To the person that asked, "When is this updating again?"

Well, this will answer your question. Enjoy.

Over the next course of days, the trio of mammals and their human ward had grown closer and closer - and in some aspects, maybe a bit too close. Otherwise, they couldn't be happier, for the most part, especially when it seemed like they were nearing their destination.

Yet deep down, Gutt felt like they were getting a little side-tracked, like the road wasn't always right. He didn't want to doubt Shira, not when these feelings for her were growing by each moment, but he knew when she lied - and he could tell when she was trying to stall for something, but what? What else was there? Was it … no, it couldn't be... could it?

She couldn't have been the reason Roshan was separated from his tribe. She said she'd been separated from her pack. The chance of her being involved in some ambush, leading to the boy and his mother falling down a waterfall, to the discovery and—no, it was a coincidence. A mere coincidence. Nothing more.

Yet that horrible suspicion arose. Gutt hated himself for thinking, but what if? Because he loved her, he did, and he would like to believe she was absolved from any crime – but that lingering thought remained. The idea that she was responsible for what lead to Roshan being in their care. That she was secretly a mastermind of destruction. That she was a murderer.

That she lied to him.

"Shiwa!" Roshan's squeal interrupted Gutt's thoughts. The ape glanced behind, noticing the tigress was playing that game of hers with Roshan again. Where's the Cubby? was what she called it.

"Oh, where's the little cub gone off to?" Shira glanced around, faking confusion as Roshan covered his eyes. The boy giggled, finding it amusing, before pulling back his hands. The saber's face brightened. "There he is!"

"And you were annoyed by him beforehand," Gupta teased, bumping her shoulder.

Shira glanced down at Gupta, rolling her eyes. A smile tugged at her lips, not all happy. "Mammals change," was all she said. And she would rather leave it at that, than dwindle on the guilt that plagued her constantly. Of the night spent tossing, turning, dreaming of her inevitable fate - of the price she was to pay for her actions. At least she had these moments of happiness before she would become her aggressor's bitch, and then later a meal for the sniveling bastards that remained of her pack. At least it's better I die than the baby.

"That's true. Gutt used to be such a grump when we first met," Gupta reminisced the early days, as if they'd been a long time ago. Really, it had been a week. "Now he's not such a grump anymore. And you're a nice kitten." He grinned widely. "And we're all friends now, aren't we?"

"We are," Gutt said, shrugging, a smile forming on his own face. "But, ah, we don't have to be just friends." His eyes travelled to Shira. It was a bit soon, he knew, but... "We could be a...herd."

Shira looked at Gutt in confusion. Was he really suggesting what she thought he was suggesting? No, that was bullshit. Sabers didn't join herds. She wasn't fit for that, and she wasn't going to live long to see such a thing occur - if it ever could happen to begin with. She wasn't going to string him along this far. "Don't," she said lowly, eyes starting to narrow. "Don't go suggesting things that aren't plausible."

"It is plausible, if you weren't such a lily-livered coward and afraid to let others in," Gutt snapped at her, his own eyes narrowing, his voice raising. "You have nowhere else to go. There's no way you can return to that pack, when your leader's gonna rape and kill you! It's suicide! You have to stay with us." With me.

"I'll only slow you guys down," Shira argued, stepping closer. She felt tears in the corners of her eyes. Why did he have to be so difficult? "You don't know what I've done before we met. The lives I've taken. Those that I hurt." Her eyes shifted to Roshan briefly, as the child tilted his head in concern. "You'd be better off without me."

"That's a lie. Don't lie to me." Gutt took a breath in, his expression hardening. Why can't you let me protect you? I don't want to lose you like I did with Marcella. "Even if it's true that you did some misdeeds, it doesn't matter now. That's in the past." He reached out to her. "We can move forward together."

She flinched back. "I'm not lying to you," she insisted, her voice wavering. Not this time. "Why can't you just accept that we're not meant to coexist? If two sabers couldn't live a life together, why should you and I?"

Those words stung both of them deeply, evident by the stunned expressions that formed on both of their faces soon as those words left the feline's mouth. Gutt looked like he had been struck by her claws. Shira looked as though she wanted to take it back, but couldn't. That was when Gupta stepped in, eyes narrowed, and said, "That's enough! I don't know what's going on between you two, but I don't like it." He frowned deeply. "Gutt's idea to be a herd is a little bizarre, given that most herds consist of single species, but in this case, we have no one else. My family abandoned me. Gutt doesn't have one." He didn't notice the ape flinch at those words, or the saber wince. "And Shira, your parents are dead and your pack will kill you if you go back." The badger looked down, upset. "There's nothing left for us if we split up. Why do you refuse to accept this? Why do you want to—?"

"Roshan's mother. I—I know what happened to her."

The words left the saber in a hurry, her voice pained. Her eyes were on the ground, never once glancing at the shocked ape and badger. "I know how she ended up falling through that waterfall. I know how this all happened, and it's not what you think. It's not by sheer coincidence."

Gutt let out a ragged breath, one fist balling up. She couldn't be affirming that suspicion. She couldn't be... "Don't utter a single word. No more lies," he snarled at her.

"Please, Gutt, I'm... I'm so sorry, I didn't think this would happen," she hurried through her speech, tears slowly spilling. This was it, the moment of truth, the moment where her lies were revealed — the moment where she would lose everything again. "I didn't think I'd get attached to you, Gupta or Roshan. I thought I'd be distant, but that baby—he brought us together and that's why I have to—"

Gutt slammed his fists on the ground, making Shira cower back as he towered over her. "I won't hear it!" he shouted. "I've lost as more than you did. My mate, my child, my parents — an entire family! I don't want to hear something that'll make me lose you too!"

"… so it's true then."

The two looked at Gupta, a look of realization on his face. As if he suspected something. "It was an assumption, but... I noticed my comments, looking back on them now, affected you in some way," the badger said slowly. "Now I know." His brow furrowed. "But why hide it?"

Gutt glanced between the badger and Roshan, now burying his face in his fur out of fright. He looked away, seeing a cave not too far off. "Come. I'll tell you when we get to the cave."

Shira tossed a sad look at Gupta as Gutt brushed past her roughly, feeling a knot inside her stomach. "He's right," she whispered sadly, as the chamitataxus walked alongside her. "He's faced worse than I have, in terms of loss."

Gupta bit his lip. He should have taken her word for it, but morbid curiosity was eating at him inside.

.

.

.

He would regret asking, later on, when they did get to the cave.

Years ago, there was once a family of apes. A father, a mother, the grandparents, and a baby. The baby hadn't been born yet, but she was loved dearly regardless. She was named 'Luce', meaning light. The mother was named Marcella, a lovely lady full of life. The grandparents were Niero and Nora, doting parents that loved to spin a tale or two.

And then there was Pasquale, the father, cautious and shrewd. He wanted to keep his family safe from hunters, humans with their spears. Often, Marcella would say he was being too overprotective, telling her mate to relax. Pasquale would try to relax, but often found himself paranoid. Worried that one day, tragedy would strike.

Unfortunately, his fears were proven as one day, on a trip in a forest, where a dam of boulders lay among, ready to fall at any given moment... humans came. A tribe of them. Spears and all.

They threatened the apes with their weapons, while Pasquale screeched and swatted at them, doing his best to protect his family. He struck down a few with his claws, but not enough. He was injured, forced into a corner. Forced to watch with horror as his mate and parents were cornered on another side, just as some hunters had abandoned their spears to work together to push down the boulders, right on top of …

"… they died quickly, my parents. They were old, so they didn't put much of a fight up."

Gupta and Shira looked over the cave paintings, pained looks of sympathy as they could vision the story unfolding. But their pain didn't match Gutt's, one of utter grief.

"Marcella…I was too late. All I could do was hold her as she died, taking Luce with her." Gutt put his hand over his mouth, trying to stifle an ugly noise that threatened to leave his throat. "It was just a month away from when Luce would …"

He trailed off and thought of what could've been, had the incident not happened. Had his family lived. He could be in the south now, watching Luce run around. His parents looking on in joy. Marcella by his side, leaning on him.

But it could never be. All because of—

Roshan's hand touched Gutt's face. He felt bad, knowing that he belonged to a human tribe that hunted. This was something that should've have happened and if he could do something, he would. But all he could do now was try to lift up the ape's spirits. "Don't be sad," he said quietly. "They're not gone. Mama said there's other side, where spirit go."

Gutt held the human child in his arms. "Do you think so?" he asked quietly, feeling a pang in his heart. Both of surprise and a prayer, all due to the child's optimism.

"I know," Roshan said with a smile. "They here." He pointed to the ape's heart.

Gutt gave a sad smile. "When did you get so smart?" he asked, before leaning his face forward to allow the child to hug it.

Gupta stepped forward, leaning on one side of Gutt, attempting to join in on the hug. "I'm sorry for your loss," he spoke sympathetically. "I don't know what I'd do if I suffered something similar…" He looked down for a moment. "I – I'm sorry if I ever hit any sore spots."

"It's fine."

"But I—"

"Water under the bridge."

"I had this whole speech prepared," Gupta insisted. "This whole thing on how the past shouldn't define you, and how it should be the way you move forward and…" he trailed off. "Now I lost it."

Gutt chuckled. "For what it's worth, you make a fair point." He paused. "What happened…it still hurts, but I've slowly found a new gain. Or gains."

Shira didn't know what to do. She stood in silence, looking at Gutt with sorrow in her expression. He beckoned for her to come forward. She took a few steps, yelping as she was pulled into an embrace. She tensed up, but eventually relaxed into it.

"…so do I call you Pasquale or Gutt?"

Gutt let out a 'tch.' "Pasquale's been dead for years. I'm Gutt, the old shrewd ape you've been travelling with for a week - and your friend, if you'll have me." The last words were spoken like pleading.

"I will have you," Shira said slowly. "If…if you will have me…"

"Why wouldn't I want you?" asked Gutt, raising a brow.

Shira wanted to tell the truth. She did, but her lies got her this far - and in a blink, she swore she saw that human female. In that moment, she hesitated, and cowered away. "I don't know how a herd works."

"We can learn together then," he told her.

She wished she could believe him.

"I think it's time to accept the truth, chief."

Runar turned to one of his fellow tribesmen. They had been journeying through the snow and ice, all while searching for Nadia and Roshan. No such luck occurred, and they hadn't been seen for days. Slowly it was dawning on him that his wife was long gone… but he still held onto a prayer that Roshan was alive.

"No, he's not – he can't be–"

The tribesman placed a hand on his chief's shoulder. "I know it's hard… but we must go on. It's what they would have wanted."

Runar shook his head. "We have to keep searching, for just a little longer. Until we reach the Pass."

The rest of the tribe looked at one another, sympathy in their expressions. Then they nodded, deciding to go along. But in their minds, the thought lingered:

Could Roshan really be alive?

"Would you look at that? Gattina brought us here after all."

Gutt smirked at Shira. "And you doubted yourself," he teased her. "We're at Half-Peak, boys! Next stop: Glacier Pass!"

"I never doubted you!" Gupta praised Shira. He looked at Roshan. "You hear that? You're going home soon!"

"Home!" Roshan beamed.

But when they started walking down the path, the ground felt warmer. It was shrugged off at first, until the heat increased...

"My feet ache, and it's not from walking," Gupta started. An uneasy gut instinct formed. This wasn't a good place.

"Are you going to tell us when you go into heat next?" Shira retorted. "Suck it up, badger boy."

"When did you get snappy again?" Gutt asked, looking at her with a raised brow. "That's my job."

"No, I'm serious - my feet are burning!"

A loud rumble sounded. Gutt looked at Shira. "Tell me that was your stomach," he said blandly, however effective in raising the tigress' concerns.

"Shh, listen…"

The rumbling grew louder. Gupta gulped. "It's underground," he whispered. "If it's underground, that means…"

A burst of fire blew through behind them. The three mammals yelled out in fear and rushed forward, wasting no time. More lava erupted in various holes formed from would-be geysers. A bridge soon formed - one of the ice that remained from the lava attacks.

Shira ran behind, shouting as the other two ran forward. "Faster, faster! You can't waste any time - just move!" She had escaped spears, forest fires and many other dangers in her life - but lava, it was something she never thought she would encounter. Soto's pack was careful to stay away from these fields - these walking hazards - and yet her mission led her here. Perhaps this meant all along, he wanted her either dead … or his little object to rape repeatedly.

That was her ultimatum all along, wasn't it? She came to the conclusion now, the ugly truth - she never had a chance. Even before she was sent to get that baby, even before the humans attacked - her fate was decided long ago.

Damn you, bastard, she wanted to curse Soto. Damn you to the fiery abyss below. She wanted to scream, to track him down and try to slit his throat! To fight for once! But she couldn't. She had to make sure that Gutt, Roshan and Gupta …

A part of the bridge collapsed, dividing Shira from the three. Her teal eyes widened as she watched the piece of ice fall into the lava, melting instantly. She looked at the parts of bridge still left ahead, at the mammals running ahead of her, then at the shaky ground she stood on.

"Wow, Papa, you jump so far!"

The striped cub watched as her father leapt across the river, standing on the other side. Ignacio smiled at his little daughter and said, "Thank you, mija. Now it's your turn."

She paused. "My turn to jump? But it's … it's so far away …" Her paws trembled. If she slipped, she would fall and surely drown. After all, the albino tigers were not swimmers - not like the darker-furred ones.

"Come on, mija. You can do it. I believe in you," he coaxed her. "Just close your eyes and jump."

"O-okay…" She nodded and shut her eyes, squeezed them tight, taking a step back. And then, with a burst of speed, she rushed forward and -

"Shira! She's trapped!"

Gupta. She opened her eyes and saw Gupta standing in front of Gutt, pleading with him. Gutt seemed irritated and frightened, up until he glanced back at her. But before he could yell out to her, Shira leapt forward, landing behind him.

"Wow," Gupta said in awe. "You leap so far."

"Now you can too!" Gutt said, using his free arm to toss Gupta towards the ice ledge in front of them.

"Move faster!" Shira yelled at Gutt. "Or do you want to burn?"

"What a question," scoffed Gutt. "There's a river of lava, it's a little hard to-"

The ice started melting beneath them. He could see the abyss below. Once glance at a frightened Roshan, it was all he needed to jump forward.

A geyser's blow blocked Shira from jumping forward. The jump was too far. Farther than the river. Was the fear she felt the same as that human female's? Was this payback for all the harm she caused? Yet she didn't want to die. A part of her was stubborn, filled with a new need to make things right by taking down Soto and the rest of her pack, even if it meant dying in the process.

That son of a bitch couldn't win. She wouldn't let him.

She leapt forward, a scream escaping her as she saw her paws wouldn't be able to reach the ledge. She was going to fall, she was going to die and -

Something grabbed her forelegs. Just as the ledge was about to collapse, she looked up and saw Gutt, looking at her as if to say I've got you. On his back was Roshan, relieved. The ape pulled her up and with his might, tossed her over to where Gupta was.

Then he ran fast as he could, just in time as the rest of the ledge collapsed. But he was out of breath and collapsed onto his stomach. Roshan pulled his hair tuft. "Gutt?" he asked in a little worried voice.

"I'm … fine …" the gigantopithecus managed to get out.

"Thank the creator, you're alright!" Gupta hugged his neck, before then tending to Roshan. "And you, are you alright Roshan?"

"Okaaayyy," the baby said slowly, smiling a toothless smile.

"Good!" Gupta beamed.

Shira pushed herself up on all fours and walked over to Gutt. "You saved my life," she said softly. "Why? If you weren't quick enough, you would have died."

Gutt looked at her, a small smile on his face, not all happy. "In a herd, you risk your life for those you love."

Shira's eyes widened. She looked at the ground, then back at him, processing this. "Gutt… I – you – thank you," she managed to mutter.

"Oh Gutt, you really do care!" Gupta cried happily.

Gutt wanted to say more. To show what kind of love he meant, but couldn't. For now, this was all he could say.

Next chapter is gonna be longer.