Pet Tiger

Reunited

Frida continued to cry softly as she laid curled up on Manny's back. He offered her a ride knowing she was in no mood to be walking. She hated Diego when they first met, it was true. But, she had taken the time to get to know him and she liked him. She wanted him back.

"How are you holding up?" Manny asked.

Frida said nothing and just sighed as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She turned and looked at the baby who was sleeping beside her. Poor Roshan cried when they left Diego at Half Peak not understanding why he didn't come with them.

Frida was having conflicted feelings on what to do. She didn't know whether she could go back to the humans now. If she did, it would be an insult to Diego's memory. She wanted to make him proud. If he had lived, Frida probably would've wanted to live with him and become a real saber.

"Where are we?" she sighed.

"We're just about there", Manny answered.

He stopped when he saw the human in front of him. He looked just like what the baby would look like in 30 years. Manny reached his trunk behind him, but the human pointed his spear at him, thinking he was going to hurt him.

"F-F-Frida..." Sid whispered.

"What's going on?" Frida asked.

She got her answer when she heard the barking of wolves and the yelling of humans. Frida saw Manny grab the baby and sat up, seeing the human. The human smiled when he saw her and the baby, stopping the others from attacking.

The humans watched amazed. The baby that was barely a year old had survived all this way with no one but animals to take care of him. Manny set the baby on his own two feet as the saber jumped off his back. Frida watched proudly as the baby took his first steps toward his father. The human hugged him tightly, happy at least one part of his family had returned to him.

Manny and Sid smiled and turned away. They weren't needed anymore. The baby had been safely returned to his family. Frida looked as the human offered his hand out to her. She looked at Manny and Sid before looking back. She shook her head, backing away from the human before looking down. Frida was going to stay with Manny and Sid.

The baby looked at her and started to cry. Manny and Sid turned around to see Frida turning to join them. They turned to give the baby a chance to say goodbye.

"Don't forget about us, okay?" Sid said as he hugged the baby.

"We won't forget about you", Manny added hugging the baby one more time.

"I'll never forget about you", Frida said licking the baby's cheek.

The human looked at Frida and sighed. He put around her neck the charm that she used to wear, the one Diego cut off when they first met. Frida looked down trying to fight off tears. With all said and done, the humans turned and walked through the pass, finishing their journey to their settlement.

"Goodbye", Sid sniffled. "Goodbye!"

"Sid..." Manny said trying to get over it.

Frida got tears in her eyes as the baby said goodbye in his way, starting to play peek-a-boo the way Diego taught him.

"That's right", Sid smiled. "Where's the baby?"

"Come on, Sid. Let's head south."

Frida sighed and just looked down. Traveling just wasn't going to be the same without Diego. She looked up to see the humans disappear over the hill.

"Bye..." Sid said again.

"Save your breath, Sid. You know humans can't talk."

"Diego?" Frida gasped turning around.

"You're okay!" Sid cheered.

Frida smiled and cried tears of joy as she ran to him.

"You're alive?" she asked. "But..."

"Nine lives, baby", Diego smiled.

Yay!" Sid cheered as he ran to him, tackling to the ground. "You're okay, you're okay. I can kiss you!"

Sid pulled Diego close, kissing the top of his head, but stopped and began spitting. Frida laughed and just nuzzled Diego gently.

"I'm so happy you're okay", she said.

"Can't get rid of me that easily", Diego smiled.

"Welcome back, partner", Manny said. "Want a lift?"

"No thanks. I got to save whatever dignity I've got left."

"You're hanging out with us now, buddy", Sid smiled. "Dignity's got nothing to do with it. But I'll take that lift."

"Yeah, climb aboard", Manny rolled his eyes, helping him up.

"Yee-haw! Mush... or not mush. Either way."

The four of them turned and started walking, heading south to join the rest of the animals that left. Frida smiled as she looked at Diego. She didn't know what the future had in store for them, but she was happy that she was going to stay with him.