A/N: Please R&R! I need it! :-) Special thanks to my single reviewer!

"Diego!"

"Diego, attack them now!"

"Diego, you are worthless!"

"Diego, you are a disgrace to us proud sabers!"

Those four things echoed in my mind long after I lay back down to sleep in the meadow.

My head ached and pounded and I moaned, opening my eyes reluctantly.

When I looked up at the sky, I saw it was pale pink; the sun was just starting to rise, so I have time to get back to the herd.

I didn't want them to know I was out all night.

I ran all the way there. There's nothing like wind whipping through your fur first thing in the morning.

It really wakes you up.

Anyway, I made it back to the herd and noticed they were all still asleep.

I settled down like I'd been there for hours and gave a yawn.

After a few minutes, though, I got restless and started preparing myself to run.

"Hey, mind if I join you?"

Startled, I glanced up to see Shira.

"Do whatever," I replied. "Knock yourself out."

She ran alongside me for awhile until the sun was fully up in the sky.

When we glanced up and noticed the sky was slowly turning from the pale yellows and pinks of sunrise to light blue, Shira slowed. "We should get back to the rest of the herd."

I nodded. "Maybe."

Then I added hesitantly, "Shira?"

"Yeah?"

We began walking back to the rest of the herd.

"Have you ever had something to say…but you just can't?"

She locked eyes with me. "Can't? That's a strong word. Can't means physically unable, you know."

I mumbled, "I know." I wasn't physically unable. I wasn't even emotionally unable.

Uh…forget that last part.

Sabers have no emotions; they're made of stone.

"So what's stopping you from saying…whatever it is you want to say?"

I hesitated again. "Uh…I don't really know." I shrugged and said quietly, "I guess it's because of how the other person might take it…and how well it went over last time I said it."

Shira nodded. "So you can say it, you just don't want to."

I nodded, biting my lip. "Something like that."

Then I suddenly lifted my head and said, "You know what? Forget I said anything. Let's go back to pretending I'm made of stone. We should go hunting later today."

We were now back at the place where the others were sleeping, still.

Shira stared at me for a second and then nodded. "Yes. Good idea. Otherwise, I swear I'm gonna eat the sloth."

I chuckled. "Oh, I'll help you."

In my heart of hearts, if you took away all the pride, I knew I'd sooner attack Shira than let her attack any members of my herd.

But I understood she was joking here and allowed myself to do it along with her.

Manny and Ellie came up behind us.

"Hey, guys!" Sid said, coming up to us, too.

Shira and I had stepped closer than was normal and now Sid backed off quickly. "Am I interrupting something?" He gave a suggestive wiggle of the eyebrows.

I resisted the urge to strangle him. "In her dreams." I backed quickly away from Shira, trying not to look like a ten-year-old boy who was terrified of getting cooties.

I was way too mature for that kind of worry.

"Oh, please," Shira scoffed at exactly the same time. "He wishes."

There was an awkward silence and Ellie said quietly, "Hey, Diego. Can I talk to you?"

"Yeah," I said and began walking away, leading her a little ways into the forest.

Unlike her dear husband, I understood when people wanted to have private conversations.

Ellie turned and faced me. "Ok. What's up with you?"

"What?" I asked.

"You've been acting weird ever since Shira came," Ellie said. "Which, I could chalk that up to saber hormones, which would ordinarily be a good thing since you always look really happy whenever you two are together. But…it's not just her, is it? C'mon, what's up? You've never acted this way before?"

"Maybe I'm just getting to know her," I snapped.

"And?"

"And nothing!"

"Fine. But Diego, just so you know, you've really been worrying me. Ok?"

I snapped, "I happen to be—

"A tough and macho saber-tooth tiger, I've got it," Ellie said, bored. "But just think about this, ok? There are people here – me, Manny, Sid, Crash, Eddie, Peaches, Louis, and, yes, Shira – who care about you. Take care of yourself, if for no other reason than for our sake. And talk to me if you ever need to."

I nodded.

She turned and began walking away.

"Ellie…" I called, then quickly shut my mouth.

She turned. "Yeah?"

"Nothing."