CHAPTER 2

(With Shira)

She had been hunting for a few hours now. She didn't catch anything yesterday, so she was getting quite hungry. 'This would be so much easier with Brysen or Arian...'

She shook that thought out of her head. She wanted the memories of her pack life gone. 'I can't avoid it, I can't live by myself.' She knew it. She clearly remembered leaving Diego's lifeless body behind that day when they recovered Soto. She hated him for turning on her pack leader, but she now realizes maybe he was right in doing so.

She had no idea where she was, how far or in what direction she was from Soto, but she wanted to be as far away as possible. She was lucky to get away from the other sabers without waking them. She didn't want to give them the chance of tracking her down. 'They'll murder me, they hated me to begin with'.

She knew that she was lucky to be alive. Soto and Diego could've left her behind with her dead parents. They had been attacked by sabers. Her parents were killed, but perhaps they weren't heartless enough to kill a younger saber. 'Why. I was just learning how to hunt with my parents.' That day she went from excitement to terrible misery in a matter of minutes.

'They saved me, but Diego traded sides... that changed them. Something lit up inside them. They hated me. Almost as if it was my fault Soto was nearly killed by a mammoth.'

She regained focus. The focus was to get her first meal since the evening before last. And she caught a scent. 'Time for a good breakfast'.

(with the herd)

Everyone woke up, ready for a new day. Diego was gone hunting. Peaches, the young mammoth, and Louis, the molehog, went out to hang out with their friends. They had all had their breakfast, and it was time to begin a new day.

Manny, the leader of the herd, had become happy for his daughter. Not too long ago, he wouldn't let Peaches go anywhere, scared that even a little molehog could hurt his daughter. He was so happy to see Peaches with her new friends, he had finally overcome that over protective stage of parenthood. Ellie was relieved of this too.

"It's great to see, isn't it. She has people she can trust every day." Ellie said to her mate.

"It really is, I wish I could've realized sooner." Manny replied with a chuckle.

"Me too."

These happy emotions would last only so long...

(with Diego)

He had a scent. Diego had been extremely successful in hunting recently. He was ready to get another catch for his breakfast. He already could tell it was gonna be an antelope for this meal.

'Where are ya buddy...' He had the scent. His hunting instincts took over...

(General)

Shira felt the scent coming closer. She was so hungry, nothing could hold her back. It was strong now. Without even looking or thinking, she pounced out of the bushes onto her prey. Only this, was least expected.

"What the heck, what just happened?..." Diego said, confused and dazed. A silver figure had jumped out of nowhere to tackle him. This was not the scent he had been tracking, this was something else. Something... familiar.

"A saber? Seriously? I can't frickin catch anything!" Shira shouted, angrily.

"I know you from somewhere." said Diego, lowly.

"What?!"

"No way..." Diego was stunned at who he came across.

Shira looked behind her at the golden saber she just tackled. She couldn't believe it.

"Die...!"

"I've gotta get out of here." Diego said panicking, fearful of what else was around.

"No, Diego, wait!" Shira yelled after him.

She was about to sprint after him until the antelope sprinted in between them. She knew what was more important. She killed the antelope, and had her meal. The thought was in the back of her head that the one saber she had a glimpse of trust in, the one she thought was dead, was alive, and around.

(with Diego)

'They're gonna kill me, and then they're gonna find Manny, Ellie, Sid... Peaches.' Diego thought. He knew better than anyone how powerful Soto's pack could've turned into. He knew Oscar, Lenny and Zeke were the top sabers, but they were loyal to their former leader. They could've taken Brysen and the others and made them as strong as Soto was, and then some...

He sprinted through the woods. The morning hunt was off of his mind. His herd, his family, was priority. He had to keep them safe. He knew Manny would understand. They have been through so much to begin with.

'They know what Soto would've wanted, they would want me dead. He would want Manny and Sid dead also. I can't let it happen.' These thoughts raced through his head as he raced through the forest.

(with the teenagers)

"Man that was fun." Ethan said laughing. The group had just finished playing catch with Louis, in a ball.

"Yeah, we gotta do that again." said Louis. "I liked being the ball, it was fun."

"Yeah, molehog. Except for when you clawed me." Evan said, sarcastically.

"Hey don't be a wuss, it didn't hurt that bad." Ethan shot back. The girls laughed.

All of the sudden, a certain golden saber toothed tiger bolted out into the clearing. Diego caught sight of Ethan.

"Everyone get back to Manny, we are all in danger! Ethan lead them there, you know how to get there, right."

"Uh... sure. Wh...?"

"Good! Be safe! I'll explain later!" Diego shouted, leaving them.

"But..." Ethan was too late, Diego was out of sight.

Ethan was confused as was the rest of the group. What was Diego frightened of?

"He is never like that, he's a saber, for god's sake." Ethan started up a new conversation.

"He's been my uncle for 14 years now, and he's never been scared of anything. Not even those dinosaurs." Peaches replied

"I think he knows what he's talking about, let's head back." said Louis.

"Agreed."

(with Diego)

"Manny! Manny! Where are you?" Diego shouted, in panic.

"What's wrong, tiger?" Sid, said jokingly.

"Now's not the time, Sid. I need to talk to Manny."

"You seem scared, Diego. Did a bird scare you?" Sid was in a joking mood. Diego, obviously was not. "SHUT UP, SLOTH! WE ARE ALL IN DANGER, I NEED TO TALK TO MANNY, YOU KNOW, THAT HUGE MAMMOTH WE'VE BEEN TRAVELING WITH FOR 5 YEARS."

"Ah! Sorry, sorry, sorry. I think he went... uh, that way."

"No you don't, Sid. You're useless!"

"You're right, I have no idea, last I saw him he was with Ellie around here, probably about a half hour ago."

"Thanks for an answer... took long enough!"

(with Manny)

"What's all that yelling, isn't that Diego?" Manny asked Ellie.

"Sure enough, I wonder why?"

"Let's go check it out."

Manny walked back to the meeting place with an abrupt slew of words in his face. He couldn't even take them all in. It was Diego. He was in a frightening panic.

"Slow down Diego, please, calm down. What's wrong?" Manny started.

"I'm panicking, my old pack is around and if they find me, you, Sid, or anyone here, they will make a great meal out of all of us." Diego said, panicking.

"You're leader was killed five years ago, there's no way they are around. And we are on an island, there's no way they could get here."

"This "island", Manny, must be connected to the mainland, somehow. I came across one of my old pack members on my hunt, she tackled me. She let me go, but she can't be the only one around!"

"What are you saying, Diego."

"WE NEED TO GET THE HECK OUT OF HERE, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES TO GO IF MY OLD PACK IS HERE!" Diego shouted.

"We'll get the herd together, and you will calmly explain our situation."

"I will try to stay calm."

"Fair enough."

(with Shira)

Shira finished her meal, but she couldn't keep it out of her head. 'Diego, he's... alive, and he's within reach of me.' She lost trust for all of the other sabers, Soto, Brysen, Arian, all of them. She did not lose trust for Diego. She missed Diego, she hated that he had died. But, he didn't die. 'He is alive, and I just made contact with him. And... then... he ran from me.' She wondered why. He was just as shocked as she was. Now instead of searching for a meal, she was searching... for a long lost friend. Or maybe more...

(with the pack)

Soto looked at his best warriors. Coleman, like Lathan, wasn't the strongest or the quickest, but he had the best scent. He was easy to rely on. He reminded Soto of... Zeke. Trent. Very strong, he could land a kill on anyone, but he wasn't the smartest. He resembled... Lenny. Lathan, probably the more tactical of them all. Not the strongest, not the fastest, but he was... clutch. He was similar to... Oscar. Arian. Fast as lightning, the momentum was so useful. He was a gender opposite version of... Shira. And then there was Brysen. Brysen was strong. He had a good amount of speed, and he was extremely resilient. Brysen was the most loyal. Brysen was someone Soto could trust through anything. He reminded Soto of... Diego. 'Diego. Screw you Diego.'

"We are the best species in the world. We six tigers are the best out there. We could be eight, but two of our best turned on us. One is already dead. The other is out there. No one turns on my pack! That is why you five are here alongside me. We will end the life that I saved. I was a fool for saving a life that would turn its back on me. Shira will die a painful death, one she should've experienced to begin with. Let's go."

"Yes, Soto." The five replied in harmony.

...

This was much longer. I hope you all enjoyed it! There is more to come :) Please write me some reviews.