Chapter 7: The Fire Still Burns
Emptiness enveloped his sight. Nothing was felt. No entities were present. White was the only color he saw. Red and yellow then came to be. It reached out to him and aloud him to see. Wind was heard, but it was not felt. His body was numb and yet, he could feel. He strafed his head from one side to the other, seeing only the colors entering his eyes.
What he could hear though, was his breath. Each one echoing out another, traveling into the unknown while peace of mind traveled through him.
"The future."
He continued to look straight in front of him. The voice came from all directions. At the same time, something was emerging out of the blank space of nothing. A very large structure.
"Do you wish to change it?"
He only allowed the silence to take further control. From his words to his thoughts. Nothing seemed to exist. As if he didn't know how to speak. No facial expressions stretched across his face.
"It is every creatures desire to change the future. Is that not so? Even if everything has been predestined, will you not oppose it?"
The large structure now came into clearer view as the white mist was swallowed. A tower. Black as the soul in darkness. The sight of it gave chills down the saber's spine.
"The stone is bound to you. The stone will grow with you. If you can find the true stone of Black Fire, the future... is yours."
As the presence began to fade, so did the silence that surrounded him until his eyes flashed open.
Silence continued it's presence, even after the strange dream. The first of his thoughts went to the feeling of her body sleeping against his. Diego turned his head, eyeing around the cave, noticing the small fire in the middle almost at it's dying point.
He took in a deep yawn as he lapped his lips together.
'So... comfortable. I could lie here with her forever. Until I die.'
It almost seemed funny at this point. Only having a short time to live. Somehow, it wasn't shattering him. What did, though, was the thought of it shattering her.
'I can't say for sure how she's taking all of this. Nothing good. That much is clear.'
His beautiful sleeping tigress leaned her body up against his as she slept, her warm and soft breath breathing into his neck as her head rested under his chin. The moment's feeling was mesmerizing. It got him to understand all that he was lucky to have right here and right now. He licked the side of her face, his eyes lightly watering as he did.
'I want those feelings to come back. I want to remember those memories. I need it back again. I need to love her again.'
Even though time was of essence, he wanted to let her sleep. Somehow, he could feel that his death was inevitable. Nothing was going to save him. If the Alphas don't know anything, it's all over.
'I'm not gonna say goodbye. Not yet. I won't leave you until it's all over.'
He only laid there, adoring the sight of her body against him, almost forgetting how lucky he was. Forgetting to stop and appreciate what he currently had. Even if only temporarily, he didn't know what he had until it was gone.
'She just wants to be loved. She needs to be. I feel terrible for having put her through all of this.'
He couldn't even imagine what might have gone through her head the moment Black Fire's stone lunged into his chest.
'Funny thing was, it didn't hurt. There was no pain. Tearing of flesh was felt, but... there was nothing. It just made me feel weaker by the second. Until I was dead.'
His eyes watered more as he recalled the look on her face during his last few moments.
'I'll never get that out of my head. That dreadful look she had. She wanted to die with me.'
With every breath he had, he'd be happy with that in a heartbeat. Dying with her. Dying beside her. If it eventually came down to that, it would just be okay.
'Even if it meant leaving Starfire behind.'
Just thinking about him triggered Diego to recall the previous night right before he fell asleep. This whole obligation to seek out the Alphas. Does Starfire really think they'll have the solution. It felt a bit too far-fetched. Yet, the more he thought about it, just about everything with Starfire was.
'Hell, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he's leading us into a trap.'
God forbid that was the case as always. Regardless of whether it's to be intentional or not. There really was no answer. No matter the amount of questioning and confronting the two sabers gave to Starfire, it never seemed to get anywhere.
'Just more and more shit that I'm probably better off not knowing.'
Just as he seemed to be dwelling in a negative state of mind, he felt Shira twitch and whimper in her sleep. His heart melted as he smiled, once again seeing how adorable she was. He lightly nudged the side of her face to wake her, eager to look at those eyes that he so easily fell in love with.
And in seconds, that eagerness seized to a stop.
She let out a yawn, slowly opening her eyes and tilting her head up to look at him.
He nearly lost his self control as she just leaned into him, looking up at him and smiling.
Before he could smile back or say anything, a vigorous growl cut off the silence.
"Someone sounds hungry." Diego grinned and said.
"Yeah..." She started as she yawned again, "Hungry for what?"
"What, you expect me to go get something?" He stopped and turned to where Starfire fell asleep the night before. Unsurprisingly, he wasn't there, like always.
Shira giggled as she stretched her limbs, getting more comfortable in his warmth.
"Too lazy?" She teased.
"Too tired." He yawned, feeling comfortable as ever.
"Well you're no help." She playfully teased, Diego giving a fake look of annoyance, causing her to laugh. So suddenly, though, the playful look in her eyes changed as she sighed and leaned back into him.
"I've actually been starving for something else." She said as she looked back up at him, running her tongue along his neck, as usual, getting him to purr.
"Oh, really?" He smiled, knowing where she was going with this.
"Yep."
Before he knew it, she had already leaned up and started tasting his lips.
"Oh my f-
As he tried to speak out of lust, she only connected her lips back to his, only something felt different about it this time. There was more passion and lust going into each kiss. Each nibble. Each lick. It was more than Diego ever saw possible. There were clearly feelings going on inside her that weren't there before.
'I wonder...'
His breathing, his heartbeat increased as he leaned over on top of her, holding her tighter than ever. His paws seemed to almost instinctively lock onto her waist.
"It was so lonely without you." She gasped between kisses, her heartbeat panting through her lungs. Yet, the second she spoke this, both sabers locked eyes.
"I don't want you to feel lonely. You don't deserve that."
"I don't." She said as her lips ran up to his, "Not anymore."
"Were you lonely with the Epsilons?" He asked so suddenly, interrupting their kiss.
"Anytime you weren't with me."
"I can say the same thing."
"Really?" She asked curiously, raising an eyebrow with her lips spreading a smile.
"Before I knew you, every night was lonely. It scared me because I'd often picture myself... with someone." It amazed him how there was no hesitation in speaking his feelings. The look in her eyes said the same thing.
"You always wanted this?" She asked, feeling the side of his face with her paw. The way the two of them seemed to click together so easily was unreal to Diego. There was always this feeling that fate played a part in his life. As if everything was going to turn out okay.
"I felt like I didn't deserve it."
"Well, why not?" She asked, tilting her head face to face with him.
'She listens. She cares.'
"I'm not sure. My mind likes to mess with me. I guess it's just hell inside my head."
Truthfully, he wasn't sure what he was suppose to take from it. The only piece he had that may have connected was how dull and boring he saw his life before.
"Figured I was just another pack member. Nothing special."
"Nothing but special, rather."
He smirked at her statement, unable to keep the blush from appearing on his face.
"Right, Softie?" She teased as she kissed his cheek.
"Yeah." the only thing that his mind could process through his mouth. At least for the next few seconds.
"I always wanted someone to talk to. Someone to hold every night. I'd imagine what seemed like a fantasy back then. Someone pretty. Someone who listened. Someone who cared."
His eyes started to leak as he buried his head in her shoulder.
"And that's what I got."
Shira lifted his head and wiped the tears from beneath his eyes.
"I couldn't help not falling for you." She smiled and said.
"Why not?" he asked as she leaned up to his neck and ran her tongue.
"Because you're so good looking."
Diego could hear the lust hidden in those playful words and couldn't help but purr because of it. Yet, he felt like going with it.
"You're just saying that so you don't have to hunt for breakfast." He wittily said, getting her to giggle.
"Maybe I am."
"Well, it worked." He said as he suddenly sprang from his comforting sanctuary, having her laugh in the process. And that was the truth. He'll do anything she tells him to in a moment's notice.
'I can't say no to someone like her.'
And for what may very well be the remainder of their days together, it was critically important that she gets the most out of it. He had to treat her like everyday was literally his or her last.
"So... what, you're just leaving me here?" She kidded as she stretched her limbs on her side.
"Don't worry. I'll get you something nice." He humored her as he bent down to nuzzle.
Yet, through all the playful talk and nuzzling, Diego knew what Shira wanted. It was obvious from the looks of begging and pleading through her eyes.
'She wants to hunt with me.'
Diego knew the island like a hawk. He knew exactly where to hunt. Where water was. Where shelter resided. Anything important. Shira could tell as Diego led her straight through the now healed Epsilon forest and out the other side to the plains.
Through the forest's wintered wilderness, though, memories struck back at her as they passed the blood caked tree that Diego was impaled on.
As they walked past it, Diego pulled her closer and leaned his head to hers.
'I didn't realize it happened so nearby.'
Had he have known, Diego would have chosen a different route to get to the frostbitten plains. After all, the sight and scent of blood was surely the last thing Shira needed.
'For god's sake, she doesn't need to be hurt anymore.'
The whimpering never stopped as the two of them left the forest, holding each other, emerging out into the plains. The sudden wind kicked in, having the temperature seemingly slam into the ground. Neither the wind nor the cloudy, sunless skies helped keep the two sabers warm.
"Perfect day for hunting."
Shira giggled at his sarcasm as she took a few steps ahead of him.
"These are the same plains we traveled back then?" She asked, looking back at him.
"The same general area, I think."
Just to the north-east, out past the horizon, the mountains of the Alphas rose high above the clouds.
"Is it even possible to live up there?" Shira humored, yet still truthfully wondered.
"I don't know how they do it. I've only met an Alpha once or twice. Nothing special about them."
"I wouldn't say that..."
Both sabers nearly jumped at Starfire's sudden voice. He had brought all of his gear with him, obviously ready to scale the mountain with a much thicker layer of clothing wrapped around him. He walked up and passed them, looking towards the mountains.
"Finally decided to show up." Diego kidded.
"Apologies. Just went out early to prepare for the journey."
"We were just going out to hunt for the morning. Know where anything is?" Shira asked, though she knew that Diego would know where to look anyway.
"I reckon there will be something on the way. We'll get breakfast before scaling the mountains."
Silence spread soon after with only the wind making sound.
"So... um... about the Alphas..." Diego reminded.
"They can live up there, because they're... evolved."
"Here we go." Diego said lazily.
"Just by means of surviving the negative temperatures. Their pelts are much thicker than normal sabers. Their fur grows longer..." He began, walking off, signaling for them to follow as they traveled through the plains.
"And they can read your mind."
Both sabers turned to look at him, making sure they heard right.
"Which may or may not be an issue."
"So what you're saying is: they're telepathic?" Shira questioned.
'I wish I was an Alpha, then...' Diego thought, fantasizing the idea of looking into Shira's mind, wanting to hear everything she felt. Getting to know her even more than already... if possible. As if there was anything else hiding.
"Not surprising to me. I've seen less believable things within the past weeks." Diego humored truthfully, seeing Shira smile.
'Nothing's more beautiful.' He thought as he smiled back.
As the three made their way closer to the base of the Alpha's, the two sabers split up with StarFire for a bit to go hunt for food. The entire time, Diego admired every moment hunting with her, just seeing how much more independent his little kitten was. He traced his memories back to the first time they hunted together and unfortunately one of their only times.
The same night, he felt her lips against his for the first time. It was accidental but mesmerizing nonetheless. It seemed to nearly rank as the pinpoint of his life. Everything seemed to change after that. Fate was born.
And it followed ever since.
Author's Note:
Been a little while. Been busy. It feels nice to be able to keep going with this story even if it really doesn't get much attention (I think it's some of my best work). I guess that's how sequel's are lol.
Reviews are appreciated
Love you all. Take care.
