The tiger sat near the fire at the center of the cave. The crackling flames helped him delve deeper into his thoughts. He stared aimlessly at the hypnotic orange color. Maybe he could find the strength to forgive himself instead of sinking deeper. He could choose to let it go. Maybe find something else. Something to hold on to. Some other passion. One that wouldn't walk him in one big circle.

What suddenly stuck him as odd was the fire itself. Why it was there.

I don't know how to make one. Maybe she does?

Yet another thing he never learned how to do or never understood.

What's the difference?

Beside him, she didn't look as sad. Her carefree smile would normally make his entire day. But he didn't feel anything this time. Something was off. Something was missing. Maybe he was overthinking. Overanalyzing. He felt himself drown in the beauty he was witnessing. He felt connected. Inspired.

His lips moved against hers. But they tasted bitter, leaving him feeling isolated. He felt alone even though she was right there. So quickly, gazing at her made the tiger feel scared. Something was so off putting.

Regardless, one thing caught his eye. Her earring. It wasn't there.

He then remembered the earring she gave him a few nights back. He reached a paw to his ear, only to feel nothing. No earring. No piercing in his lobe.

"Something wrong?" She asked, tilting her head and smiling. The twinkle in her eyes still everlasting.

The tiger felt his ear for a seconds longer before lowering his paw back to the ground. There was a lot he contemplated. What was wrong, exactly. He'd practically have to draw a map just to have an idea on where to start.

"The earrings... where are-

"They're not here." She interrupted, her head still tilted. Lips still smiling.

"Why not?" He asked, tilting his head as well, mocking her own form by playing along. He figured she was just being playful.

"Because... they're gone."

"Gone where?" He smiled and asked, not a care in the world flowing through him.

She didn't answer. Her lips only cracked a grin, her teeth showing as she giggled to herself.

"What's so funny?" He asked.

"The whole world."

"What do you mean?"

She just laughed in response. Normally, her laugh was the most preciously adorable thing in the world. Not this time, however. Something about it was unsettling. Something was off.

"You're earring is gone because mine is gone."

"What?"

"I'm dead. So... you must be, too."

"I don't-

She interrupted his lips with her own.

"What makes you... happy?" She whispered.

"You." He murmured.

Her claws began seeping into his skin. He felt the love in it. Only because... he actually felt something.

She giggled, "I wonder..."

"Hmm?"

"What makes you happy... Does it make... others happy, too?"

Thoughts whispered into his mind. The contrast increased and the sounds rang of high pitches until he felt deaf and blind and dumb.

"Shira! No! I... I won't-

His sentence was cut short as he realized he had woken from his sleep. He felt his body drenched in sweat and tears. His paw reached out and clenched what he thought was her presence, but only taking in the emptiness inside the den.

All night, he had waited, hoping to see her silvered pelt gleaming at the cave entrance. That she'd forgive him. That she'd look past his honest mistake. But if he truly did understand her feelings, she probably never would.

It was miraculous in it's own right that he managed to drift to sleep all things considered. He figured the worrying anticipation drained his fatigue completely to where his thoughts took him to rest.

Outside the den, rain lightly drizzled, casting away the usual and awkward silence of the world. It was calming to the tiger's appreciation. Storms were always seen as gloomy and depressing to everyone else. Terrifying, even. To the tiger, it was like medication. He felt his sorrow was valid. It made sense. But it was only temporary as the thought of her roared inside him. As it brought back the problem.

Shira...

Truthfully, he wasn't sure what would hurt more: thinking she was dead or knowing she hated his guts. He's experienced both, unfortunately and it wasn't an easy debate.

I just want to hold you, again. That's all. Just feel your strength. Share the same experience.

The very thought had him practically hold himself, slightly rocking back and forth, imagining having her in his warmth again. He desperately yearned to feel some sort of embrace.

I felt so connected. So loved. We clicked so well. This can't be... this can't just be it.

He growled. He beat his paws to the ground, clenching out and enduring everything his life could've possibly meant up to that point. Eyes darted from one place to the other. His whole body shook as his spinal fur stood on end.

I- I've got to get out of this. I have to let this go. If she won't take me back. It's the only thing that can save me, now.

Tried as he did, the frustration. The sadness. The hopeless endeavor that was his life refused to let him.

No matter how hard I try, I can't forget her. I can't let her go. She's all I've got.

The tiger figured that sitting around with his thoughts wasn't going to help any further, so he got up and headed for a drink. But as he walked towards the water source past the falls, a certain sickness casted over him. He wanted to leave. He wanted to go home. Maybe return to his pack. Even though they might not be okay with it. He didn't exactly leave on good terms.

At least go back to that area. To the way things used to be. Before her.

The exercise it would take to walk back was also a consideration as he wasted no time in heading down the cliff sides and ultimately, back home.

Wherever that is...

The sadness never left him as the tears constantly fell. He never wanted it to end like this. He knew trials would keep appearing and he did everything he could to overcome them. But now it finally ended. Now it makes sense. It was never meant to last. For reasons he'd never know.

I'd give anything to feel her again. Even my life. Just once.

It seemed so depressing. So dark. But after everything that had been said and done, there really wasn't a whole lot more for him in the world... if anything.

I knew what I had. Now I know what I lost.

It twiddled in his mind like circles. So clear yet so confusing. A thought entered suggesting to try and talk to her one more time. Maybe see if he could be given one more chance.

As many chances as it takes.

The tiger didn't know where she'd be. She obviously wasn't going to come back to the falls. She could still be where he left her for all he knew, though that was unlikely given the freezing temperatures that scorched the night.

Surely, she went somewhere to sleep.

He also noticed it hadn't snowed for a good two days, meaning tracking her would be particularly easy with the tracks she'd make.

As he arrived at the avalanche remains, he looked around for her, only seeing nothing. Already, thoughts of doubt entered him. Why should he try? The way he saw it, he had used his last chance the previous day. Why should he always expect redemption?

When I messed up as bad as I did...

A part of him knew that he didn't necessarily do anything wrong. That it was the way she looked at it. What it meant to her.

I guess I don't understand...

And that's all he could do. All he ever tried to do was just understand. And he did. He understood her. He listened to her. He knew he wasn't one to talk much, so his ears did the talking for him quite often. As such, it was always easy for him to understand others, but it didn't quite work the other way around.

He pressed on to where he thought the body was, only to see a powdered hole in it's place. She must have taken the body with her.

But why?

He put that question on hold for the time being and followed the clearly visible paw prints. As time went on, he noticed the surroundings as they passed by. The trench where she nearly died. The lake where she gave him the earring.

And the forest...

Where it all began. Where he met her. Where his life started. He froze in his tracks as he approached the familiar layout. A part of him was too scared to face what was in there. He looked to the sky and looked to the ground. The tracks led straight into the darkness of the forest.

But it wasn't the darkness he was afraid of. Far from it. What he had to bring up the courage to say. What he might have to go to the edge for.

It's either I fix it, or I don't.

As hard as he tried to spiritually brace and accept the outcome, it proved impossible. There was only one outcome he'd see acceptable.

The other one can fuck itself for all I care.

The first few steps in were like icicles through his paws. The further he got, the faster his heart beat. A part of him wasn't sure whether it was from fear or love. Or both.

I love her. That'll never change.

And as he found her there, he knew that to be true.

The sunlight seeped into the luscious green and white forest, making her silver pelt all the more contrasted. Making her look all the more amazing.

She hadn't seen him at first. The tiger noticed the hole she was covering up, snow uncovering grass as she put it all back as close as it was originally. Two pinnacle stones were set leaning against one another next to the hole she filled in.

This whole time, it was like I was trying to breathe underwater instead of air. Like two paws that can't hold each other

The point of no return synced with the moment she completely turned to face him.

"Shira..."

The back of his mind took in and treasured her appearance. Now that her loss was hanging on a thread, her qualities only stuck out further, which the tiger never thought to be possible to begin with.

She didn't react. Her face didn't express. She just finished up the remaining coverage for the burial and walked off without saying a word.

What do I do? What can I even say?

Honestly, the tiger was somewhat relieved that she didn't go off on him for tracking her down like he was positive she would.

He didn't want to keep following her. He didn't want to seem desperate. Pleading. Begging.

This is my problem. Maybe hers, too. I just... I need to think.

He gazed over to the grave, placing a paw on one of the stones she set up. That's also where he noticed the earring piece that rested atop it.

This is her earring. But why?

What finally caught his attention were his surroundings. All the trees. A sense of deja vu bled over him. And it hit him.

This is where I met her. Literally. This exact spot.

He even noticed the clumped snow from where they collided with each other in the total blinding darkness of the night. The grave was right next to it.

He stood there for a minute more before he heard paws crumbling the snow behind him. He turned back to see her with a batch of flowers in her mouth.

At first, he had hoped they were for him. As cliche as the idea of gifting flowers were to him, more important was her forgiveness that would've come with it.

Instead, she walked around him and dropped the flowers at the base of the two stones.

His heart ached. His mind angered. And now he could only speak with every emotion him his body.

"I swear to god, I tried." He muffled between his teeth. He didn't look at her. He didn't want to. He didn't feel he deserved to. Nor did he feel that she deserved it.

He heard her scoff in response.

"Yeah. I tried a lot, too, Diego."

"I know. I love you for it."

"Don't say that."

He just smiled. It felt like every tragedy was becoming comedy. Like every negative was becoming positive. Life had brought him this far.

How can I feel on top of the world with the weight of the world on my shoulders?

"I can't replace you, Shira. You'll always be a part of me."

She said nothing back. He just heard light sniffling and crying.

"Why are you doing this, Diego?" She choked to say.

"Because I want to remember the way that we lived and who we were. I want to remember who we are."

"But... It hurts... too much." She quietly spoke, turning to gaze at the grave

Finally, their heads turned to see each other. And it seemed to be that one instance that change everything.

"Every way you changed me still shines through."

"Diego..."

Their eyes met. Water built up the hurt.

"Shira... please understand... that I understand... everything."

Their lips moved in.

"I just... don't... really...

Their eyes bled of tears the instant their lips connected. They both cried. They both felt something that couldn't be classified as love. It went beyond that. So much so that the two sabers broke down of emotion on top of each other. The pain that resided showed their needs for one another.

Thank god. Just... thank god.

He lay on his back as she rested in his chest, crying to such an extent he had never seen before from her. He held her tightly, debating on whether he would ever release his paws again.

"I'll be there for you. Just like your sister always was. You know that, right?"

She barely managed a nod as she cried her buried face into his chest.

"I'm sorry for what I said to you, Diego."

"Don't be."

"I can't."

They only stayed their for so long until something became apparent to the tiger.

"Shira. As much as I'm enjoying everything that's happening right now, the snow is starting to take the feeling out of my back."

Instantaneously, she smiled and lifted herself up, the remaining tears seemingly dried up. The strand of saliva broke free from their lips.

She held out a paw to help lift him up. He only gazed at her eyes for seconds more before smiling and taking her paw in his and allowing her to lift him up onto all fours.

Through everything, despite all that happened, he took off his earring and placed it on the other stone before catching back up to his kitty.

I won't need it. Just like l don't need half of myself. I can live with one side. One paw. I've got her with me, after all.