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Chapter 5: The Ambush and Unexpected Bonding

Holly looked out into the forest worriedly.

"Guys, Elena's been gone for a couple hours now. Someone should go look for her." she said, looking over at Tiger. Tiger groaned in annoyance and reluctantly stood up.

"Fine, I'll be back." he said. As Tiger walked, he cursed under his breath at himself for just not saying no. He couldn't have cared less why that stupid human wasn't back yet. Secretly, he hoped she had gotten eaten.

"Well, well, if it isn't Tiger of the wind." Tiger wheeled around and snarled angrily.

"You!"

As Elena walked through the forest, she heard what sounded like a battle. Curiously, she followed it. She gasped when she saw that it was a group of Salamander under Moo's command attacking Tiger, who was already near unconsciousness. Angrily, she rushed over.

"Tiger!" The leader of the Salamander smirked evilly.

"Well, well. A little human girl come to save the day." he sneered. Elena glared at him menacingly and stood.

"If you want to even TRY to finish the job on him, you'll have to get through me. NO ONE messes with Tiger and gets away with it." She snarled. The Salamander attacked her, but she merely blocked their attacks, receiving a gash on her body each time they charged. She heard a snap, and felt a searing pain in her arms and side, but she didn't care. Each time one of the Salamander lunged at Tiger, she would take the hit in his stead. This had gone on for some time until the others had arrived and defeated the baddies almost effortlessly. Once the battle was over, though her left arm was broken, Elena picked Tiger up and asked Holly how far the nearest village was. Holly responded by telling her that it was only fifteen minutes north.

"Your arm is broken, carrying him will make it worse. Do you want me to take him from you?" Golum asked worriedly. Before Elena could say anything, Teresa spoke.

"Elena's tough. She can handle it." she said. Reluctantly, the others backed off.

It wasn't long before Elena and the others had reached their destination. Holly knocked on the door of the clinic and an old woman opened the door. Holly explained the ordeal and the woman ushered them inside.

Almost three hours passed, and despite the lecturing from the rest of the group, Elena refused to leave Tiger's side.

"When he wakes up, I'll go get some rest." she said. Hare crossed his arms.

"Elena, you're wounds are going to get worse if you don't get them treated. Jeez, you're as stubborn as Tiger." he said. Elena laughed at this.

"Maybe, but I speak from experience when I say that my stubborn nature is why I didn't kill over before you guys arrived. i'll be fine. I just. . .want to make sure he's alright." Teresa rolled her eyes.

"I'm surprised you tried to help him, especially after how he's been treating you. Personally, I'd probably have let them eat him." she scoffed.

"Teresa!" Holly scolded. Teresa smiled appologetically.

"Relax, Holly. I'm kidding." she said.

"Well, anyway, we're going to go get some r&r, but if your arm gets worse, don't come cryin' to us." Hare said before walking out of the room. Elena stuck her tongue out at him as he left, and bid goodnight to the others as they followed suit. As the others left, she turned to Tiger.

"Listen Mister, if you die, you're gonna be in big trouble, you hear? . . .I'm sorry I didn't get there in time, and I'm sorry I ran off. While the others were trying to get me to let the old woman treat my arm, Holly said that she sent you out looking for me. It's all my fault. I should be the one unconcious, not you. Tiger... I'm so. . .so sorry." as she gently dozed off to sleep, two tears slipped down her face.

Tiger awoke to the scent of pine needles and lavender. Elena. As he opened his eyes, she was kneeling by the bed he had been resting on, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow. She was asleep. The grandson of the old woman who ran the clinic was dressing her wounds.

"What happened to her?" Tiger asked. The sixteen year old did not pause from the task given him when he replied,

"From what your friends told me and my grandmother, she was defending you from some of Moo's soldiers. They broke her arm, and despite what the others kept telling her, she refused to leave your side until you awoke. Well, that ought to do it." as the young man was about to exit the room, Tiger spoke.

"Wait, boy." he said. The teenager turned to him.

"What do you require?" he asked politly. Tiger nodded his head toward Elena.

"I want you to carefully put her on the bed." he said. The boy nodded and did as he was asked, gently laying the quilt over her.

"Anything else?" Tiger shook his head and the boy bid him goodnight. Only moments afterward, Elena stirred, partially waking up.

"T-Tiger?" Tiger snorted.

"You know that was an incredibly stupid thing to do! You could've gotten yourself killed, you reckless fool!" he said. Elena flinched, then sat up and glared at him.

"I knew the moment I confronted them that there was a small chance I would survive, at least without injury. I couldn't watch you die." Tiger looked away.

"Why did you risk yourself for me after how I acted?" Elena sighed.

"Because I care about you. Don't ask why. I just do. And if anyone messes with you or any of the others, they mess with me. Simple as that. My question to you is, why did YOU let Holly talk you into coming after me? I was going to be back after I had cooled down a little. I was just really agrivated at you. But I have to ask. . . .why have you been acting that way towards me and not Teresa?"

"Well. . ." Elena frowned at Tiger's hesitance.

"Oh come on. You were a jerk and I still stuck my neck out for you. The least you can do is tell me why." she said. Tiger sighed in annoyance.

"Fine. Fair enough. It was your scent. My younger brother Greywolf and I. . .were abandoned by a human when we were very small. Your father. . .was the one who did it. The reason I bore a grudge against you was because I thought that you were just like him. And Teresa doesn't have his scent, so, that's why I spoke to her and not you." Tiger looked up at Elena, expecting her to glare down at him angrily. She was indeed glaring, but not out of anger at him.

"Ugh. I should have known. Kazar was NOT my father. No man that hates monsters and abuses them deserves such a title. I never even cried when he died in the last raid all those years ago. Tiger, I can assure you that I am NOTHING like him. I never would have saved you, or kept trying to talk to you if I was. Well, it's cold, so I'm going to go to that room the old woman told me I was to sleep in. Goodnight Tiger." As she moved to get up, Tiger spoke.

"Hey." Elena stopped and looked at him.

"What's the matter?" Tiger looked away.

"If you promise you won't tell anyone; ESPECIALLY Hare, you can sleep in here with me tonight." he said. Elena smiled softly and laid back down, gently stroking Tiger's white chest fur.

"Goodnight, Tiger." she murmured, drifting off to sleep. Tiger laid his head down and closed his eyes, smirking.

"Night, Kid."