Disclaimer: No, I do not own the Dark stories. Well, I own almost every single one of the books out; I think I'm only missing two, but the characters are not mine. As I've said before, I merely use the hot men and amazing women for my own sick amusement, and your, the readers, enjoyment. Oh, and just so you know, this chapter will be all about the "mysterious" woman who will be Zacarais's lifemate, only after this chapter she won't be so mysterious. I personally like her, so I hope you will too. This is a little shorter than the last chapter, but it's really more of an introduction, so I think I can be forgiven for that.

Dark Survival

"Rawr! Rawr!"

The soft sound of the cub of a tiger is truly a wonderous thing. Althea Atalo knew this for a fact, and believed it more than anything in the world. She knelt next to the tiger she'd raised from a cub, the tiger she'd named Brigid, meaning strong, and helped the mother three times over to clean her two new cubs.

Althea's light brown hair, which fell just past her butt, was currently braided in a crown around her head, to keep it out of her eyes. Her eyes, the color of wet grass but could turn blue depending on which light she was in, were now full of warmth and love. Because she was attending a birth, she was wearing old jeans and a warm, light blue sweater.

Next to her was the huge tiger she'd been with since she was just a baby, the tiger her deceased parents had told her crawled right up to her just weeks after she was born and stayed with her since then. When he was fully grown, over 900 pounds of strong muscle and almost 7 feet in length, including his tail, Althea had found a way to bind them together, so that they would both live a lifetime together. He stayed in his prime with her; when she died, he would die as well. He had mismatched eyes, dark blue and Althea's own wet grass green, and his own pattern of black stripes over luscious orange fur. His name was Caitir; it meant pure, and unsullied.

Caitir moved his great length foreword and used his long, flat tongue to help clean off the first cub, a male. Althea leaned foreword to nuzzle his ear, whispering, "We'll call him Buzz. It may mean 'village in the hills,' but I think it fits him. Look at that fur sticking up on his head!"

She wiped some slime off the second cub's head; this was a female. "And you shall be Brynn. That means small hill; it's appropriate since you were born in this cave, which is on a small hill." She smiled, then frowned a little. She was getting the impression of extreme exhaustion from Brigid, when she shouldn't be so tired. "Here, Caitir; finish washing Brynn, will you? I think something's wrong with Brigid."

The huge tiger obediently began washing the second cub, rumbling deeply when the cub mewled unhappily.

Althea shoved the blankets aside to get a better look at the female; she was breathing heavily, and there was blood on the fur of her leg. Oh no; did something go wrong with the birth? I would have felt it, wouldn't I have? She wondered, reaching inside herself to draw out the healing power she'd been born with. It gathered in her palms, which she placed over the hindside of Brigid. Something was torn in the female's body; possibly from the claws of the cubs.

Take what I give you; have just a little bit of me to survive. The words were whispered in her mind, flowing into Brigid. But the tiger shifted, and she recieved another impression; the tiger's homeland, her parents, the first cub she'd ever lost. She also recieved an emotion; loneliness, a wish to go on. Her cubs would survive without her; she knew Althea would care for them. Althea inhaled sharply; Brigid wanted to leave this world. She wanted to join her first mate, who'd died in a fight with another potential mate, join her parents, join her first cub. She was weary of the world here.

Caitir lumbered closer, his rough tongue moving on the skin of her cheek, a rough caress. He growled softly; she knew what he wanted. He knew it was Brigid's time to go as well, and wanted Althea to let her go. Althea sighed; she'd do it, but she'd ease the way. Instead of using her power to heal the female, she instead took away all pain, and helped lead her spirit on to the next world.

Caitir nuzzled her shoulder, then the cooling female. Breathing deeply, he picked Brynn up by the scruff of her neck; the cub instinctually curled her body inward. Althea sighed and picked up the other cub, allowing her huge friend to lead the way out of the 30 acres of forest she owned, back to her cabin.

Zacarias, we will go to ground now. Release your panther state. Gregori commanded, releasing his own owl state. Next to him, Savannah also turned human once more.

Zacarias growled at being ordered about, but also returned to being human. He didn't say anything; he just opened the ground to recieve him.

When he was in the ground and closed off from the other two, Savannah sighed. It's really creepy being around him, Gregori. Are you sure I should have come with you?

Gregori let loose a rare smile, and opened the ground a section above Zacarias; they would watch over him while he rested. Of course you should have come with me, Savannah. I wouldn't have left you for the world. And you know that you would not have survived a seperation from me.

She smiled, and leaned up to kiss him. I know. I just hope we get to the girl's place before it's too late. I can feel the darkness in him rising with each night.

Gregori nodded, and floated into the earth with her at his side. I know; I feel it too. But don't worry so much. She is his lifemate; I am certain. Now, rest; we'll be flying all night tomorrow after feeding.

She nodded, cuddled up to him, and allowed the sleep of their people to fall over her. Her lungs stopped breathing, her heart stopped beating, and she was dead to the world.

Althea shivered in the warmth of her cabin, feeling a chill run down her spine. She'd just had the oddest feeling, much like the saying, "someone walking over your grave." Next to her, Caitir, who'd been sleeping, stirred, raising his giant head. Unlike her other large cats, he could speak to her, mind-to-mind.

What is it? He questioned, a deep rumble in her mind. The cubs resting next to his warm stomach didn't stir when he did, though, thankfully.

She was in the process of unbraiding her now curly hair, and had paused; she resumed now. I'm sure it's nothing, really. I just had the oddest feeling, like something dangerous was coming after me.

Caitir delicately sniffed the air, sneezing lightly. You are afraid. You should know that I, as well as the many of my kind that you care for, are here for you. You have no reason to fear.

Althea smiled gently and reached a hand to scratch just between his ears. His eyes closed as he began to purr loudly, practically shaking her arm with its force. I know you'll protect me. You're our hero, Caitir. Right now, all I have to worry about is these cubs contracting infections. Well, that and finding them a formula to survive on.

He let out what sounded suspiciously like a snort, lowering his head away from her gentle caress to go back to sleep. Still smiling, Althea finished with her hair and curled up next to his back, laying on her side as she allowed his deep breaths to soothe her into sleep. Whatever the next days brought, she'd be ready for them with him at her side.

That's the second chapter! By the way, Althea Atalo means "Youthful Healer." Well, actually that's what Atalo Althea means, but you get the point. I wish I had a tiger; they're definately the cutest animals alive, besides panthers, of course. But I can't wait until Zacarias and Althea meet! It's not going to be in the next chapter, sadly; I'm thinking the chapter after the next. Betcha can't wait, huh?

Ayame