Trapped Under Ice
I don't know how to live through this hell. Woken up, I'm still locked in this shell. Frozen soul, frozen down to the core. Break the ice, I can't take anymore. Freezing! Can't move at all. Screaming! Can't hear my call. I am dying to live. Cry out! I'm trapped under ice. - Metallica
"Diego, you awake?"
"Ya. Morning already?"
That first night with her felt so different than any other night of his life. It seemed so crazy to him how easily his whole perspective was changing about the world. There was never a time in his life before her that he felt as though he was understood. No one knew the inner pain that he was withstanding, fighting his own will and to restrain himself from mentally breaking down of all sanity.
It had only been about two weeks since the herd had settled onto the revisited island of SwitchBack Cove, and the golden saber never let one moment with her go to waste during those two weeks. He never let any feeling or any emotions pass by through his system. He also would never let her know about his feelings for her. He just didn't see it in him to go down that path. Not yet, anyways. To be honest, he never would have expected to be living in a herd. Not in a million years, yet here he was.
Leaving his own pack was a huge decision on his part, yet, he could feel that he made the right decision. Living in a pack almost felt like anarchy to him. Everything was just so out of control, and he didn't feel like he had that control for his own life.
"Diego, you're such a heavy sleeper." She so wittily said to him as he was still half asleep.
"I guess that's just because I do a lot during the day." He shrugs while giving her a witty comment of his own as she stood above him, getting her to laugh because of it. He loved the way she laughed, always thanking the herd for where he ended up and who he ended up with. Yet, it was so strange. Within those two weeks, Diego has never been woken up by her. The only thing that the two of them really have done together is hunt. Even then, the awkwardness between them just took a step further as the week went by.
He still found it hard to believe that he was able to live like such for such a long period of time. It almost seemed that he may have gotten too use to living in a pack all of his life, that it actually affected the way he lived today. No matter how long it's been since that faithful day, the world has yet to let him forget about the days before it all.
And he just felt so trapped because of it.
Letting out a lengthy yawn, Diego gets up and stretches his forelegs out and lets his claws extend outwards. He had to blink a few times, raising his head upwards to look at her, almost forgetting that she was there.
The look on her face showed nothing except for how she enjoyed every moment with him. Diego could see it. He just couldn't believe that him of all creatures could have chosen the right path down the line from the very start of his life up until this moment. It really was hard to believe. If anything, because of his bad habits of ignorance and stubbornness, he should have been dead by now.
But he wasn't. Instead, he was with her. Getting ever so closer inside of her and finding what she truly loves.
He didn't see much point in just sitting there, keeping her waiting, when he could be out starting the day with her. He's wanted to spend as much time as he could with her everyday since he first met her. He's wanted to do so much more with her. But he couldn't. He couldn't get himself out of that awkward state of mind that he so easily fell into every time he did as little as cast a glance at her. He couldn't help but think that there was something wrong with that.
'Do I really have a chance?'
Even if it seemed like such a short amount of time that he's spent with her, he loved every moment of it. Just the sense of her presence drawing near him was enough to convince him that he was the luckiest saber in the world. Yet, it seemed like even that wasn't good enough.
"You hungry?" He asked her, specifically so he could keep hearing her soothing voice.
"A little bit. I'm still a little tired, though." She answered, as if trying to sound neutral about the question.
"And I thought you were the one that woke me up." He smiled at her as she did the same, followed by a short giggle.
'God, I love it when she does that.'
It just went to show how much Diego wanted her to know how much he wanted her to be his. He's wanted to do so much more, ever since he knew that the herd was settling to a new location. Since then, he's been so eager to spend so much time with her, knowing that the two of them would find this island as a completely new place to explore together.
And that's exactly what he planed on doing today. For a week, he knew that he was given the opportunity for each and everyday to spend time with her, but instead wallowed in his own sense of self derision.
If she were to be doing the same, it would just make the two of them look like they don't want anything to do with each other.
'And that's going to change today.'
Before Diego could say anything, as soon as he got up, he heard her say the words that instantly made this day get off to a great start.
"So, you... Wanna take a walk... With me?"
Diego just kept looking at her, not wanting to believe that someone like her would ever ask something like that to someone like him.
'A total fuck face...'
And yet, it was just one more reason for him to convince himself that he was, again, the luckiest saber in the world.
Hearing her say these words had him only look up at her and shyly smile at her.
"Sure, I mean, if- if you... If you want to, I mean..." He was already feeling the heat build up inside of him. It seemed so pathetic to him how he couldn't even talk to her and have a conversation for more than fifteen seconds.
He didn't understand what was wrong with him. He's acting as though he's afraid of her, but that's just silly to assume. If that's not the reason, then what is?
He only let his thoughts shut off for the time being as he got up and followed Shira out the cave entrance.
Through the winter's wilderness, the two sabers could only think about there own solitude, waiting for the day to arrive. Diego paced behind Shira, admiring every moment he was given. He wasn't sure what she would do if she were to turn around and catch him staring at her. He only hoped that he wouldn't let a purr escape his throat, just loud enough for her to hear.
His animalistic side took over as he fantasized the movement of her body. Seeing her hind legs in clear view nearly gave him the audacity to just jump on to her and let his animal side become the best of him. He could only visualize where he wanted her body to be. Up against his.
'God, my heart is pounding just thinking about it.'
Before Diego could let his lustful side overpower himself, he began walking faster to catch up with her, walking right beside her. If only he could let her know how much he wanted to be there for her. He wanted to make every moment of her life happy, just to make his own the same way.
Once he got up next to her, he only cast a glance at her before she so suddenly did the same, causing him to snap his head back forward and ahead of him.
"You always have these early morning walks?" He asked almost instantly after, trying his best to not be his usual awkward personality.
"Yeah, but you wouldn't know. You never wake up until the afternoon, as far as I've seen."
Diego just kept watching the snow ahead of him. He loved how witty she was. Almost everything that he says to her, she'll turn it around back on him. Not so much in a mean way, but rather in a playful kind of response. Regardless, it just went to make Diego think that there's a reason to why she does this.
"I'm more of a night person, to be honest." Diego said back. There was always something about the night that Diego really admired. Mostly because of the fact that most of the herd members aren't night creatures, giving him a better environment to think to himself without any interruptions. He's gotten quite annoyed with that throughout his days.
"So, you're nocturnal then?"
Diego looked across at her, seeing her pull a smirk across her face.
"As far as I'm convinced." He retorted back, hearing her laugh as she shook her head.
"Yeah, I'm surprised that I got you to wake up."
'I'm not.'
And Diego knew it to be true. He was awake the very moment he heard her voice as he was sleeping. It was seconds after that he was completely wide awake. He was so curious to why she was there and asking him if he was awake. Why would she want him to be awake? More importantly, why did she ask him to take a walk with him?
'It really seems like there's something else behind this.' He thought to himself as he peeked an eye at her who had her head lowered, as if she was about to cry.
"What's wrong?"
She yanked her head up the second after Diego said these words.
"What? Oh, um, n-nothing."
It wasn't nearly oblivious that she was hiding something from him.
'How could she not? We've only known each other for, what, seven days now?'
It was just then that Diego turned to look at her, only getting an even sadder look in her eyes as she began to cry.
"Diego, I'm sorry, I just- I need to be alone for a little bit."
Diego wasn't sure what to do. He wasn't sure if he should say anything. It didn't make any sense. First she asks him to go on a walk with her, and soon after, she wants to be by herself.
Diego had the feeling that this had something to do with her adaptation to this new life style.
'I still find it hard to believe that she could stand being on that iceberg for so long. God, the lack of space and freedom would have me end up killing someone.'
With out so much as thinking, instead with his needed self desires, he takes his paw that is farthest away from her, and brings it around to her side that is farthest away from him, and pulls her pelt into his .
"It's all right, Shira. Everything's going to be alright. I promise. Everything's going to be okay." He said as he gently stroked her absolute softest pelt. His heart and mind were pumping so hard as he just then realized what he was doing. He's never said anything like that before. He's had thoughts like that, sure. Ever since she came into his life. But saying these kinds of thoughts out loud felt real weird to him.
"And Shira..." He began again as she looked up at him. He both loved and hated this soft tone of expression. He just never thought that he'd be the one to start them.
"Don't ever be afraid to tell me anything."
'I should really be telling myself that.'
She looked away at first, seeming to not know what to say back. He could tell that she wasn't use to his unnaturally soft tone.
'Even if she did call me that. Was I soft enough for her from the start? Who knows...'
"Diego..." She started before she turned back around at him, her face accidentally closer to his, getting his insides to feel like they were sweating.
He could smell her breath, her scent, the remaining tears in her eyes as she just did nothing but look into his own. Being hooked onto something has never been so hard to let go of for Diego.
"I've been... meaning... to tell you something. I'm... just not sure if- if you, I mean- if you-
What were suppose to be words, were instantly thrown aside and replaced with a loud, deep, echoing crack that Diego could feel the vibration of in the ground.
Both sabers looked around, Diego, specifically, looking for any cracks in the ground. What ever was happening was going to happen fast, and Diego knew that his actions were going to have to be faster.
"Shit. Not again." He cursed to himself.
"Diego, what's-
Before she could say anything, again, another loud cracking sound erupted from below as she felt herself pounced on and pinned to the floor. Instantly after, she felt his warm pelt cover on top of hers.
"Stay down, and don't move!" Diego told her, knowing that running was not an option. Even the slightest movement could send the ground plummeting to the depths of Hell.
'Dammit! I thought all of those fucking Earthquakes were gone!'
The ground below them began to shake, bringing an all too familiar feeling to Diego as he knew that it was going to happen again.
'As long as she's with me. Even at worlds end, l'll always be sure to have her by my side.'
These thoughts only made Diego hold her tighter, knowing that he may never get the chance to do this again.
Before he knew it, the ground below him suddenly felt as if it had disappeared, and the instant drop made Diego's heart nearly stop pounding. Assuming that there was eventually going to be ground to land on, Diego quickly swung himself around Shira so that he was below her, still holding onto her ever so tighter as he felt her forehead bury under his chin.
Falling for only a good five seconds before Diego felt the almost back breaking feeling of hitting the ground below him, he felt the solid ice begin to water up into his fur, giving him a long shiver down his spine.
"I'm so scared. I'm so scared, Diego." She began to wimpier into his chest as she laid on top of him.
Diego did nothing except for stroke her back side with his paw.
"Everything's going to be okay." He repeated to her in a whisper.
The vibration from the eruption lasted for almost another three minutes until, finally, it stopped.
Both sabers were breathing heavily as that sound took over the hollowed area that Diego was just now aware of and scanning.
He felt Shira get off of him, almost wishing that she didn't, and began to look around the place.
It wasn't even a cave. There weren't any entrance ways or tunnels leading to different areas. It was just one big empty and hollow room. Forms of ice kept down from the ceiling. The room was so ice smooth, almost not believable that it was naturally formed. Every inch of the place sparkled with so much power to give.
'Just great...'
Diego soon got up after her, looking up to see the sunlight that had seeped it's way into the area from the hole that the two sabers came crashing down from.
'Ya, just perfect. How the hell are we suppose to get out of here?
"Diego?" He looked back down to see her, not ever seeing her with such a worried look on her face, "What are we going to do?"
Diego looked back up again, and back down at her, taking a deep breath and sighing.
"I guess we'll just have to wait until someone finds us."
Diego could see the even more worried look on her face as he could only imagine when someone might come across this catastrophe.
"Do you think that... maybe they felt the tremor as well? Maybe they'll go out to find us since we're missing." Shira guessed, making it seem that much more likely.
"Ya. Eventually, they'll have to realize that we're missing. It shouldn't be long."
"But..." Shira began, walking closer to him, "what if... by the time they find us... it'll... be too late-"
"Shira. Don't say things like that. It's going to be okay. I promise. As night falls, the herd will surly be aware that we're missing."
"Well, great." Shira began, kicking a chunk of ice that was by her paws, "What are suppose to do until then?"
'I don't know, braid each others fur?' He thought to himself, having a smirk come across his face as he lightly laughed.
"What's so funny?" She asked, having a look that's as if she wouldn't find the topic humorous at all.
Diego's smirk instantly deleted itself as he tilted his head down.
"Oh, nothing..."
"Well, I'll tell you one thing, it's hot as Hell down here." Shira said.
The second she mentioned it, Diego began to feel his pours sweat drastically.
It only then came to his attention why it was like this. The ice above them was so thin, hence the reason why it collapsed so easily, thus, allowing the light from the sun to seep through, and unable to escape. The only source of 'real' air was from the hole in the ceiling.
'God, it's bound to only get hotter and hotter.'
Diego could only do so much as he laid down on the only thing that was anywhere close to cold.
Hours went by, slowly, ever so slowly, Diego felt himself getting to the brink of insanity.
'God, I can barely take this anymore!'
His pool of sweat was seeping across the floor, the stench only getting more and more horrid.
'She won't want to be anywhere near me after this.'
It seemed as though the second he thought that, he felt her presence draw near his.
"Diego, how are you holding up?" She asked with nothing except for concern.
"Meh... Might as well be dead." He said out of exaggeration. He looked up at her, seeing how she wasn't in any better of a situation. Her face was so scuffled up from sweat, her mouth was so watery from the heat, and every inch of her body was leaking sweat that dripped down her under sides.
She took a deep breath before saying, "Well... maybe this will help."
Before Diego could say anything or even turn to acknowledge her, he soon felt her seeping wet body cover over his, instantly getting him to freeze up.
Shira could feel this as she gently stroked his shoulder to ease him down.
"Diego, it's okay. Let me help you." She told him. Soon after, Diego couldn't believe what he was feeling.
Her soft and gentle tongue was searching it's way around his body, more so, having his insanity die down.
'Why is she- why is she doing this? God, it feels... so... amazing.'
He just laid there, letting her do the work as he lifted his paw off the ground and began scratching her head, getting her lips to stretch a smile as she closed her eyes and began to purr. Hearing her let out her animalistic instincts did nothing but get Diego to do the same.
Soon after, Diego rolled over onto her, and put his face up to hers.
'Here it goes.' He told himself as he leaned up to her ear with those emerald earrings.
"Shira, let me help you, too." He whispered. Almost as instantaneously, he dove his head into her neck, slowly and gently dragging his wet tongue along her seemingly perfectly patterned pelt.
He felt Shira wrap her forelegs around him, wanting him to get more into what he was doing.
Every lick that Diego was giving to her was received and returned with a passionate moan from her.
Yet, here Diego was, wallowing in his own perfect fantasy. Now that it's all been said and done, it only went to show that all of this, with all honesty, happened a hell of a lot quicker than he remembered.
"Diego..." She quietly said, almost through a whisper. Diego stopped licking her and had his face alinewith hers. She began to pant aloud, the heat barely able to withstand.
"It's so... hot down here." Her forehead was getting more sweaty than ever.
"I know, Shira. I wish there was something that could do, but-"
Before he could continue, Shira placed her paw over his mouth, and leaned up to his face, her lips so close to his, making the only thing in the way her paw.
"It's not from the heat."
Diego, now just realizing what she meant, was about to respond, but instead, he felt Shira's paw leave is lips and was greeted with her own.
The exploring that his tongue went through was all for her. It just felt like the physical heat was replaced with a passionate replica of the same thing.
What ever wasn't happening at the moment was bound to start eventually.
"Shira, I love you."
Shira stopped her perfect moment to look back at him. She lightly laughed at his words.
"No, I love you. You just simply played along with it."
"I guess so." Diego laughed back.
It was just for that one night that the two sabers would show what they've wanted since the very beginning, even if they weren't aware of it at that time. Because the very next morning, the search party would find the two newly bonded sabers asleep in each others arms.
THE END