Chapter 5

Walks were nice. Walking with a friend was fun sometimes, but Diego preferred being by himself. That way he was alone to think, without some annoying little creature (usually Sid) asking him a bunch of random questions every other minute. Diego stretched and decided it was time to head back. He had been out for almost two hours, after all, and it would probably take him awhile. Diego had been walking for a few minutes before he realized something was following him.

It was too far away for him to see what kind of creature it was, but Diego was sure it was him the animal was following. Whenever he turned back, he saw it crouch behind a tree or something, trying not to be seen. Whatever it was was not a very experienced tracker. It put Diego on edge that something was tailing him. What did it want? Diego ran up ahead, and saw the animal pick up its pace a distance behind. There was a herd of animals up ahead, passing by a tree, and Diego ran in with them and climbed the tree quickly.

The animal caught up with Diego, and paused at the base of the tree, looking for him. It was a tiger, Diego saw. A saber, the same species as him, but female. A young female. Diego was intrigued. Where was her herd? Why wasn't she with them? Diego was the only saber he knew who didn't travel with a pack of fellow tigers.

Diego jumped out of the tree behind her. "Who are you? Why were you following me? What do you want?"

She gasped in surprise and turned around. She was quite young; her youth surprised Diego. She was hardly more than a girl, and such young females usually stayed close by their packs.

"I'm sorry," she said, looking at the ground. "I didn't mean for you to see me. Diego knew that if she was a human, she would have been blushing. She was just a shy, young girl, and meant no harm. Diego softened his harsh tone.

"But what did you want?" he asked gently. "Where's your herd?"

"Oh, they're back there, by our cave," she said, looking up at Diego cautiously. "I just…my name's Sierra. I saw you…on your own…and…" she looked at the ground again, slightly embarrassed. "I'm going to be mating soon, and…all of the males in my pack are either taken or too young…I saw you, and thought…maybe I could meet your pack…maybe there was someone there…" Sierra appeared too terrified to look at Diego again, and he smiled.

"My pack," he repeated. Sierra looked as if she would bolt any minute. "Sierra," he said slowly. "Listen, you're cute and everything, but I don't think my pack would be interested in you."

"Oh. Okay." she said, in a very small voice, as though about to cry, and turned to leave, determinedly looking anywhere but at Diego.

"Wait," Diego said, putting a paw out to stop her, realizing she had misinterpreted his words.

Surprised by the touch, she looked at him again.

"Don't take it the wrong way," Diego said. "It's not like they wouldn't like you. It's just…my pack isn't your typical tiger herd. We consist of me, two mammoths, two possums, and a lazy sloth."

"What?" Sierra said, taking a step closer to Diego with a confused look on her face. Curiosity replaced all shyness in her expression. "I've never seen a herd like that before. Don't…don't you hunt those kinds of animals?"

"Well, I…I used to. But not anymore. Not them. Their my herd now. My friends. My family."

"Wow," Sierra said, impressed. "I've never heard of a herd like that. Ever. Can…can I meet them?"

Diego was surprised at how quickly she had changed from a shy, embarrassed girl to a curious young tiger, genuinely interested in something. But he was hesitant to let her meet his herd. He was protective of the, especially defenseless Sid. If she told her tiger pack about them, they might want to hunt them. "Sierra, I don't know if that's such a good idea."

"Oh," she said her face falling. "Well, that's okay I gue—oh!" And as if hit by a sudden realization, her shyness came back and she looked at the ground. In her small voice she had used before, she said, "Well, I'd better be going then."

"Wait," Diego said. She had gotten the wrong impression again. "I guess it's okay. I can introduce you to them."

"Really?" she asked, perking up immediately. "You mean it?"

"Sure," Diego said, smiling at her sincerity and fascination. "Come on."

They went back to where Diego's herd was, with Sierra, having lost her shyness once again, chattering the whole way.

Okay, it may not seem to fit in to where the story is going, but Sierra is a very important character and you'll see in a while. Thanks so much for your reviews, they're what kept me going despite computer problems. !!