After a few days, the blizzard had stopped and the herd could get out of the caves. They shared a happy reunion with each other. Sid jumped all over Diego, which aggravated the Sabre male a lot. The herd wanted to ask the Sabres about the roaring they'd occasionally heard coming from their caves during the days, but decided against bringing it up for now. As they had only just seen each other after a whole week, they didn't want to start off with Diego having a rant at, probably, Sid and the Possums -as they'd be most likely to ask. Crash and Eddie were hanging onto Shira's legs, going on about how they'd missed her, and been worried about her stuck in that cave with Diego without them with her. Shira heard could hear Diego mumble something, however couldn't make it out. But it most likely had something to do with Crash and Eddie. The herd sat and talked for a while, before all dispersing in different directions to do their own thing for a while (e.g. Search for food, Get a drink, Check on the others -Manny- or annoy someone -Crash and Eddie). Diego and Shira went off together for a walk to stretch their legs out.
Shira walked in front of Diego on the trail. Diego let his eyes wander over her body. She was so slim yet had enough muscle power to be able to win him in a fight. Her fur looked like it was glowing. Illuminated by the sunlight. Her earring jingled as she walked. He loved her. He didn't see Shira
turn her head back to him and see him staring at her."Enjoying the view?" Shira smirked. He came out of his trance with a blush of embarrassment on his face. He heard her laugh and it brought a smile to his face to hear. The two carried on walking until they reached 'The Overhang'* and lay down right at the top. They could see the whole island from up there. Everything looked so peaceful on the island, and the sea was calm as well as the waves gently lapped against the shores. Diego heard Shira sigh as she looked out onto he open water.
"Do you miss it? Being out there?" Diego's question was genuine, he didn't care if she said 'Yes' because he knew that no matter how much she missed the life on the sea, she chose to give it up in return for a life on land, with him.
"Yeah... Not that I don't love it here with you and the herd... it's just. Out there, I never knew what was on the horizon each day. Whether it was a storm, or a battle, you never knew. And I know that the herd, you included a little, think of the Pirates as Heart-less and Cold-hearted because that is the only way you saw them act. But I've known them my whole life, Seen every side of them. Like Raz, I've heard Manny say that she was a crazy and dangerous, but she isn't always like that. She is like a sister to me, she looked out for me. She basically taught me that you've got to move on from the past. And... Squint. He seemed paranoid, twitchy, a little psychopathic but he did actually take care of all of us when we got hurt in battle; he was like trained by his parents in medicine before a wolf attacked their warren when he was a teen. We all had similar backgrounds, we were like a family. All understood each other. I don't know, I just miss them I guess." Shira looked down sadly at the ground. Diego lifted his paw to her face so that she'd look him in the eye. It took everything he
had not to get lost in her eyes and actually say something helpful in that situation.
"Shira, Why didn't you tell me sooner. If not telling me, then anyone in the herd. We'll all listen to you. Herds help each other out." He licked her cheek and whispered in her ear "I love you."
Shira brought her paw up to his face and planted her lips onto his. He reciprocated the kiss enthusiastically. He began to push back on her, slowly pushing her to the ground. He stood over her, deepening the kiss, letting his paws graze across her under-belly. The feeling of her soft fur, hearing her purr, feeling the rumble of her purring in her throat. All of this added to the ocean backdrop made it all very romantic. However, the Sabres didn't really notice any of this as they were to involved in the kiss. They'd shared many kisses this passionate, but something about this kiss made them both loose track of everything except the others lips. Shira's tongue slid across Diego's bottom lip, and Diego licked hers. Both of their tongues met and it was a very sensual feeling and they liked it. The pair carried on kissing. This was leading somewhere, they both knew it and were excited for it. However, they waited for now as they wanted to continue to kiss for as long as they could.
"Well, when did this happen?" A voice was heard from close by. There was no denying who's it was. Manny. Diego and Shira separated themselves quickly to see not only Manny, but the whole herd. Excluding Granny who was on the beach calling Precious -as usual.
"How... How long have you guys been there?" Diego asked, obviously very embarrassed.
"We came got onto the beach and saw you two up here talking, so we came up. And when we get here, you two are having a full on make-out session. So I'll ask again, when did you two get together?" Manny looked as if he was in thought for a moment. "Oh so this is why you guys were acting shifty in the
cave, when I came to check on you."
"And why you told me to say that you two didn't want us coming in the cave every hour." Sid piped up.
"But what was the roaring about?"
"Sid... You don't want to know." Manny said
"I do."
"If it's anything remotely close to what I think it was, then you and your 5 year old brain wouldn't be able to handle it. So, you don't want to know." Sid gave up asking.
Crash and Eddie came towards the Sabres, Eddie looking a bit teary eyed, and spoke to Shira.
"What about me?" Crash asked
"No. What about me?" Eddie retorted. Here it goes again, another Possum brother fight over Shira's affection.
"She loves me!" Crash shouted at Eddie
"No, she loves me!" Eddie shouted right back at Crash
"No, me!"
"No, me!"
"No, me!"
"No, me!"
"No, me!"
"Well, technically she loves me. Not EITHER of you!" Diego split the possums up, putting Crash on the right side of Manny, while he put Eddie on Ellie's left side. he walked back over to Shira and lay down next to her, while she looked at his expectantly. Then he realised he'd let slip the secret of the actual depth of his and Shira's relationship. Sid, Peaches and Ellie all went 'awww' in secrenised times. It was as if they practised in case a time like this ever arose. Shira became embarrassed and buried her face into Diego's fur, causing them to 'aww' even more.
The cat was well and truly out of the bag now.
A.N: The Overhang~ It's that large rock that is seen on the edge of the island when Diego, Shira, Sid, Manny and Granny first arrive on the island.