Shira's Cryin'

Chapter 28

The body still seemed so full of life. No smell of decay. It almost felt like the breathing was still active. So full of life that only lasted half way. The tribe had allowed them to take the body since they had no line of orders after Soto's death. Judging by the system, Diego was surprised that they managed to last for so long. Even the smallest packs can be the most deadliest.

Diego wasn't prepared for when Shira saw the body. She teared up no differently than the previous event. Yet, protection was all that he came to feel for her. He kept leaning against her as she helped him carry the lifeless saber. His face was touching hers as he felt the tears from her face crawl over to his. He could feel her soft cheeks brush against his, her irresistible breath breathing into him.

'God, it's been too long.'

And he still couldn't believe that in the end, everything truly did work out. Somehow, someway. It just worked. As if he deserved it. After all the lives that were taking because of it. Though he wanted to believe that it wasn't his fault, he couldn't help but notice how everyone was dying around him. Like always, it could be her next.

'It won't be. I won't let it be her.'

It was only for another ten minutes before they arrived at their destination. Carefully, Diego laid the body down. He looked back up at Shira, her face seeming more joyful than before. Yet, he also saw sadness. Who could blame her? It wasn't like it hasn't happened to her before.

"Shira. I need to know something." Diego began as he started digging with his paws next to the wooden cross in the ground.

"Is something wrong?" Shira asked, trying her best to hide her sadness after all the trials that she's been through.

"What exactly happened with you and Blake?" He said immediately after, still digging his paws deeper and deeper into the Earth.

"Diego. I don't want to talk about it. Please. Can we just hurry this up and go home?"

"Home?" Diego stopped for a minute, "What home?"
"The small trench that we found. You know, the one with the cave in the side. I just... felt so safe there. It's where all my best memories took place."

Diego once more purred because of her words.

"Of course, Shira. Anything you want." He smiled at her as she returned it.

After Diego was done with the grave, he gently placed the body in it, looking at the face one more time before covering the hole up.

Before they left the tribe's territory, Diego took the time to make another cross just like he did for Shulk. He placed it in the ground next to the other cross. He then took a few steps back, up against Shira as he looked into her eyes again.

"I probably wouldn't have ever found you if it weren't for his help. He went so out of his way just to help me. All because I helped his younger brother. Looking after him and everything." Diego started up, feeling Shira rest her head against his shoulder.

"I owe my life to him." Diego left her presence for a brief moment as he walked back up to the newly created burial. He placed his paw on the ground above.

"Thank you, Blake. Thank you so much."

With that, Diego looked back at Shira, instantly seeing her run up to him and press her lips against his, allowing him to experience that everlasting taste.

After a good minute or so, Shira released her lock with his. She leaned up into his ear, getting him to twitch like those countless other times.

"You love me, Softie?" She teased.

"More than you love me, Kitty." He said back, the two of them smiling.

"I want to forget about all of these tragedies, Diego. I mean, I don't want to completely forget them, but, I mean, I just want everything to go back to the way it use to be. When we first met each other. Everything seemed so much simpler back then."

Diego just smiled into her eyes, understanding exactly what she meant.

"Well then, let's go back home."

Shira looked up at him, letting his gazing eyes take over her thoughts and decisions. She leaned back up to his ear.

"When we get back, I'll show how much Ireally love you." She whispered as she walked away from him, her back brushing under his chin. Diego just purred softly as he followed his mate back to the cave.

Sometimes, stories don't end in ways that people expect them to. This entire time, Diego had known that. All it took was that courage to leave everything that he was born with. Fate did the rest. The signs were always there. He'd make it in the end. He can now officially say that.

For the remainder of his days, he could live in solitude with her. Learning more and more about her each day. Waking up every morning to her smiling face, he couldn't ask for anything else. Yet, the strangest part of everyday was when it came to an end. As she fell asleep in his arms, he'd always notice how she'd softly cry. Not so much of sadness this time, but out of happiness. And he couldn't remember a night where the skies above him didn't do the same.

THE END