and allowed himself to lean against Diego, who was stiff. "It's a nice night..." He commented happily.

"Yeah... Yeah it is." Diego said, relaxing a little, though still feeling the guilt inside of him. "Daemon I... I need to..."

"Hm?" Daemon asked, looking over... Those eyes again... Those gorgeous golden eyes...

"... Nothing, it's not important." Diego sighed and looked away.

Daemon tilted his head and leaned in, gently tapping Diego with his forehead.

"You know... If something is bothering you... You can tell me..." Daemon said.

"Yeah I know..." Diego said and looked over, realizing just how close their faces were.

Ba-bump.

Ba-bump.

Daemon felt a clenching in his chest... Was this normal..? Was this even okay? Males and females got together for one reason and that was to produce offspring... Two males? There was no way that would be possible and yet... This felt right... And Diego gulped, looking down, he felt nervous because he too felt the urges Daemon was feeling... But he couldn't... Knowing he was betraying Daemon in the end he quickly got up.

"We should get back to Manny, the helpless runt and the baby." He said, managing a nervous laugh, despite Daemon's confused expression.

"Yeah I guess you're right." He said, allowing Diego to help him up... But he didn't lean on him while they walked back to the other half of the herd.

Diego laid closer to Daemon then he had before going on their walk and watched as Daemon fell asleep... He sighed and laid his head down befre he too forced himself to sleep... He had to keep himself focused on the mission. Even if... He felt something he shouldn't for Daemon... Should he tell them? Should he not? His morals were beginning to conflict with each other as he was in for a restless night of pathetic sleep.