Chapter 3


A/N: Rule of thumb: never assume I quit unless there's some sort of chapter update where I specifically say so. And thanks to those who still miraculously remember this story exists despite no updates since April. On a side note, my account was created almost ten years ago (12/09/2012) and my first story was published on (12/16/2012) so here's to an early recognition to that since I can't imagine an update will come out so close to then from now.


It is a shield of passion and strong will.

Her fatigue was drained completely as she got to the overhanging cliff side. Rain quietly pattered around as the distant thunder added to the background noise. It helped her ever slightly relax, aware that she'd normally be asleep at this hour. And that thought shifted to her mate. She knew Isaac would get irritated if she left the den for a long period of time.

Not like he doesn't do that most nights. Why's it only an issue if I do it?

The tigress slowly lowered her head and released the golden cat's scruff from her jaws before collapsing on top of him. She was still in disbelief at how cold his pelt was. She also had a hard time believing what happened to him and how he ended up in his current condition. She shook her head at the sight of his swollen limbs, cuts running deeply through his pelt and his ankles that were torn to pieces.

For a while, as she lay there with her chin resting on her paws, she observed him. She watched over him, for once, feeling a sense of purpose, as small as it might have been.

The only productivity she could think of was allowing the rain to lightly drizzle onto the golden saber as she used her paws to wash the blood off. She started with his face, feeling the attraction grow the more red that disappeared.

Not that looks are everything… but damn.

She felt the blush tingle at her thoughts. She knew it wasn't like her to think that way. She really never found herself looking at other sabers. She was just too reserved and always kept to herself. As a result, she never appreciated how beautiful they were as a species. But as the tigress washed every inch of his golden pelt, she felt privileged from the sight.

The other side of her wasn't sure he'd survive. Just the sight would make anyone assume he was dead. The fear of that possibility had her nudge his shoulder a few times, quietly speaking to him in hopes that he would wake up.

Still nothing.

She sighed and rested beside him, keeping her paw on his chest to watch his breathing. And she felt so relaxed because of it. More than she had ever been since her brothers were killed.

She twirled her claw in his fur, anything to distract her from thinking of literally anything else. For some reason, this golden cat was all she thought about. She could only hope that he'd pull through. Just so she could feel like she made a difference. Maybe it would be the start to fixing her life.

In what ways, though?

Before her mind could wander into fantasy, she was startled by the sudden coughing that erupted from his throat. Seconds later his upper torso jolted as he deeply inhaled before the coughing continued more violently than before.

She took a few steps back to allow him some space, still eyeing him carefully with nothing but worry transferring through her eyes.

The golden cat had to roll himself over onto the flat boulder that she had placed him on just under the hanging.

Shira wasn't sure what to say as his gaze turned to her before lowering his head, breaths starting to normalize.

Yet, the obvious pain in his body showed as he grit his teeth and curled himself up, whimpering at the torture of every movement. In return, all she could do was place a paw to his shoulder as he glanced up at her, a smile inevitably crossing her lips.

"Hey."

000

Ugh, my head! What the hell just happened?

His ears still rang from the trauma. He tried recollecting the events that took place for this insufferable pain he felt over his entire body.

I remember the wolves… and the falls…

Nothing past that seemed to spark his memory. He figured he must have passed out after that. And now he could only wonder how long that was for.

But… shouldn't I be… in the water? Drowning? Dead?

He let his paw feel the stone surface below him as the rain lightly drizzled with the distant thunder.

No… maybe I am… ah hell, I don't know what "dead" is anymore.

He swallowed the pain as his eyes opened halfway before shutting them as the drops hit. As such, he had to roll back onto his side. As his eyes reopened, he noticed the silver. Then the paws. Finally, taking a great amount of effort to lift his head, he saw her face for the first time. And for a couple seconds, his thoughts silenced. Everything stopped.

Holy shit… she's beautiful!

It just seemed so far fetched that he'd be on the verge of death one minute, then staring into the eyes of a goddess the next. He hated himself for thinking that someone like her could slip his mind so easily. But that seemed to be the case as he glanced elsewhere, blinking a few times before turning back to her.

"Am I dead?"

His first words made her smile and giggle. After which, she just shook her head. Instantly he knew she wasn't from his pack, for someone like her would've been constantly on his mind. He would've remembered a saber with such beautifully unique patterns running across her pelt.

I feel like I'm in heaven… minus the pain.

He bit down on the aching as he tried lifting himself up. However, she wouldn't let him do that as she placed a paw on his shoulder before she walked around and jawed him by the scruff. He felt himself dragged the few inches necessary to keep him out of the rain and under the incline.

"Sorry you woke up like this." She spoke, after releasing him, "There was… a lot of red."

She lay down beside him, his heart racing to the sight of her. Perky ears. Beautiful eyes. Cute smile.

"Sorry you had to see it." He humored back, only glancing at her for a second before rubbing his nose and looking away.

Her smile continued to gleam into his thoughts as he gripped his temple, the pulsing ache causing his eyes to water.

This is so unbearable. Just… make it stop.

The whimpering couldn't be held back. He caught the look of concern on her face as she scooted closer, her paw on his shoulder.

"How're you feelin'?"

He didn't answer. He wasn't sure how. Truth was, he had never felt worse both physically and mentally. Somehow, he knew she could tell. Somehow it was like her eyes could talk to him. He could tell what she wanted to say through those alone.

I didn't notice before. I didn't think it was possible for eyes to be that… wait… stop staring, you dope!

His head instantly lowered as he attempted to regain his composure. All the while, he waited. He sat in silence, waiting for her to ask what happened.

She did. And he recapped all that had transpired that day. From losing his family, to losing his pack, to ending up practically dead.

All the while, she listened, disbelief growing on her face as he went on. It was strange to the tiger having someone like her seem so intrigued by something about himself.

As the hour passed, so did the storm. The silver saber had snuggled herself into his warmth as he continued. And it distracted him from his injuries. That and the warming sensation of her rhythmic breathing.

As he finished, he waited to hear her say what he expected. What anyone would say after hearing what had happened to him.

I'm sorry.

But looking into her eyes, he knew she wouldn't say those two words. He saw no sorrow in her eyes. Only a look of understanding. Something that felt so rare to come by nowadays.

"I know the feeling." She softly spoke, resting a paw on his shoulder, eyes connected for seconds before she lowered them elsewhere.

"I lost my two brothers." She began, the golden saber extending his paws to grasp around her, holding her in comfort. And it honestly shocked him that she showed no hesitation as she cuddled into his warmth.

It's just because of the weather. Don't get any ideas.

Her sniffling had him stroke the back of her head. She struggled to finish, crying into his chest as he held her, teeth clenching at the memories.

You poor thing.

"It just never made sense." She bawled out, a hint of anger in her words.

"Humans aren't normally like that." He blurted out.

Her whimpering stopped as she stared to the side of him, still holding on. Still feeling something.

"So you noticed, too?"

He nodded, unsure of what else to say about it. As such, another thought came up in his head.

"What about your parents?" Asking that almost instantly left him with regret as he saw the hurt on her face amplify.

Just stop asking so much! You know nothing about her! No idea what she's been through or currently going through!

It only irritated him because giving any other situation or circumstance, he wouldn't give a damn. There wasn't a whole lot that interested him in the world. But her, this silver tigress, was something else entirely.

"Gone." She instantly and coldly said, "I don't remember that far back. And my brothers always refused to tell me what happened."

God, I could only imagine.

Already, as guilty as he felt, the thought of the two of them being together had inevitably entered his mind. However, deep down, he knew she was taken. A saber like her didn't just sit idly by while everyone else found a mate.

But no family? Nothing?

"Well…" she cleared her throat as she rolled out of his embrace, showing that smile that he found himself falling head over paws about, "I'm gonna take care of you until you're better, okay?" She expressed with a yawn.

"Oh, thanks, but… that's not necessary."

The golden cat found the confused look on her face as he spoke.

"How come?" She tilted her head.

"I just… don't want to be a bother. And besides…" he began as he gritted his teeth to lift himself up, "I'm sure you've got better things to do." Came his response as he wiped the blood from his lips.

She smiled before lowering her head.

"I wish."

The smiles they gave to one another seemed to kill the silenced awkwardness. And it was there that he remembered to ask what he should have from the start.

"What's your name?"

"Shira."

"Huh…"

"What?"

"Oh… nothing." The tiger sighed as he rested his head on top of his paws, the strongest sense of deja vu flooding his mind.

Just sounds familiar. That's all.

000

He seems so nice. So caring and understanding… and pretty hot. But I can't… Isaac wouldn't take it very well. I can't have this saber involved with… my life.

She didn't want to think she was falling for him so easily. She had a mate. She had Isaac. Still, she knew it'd be a couple days before her mate would care to go out looking for her. And by then, she'd figure this golden saber would recover and be on his way back to his own pack.

And that'll be that.

Inside, her heart was screaming to not let that happen. She wanted someone. She always did. And the more she talked to this saber, the more flawed her mate seemed.

He can't be perfect, though.

Still, it shocked her that he was conscious and breathing. From the red that poured out, it was only luck that the rain was there to keep the leaking to a minimum.

But the fact that he's talking and laughing like it's nothing…

The night had deepened into the hours as she stayed awake, her paw intertwined with his as he slept. She smiled at the feeling of his forelegs wrapping tighter around her in his sleep.

He cared about his pack so much. Willing to draw the humans away. What he had to go through…

Her paw reached the side of his face as she felt the softness, touching only for as long as he didn't wake up. And so quickly, she felt confused. What this saber was doing to her. What she was feeling. She couldn't understand any of it.

I don't… feel sad.

Even with all her willpower, she couldn't help herself from grasping his sleeping embrace and hugging him tight. On this day, she seemed to see clearly. Everything suddenly came to life.

I have a chance to feel… alive.

Almost as instantly, she felt guilt for allowing herself these affectionate gestures. Thoughts kept insisting that she was only doing this to fill a gap that her brothers had left her. One that Isaac had failed to give her. That feeling of being forgotten. Only then did she truly realize how alone she was. What she had right then could very easily be a one time event. He'd get better the next day. They'd go their separate ways. She'd go back to what she struggled to call home.

Isaac was never the cuddling type. Not that I blame him. Sabers… don't normally show affection like that. Maybe… did I ever seem that way to him?

The back of her mind always blamed herself regardless of how obvious the root of the problem was. It was like her mind was water. It was difficult to see when it was irritated. But if it settled, the answer became clear.

Ive got to find that meaning. I've searched for so long. All I am and all I'll be. It's just… I'm on broken wings. I keep falling. I'm dying to feel… what I've lost.

Soon her thoughts mixed with the comforting sensation of the tiger wrapped around her allowed the silver tigress one of the best and easiest sleeps of her life.

000

"Thanks for all you've done, Shira."

The tigress turned from the crystal ocean, eyes glittering as she looked at the aura beside her.

"Thanks? For what?" She asked with a heart melting smile.

"I never knew what it was to be alone. Cause you were always there for me. You were always waiting."

It was comforting. Heartwarming what the voice said. She just smiled though not fully understanding, noticing the broken and mended wings.

The pink sunset had just begun, bringing her vibrant colors to life. The warmth brought her eyes comfort. Her mind relaxed and sensed.

"It's funny what this life has done to me, now." The light spoke again.

"Is it a bad thing?" She tilted her head and asked, noticing the warmth from the sand below her.

"At first, but overtime… things made sense. Everything happened for a reason."

"Even the negatives?"

"Especially so."

She just nodded, pretending to understand. Maybe she did. She wasn't sure. Not that the entity beside her made her question dream from reality.

She sat there, watching the waves and the sunset touch her fur in a blast of revelation and deity.

As an old day passes, a new one rises. But for now, please… rest easy.

The words echoed and shed into her skin. She felt taken. She didn't feel hurt. She found the answers that were always there. Where the end always was.

You're the only one that ever saw through me.

000

She truthfully didn't remember waking up, the only thing on her mind being how incredibly comfortable she was and the fact that it had stopped raining.

Warmth surrounded her like a fire. Only seconds later she opened her eyes to see that there actually was a small fire just a few feet in front of her. And all though it certainly helped with the unbearable weather, there was something else adding to it.

What? Did he make this?

As she thought of him, his body twitched in his sleep. His masculine limbs still curled around every curve of her body, only to a greater degree than before she fell asleep.

She smiled and took everything in once more. His amazing scent. His perfectly calm breathing. Even when he was practically dead, he went out of his way to start a fire. He still managed to cuddle back into her without even waking her. And now that light had just begun forming in the sky, she could only assume that, for once, she got the sleep her body desperately needed.

What melted her heart was the tree bark just to the side of her. It was formed like a bowl which held water. All she could do was gaze upon her reflection in the bowl before lapping up a small amount.

That was so sweet of him… and clever.

Already, there was so much being processed in her head. Thoughts of questioning. Thoughts of contemplating. Never had anyone done something like this for her and while in such a drastic state of living.

And yet, the constant thought of what Isaac would think if he found her like this, completely paranoid her to no end. So badly in fact, that a single ounce of her instincts told her to get up and leave him right then. She knew he was much better than when she first found him hanging off the side of the river. So it didn't seem out of the question. It wasn't so much his injuries she worried about, but rather what caused them.

If the humans find him… and I'm not there…

That alone gave her all the reason to stay. Plus the embrace he gave, loving or not, fueled her decision to stay right where she was. As comfortable as ever. In return, she only wanted to protect him. But sleep was hard to fight with the warmth enveloped around her. She truthfully wanted to hold on forever. She didn't want to let him go.

I just don't understand why.