This chapter written by TimberPaw

The first sun beams were dancing over the new island the herd had reached the previous day, giving everything a light red touch. The herd was quite exhausted because of what they went through the day before so everyone decided to find shelter in the nearest cave they found. Thankfully this one was close to the beach and also big enough to fit all of them.

And all of them of course also includes Shira, the newest member of the herd, who was sleeping at the moment at the entrance of the cave next to Diego with some personal space between them. The sabers decided to sleep at the entrance to be able to protect the herd if someone attacked during the night. Nobody had any ideas of what animals except of the hyraxes lived on the island and how dangerous they might be.

Diego was the first one who woke up after the cave slowly started to light up because of the sun. Normally he would try to fall asleep again but today his eyes got caught on something … or to be exact, on a back of a certain white sabress who was sleeping next to him.

He had to admire that she and her fur looks incredible beautiful in the morning, even if he just saw her black striped back and her belly that was slowly moving up and down during her soft breathing.

Diego didn't know why a small smile was spreading across his face since he started to look at the sabress nor the exact reason for his smiling. Maybe because he missed the company of one of his kind after all these years with the herd or maybe it´s just because he´s happy that he finally found someone who listens to him and who he seemly can tell everything he wants. Not that Manny, for example, wouldn't do the same but Diego can´t get Shira´s listening face out of his mind during what he told her last night about the whole story of how the herd met and went through their different adventures. She was just looking into his eyes, listening to each word he would say. Now that he thinks of it, it was probably the best night he had for a long time.

Diego wasn't able to think longer about yesterday when a voice called him back to the present.

"Also already awake?", a voice asked and disturbed the silence. Diego held up his head, looking back at the other herd members who were all still sleeping quietly. It took him some time to realise that Shira must had said it. Questioning, he looked at back at the sabress who was still lying with her back to him.

"How did you know that?", Diego asked, being a bit afraid that she maybe saw how he stared at her. Maybe she thinks he´s just a weirdo who watches others during they sleep.

"Don´t know. I just had a feeling.", Shira replied calmly.

After Diego didn't answer for a while, she turned over, accidentally touching his fore paws with hers.

"I´m sorry. I-I didn't see you.", Shira quickly said and pulled her paws back to her chest, looking like she did something really embarrassing in front of him.

"No problem. Was my fault.", Diego said also very quick and returned a nervous smile which jumped over on Shira's face as well. Diego didn't know what to say and somehow he started to feel very uneasy at the moment.

"So, ahhhm, how did you sleep?", Diego asked and punched himself already in his mind for such a stupid question.

"Oh, I slept quite well, thanks." "And you?"

"Couldn't be better.", Diego answered and tried to chuckle a bit but it actually sounded more like coughing.

Again an unpleasant silence appeared, both sabers trying not to look at each other's eyes. Finally Diego couldn´t take it any longer, the silence starting to suffocate him.

"You, ahhh, wanna go for a hunt?", Diego asked a bit shyly, drawing circles on the ground with his paw.

"Sure." Shira said and was clearly happy about the offer. She also started to feel a bit uncomfortable and followed Diego out of the cave who was already waiting for her outside.

"Don't you think we should tell the others that we´re going?", Shira asked, looking back in the cave.

"We will be back soon. If we hurry they will not even notice that we were gone.", Diego replied and looked at Shira who was still facing the cave.

"Okay, then what are we waiting for?", Shira smiled at him and ran ahead, Diego following close behind her. The two sabers entered a close forest and vanished behind some bushes. Diego knew he should look out for potential pray but his mind got a bit lost, admiring Shiras agile body in front of him. Thankfully for him a part of his mind was still in reality, preventing him for bumping right into the sabress when she suddenly stopped in front of him. Shira didn't start walking again so Diego walked next to her, seeing how her view wandered through the forest. Diego followed her view but didn't see anything.

"What's up? Found something?" he asked, still not being able to see any kind of pray. After some seconds Diego gave it up and looked back at Shira who was still scanning the area.

"Is everything ok?", Diego asked a bit worried after the sabress didn't gave him an answer. Maybe she had seen other predators or something like that what would be definitely not good. Diego knows from his past that nobody likes to share hunting grounds with other predators.

After a while Shira finally shook her head and started to walk again, Diego walking up next to her and giving her a questioning look.

"Sorry, I just though I saw a deer or something like that.", Shira said, not facing Diego and keeping her view fixed in the distance. Diego wasn't sure what to think about this. For him it sounded like she was trying to hide something from him but then there´s the question why she should do this. After some brainstorming Diego decided to stay silent and not to think about it anymore. Finding something to eat is at the moment more important.

"Diego?", Shira asked after 15 minutes of jogging through the forest without any special events and slowed down her speed a bit.

"Yes?"

"I´m thirsty. I will get a drink.", Shira said and started to run in a different direction. At first Diego wondered how Shira could be able to know where they can find water on the new island nobody of them had explored before but then he noticed that he was also a bit thirsty.

"Okay, a short drink will help us to get some energy.", he said and followed Shira's direction.

"No!", Shira almost shouted what surprised Diego who stopped in his tracks immediately. Shira noticed that she must said that a bit too loud.

"Sorry, I mean it would be better if you keep on looking out for pray and I will join you later. You are a better tracker than me and I didn't hunt for a long time. If you track our pray I will not accidentally scare them away.". Shira explained.

Diego was confused. At first Shira acts like she was hiding something from him and now it looks for him like she was trying to get rid of him. This all doesn´t make sense to him. Diego really wanted to ask again if everything is ok but he doesn't want to get on her nerves too much so he just agreed to her plan.

'Maybe I´m just too suspicious about everything.', Diego thought as he stalked through the silent forest and hoped that he could use the time alone to sort his thoughts. But the silent didn't last long.

Suddenly a short scream echoed through the forest, tensing Diego's muscles immediately. He would know this voice out of thousands and knew exactly which voice this was. Diego didn't waste any more time and bolted of, running as fast as his legs would carry him.

'I knew something was wrong. Damn! Why didn't I stay with her. You are so stupid Diego!', he thought as he rushed through the trees. It didn't take him much time to reach the place where the two sabers separated from each other earlier. His gaze followed the direction Shira ran off, seeing a white furred animal not far away from him.

"Shira!", Diego shouted and reached her motionless body within a few hops, seeing her fur coated with blood.

PM me if you want to write chapter 2