The silver-gray saber-toothed tiger enjoyed her afternoon relaxing a little on the ledge in front of their cave. She had shared this home with her husband for years. From up here, she liked to watch the neighbors' children play. Soon their own offspring will be romping around the area. Sometimes she could hardly wait for these days. But it will still be a while before the little ones are born.
Before that, she kept wondering how quickly time could pass and now everything was kind of lengthy. Shira sighed and wondered again how quickly things can change for the better. So much has happened in her life that she sometimes thought she didn't deserve peace with her family and friends here.
"We take care of each other." When she heard one of the children call and whether she wanted to or not, she had to think about her past. Actually, she never wanted to indulge in bad memories again, but they were always part of her. When she didn't think about it herself, she sometimes got nightmares from all the cruelty she had to see.
Of course, her instinct was wide awake and announced that someone was sneaking up on her.
"Is everything ok?" Was asked and she wondered if her face reflected her thoughts.
"Hm? Yes." She replied Diego, who must have just returned from an excursion with the other men. She cuddled briefly to greet him as he took a place next to her. It always made her feel a little better. The question came up again whether she should tell her partner about her life at some point. So all the details to explain to him why she sometimes woke up trembling at night, completely scared. When this happened next to her tiger for the first time, she worried about her relationship with him. At that time, she didn't know what would become of the two of them. In addition, Shira did not really see herself as the perfect material to live with for a lifetime.
Of course, she never mentioned this way to him. How could she if he treated her so openly and lovingly. He never held her back. No matter whether it was about male saber-toothed tigers or other challenges. At his side she was and remains a free being. Something she had never known before. And when she did need his help, he was there for her in the first place. It would have been really foolish of her not to fall in love with him. Diego was so patient with her. He said she should really be sure of her feelings. Nobody could take her away from this place or this saber-toothed tiger.
But what if he didn't want her anymore? When he learns about her and then runs away from her? She was often frightened by these questions. But wasn't it unfair that she kept everything to herself? Instead, she sometimes felt the urge to let the whole thing to the surface. In the valley, she couldn't trust anyone other than her best friend. Of course, she now had other animals that were happy to help her and proudly called themselves her friends. She couldn't even imagine ever living like a normal saber-toothed tiger again. Everyone in the herd was dear to her.
Even the head of the herd, who looked a little grouchy now and then. Shira never asked about it, but she thought that he had his background stories too. She often watched the older mammoth walking alone through the area. It was not the case that with all the animals, nobody was allowed to be alone once. Before that she always assumed that Manny did not want this, because with a heavy heart he let his only daughter go from here. Peaches was able to take care of herself very well. There were probably past things that the mammoth could not or did not want to talk about.
Somehow she doesn't want to be like that. What if someone from her past shows up here and tells her saber-toothed tiger everything in an unpleasant way? She probably thought of it a little late because she was already pregnant. Maybe that's why her feelings go a little crazy. Nevertheless, she felt the need to confess everything to her partner. Diego was a very decent guy. Didn't he deserve the whole truth?
Her fur was lovingly licked, which only made her lean more against him. Since her tiger heard from her that he was going to be a father, he has become even more caring. He also worried about her more. Others might consider that annoying, but she enjoyed being loved by him at that moment. Times will change again when the offspring are only born and the proud father has to take care of other things.
If he is only there for the children but can hardly stand your presence because of your cruelty from the past.
Shira started up a little, which surprised him too. She tried to control her fear by getting up and looking away from him, but it didn't seem to work.
"Is everything really okay? If you feel sick or you somehow..." She interrupted his concern by pressing her snout briefly against his.
"Our child is fine. I'll make sure that nothing happens to it." She explained calmly and wanted to go to the cave.
"It is clear to you when I ask if you are well, I mean you too." Diego naturally ran after her.
"Yes, I know." She gave a short answer.
"And? Are you okay?" She had to sigh at that.
"Let's go inside." Shira said and he just nodded, only to disappear with her completely into their cave. To where the daylight couldn't get and nobody could eavesdrop on their conversations.
"Do not worry, Diego. Physically, the child and I are doing perfectly well. Unfortunately, I have been sleeping a little worse lately because my dreams remind me of past events. I do not know whether it is due to my current condition or not , but I have the feeling that I have to tell you about my past." She started quietly, looking more at the ground.
"Are wild pirate stories coming now?" Of course, her partner noticed the tension that suddenly came from her and so he tried in his way to improve the mood.
"I'm serious. It wouldn't be fair of me to start a family with you without knowing at least a bit about my previous life. Others of our kind come here every now and then. What if someday there is someone among them who know me?"
"All I need to know about you is who you are now. After all, I love this saber-toothed tiger sitting in front of me. Nothing from your past will change my image of you." Thereupon she wanted to interrupt him, but he spoke in a hurry.
"But if you feel better about telling me about your past, then of course I'll listen to you carefully." Actually, she wanted to come up with a few reasons why he shouldn't be so careless. But she already knew this saber-toothed tiger very well. So she should just start telling how the story of her life started.
At first she was planning to let out only pleasant things from her childhood, but now that she was trying to remember everything, her snout seemed to have no hold.
Shira grew up well protected in a large pack. At that time she was so naive and believed that it is nice when there are only saber-toothed tigers around her. At every turn, adult saber-toothed tigers were nearby. If it wasn't their parents, then it was other members of the pack. It never bothered her as long as she was allowed to play with her sister and other children. After all, nothing could happen to them if there were always eyes that kept an overview of everything.
Now that she thought about it, the worst fate is not being kidnapped or even killed by humans or other animals. These bipeds attacked their species less often than their father previously claimed and it also turned out that mammoths don't want to trample everyone among themselves. Her parents probably didn't know any better either, because they grew up in the pack themselves, without ever having the thought of escaping this life. Simply exploring the world found these saber-toothed tigers all senseless. Why if the pack life could give you everything you need to exist? There was always enough to eat, dry beds and shelter in this large saber-toothed tiger community. Provided you follow the rules.
It took a long time for her to notice that something was wrong with her home. Summer was beginning to come with its warm nights and of course she wanted to enjoy the time as young adults with her sister. Finally they were all allowed to go hunting alone. They were allowed to show what they had learned from the parents and the other pack members. They were granted to choose a partner. Or in her case, they were chosen. Why didn't she notice anything before? Maybe she didn't want to see anything. Her twin sister always drew everyone's attention and yet, she was the shy one of the two.
The narrator stared thoughtfully at the opposite rock wall for a while. The other in the cave didn't want to interrupt her or disturb her in any way, but he was beginning to feel the need to comfort Shira.
"Are you saying there is a double pack of you?" Diego inquired cautiously and when the sentence came out, he was no longer so sure of himself. Just before he could apologize, she smiled slightly and spoke again to report on the family member who was still very dear to her. Of course, Shira never felt jealous of her sister. She was proud of her and loved her. Unfortunately, male fellows did the same. Or they pretended to do so.
The day that was supposed to change everything started wet. Actually, she thought it would be boring in this weather. Her parents did not want them to leave the pack cave with this pouring from the clouds. Although she could sneak past two saber-toothed tigers when they were asleep, she learned early on that the two guards at the entrance to the large cave were always wide awake. If these two didn't let her out, there was no walk.
The rain finally stopped in the afternoon. So many young saber-toothed tigers of their age decided to go hunting or fishing in the evening. Her sister and she wanted fish and ran to the waterfall. The other was supposed to look for something edible below and she wanted to cool down her paws above the water.
At first she just wanted to satisfy her hunger, but then she thought about her parents and the community. After all, others should also benefit from it. She wanted to bring a bigger fish for the saber-toothed tiger who had the sleeping place next to them. The woman lost her cub and partner on a tour outside. She also came back that morning with some wounds on her body. Since then she hasn't really spoken much. Shira always thought she was very careful, but her mother explained to her that things like this sometimes have to happen. Now there were two mouths less to stuff in winter.
It sounded a little hard-hearted, but it wasn't as if they could fight fate. In nature it happens that animals die, which she learned as a child. What had been forgotten to teach her that saber-toothed tigers rarely give their lives naturally up in this pack.
A scream brought Shira away from the fish and she continued to listen, but the only thing that followed was the murmur of the waterfall. Did other predators or even humans come by here? Did other saber-toothed tigers ignore this spot because of that?
As fast as she could, she ran out of the water and over to the cliff to check on her sister. Panic arose in her because she couldn't see her anywhere. She hurriedly jumped down the rocks and called for her sister. When she finally got down, she also knew why she couldn't see or hear the other from above. Another saber-toothed tiger had pushed her under a ledge near the waterfall, where the noise seemed to be loudest. The guy brutally bit her sister's neck bloody as if it were normal for a mating. But this union was obviously only one-sided and would be over immediately.
It was the first time that everything went mad with her. She saw the picture of how cruelty is done to her sister and in the next moment the male saber tooth is already passed out on the floor. Shira just ran towards him furious and pushed him against the nearest rock. Her sister didn't even look shocked that a pack member did this to her. She just said that she was glad that nothing happened to her.
Then she got a nasty smell. Apparently there was a kind of cave behind the waterfall. She has never noticed this before, but as children, they should never play too close to the waterfall. Otherwise they would drown immediately in the strong current. This is said to have happened to some young animals, so she always stayed away from this place. Her sister warned her not to go inside. What was insulting her nose should actually keep her away, but she wanted to know what caused such a stench.
Not even a few steps further, Shira got the next bad shock of her life. What she smelled were saber-toothed tigers. Dead and rotting members of their kind and their pack. Skeletonized, those who have not been dead long and what happened to such bodies in between.
The other tigress present urged her to go out again. She didn't really notice anything for a while, her sister was probably trying to talk to her, but she didn't understand a thing. The pictures she saw were too cruel. Now she knew where the cub and the male saber tooth next to them at the sleeping places had disappeared to. She couldn't see it exactly in the child, but the adult saber tooth had clear claw wounds. The kind that each of them had in the pack. So the two weren't an accident while hunting. Or whatever they told.
There were other dead bodies there, which she unfortunately recognized by their fur. Supposedly, mother nature quickly took careless saber-toothed tigers. But that had nothing to do with skill. Were these members of the pack attacked as sneakily as her sister? This still showed no reaction to the event and rather asked if she was fine. Shira tried to nod and then wanted to suggest that they go back quickly to tell their parents. She wanted to take a last look at the unconscious attacker because they were a little further away from the waterfall, but the guy was gone.
Panicked, she looked around to see if this saber tooth was trying again to attack the other. Her sister, however, conveyed to her in the normal tone that neither of them had anything to fear anymore. At least not from this creature. It was also revealed to her that her parents, who had always protected both of them, chose this saber tooth themselves.
Shira did not understand that at first and her interlocutor turned her gaze to the water. She did so too because she hoped it would help the other to continue talking. Her sister calmly explained that they were both old enough to mate with males in the pack. She understood that already, but she didn't really believe that her parents would immediately paw her off to the next best. In addition, such a violent guy who deals with tigresses in this way.
Her eyes dropped to the wound her sister now had on the neck. Without saying a word about it, she licked the injury clean. Although she already heard that lovemaking can get rough, she rather thought of rolling together in the dirt or something like that. The male has to feed the female. And her father had enough of bringing food for the three of them. But they had been hunting for themselves for a while.
After a few moments of silence that seemed like an eternity, an impossibility was actually suggested. Her sister said seriously that she couldn't go back home with the mark on her neck, but Shira could. That the other had been trying for a long time to keep her away from this reality and understand when it was all too much at once.
Shira, on the other paw, considered what options they now had. There was no question of leaving her sister here alone in the wild. Still, she wanted to know more about what was happening behind her back in her home. All of these saber-toothed tigers were killed for certain reasons. The neighbor's child, because apparently it is not perfect in the eyes of the pack leader and the father trying to protect it. She asked if the mother was still alive as a punishment. No, she was only in the pack because she is still needed. The other said that a higher saber tooth must have kept an eye on the woman. Of course, they could not just kill anyone, so other pretexts were used. The dead now lie behind the waterfall because it only attracted scavengers and kept other animals away from their home.
They? Who are they now? In her opinion, something had to be done against these members in their cave. But her interlocutor just shook her head. There were only two of them and more have already tried to take the lead. The brave tigers then only ended up in this mass grave. Her sister told her that she wanted to prevent this at all costs. Even if that meant she had to be attacked because she knew she was being watched for a few days. For the first time, the other spoke with so much indifference in her voice that she was surprised. Didn't the tigress feel strong feelings like anger, disappointment and maybe hate next to her? These things were already in her.
Shira was reminded of her dream again, how she thought about leaving the pack before. But she always thought about going out and exploring the world a little bit more every day to find a new home and not to flee.
But they were not given much time to think because they heard other pack members approaching. So they decided to run away. Even if it was difficult. They didn't really know where to go, but her sister suggested that they can now walk to the open sea because she always wanted to see it. Shira was also curious about it, but somehow after a few days a strange feeling crept up in her, that she couldn't let go. The foraging and the way to the water seemed easy to her. Too simple.
Has her sister ever walked this path? That was nonsensical because they needed so much time to do it. She would have noticed if the other had been missing a few nights in the pack cave. Perhaps such confused thoughts came with freedom. Her head was overwhelmed to think and act independently for the first time. Her parents and other pack members did a lot for them. Yes, she tried to cling to this idea and not show any sign to her companion. She tried to ignore the looks in the back while hunting and sleeping. She was her sister and if she wanted to keep watch at night, she would of course glance at her once or twice.
Shira shouldn't find it irritating if the other saber-toothed tiger pretended to stretch her legs and always came back with a strange smell on the fur. In response, she got that the other one wanted to get rid of the fleas, which may have jumped over from a prey. They both ate the same and her sister has never caught bugs in a lifetime. They grew up too cleanly for this and knew plants against it. Rolling around in the dirt was no solution. So could it be that her sister wanted to hide something else? The wound on the back of the neck didn't really help that, although everything healed well.
If she wanted to rule out all bad thoughts, she would have to act. She decided to do this in the night when the salt from the sea was already in the air. So the water was not far away, but her sister always insisted not to travel further in the dark. The other tigress probably got impatient that night, too, because it was not waited as long as Shira decided to go to sleep. So she followed the other carefully, at a certain distance, when she disappeared from her side again.
She thought of hunting or something her companion wanted to do on her own, but then she saw a male saber-toothed tiger with her sister in a clearing. The two seemed to know each other well because they were running towards each other and quickly became intimate. It was incomprehensible to her why the two met and mated in secret. When she made sure that the tigress wanted it this time, she moved away from the scene and fled back to her sleeping place.
At least that's how she planned it, but another saber tooth suddenly blocked her way. This guy seemed very familiar to her because it was the tiger that went against her sister's will and caused this wound on the neck. She stood there frozen as he grinned to her in a dirty way and came closer. He was talking something about a successful performance when he got too close. It made her feel worried for the other, so she pushed him away and ran.
The way to her sister seemed shorter this time because suddenly she was standing there. Shira immediately tried to warn her that the brutal guy was chasing her and should run away. But nothing happened in that direction, because the other tigress just sat in front of her and looked down at her. With features that she had never seen before. Cracked branches behind her announced that this saber tooth was getting closer again. This also continued to tell something about a plan and everything went well that she did not want to understand.
At least until the other tigress cleared everything up here. There was no cruel assault. The wound on the neck should only make it look real. Her parents already chose partners for both of them, but they shouldn't find out yet. The dead behind the waterfall and the rules of their pack were real, but her sister never found this way of life bad. On the contrary, she now almost happily told her that something like this was used more often to make life better.
Suddenly Shira caught up with memories as if they had happened yesterday. And as naive as she was, she had to ask all the inconsistencies. Her best childhood friend didn't mysteriously disappear. It was only pushed down the waterfall at low tide. Another child did not come back from playing outside after allegedly stealing food from them. It probably only wanted to taste antelope once. Later in her youth, she liked to go fishing with a boy, who was then trampled to death by frightened mammoths.
She could hardly breathe because these things shocked her so much. In addition, the guy from before was so close to her that she could feel his disgusting breath on her back. Despite everything, she wanted to swallow and ask if all of this was just out of jealousy, but the other one just laughed. The other two saber-toothed tigers did the same, as if something really funny had been said. Shira heard that she shouldn't think too much of it because her sister had to live the same life as she did all the time. Everyone in their community would have admired their parents just for her, as if there were only ever one daughter. The perfect daughter who got everything she wanted. However, her interlocutor did not want Shira to be happy while she could only live in the shadow of her sister's life.
No, she cried close to tears, because that's not true. Her parents always treated them equally and fairly. This also applied to other saber-toothed tigers in their area with whom they played and later hunted. It didn't seem to matter what she gave out, because it only increased anger and hatred in her sister, which she loved all her life.
When her sister found out that the parents wanted to bring the lover of her together with Shira, she probably couldn't stand it any longer and made this plan. Meanwhile, it also happened that the tiger who took part in the scene at the waterfall really wanted to own her. Going against the choice of a mating in a pack was pointless. That's why this escape to so far outside.
Unfortunately, none of the other three thought of killing her, which was actually what she expected. No, something worse was thought up. The saber tooth behind her should take care of her every night from now on until you see signs of pregnancy. Then they will all run back and wait for the children to be born. They will then see who the young animals come from and her sister's lover would be free again. The whole thing would be a shame for the family, but her sister wouldn't mind. She even gave her the advice, smiling, to show herself willing to do the act and then it wouldn't hurt too much.
Disappointment, sadness, anger and other feelings went through Shira. One thing she knew exactly, she would not take part in this. She didn't want to mate with this guy next to her, nor did she want to give birth to children. For what sense that the little ones are later mocked, harassed and if not even killed. She couldn't allow that.
In a quick movement she bit the saber tooth next to her in the leg, which jumped away in terror. She took the chance and ran. Although she did not even know where and heard that she was being followed. But she just had to escape the others. Running back and telling her parents everything, she would never make it alone. There were three of them in pursuit of their energy. When fatigue comes, one of the other saber-toothed tigers will catch her. That also applied to their current route in the other direction.
The way to the sea should not be far anymore and gradually the day was beginning to appear, because the sun was already coloring the horizon. Her heart ached because she couldn't say goodbye to her parents. Life in this large community cave must have been like this for a long time, so it was difficult for her to blame her father and mother for ensuring that her childhood was like this. Had she never noticed or didn't want to notice? The question will come up in her more often.
And then Shira saw that sea. The rising sun glittered beautifully in the water and she wished she could enjoy the sight. But she was still being hunted by her own sister. This demanded that she should not make it more difficult, but she did not listen carefully to what the words were.
How long had she been running, because when she started, it was even darker? Unimportant, because she was slowly reaching her limit. A rush in the ears that wasn't the waves of the ocean. That sting in the legs because her limbs finally asked her to take a break. The distance between her and the others widened, but maybe that was a trick. If she slows down, they could catch up quickly. How fast she left the forest behind, because the terrain seemed increasingly bare now.
Shira realized far too late that she was not running to a beach, but a cliff. Just then she managed to stop in front of the abyss. Panting and gasping, she looked down. Waves from the sea whipped against the pointed rocks that jutted out of the water below. Her pursuers also came up panting behind her and complimented her even to have good stamina. As if everything was just an exercise or a game. But now they would all have wasted enough time because they had to return home at some point.
The eyes of the three saber-toothed tigers were almost enough to make her feel good jumping into the air and over the cliff. Especially her sister's eyes looked so shocked when she was still screaming her name. Certainly she would never have expected this turn in the plan. As she fell, the thought occurred to her that the other tigress was getting what she asked for. All the attention of their parents and the man she wanted. Somehow, Shira could die well with these thoughts, even if she wanted to experience so much before.
The fall down seemed so long, but unfortunately too short to avert her death. And then she plunged into the cold water, which would be almost good for her limbs if she hadn't hit the surface so hard. Everything around her became so quiet. Then no quick end by hitting the rocks. Fate probably wanted her to drown, but water corpses were not beautiful. Another trick to keep them all away from the waterfall as children. She thought it was stupid now, because appearance was her last concern when she died.
She should gasp slowly, but she was tired and surely sank like a stone. She was still trying to see something with the eyes, but there was hardly any difference between light and shadow. It felt like a dark spot was coming and growing, but that was just imagination. Her body just started to give up, even though her head was urging her to finally draw oxygen into the lungs. Ignoring that was not easy.
Suddenly somthing grabbed her something and swam to the surface. Did her sister come to save her? Hardly, because as far as she was aware, no saber tooth can dive very deep. While realizing that it was better to breathe, she also realized that this being next to her doesn't seem to be like her. Thinking and opening the eyes properly seemed just so difficult.
Before she could even think about her rescue, however, something was put around her body and she was jerked out of the water and then landed on ice. There was a babble of voices. Everything was so messed up and suddenly she felt like she was going to throw up. Her forelegs lifted as if by themselves and she coughed up water. Unfortunately, not only that came out of her. She also choked up a little digested food. After that she felt a little better and tried to take a normal breath again. The environment also became clearer and a giant monkey suddenly faced her.
"So he really saved you?" Diego knew that the question was actually superfluous.
"Yes, unfortunately. He kindly gave me the choice. His ship or back to the beach. I don't know where from, but Gutt must have known somehow what was waiting for me there in the country. Maybe he saw the others on the cliff. Maybe he even watched me jump. It was probably his only good trait that he didn't care where his crew came from. It was only important to him that we all stay with him. That meant if we were still useful enough." The saber-toothed tiger was certain that she did not have to explain how many animals died out there on the ocean just because the captain had found something wrong with this crew member. Not all of them were lucky enough to just drown in the water.
"You have to know that I, as a pirate, made decisions that I'm not proud of. For a while, it wasn't even about saving myself from drowning or... other things. Strangely enough, I wanted to get his approval." Shira couldn't even look at the other animal next to her.
"Even if it wasn't the kind-hearted family you always crave, it was better than being alone." Her saber-toothed tiger took the words out of her mouth that she didn't dare to utter. Then she had to look at him, but Diego's eyes were on the exit. Before she could ask what he was thinking about, he suddenly smiled and turned his head back to her.
"Do you know what's strange?" Her husband grinned and asked her, whereupon she could only shake her head unsuspectingly.
"I still love you." He replies and Shira couldn't help but smile and kiss him gratefully.
So many years had passed and yet nothing changed in her. Many questions will simply remain open. Maybe it is better that way.