Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the female wolf alpha. All rights belong to Blue Sky.

Authors note: Just so everything is made clear, there is no romance between any of these characters. Especially between my character and Diego. I personally ship Diego and Shira.

The Alpha looked down at the camp, watching the humans cook and go about their business as her pack remained on constant guard. She smelled sabers, and so did her wolves. Since the humans attacked their pack a few weeks ago, the tigers had never been far away from the camp. They never came within sight range and never attacked, but she knew it was coming. It was only a matter of time. Frankly she couldn't blame them for wanting revenge. The alpha or Chief as he was called of the humans had wiped out half the saber pack. If they had done that to her pack, she'd want revenge too. But the humans were good to her pack and saber tooths had always been wolf's mortal enemy since the beginning of time.

She climbed down from her perch on the cliff and made her way to the chief and his wife. They had just been blessed with a little boy not too long ago. Roshan, they called him. She had wondered how he would survive the bitter cold and harsh conditions those first couple weeks after his birth. The humans had no fur over their bare skin and they started out so tiny. But she figured it wasn't much different than with newborn wolf pups. The strong survived, and the weak died. She didn't like it but it was just the way life worked in this age. She nuzzled her cold nose into the boys belly and he giggled. She smiled to herself and his father picked him up, bouncing him in the air a couple times. The wind blew across her sensitive nose and her ears grew erect as she sniffed. The sabers were close. She turned and saw a flash of brownish gold pelts disappear up on the cliffs. The time had come. The sabers would attack.

She heard pebbles bounce off the large rocks and jolted awake, her ears laying flat against her head and her lips pulled back snarl. She barked once to warn her pack and in an instant the wolves were on their feet, barking and snarling as the padded paw steps got louder. The humans hurried out of their tents, clutching spears and knives. The pack crested the rocky hill and ran into the camp. She immediately tackled one and the fight began. Her fangs bared she ripped at the saber's flesh and it roared in agony. Looking up briefly she saw one slinking toward the chief's tent. She got off the saber and knocked him away with a hard shove with her paw. She ran to the tent only for the chief's wife to run out in a panic, little Roshan clutched in her arms. The saber sprung out and she snarled, lunging for him. He snarled back and ran after the human woman. She gave chase.

The tiger was fast that was for sure. It didn't help that he was built for speed and she was built for battle. She ran up toward the water fall to see that the saber had cornered the woman. The woman looked at her baby and then to her utter shock and horror, jumped off the rocks and down the falls. She howled and ran up behind the saber. He whirled around to face her.

"Do you know what you just did?!" She growled out. He dove off side of the rock and took off running. She was about ready to tear this cat limb from limb. When she caught up with her pack the sabers were fleeing over the ridge. The chief yelled and all the humans took after them, her wolves leading the way. She caught the scent of the same tiger and looked to her left at another path. She called to her beta, Dagger.

"I'm going after the saber that killed the chief's wife. Keep after the pack. I trust you." Her beta nodded and the two touched noses in a farewell gesture. She took off after the tiger, praying she caught up before he met up with his pack again.

She trotted up the incline and looked down where the river was. To her surprise she saw a mammoth on the ground and an ugly sloth climbing the side of the cliff, carrying something in one arm and hanging on for dear life with the other. Did the stupid thing have a death wish? The sloth called "Manny!" To the ground and she assumed the mammoth was Manny. The thing was now hanging off the sloth's toe and...she narrowed her eyes and her brain registered what exactly the sloth was keeping from dropping. Roshan! She ran down the path just in time to see the baby fall from the sloths foot and plummet toward the mammoth, who stretched his trunk up to catch it. Before he could however the saber lept out of nowhere and snagged to baby in his teeth. She felt her blood boil and snarled and raced toward them. She lost sight of what happened for a moment as she rounded a bend but then saw that the baby was back in the mammoths trunk. She still charged. With a viscous growl she tackled the tiger and pinned him down, shoving his face into the dirt.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip your throat out!" She shouted and shoved him down harder. He choked out a response but she couldn't understand. And she didn't care. Suddenly she felt herself being forcibly removed from the tiger and placed on a rock. She growled at the mammoth and swiped at his trunk. "What do you think you're doing?! He wants to kill the baby so let me kill him first!"

"I'm not in the mood to see an animal get its life literally ripped away from him. That's the last thing the kid needs to see!" She wavered a moment before growling and looking over at the tiger, who by now was standing up and coughing out dirt. He looked over at her smugly. He was about to get his face shoved back in the dirt. That'd wipe the look off his face.

"Name's Diego." He said.

"I don't really care." She snapped. Diego chuckled slightly.

"You say he's trying to kill the baby, but what's your excuse here?" Manny demanded.

"My pack is with the humans. My job is to protect them, and that includes the baby. Where's his mother?"

"She disappeared in the rapids." The sloth said sadly. Her ears drooped at the ends. She had sacrificed her life to save her baby.

"If you're looking for the humans you're wasting your time, they left this morning. She'll back me up on that." Diego said.

"As much as I hate to agree, the humans did leave with my pack. They were chasing after a certain saber tooth tiger pack that attacked this morning." She growled. Diego growled back at her. She heard Manny whisper to the sloth. Her ears rotated and she picked up what he said. They were going up the hill to return the baby. Of course they didn't believe her or the tiger, even though he was in fact telling the truth. Manny and the sloth trudged up the hill and she was left alone with Diego. She rounded on him, her lips curling back, showing her fangs.

"I should kill you right now for what you did. You took that boy's mother away from him!" Diego glowered at her, hackles raising slightly.

"She was the one that jumped off the falls. I never meant for that to happen."

"And I suppose you and your pack never meant to attack the humans like you've been waiting to do for weeks now either." She snarled. He growled but then straightened.

"We're getting no where like this. It doesn't matter now what my pack did, just what happens to the baby. You know those two are taking it back up there and they'll not find any humans to give it back to. What're they gonna do with it then?" She didn't have an answer, but she wasn't about to let her baby get abandoned. She turned on her bushy tail and stalked up the hill. She heard padding behind her and saw Diego following her.

"If you're smart you'll slink back to your pack and leave the baby alone." She warned. He walked up to her side.

"What's your name?" He asked in answer to her question. She was taken aback.

"I...haven't gone by my real name since I was a pup." She mumbled.

"Oh that's right. You're the alpha, and in wolf packs the alpha is given another name by the previous alpha." She didn't know he knew that much about wolf packs.

"My name is Savage Fire." He rolled his eyes.

"So you're THAT alpha. Interesting. Don't expect me to call you by that ridiculous name." She rolled her eyes. This tiger was getting on her nerves and fast. Her name had struck fear into the hearts of alphas all across the continent, wolf and saber alike. And he knew it. She didn't say anything as they padded up the hill in uncomfortable silence. She knew he must have an ulterior motive for following her, but decided not to question him any further. She knew what he wanted and the best way to ensure he didn't get it, was to have him in her sight. They both approached the mammoth and sloth, who were looking very confused. Manny was looking more annoyed than confused.

"We told you they were gone." Diego said.

"Oh look who it is, tweedle dee and tweedle dumb."

"I'm not going to ask who you think is who." Savage Fire remarked.

"Did they go this way? Or maybe this way?" The sloth pointed in aimless directions.

"You don't know much about tracking do you?" The wolf alpha asked sarcastically. Diego picked up a stick.

"Still green. They headed north two hours ago." Diego said. Savage Fire rolled her eyes. Of course he knew that, he had been here.

"Hey still green, they headed north two hours ago." The sloth imitated, sticking two twigs in his mouth like saber teeth. Manny had the look of utter annoyance and irritation.

"You don't need this aggravation." Diego said, pulling the baby toward him and the alpha. "Give us the baby. We can track humans a lot faster than you can." Savage Fire was now very curious. If Diego wanted to get his paws on the baby, he should've wanted to get as far away from her as possible, not practically invite her to return the baby to the humans with him. It didn't make sense.

"And you're just a couple of good citizens helping out." Manny countered.

"We just know where the humans are going." Diego replied.

"The North Pass. Everyone knows they have a settlement on the other side."

"Unless you know how to track, you'll never reach the humans before the Pass closes up with snow. Which should be like...tomorrow." Savage Fire threw in. She wasn't scheming, she was just stating the facts. A mammoth and a stupid sloth wouldn't be able to find the humans, with or without snow.

"So you can give that baby to us or go get lost in a blizzard. It's your choice." Diego said. Manny seemed to consider it for a moment before lifting the baby over both of the predators heads and placing it in the sloths arms.

"There's your little bundle of joy. We're returning it to the humans."

"Awe the big bad tigy wigy gets left behind! Poor tigy wigy!" The sloth petted Diego's nose, who growled in indignation.

"Sid, tigy wigy and the wolf are leading the way." Savage Fire and Diego both smirked at Sid, who hurried after Manny to voice his complaints. Diego turned the smirk on her and hers turned into a brief snarl. He chuckled and gestured to her with his head and they walked up to Sid.

"You won't always have jumbo around to protect you." Savage Fire said lowly, circling Sid and flicking him with her tail.

"And when that day comes, I suggest you watch your back...cause one of us'll be chewing on it." Diego finished for her.

"Hey Uber Trackers! Up front where I can see you!" Manny yelled back at them. Savage Fire tossed her mane and trotted up in front of the mammoth with Diego right behind her. This was going to be an interesting trip to say the least. They traveled for quite a few hours until Roshan's screaming became too much for all of them.

"You gotta make it stop, I can't take it any more!" Manny yelled.

"I've eaten things that haven't complained this much!" Diego agreed.

"He won't stop squirming!" Sid yelled.

"You're holding him wrong!"

"Watch his head!"

"Just put him down!" Savage Fire yelled above the commotion. Sid placed him on a rock and started cooing to him. Diego mentioned something about his nose being dry and someone should lick it. She groaned. She was traveling with a bunch of children.

"Hey he's wearing one of those diper thingies!" Manny said. "So if he goes where does it go?" Sid retracted his tongue and held him at arms length.

"Humans are disgusting." He declared.

"Yeah tell me about it." Savage Fire mumbled and Diego nodded in agreement.

"Ok you, check for poop." Manny ordered Sid.

"Hey why am I the poop checker?" He asked indignantly.

"Because returning the kid was your idea. Because you're small and insignificant and because I'll pummel you if you don't." Manny threatened, towering over Sid and getting closer to him with a clenched trunk with every reason. Sid reluctantly checked and made a show of it stinking. Savage Fire smirked. If she wasn't enjoying herself so much, she would've told Sid not to bother. The baby hadn't gone. If he had she would've picked up on it in an instant. Her nose was way too sharp to miss a smell like that. Sid waved the bunched up cloth around, nearly hitting Diego and Manny, who screamed at him to watch it and stop waving it around. Sid pretended to slip and the clean cloth went falling onto Manny's face. Manny hit Sid over the head, which caused Roshan to giggle but then start crying again when he returned to normal.

"Hey do that again. He likes it." She said. Manny repeated the process and then so did Diego. Savage Fire has to admit, this was an interesting group she had allowed herself to get drug into. They could be quite amusing. The baby's tummy growled and Sid snapped his fingers.

"I'll bet he's hungry."

"How about some milk?" Manny suggested.

"Oooh I'd love some!" Sid said.

"Not you, the baby!" Diego yelled.

"Well I ain't exactly livin easy here pal!" Sid came back at him.

"You're a little low on the food chain to be mouthing off at..."

"ENOUGH!" Manny shouted, his yell echoing in the canyon. A melon fell out of a bush and then just as they grabbed it a Dodo grabbed it back and squawked at them. They followed the dodo which lead to three melons, a flock of very protective dodos and Sid engaging in a football fight to retrieve a melon for Roshan to eat. By the time they were done with all of that, Savage Fire was exhausted, thoroughly amused and contented that the baby was now fed. When they finally bed down for the night she made her way to the top of the ridge the group was under and laid down. She was very tired but she'd sleep later. She was taking it upon herself to protect this group since nobody seemed to care about safety. She considered that. No one seemed very concerned for each other. She knew that without a doubt in her mind she would give her life to save any of these mammals, but that was just part of her instincts as a wolf and as an alpha. She protected the pack, no matter what the cost. At the moment this felt very much like a pack. Everybody looked after themselves and didn't care what happened to anybody else. She was damn sick of it. She wanted to be with animals that actually protected one another, that had each other's backs. She snorted and rested her head on her paws. That wasn't likely to happen with this group. She heard a rustling and her attention shot to a bush a little ways away on a hill. The rustling stopped and she sniffed the air. She didn't smell anything unusual. It was probably just a rabbit or something. At the moment though, she was so tired she forgot that she was downwind of that area of the ground.

The next morning she awoke to a commotion below her. Manny and Diego were nose to nose. She jumped down from her perch and ran over.

"What happened?" She asked. They both turned to her and asked harshly where the baby was. Her eyes grew wide and she snarled.

"You mean you lost it?!" Suddenly realization all dawned in their eyes.

"SID!" They shouted.

Savage Fire was about ready to kill something. At the moment she wasn't sure who she wanted to kill more, Diego or Sid. Both were absolutely grating on her nerves. Diego was so cocky and sure of himself and Sid was so stupid it wasn't even funny. She fought her way through the blizzard they were currently in, tiny ice crystals clinging to her pelt and actual icicles hanging off her canines. By the next day they had made it through and saw the sun again. Diego had run ahead and she was anxious to join him. She didn't trust that saber and didn't want him leading them anywhere she hadn't okayed. She ran up behind him and sniffed the air. She thought she smelled something familiar but between the cold and all the snow her sense of smell had been seriously wacky for the past day. Diego ran up to her Manny and Sid.

"Hey good news! I found a shortcut!" Her neck fur immediately bristled. She had been this way a thousand times and didn't know of any other way to get to the Pass. While he and Manny "discussed it" she padded forward a little bit and looked up to find the shortcut he was talking about. Sid joined her and dropped the icicle that he had been holding through his throat.

"No thanks, I choose life." He said, looking up at the dark hanging cliffs. Savage Fire has to admit they looked rather foreboding and ominous.

"Then I suggest you take the short cut." Diego threatened, getting up into the sloth's face.

"Are you threatening me?" Sid questioned, wiggling a finger at his nose.

"Move sloth!" Diego shouted and the sound echoed off the cliffs. A rumbling shook the earth and rocks began to fall. Savage Fire could've bit him in that moment. He had just caused a freakin avalanche! Manny ordered them inside and she didn't have the opportunity to voice her own reasons and suspicions about this "shortcut" of Diego's. They all hurried into the cavern and the rocks fell behind them, blocking the entrance. Icicles shook above them and everybody held their breath. Finally they stilled and the rocks stoped falling.

"Ok, I vote shortcut." Manny said. Savage Fire and Diego stepped in front of the group and lead the way.

"Stick together guys. It's easy to get lost in here." Savage Fire completely agreed with him. The cavern had a dozen tunnels and heaven only knew where you would end up if you went down one, or what you'd encounter if you went alone. They traveled in silence until Diego finally spoke up.

"How long have you been alpha?" The question came right out of the blue and she definitely wasn't expecting it. She thought hard. She was quite young yet still, but her experience and wisdom went beyond her age.

"My father was alpha, and when he was killed in battle I was made alpha. The beta would've been...but he didn't want the position. I had been trained very early in life. Very early and it was always expected that I'd take the position at some point. So I was made alpha. I adopted my fathers name of Savage, and the beta added on Fire. I've been that for about a year and a half now. I was made alpha when I was 5 months old." Diego's jaw dropped open.

"You're kidding me right? I knew the alphas were made at a young age in wolf packs but that's a little extreme don't you think?"

"I didn't have a choice. My father was dead and I was his only surviving pup. It was my duty to stand up and lead my pack, so I did. Sometimes we do the right thing, for the wrong reasons and sometimes we do the wrong thing for the right reasons. I never wanted to be alpha, but I wouldn't dishonor my father by refusing or cowering."

"You're one of the best and most feared out there." Diego remarked.

"True, I have made a name for myself and I've lead my pack well. But I never wanted this. Sometimes I'm tempted to let one of my competitors actually win the challenge or simply let my beta take charge."

"I take it you've had several challenges." She nodded. She was about to ask him about his pack life when she heard the baby cooing. She looked up only to see him slide down an ice chute and fly up over the ice and disappear. She, along with the boys yelled in panic and raced to the edge to see where he'd gone. Her paws slipped on the smooth surface and she went tumbling down the ice slide, the others right beside her. They flew down the ice after the baby and into different holes in the ice wall. She screamed as she slid out of control down through the hole and came flying out on the other side. She landed on Manny's back and Diego landed next to her seconds later, digging his claws into Manny's flesh. Sid landed on his head and grasped Manny's trunk.

"Captain, iceberg ahead!" He warned as they quickly approached a section of ice sticking straight up. They slid onto it and for a moment it seemed like they were completely stopped. Then the ice cracked.

"Oh no." Diego muttered. They fell down and each landed in an ice chute of their own, the baby right in front of them. Diego hunched down to gain more speed and she and Manny copied him, neither wanting him to reach the baby first. Suddenly Roshan's chute ended at a ramp and he went flying into the air, laughing all the way. Manny turned himself around and caught him midair. Sid slammed into the ice wall, then Diego and she she screamed as she followed. They all poked their heads out and gasped as Manny came slamming into them. She sat there with Manny and Sid and giggling Roshan, all with snow piled on their heads. Diego whooped and burst out of the snow.

"Yeah! Who's up for round two?!" He asked excitedly. Then he cleared his throat and cowered slightly. "Tell...tell the kid to be more careful." He said, his voice getting gruff again. Savage Fire was surprised at the sudden shift in character in Diego. It was almost like he had never let himself have fun before. The ice slides had been a ton of fun in her opinion but her worry for Roshan has prevented her from celebrating with him when it was all over. She smirked slightly. Maybe Diego did have a soft side to him after all.

Savage Fire looked at the cave walls in quiet amazement. They had entered a section that was completely ice free, and covered with drawings made by humans. She marveled at how life like they appeared. The baby whined in Sid's arms and he cooed at it.

"No no it's ok see the tigers are just playing tag with the antelope...," he backed up a step. "...with their teeth."

"Come on Sid, let's play tag. You're it." Diego suggested darkly. Sid let out a nervous laugh and Savage Fire shook her head in amusement.

"You're gonna make him wet himself." She told the tiger. He smirked at her.

"What's your point?"

"Oh hey Manny look! Mammoths!" Sid exclaimed.

"Ooh! Somebody pinch me." Manny replied sarcastically.

"Hey this fat one looks just like you! Awe he's got a family!" Savage Fire watched Manny halt suddenly and turn around to look at the drawing. "Look he's playing with his kid! See Manny that's your problem! That's what mammoths are supposed to do!"

"Sid..." Diego said, looking up at Manny.

"Meet a girl mammoth, have little baby mammoths..." Sid rattled on oblivious to Diego.

"Sid. Shut up." She and Diego hissed at the same time. Savage Fire looked up at the wooly mammoth and her hard heart nearly broke at the pain and overwhelming sadness she saw in his expression. The drawing depicted two grown mammoths and their child, who was playing. Then it switched and the mother and child were trapped against a cliff while the father fought off attacking humans. Her heart sank as she suddenly realized what must have happened to Manny. He reached out and trailed his trunk along the sketch of the baby. His trunk ran over Roshan's little hand. The baby fell over and Manny caught him, brought him up and hugged the boy. Sid wiped his nose and rubbed it on Diego's pelt. Savage Fire would've laughed if it hadn't been such a serious moment. Manny placed Roshan on his back and started walking out of the cave. Sid followed and Savage Fire started to, until she looked back and saw Diego still sitting there, looking at the drawings. She padded back to him.

"You okay?" She asked.

"What? Oh yeah. Fine." He said. Savage Fire doubted he was really fine but shrugged and walked away and this time felt Diego walking next to her. She had her suspicions, but he was feeling guilty about something. She wasn't sure of what yet but she had a feeling she'd find out soon enough.

Savage Fire padded across the glacier with the group. She was carrying Roshan on her back and he was clutching her mane and giggling as she bounced him slightly.

"How are you so good with him?" Diego asked. She shrugged one powerful shoulder.

"I've been his guardian since he was born. I guess the little guy and I just have a connection." She reached behind her with her snout and licked the boy across the face. He chortled happily. Sid spoke from behind them and Diego rolled his eyes.

"Do we have to get a news flash every time your body does something?"

"He's doing it for attention just ignore him." Manny said.

"Seriously guys! My feet are really hot!" Sid said and Savage Fire had to admit her paws were starting to feel warm too. A deep rumbling sound come from all around them. They halted.

"Tell me that was your stomach." Manny said to Diego. The large cat shushed him. Suddenly the ice burst out behind them, steam rocketing out of the hole. They yelled and ran across the ice. The glacier caved in around them, revealing a river of boiling lava below them. Manny took the baby from Savage Fire and she ran across the ice. The ice right in front of her gave way and she lept across the distance. She looked behind her and saw Diego do the same thing behind Manny. Suddenly Manny kicked Sid hard and sent him flying over her head and landed on the rocky ground, hitting his head against a boulder. She looked at the ice and saw another patch about to cave in.

"Manny hurry!" She called. The mammoth jumped and made it to safety, leaving Diego stranded on an island of ice in the middle of the river. He backed up slightly and ran across the remainder and jumped to the other side. He dug his claws in to the ice and his body dangled off the edge. "Diego!" Savage Fire ran toward him only to be stopped by Manny.

"I got him stay with the baby!" He shouted. She reluctantly backed up to Sid and watched as Manny reached out for Diego. She had never felt so useless in her life. Manny threw Diego back to the rocks with his trunk just as the ice the mammoth was standing on collapsed and he went falling down toward the river, trumpeting in panic.

"Manny!" She And Sid screamed at the same time. Suddenly the steam sent Manny flying up into the air and he came crashing down onto the rocky ground. Sid came running over to him and Savage Fire hurried to Diego, nudging him with her nose. He was staring at Manny in shock.

"Why did you do that? You could've died...trying to save me."

"That's what you do in a herd. You look out for one another." He replied.

"Well...thanks." Diego said, bowing his head in a sign of humility.

"Well I don't know about you guys but we are the weirdest herd I've ever seen." Sid said. Savage Fire chuckled in agreement and shouldered Diego up, who was having trouble standing.

"Thanks." He said. She nodded and then smirked.

"Don't get used to it." She teased. He laughed and allowed himself to put his weight on her as he regained his balance.

"How much farther?" Manny asked above the wind.

"Couple miles." Diego replied. Manny stopped under an overhang.

"We'll get there in the morning." Sid ambled over to the rock wall and started scribbling on it.

"What're you doing?" Savage Fire asked.

"I'm putting sloths on the map!" Sid proclaimed.

"Why don't you make it realistic and draw him laying down?" Manny suggested sarcastically.

"And make him rounder." Diego threw in. Manny plucked the chalk from Sid and drew a round belly on the sloth.

"Ha ha I forgot how to laugh." Sid remarked. He scribbled hard on the stone and sparks flew out and onto a nearby pile of brush. A fire instantly was made. Savage Fire blinked in surprise. "I'm a genius!" Sid said and kissed his chalk. The wolf and saber both rolled their eyes.

"We're going to need something to keep this fire going." Manny said.

"Don't worry I saw a fallen tree just a little bit over there. Savage Fire and I'll take care of it."

"We will?" She remarked. Diego just chuckled and trotted off. She figured what the heck and joined him. They reached the tree and Diego gathered a bundle of twigs and sticks in one leg, as did the wolf alpha. "Is there a reason you included me in this?" She asked. He shook his head.

"I just made a suggestion. I'd rather have you help me than Sid after all." He snarked. Savage Fire snickered.

"I should feel so honored." She replied. They returned and fed the fire, which soon grew into a nice sized blaze. Sid stood in front of it with his hands on his hips.

"From now on you must refer to me as Sid, Lord of the Flame!"

"Hey Lord of the Flame...your tail's on fire." Manny said. Sid looked down and then went screaming in a circle around the fire. Diego snatched him back and threw him in the snow.

"Ah thank you! From now on I'm going to call you Diego...,"

"Lord of Touch Me and You're Dead." Diego replied. Sid gulped and Savage Fire laughed heartily. "Ah I'm just kidding you little knuckle head." Diego said and got the sloth in a head lock and gave him a noogie.

"Hey love birds. Look at this." Manny called. Everyone looked over to see Roshan wobbling on his chubby legs, clumsily placing one foot in front of the other.

"I don't believe it." Sid said, amazed. He beckoned the baby over to him but instead of going to Sid, Roshan turned and headed for Diego.

"No, go to him." Diego encouraged. The baby fell on his paws and Savage Fire smiled.

"Well, know who he prefers." She said. Diego turned him back around and nudged him with his paw to keep walking. Roshan came to her next, falling on her and burying his face in her warm neck. She nuzzled him happily and then nudged him back toward Manny with her muzzle.

"Our little guy's growing up." Sid announced softly. Manny wrapped his trunk around Roshan.

"Alright sleep time Lumpy." He said. Sid padded over to where Diego and Savage Fire were laying.

"You know, I never had a friend who would risk his life for me." Sid remarked.

"Yeah Manny's...a good guy." Diego replied hesitantly.

"Yeah he is. Well, goodnight." The sloth fell to his side and immediately curled up. Savage Fire rested her head on her paws and glanced at Diego. He looked guilty, but also deep in thought.

"Something wrong?" She whispered. He startled a bit and looked over at her sheepishly.

"No I just...we need to get him back to the humans before they get beyond the pass." Savage Fire had a feeling that was a cover up but didn't say anything.

"We'll make it in time. While this is a different route due to that shortcut of yours, I do know where we are. Half Peak is only about two miles from the Pass." Diego nodded and placed his head on his own paws.

"You're right. Goodnight." He said. She returned it and closed her eyes. Before going to sleep however she spoke again.

"I may have misjudged you Diego. You're a good friend." She said, keeping her eyes closed. She felt him shift next to her but he didn't say anything in return.

The next morning Savage Fire immediately picked up on the tension radiating from Diego. Every thing he said was short and terse, and his shoulders seemed so tense that they were up over his stubby ears. She watched him carefully as they entered the mountain range of Half Peak. Sid was cleaning Roshan to the best of his abilities and asked the saber's opinion. Diego grunted and then looked away.

"Maybe we shouldn't do this."

"Why not?" Sid asked with genuine curiosity.

"Because if we save him he'll grow up to be a hunter. And who do you think he'll hunt?"

"Well maybe since we saved him, he won't hunt us!"

"Yeah and maybe he'll grow fur and a long skinny neck and call you momma!" He threw back. Manny looked at him.

"What's your problem?"

"Nothing. Let's go I'm freezing my tail off." Savage Fire had watched the exchange in silence. Something was wrong, and she felt powerless to know what. She lifted her nose in the air and caught the brief scent of saber. She shook her head and sniffed again. Her nose always played tricks on her when harsh, cold weather set in and this was no exception. It had to be Diego...right? She padded alongside Manny and suddenly realized Diego wasn't beside her.

"Hey Diego! You frozen back there?" Manny called back. The fur on the back of her neck prickled.

"Get down!" Diego suddenly yelled. She immediately crouched into defensive position. "Get down and follow me." He said a little more quietly than last time.

"What's going on?" Sid asked. The saber tooth hung his head.

"At the bottom of half peak...there's an ambush...waiting for you." Savage Fire didn't move. Half of her wasn't at all surprised, she had been braced for something like this the whole trip. But the other half felt betrayal from the cat she thought she had made peace with.

"What do you mean ambush? You set us up." Manny stated lowly.

"It was my job, I was supposed to get the baby but then..."

"You brought us home for dinner!" Manny accused

"That's it, You're out of the herd!" Sid declared. Manny rounded on her.

"And what was your role in this?" He asked harshly, taking the alpha by surprise.

"Manny..." she started to defend but Diego jumped in.

"No! She had nothing to do with this! She was trying to protect the baby from me! Her pack does serve the humans and she's the alpha." He said. Savage Fire blinked at him, still not showing emotion. "I'm sorry." Diego said.

"No you're not! Not yet." Manny threatened, shoving him up and against the rock wall of the overhang with his tusk.

"Listen! I can help you!" He choked out.

"Stay close Sid! We can fight our way out!"

"You can't! The packs too strong!"

"Manny he's telling the truth! The pack may be only half of what they were but all the humans and all my wolves had trouble fighting them off!" Savage Fire finally said, backing Diego up. He had been following his alpha's instruction, and while it was wrong and he should've said no from the beginning, it wasn't all his fault. The demands of a pack from their alpha were harsh, especially for the beta or second in command, who was expected to keep the rest of the pack in line. She always made sure never to give her beta a task that she wouldn't be willing to do herself or that she didn't believe was right for the good of the entire pack.

"You're going to have to trust me!" Diego said.

"Trust you! Why on earth should we trust you!?" Manny challenged. Diego sighed.

"Because I'm your only chance."

The plan was in action. Sid was the decoy with the pretend baby to draw the sabers to Manny. Roshan was hidden safe and her task was to get Soto. He wasn't going to let them go without a fight. As soon as the pack had gone after Sid, she appeared from behind the rocks and let Soto see her. He smirked evilly and crouched down, his body low to the ground in spring position.

"I will have that baby alpha. And I'll take the mammoth while I'm at it."

"You're going to have to go through me to get to both of them." She challenged. He growled and she returned it, her lips curling up in a snarl on her long muzzle. He attacked first and she dodged it, looking for an opening to sink her teeth into his neck. He attacked again and she rose on her hindquarters to meet him, their legs clashing and him bitting at her with his long canines. She bit at his head and managed to tear an ear, making the cat growl in pain. He shoved her into the rocks and dove for her. She hunched down and dove for his underbelly just as he was about to land on top of her. Her teeth sunk into his pelt and he roared. He smacked her off with a powerful paw, causing her to fly to the side and her lower body fell off the side of one of the crests. She scrambled for a hold in the snow but it was futile. She didn't have claws like a sabers to hang on and the snow was powdery and slippery. She caught Soto's triumphant smirk as she tumbled off the crest and landed in the soft snow a good thirty feet below her. When she gathered her strength she hurried as fast as her pulled leg would carry her to where Manny had been. To her horror she found Manny backed into a corner by two of the pack members and Diego and Soto locked in a fearsome battle. Diego got smacked like she just had and went sliding into a rock, his head hitting hard. She sucked in a breath and started running. If she could reach them in time maybe she could break up the pack long enough to let Manny get away. Deep inside she knew she wouldn't be able to. She was too far away, and the pack was too close to Manny. Just as Soto was about to lunge for Manny's throat, she saw Diego jump in front of him, taking the full brunt of Soto's attack. She froze at the sight and felt someone come up next to her. It was Sid and the baby. Before she could move him Roshan squealed, drawing Soto's attention. Manny threw him into a rock wall before he could run for the baby. Icicles rattled above him and then fell, piercing his body. She quickly ran down the slope and made a beeline for Diego. The other two sabers ran away and she nudged Diego with her nose. Manny and Sid joined her.

"We were...some team...huh?" Diego asked.

"Were? Come on we're still a team." Manny encouraged.

"I'm sorry I set you up."

"Stop talking. Save your strength." Savage Fire ordered quietly. Sid placed Roshan down in front of Diego, who touched his nose with a tiny hand.

"Hey knock it off squirt. You gotta be strong. You gotta take care of Manfred and Sid...and Savage Fire...but especially Sid." She looked down at him. That was the first time he had ever used her name. "Listen, you have to leave me. If the humans make it through the pass, you'll never catch them."

"You didn't have to do that." Manny said.

"That's what you do in a herd." He replied. Savage Fire lowered her head and nudged him one more time.

"My birth name is Saskia. It means protector...and I didn't do my job."

"Yes you did. The baby is safe, and so are you guys."

After leaving Diego, they continued on their journey to Glacier Pass. Saskia or Savage Fire...she wasn't really sure who she was anymore. Was she alpha? Or was she just a wolf in this herd of misfits? She shook her head rapidly and let Manny take Roshan from her back. She wasn't sure what to do. Should she stay with the herd or go back to her pack as alpha? In the herd, she could be herself and didn't have to worry about the responsibilities of being alpha because every member in the herd was equal. But there would always be a giant hole in the herd where Diego should've been, and she didn't know if she could bear to see that hole everyday where her friend was absent. But in the pack, there wasn't room for Saskia. She had to be Savage Fire...the fierce and feared alpha of her pack that other packs dared not challenge. There wouldn't just be the hole where Diego belonged but also where Manny and Sid belonged too. They crested the hill into the pass and she immediately saw Runar, Roshan's father. Her pack and the other humans were already ahead of him and he was looking back at them. She kept her distance and allowed Manny to approach first. Runar didn't see her and raised his spear to Manny as he reached for the baby. Manny threw the spear out of his hand and reached for the baby again. By now her pack had picked up the scent of Mammoth and was running back to them with the humans prepared for a fight. Manny revealed Roshan and Runar stopped his tribe before they could do any damage. Manny set the baby down, who waddled to his father through the snow. She smiled. He was back home, and home is where he would stay. Roshan whined for Manny and Sid and as they said their goodbyes her beta approached her.

"Alpha you have returned. Did you manage to kill the saber?" She flinched slightly but refused to tell her beta what was really going on. Looking at Manny and Sid saying goodbye to Roshan, she made her decision.

"Roshan is safe and that's all that matters. That saber pack won't be coming for him again, or any of you." She looked at her second in command. "I'm stepping down as Alpha." Her beta reeled back in shock.

"But...alpha!?"

"You don't need to know the reasons but I'm leaving the pack and the humans. It's not the life for me anymore. With the humans they're well cared for and protected and they have purpose in protecting the tribe. You will make a good alpha Dagger." Her beta humbly bowed his head.

"If my alpha wishes it, I will carry on in her stead and by the grace of your training and wisdom that you have given me, I will lead your pack with pride."

"Then I leave you my position as alpha. From now until you step down from your position...you are Lone Thunder." Lone Thunder nodded and she dismissed him to rejoin her herd. She nuzzled Roshan one last time before watching his father take him away.

"Come on Sid. Let's head south." Manny said, turned and froze. She followed his line of sight and froze too. Diego was limping up the hill. He stopped and smiled at them. She felt herself grin and rolled her eyes. She should've known she wouldn't get rid of him that easy.

"Save your breath Sid. You know humans can't talk." He said, approaching the sloth from behind.

"Diego! You're alive!" Sid shouted gleefully and ran at the tiger.

"Nine lives baby!" Sid tackled him and they rolled in a ball until he hit the saber over the head in a friendly and brotherly gesture.

"I could kiss you! Mwah mwah mwah! Oh yuck!" He scrapped his tongue free of hair with his fingers. She chuckled and she and Manny joined the two.

"Good to have you back partner. Either of you wanna lift?" He asked, gesturing to his back.

"None for me big guy." She replied.

"No thanks! I've gotta save whatever dignity I've got left." Diego said as well.

"You're hanging with us now pal! Dignity's got nothing to do with it! But I'll take that lift!"

"Sure climb aboard." Sid scrambled onto the mammoths back.

"Mush! Or not mush." He corrected after one glare. She and Diego smiled and shook their heads. He turned to her.

"So what exactly are we supposed to call you now? Savage Fire or Saskia?" She grinned.

"I'm no longer an alpha but I kinda always liked my name. Both of them. I haven't been called Saskia since I was made alpha. I dunno I guess it's up to you guys. My nickname was Sassy when I was a pup."

"Sassy...I like it. It suits you." Diego said. Manny agreed and so did Sid. She smirked.

"Then I guess I'm Sassy from now on." Diego laughed and the four animals headed south, knowing more adventures were right around the corner.

The end

Authors note: Hey everyone who made it through the whole story! I loved writing this and inserting my own character. If you guys liked it and I hope you go on to read The Meltdown and the others. Happy reading! Thanks for all the support!