This time, it was Diego's turn to be sung into agony. It didn't help that all the others kept reminding him of what he did wrong.

"Eating your own kind? It's.. it's wrong! Mammally... wrong," Sid tried coming up with words to explain how wrong it was. "It's, tigarism. It's, it's... no, that's not the word. Whatever, someone will come up with it. You don't just eat your own species, Diego!"

"It's a mate thing!" Diego yelled back at Sid.

Everyone stopped, looked aghast.

Diego sighed, and thought it would be better if he explained. "A boy saber only bites a girl saber's neck when they mate."

"Oh. So..." Manny shut Sid up, whacking him into the ground.

"It's getting pretty late. We should stop and rest."

The herd stopped and made camp for the night, sticking close and away from the water. Manny and Diego were pretty tuckered, but the nocturnal possums and Sid were wide awake. While Sid tended to the fire, Crash and Eddie ran out, "scouting".

They were alone, distracted by their drama, until they realized they weren't alone anymore. Crash had Eddie's back, and Eddie had his, their tails tied as they faced off against the scary face in the shadow. Suddenly, the foliage ruffled and the tiger was in their face.

"Boo!" Kiara shouted, and laughed at their shrill cries.

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna eat ya! Just had a meal a while back. So, what are you two doing out alone, by yourself, in the dark!"

The brothers jerked as she spat the last word at them, then laughed it off.

"Using the outhouse. We're just going back to the group now. You should come with us! Meet our sister!"

"There's more of you?" Kiara raised a brow as she followed them back.

By the time they got to answer, they'd made it back to the others.

"Meet Ellie, our sister." They introduced as they scurried up the mammoth's tusks.

"Sister! Oh, wo-wow! That's, that's a very accepting family."

"I didn't get to say it before but, uh, thanks. For saving my brothers."

"No problem."

"Welcome back," Manny greeted her. "You alright?"

Kiara yawned.

"Fine as a flower. We should get to sleep, long day ahead." She nodded at Sid, who was already passed out on a rock.

"Good idea," Manny agreed, tucking in. "Night, everyone."

Kiara echoed the greet and went to sleep, not before passing a quick look at the other tiger. Diego watched her fall asleep, guilt weighing down his eyes.

The wind blew and Kiara woke up with a snap. The fire was out... and the fire lord was missing. Oh Sid. Kiara stretched and left the herd, out looking for their missing link.

She was alone for a while, trying to smell out Sid's... peculiar scent. Most animals were repelled by it, she was too, but Sid was her friend. She couldn't let other predators take him. Including whichever one was following her. Kiara was prepared to fight, but as it got closer, she picked up on his scent and relaxed.

"You gonna jump me again?" Kiara said over her back as she continued.

Diego came out of his hiding spot, walking after her.

"Kiara. I'm really, really sorry about earlier."

"It's okay. I get it," she turned over to look at him a second. "You'd rather eat disease infested rodents than mate me."

Diego was thrown off by her comment.

"WHAT? No! It... It's... that's not what I meant." He jogged up a bit to confront her, making her stop.

"Why do you always do that? Make everything I say sound bad. You deliberately make me hate you!"

"It's better than you LIKING me."

"Why?!"

"Because!" She shouted in his face, then shied away. "Because you were right. I'm an undesirable."

Diego looks at her confused.

"Who told you that! Have you seen you? You're- you're amazing!"

Kiara sat down, watching him compliment her attributes. Diego shut up when he realized she was staring at him. Kiara shook her head with a smile, then slowly got up and walked to him. Diego leaned in to nuzzle her, but she coughed in his face.

"Sorry, dry throat. I could really use a drink."

"Yeah?" Diego smirked, "glacial or spring? Take your pick."

Kiara laughed and walked past him to the water. She leaned in to lap up some water, and then Diego was next to her, watching her as he drank.

Playful, Kiara pushed him in, laughing at his fright and struggle to come out. Eventually he made it, and shook the water off right in her face. As Kiara whined in protest, Diego licked her cheek. Kiara blinked, shocked at the implication. But before Diego could regret his action- for the 100th time with her- she rubbed her face against his.

Suddenly Kiara got up and turned, making sure her tail swept across his face as she walked away. She walked over and sat under a tree, looking back invitingly at him. Diego smiled warmly as he went after her.

Kiara lay down, looking back at Diego as he walked on top of her. He nuzzled his face in her neck, caressing and coddled her. She felt his member drop on her and she purred in his ear.

Diego rubbed his cheek against hers comfortingly. "You okay?"

"Mhm..." she replied intoxicated.

Diego moved his muzzle down her back, before he gently bit on her neck as he thrust in.

Kiara growled at the painful intrusion.

Diego set a steady rhythm, but the barbs on his anatomy hurt his mate.

"Hold still!" He ordered as she wriggled under him.

"It hurts!" She cried.

"Sorry. Just, keep forward and still. It'll hurt less." He bit her neck to keep her forward and still.

The cats roared together as they finished, and Diego fell on top of Kiara. She gave him a lick on the cheek.

"Nice work, tiger."

Diego smiled at her comment and licked her back before he managed to stand.

"We should get back, the others will be suspicious."

Kiara followed Diego to the water for a dip before they went back to camp, and the two sabers lay next to each other and fell asleep.