They left the next morning. Diego scent marked the entire territory on their way south. As he stared at the cliff face he tensed for a moment then looked at Melle. She gazed back at him, then sashayed her hips- effectively snapping him back to the present. He realized that within her was the promise of hope for his pack, the hope that he had thought was destroyed forever.

In an uncharacteristic display of enthusiasm, Diego ran circles around her kicking up snow. She disdainfully looked on, but Diego noticed the hint of a smile in her sneer. Distracted by his prancing, he didn't notice the unusual scent until he nearly tripped over it. In the snow was a single paw print- saber by shape and smell.

"Melle? Come here please." He said very calmly.

She walked over fairly uninterested. "Your track?"

Diego placed his paw next to the print. "No. I thought it might be yours. Yours from your journey here."

"With the frequency of wind over the plateau? Not a chance my prints would have lasted."

"It's a pity I smeared the rest of the tracks." Diego reminded himself that there was a reason sabers were generally subdued, that they usually thought before they acted, and that they never ever pranced.

"We'll just have to go carefully. On the positive side, the size of the print indicates that it was not made by a dominant male."

"I suppose." But he was nagged by something about the print.

"And Diego?"

"Yes?"

"As adorable as you are when you cavort around like an impala, please keep it to a minimum from here."

He nodded, her redress stung. Even though she had meant it as a joke, Diego felt that he was unequipped for protecting her- and his future young. He bowed his head in defeat.

Melle came beside him and nuzzled his head. He was shocked. "Do you really think that I think that you can't take care of me or the kittens?" She asked.

Her insight shocked him. For a second he imagined her as Sid lisping away about something he didn't want anyone to know. Suspicious that she'd mock him he said nothing, but the words came out on their own. "Sometimes. But it's less what you think, and more that I that think that one my own." Diego hadn't wanted to admit his insecurities… so inappropriate for a saber.

"I haven't doubted you yet." She smiled, showing all of her teeth- not just the prominent front fangs. Then she tensed as the foreign smell wafted towards them on a wind gust. "But here's another chance for you to prove yourself."

They faced the west, having made the mutual decision not to run, and simply waited together. And in that moment, with his pregnant mate at his side, Diego realized he hadn't felt so happy since Ellie had joined their herd. He shook his head in disagreement with himself. Actually things hadn't felt so simple since Shetar left.