Pet Tiger

Changes in Diego

Night had fallen and a blizzard blew through the air, carrying lots of snow.

"Guys, we got to get this kid out of the wind", Manny said.

Frida looked at the baby on Manny's back and noticed the wind was blowing in the baby's direction. The baby was tired and freezing cold. The group headed into a cave to seek shelter from the wind.

"How much further?" Manny asked.

"Three miles", Diego answered. "I'm beat."

"We'll get there in the morning", Manny said.

"I'm cold", Frida said shivering. "I wish the baby was old enough to make a fire."

Diego looked at her with a sympathetic smile. It almost looked hopeless. He tried his best to try and make her a real saber. It wouldn't do any good tomorrow if she did return to the humans and return to being nothing but a pet. He sighed and looked away. She wasn't going back to them and neither was the baby. They were both Soto's and Diego couldn't do anything to change that.

"What are you doing?" Diego asked noticing Sid was drawing on the cave wall.

"I'm putting sloths on the map", Sid answered showing a drawing of a sloth.

"Hey, that's not bad", Frida chuckled.

"Hey, why don't you make him realistic and draw him lying down?" Manny asked.

"And make him rounder", Diego added.

Manny took the rock Sid was drawing with and drew over the sloth, giving him a over-the-top round body.

"Perfect", Diego smiled.

"Ha-ha", Sid sarcastically said. "I forgot how to laugh."

He grabbed the rock out of Manny's trunk and started scribbling out the drawing. As he scribbled stone against stone, sparks flew from the combination, landing on dry twigs. Everyone watched amazed as it grew into a fire. The sloth had actually made fire.

"I'm a genius!" Sid said kissing the rock in his hand.

They gathered more twigs to help keep the fire burning long. Everyone laid around the fire as Sid stood in front of it.

"From now on, you'll have to refer to me as Sid, Lord of the Flame."

"Hey, Lord of the Flame", Manny said. "Your tail's on fire."

Frida laughed as Sid turned around to see his tail was indeed on fire. He screamed as he ran around in circles leaving a trail of smoke behind him. Diego sighed as he grabbed him and sat him in the snow, putting out the fire.

"Oh, thank you!" Sid sighed. "From now on, I'm going to call you Diego-"

"Lord of Touch Me and You're Dead", Diego finished. "No, I'm just kidding, you little knucklehead."

Frida giggled as she watched him put Sid in a headlock and gave him a noogie. He was more relaxed and friendly than she had ever seen him. The mean tiger who wanted to kill the baby was now becoming a kind-hearted friend to vegetarians. Not only that, as Frida looked at him, she felt her heart beat fast with feelings she never thought she would ever feel for Diego.

"Hey, lovebirds", Manny said getting everyone's attention. "Look at this."

The three of them watched as he helped the baby stand on his feet. To their surprise, he took baby steps and started walking on his own.

"I don't believe it", Sid smiled, looking at Diego.

He smiled slightly and looked at Frida who looked so happy.

"Roshan!" Frida gasped with a smile on her face. "I'm so proud of you!"

They watched as the baby walked toward Sid.

"Come here, you little biped. Come here, you little wormy-worm. Come to Uncle Sid."

The baby turned away from Sid. To everyone's surprise, he walked toward Diego. He stood up, looking at him nervously, not knowing what to do.

"No, no, go to her", he said nodding toward Frida.

The baby smiled and continued walking. Diego took a step back and pointed at Manny.

"Go to him", he told the baby.

The baby continued until he reached Diego, hugging his leg. Diego looked away feeling uncomfortable. This was definitely a first, getting affection from a child. Frida smiled as he watched him. He really did care about the kid.

"Good job", Diego said looking at the baby. "Keep practicing."

He helped the baby turn around and walk back to Manny.

"Look at that", Sid said. "Our little guy's growing up."

The baby sneezed, ruining his concentration and made him fall to the ground. He started yawning, letting Manny know it was time for bed. He got up and wrapped the baby in his trunk, falling asleep as he held him close.

"Look at that big push-over", Sid said sitting next to Diego. "You know, Diego I never had a friend who would risk his life for me."

"Yeah", Diego nodded. "Manny's...he's a good guy."

Frida watched as Sid laid down to go to sleep. She walked to Diego and sat next to him.

"Growing soft, aren't you?" she smiled.

Diego flattened his ears and looked away, feeling embarrassed. Frida smiled as she curled up beside him.

"I like it. You're not the cold, heartless killer I thought you were."

He turned his head watching as Frida yawned. She laid her head down and closed her eyes. Why did she have to go and say something like that? It was only going to make tomorrow even harder for him. Diego looked up seeing Half Peak close by and looked at Frida. What was he going to do?

Diego sighed as he curled up close to Frida and laid his head down beside hers, going to sleep.