FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A/N: The following stories take place before this chapter: From Mariel1/ContraryHeart Liger: Silent One, Lucky Seven, and Darien, another story is this one from TakeCareBear: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/shiningstars/like-a-cat-i-39-m-the-cautious-kind-t759.html

I'm sorry, Amber, but I needed to let people know this was part of the canon

Feral Heart Tigress is owned by ContraryHeartLiger/Mariel1, she has never featured in one of her stories but she gave me permission to use her here.

Chapter 14: Emotions Run High

Confidence Heart put a hand on the small spire on the top of Flash Heart's grave, "Hey Flash. How long has it been now? Two years? Sorry I don't come to visit more often but...well I guess I just forget sometimes." She turned and sat down with her back to the gravestone, "I guess I should fill you in: Pace finally started talking last year, Swift Heart and Grumpy are expecting their first kid soon which should be nice, I know Fauna's excited. Oh yeah and Regal had a fifth kid, a little girl called Faith Heart Liger and Take Care saved this badly hurt brown tabby kitten, then she adopted her and named her Cautious Heart Cat, she's still a baby though, younger than Faith. And then there's the new guy who joined a while ago," she sighed, "His name's Darien and he's a real pain in the ass."

"You guys aren't easy to get along with either."

Confidence Heart tensed then stood up and turned to face Darien, who was leaning on the grave from the opposite side. He was a dark orange lion with a black mane whose tummy symbol was a large black heart with a smaller red star with long arms inside of it and a smaller white heart inside of that.

Darien looked down at the gravestone, "So why is there big stone stuck here? Some kinda unfinished chair in the middle of nowhere?"

Confidence Heart glared at the lion, "It's a gravestone."

"A what?" Darien gave her a confused look.

Despite knowing of his lack of experience with such things Confidence Heart was in no mood for any kind of disrespect and she pushed his arms off the stone, "It's a place to mark where someone who died is buried."

"Died? I didn't know anyone died up here," Darien walked around the grave to look at the words on the front, "Who was 'Flash Heart Bear'?"

"My brother."

Darien started then shuffled awkwardly, "What happened?"

Confidence Heart turned from Darien and put a hand on the top of the stone, "He was killed by a monster named Dusk Heart, who used to be our other brother."

Darien took his first good look at Confidence Heart. She was taller and slimmer than most of the Care Bear Family, he was only half-a-head taller than her and her tummy wasn't rounded like the others, being flatter; he even swore he saw defined muscles on her. "That's ten kinds of fucked up." He noticed she didn't react when he swore.

Confidence nodded, "Yeah, that's a good way to put it."

"So what are you doing here?" Darien looked back down at the grave

"Talking to him, catching him up," Confidence Heart sat down and faced the headstone, "It's stupid but...I like to think he's listening."

Darien looked from the headstone to Confidence then back to the gravestone. "Why?"

Confidence Heart sighed, "Because it helps me feel better, I guess, or it just makes me think." Confidence Heart only just now realized she was crying and wiped the tears from her face. "I need to go," she stood up and walked towards the Hall of Hearts.

Darien watched her go for a moment then turned back to the grave. He sighed then walked away.

OoOoO

Anger Heart and Guidance Heart were already practising with their elements when Confidence Heart entered the gym. Anger Heart let the fire he was controlling evaporate then turned to the fennec, "Hey, here to practice?"

Confidence managed a smile, "Practice with and train you two it seems." Her tummy symbol glowed and an instant late armored guards appeared on her forearm and shins, "Get your sai out, and your dirk too, Guidance."

Guidance Heart dissipated the light and water she'd been practising with and carefully created her dirk. Even after all the time she'd practised with it she still held the weapon shakily. Confidence Heart nodded then took up a fighting stance, "I hope you're both ready, I'm not holding back."

"Good!" Anger Heart immediately charged at Confidence Heart and struck out at her, only for Confidence to block his blow and kick out at him, catching him on the left side. Anger Heart stumbled back, wincing slightly but kept on his feet. Guidance Heart edged closer then stopped, her dirk still shaking in her hands.

Confidence Heart noticed and held up a hand to signal to Anger Heart to stop. "Guidance what's wrong."

Guidance took a deep breath and let her dirk dissipate, "I'm sorry, but I just don't want to fight with a weapon. I'd rather stick to my kinetics."

Anger Heart walked over to his fiancé, his twin tails swishing as he did, "Hey it's alright, Guidance. You don't have to be that kind of fighter." He smirked and turned back to Confidence, "How about we fight with everything, not just weapons," He conjured a fireball then winced slightly. His tails were hurting but this only made him grin more, "I gotta see how this works out."

Confidence grinned back and resumed a fighting stance as wind whipped up around her, "Alright then, Anger Heart, you're on!"

OoOoO

"So, Tugs, did you bring me here for a secret date?" Contrary Heart winked at blue bear. They were standing in one of their secret training spots

Tugs blushed and averted his gaze, "No! I mean...I want to but...that not the reason I asked you to come here alone..." Tugs took a deep breath and sighed, "I think I figured out my special tummy symbol power."

"Really, great!" Connie gave Tugs a hug and even a kiss on the cheek.

Tugs was still blushing, "Not really, I mean...do you bring something random from your house."

Connie released him and reached into her tummy symbol to retrieve the object while Tugs closed his eyes. "Yeah, I brought this-"

"Don't tell me, just let me hold it." Tugs held a hand outwards and Connie placed the object in his hand. It felt like a baby rattle as Tugs held it next to his tummy symbol. Tug's symbol lit up and the soft glow wound itself around the rattle. "This used to be...Chance's."

"You sure you didn't peek?" Connie leaned close to try and see if his eyes were secretly open.

"I didn't, I can even see when he used to chew on it." Tugs shuddered then opened his eyes, "I found out by accident this morning when I picked up one of Hug's old toy blocks she left in my room and suddenly I started seeing all these images in my head about things she used to build with it."

Connie took the rattle back from him and stored it in his tummy symbol. "Cool, so what should we call this? Object reading? Childhood Ties? Old Memories?" she scratched her chin.

"How about 'huge letdown'?" Tugs sighed and slumped to the ground.

"What?" Connie stared down at Tugs who was drawing patterns in the dirt and leaves, "How is this a letdown?"

Tugs looked up at her, his eyes were quivering, "Because I can't do anything with it, especially not in a fight. Hugs can do more, she can hug someone and make them stop wanting to fight but what can I do? Try to tell the big robots or the shadows about where they came from and hope that makes them not want to fight? I don't think learning about No-Heart's favorite toy is going to help us beat him any day." He touched him symbol, "Some days I kinda hate my tummy symbol..."

"Whoa hold on, you hate your tummy symbol?" Connie sat down next to Tugs.

Tugs nodded and touched it again, "A diaper holding a star buddy, it's like the Great Wishing Star thought I'd be a cub forever, or that I'd never grow up. And now I find out it doesn't do anything fun or useful," he sulked lower. "I was always the active cub who had to prove how grown up he was to everyone around him now I feel like I haven't gone anywhere since I was a cub."

Connie's ears drooped but she used a finger to lift Tugs' face up to meet her, "Yes you have, you had the courage to ask me out and you've been a great boyfriend this last year. I don't think your symbol is embarrassing, it's a sign that you'll always carry the energy of a kid in your life, and you do," Connie gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Tugs blushed and turned to face her, "Really?"

Connie nodded, "Of course."

Tugs grinned, "So how about this!" He suddenly leaned in and gave Connie a big kiss right on the lips. Connie was stunned even as Tugs pulled back, a goofy grin on his face, "So, how as I?"

Connie shook her head and smirked, "So this is a secret date then?"

Tugs chuckled, "I guess it turned into one after all." He leaned forwards and embraced her, "I love you Connie."

"I love you too, Tugs."

OoOoO

Confidence Heart dodged aside as a stream of fire hit the ground where she had been a second ago, only to land on a puddle of water, slip and fall on her back. She spotted Guidance Heart standing nearby and sent a blast of air at her which knocked her to the ground. Confidence felt a blast of fire strike her but managed to endure the flames long enough to roll out of the way, her fur smouldering.

Anger Heart charged and tried to strike down at he but a spasm from his tail made him wince, which gave Confidence Heart the chance to jump up into the air. Anger Heart regained his composure in time to see her above him, descending slowly.

"What? How?" He spluttered and stared. Confidence Heart suddenly dropped down and kicked him in the chest.

"YOWCH!" Anger Heart hit the ground hard but managed to roll over and push himself up just in time for Confidence Heart to grab him from behind with her arms under his and her hands behind his head, a full-nelson.

"Gotcha!" Confidence grinned.

"Graaah! Let go!" Anger Heart struggled in her grip, but was lifted onto his toes by the fennec's strength.

"Alright, say uncle," Confidence Heart kept her grip tight on him.

"Let him go!" Guidance Heart was standing in front of both of them, her hands splayed to either side of her forehead. Anger Heart recognized the stance and shut his eyes.

"Solar Flare!" A bright flash of light erupted from Guidance Heart's head, bathing the entire gym in blinding white light. Guidance Heart peered hard to see through the flash and then started when she saw that Confidence Heart had her eyes shut tight.

"You're not the only Otaku, AH!" Confidence was interrupted as Anger Heart kicked her hard in the knee then wrenched free of her and smashed her on the head with one of his sai. The strike didn't do any real damage but Confidence Heart still felt pain from impact and she kicked out in his direction, catching his hand and knocking the weapon loose.

Anger Heart gave a cry of pain and raised his other hand, a huge ball of fire forming, then stopped and the fire dispersed as he fell to his knees, teeth clenched in pain. "Time out! Time out! AAARGH!" the searing pain from his tail overwhelmed him.

Confidence Heart immediately stopped in the middle of her next attack and ran over to him along with Guidance Heart, "Anger Heart! What's wrong?"

Anger Heart's face was screwed up in pain but he held up his hand, "It's OK, it's just, Urrrrg! Wait for it EAAAAAAARRRRGGGHHH!" As they watched, Anger Heart's left tail glowed then split into two, which left the fox with three tails.

Anger Heart stood up and looked behind him and swished his three tails experimentally. "Now it feels weird again."

Confidence Heart held up a hand, "Wait, did you know this was going to happen."

Guidance Heart held her hands together in front of her tummy symbol and shuffled her feet, "We had an idea when his tail started to hurt again. We wanted to see if we could accelerate the change this time."

"Looks like it worked," Anger Heart smirked, then scowled and turned to Confidence Heart, "How were you floating up there," he pointed up at the ceiling.

Confidence smirked, "Something I've been practising. I've seen Defender and Truth flying around so I wanted to see if I could do the same with aerokinetics. So far I can only float for a few seconds."

"I think it's cool. You're like Son Goku," Guidance Heart's eye shone as her thoughts drifted.

Confidence Heart chuckled, "Not really. I think that's enough for today and its lunchtime."

OoOoO

The cafeteria was bustling as usual as Brave Heart took a seat with Regal, Stellar and their five children. He watched as Confidence Heart entered with Anger Heart and Guidance Heart. He saw her smile and sighed in relief, "At least she's smiling. I was worried she would never get better until Love Heart got back."

"Who's Love Heart?" The voice came from Hope Bear who was sitting behind Brave Heart with Defender and Wish. Hope Bear was two years old now and like Regal and Stellar's children she was growing at an accelerated rate, looking like she was twelve years old; her tummy symbol was a white ring with three wings on each side.

"Who Love Heart?" the second voice came from Faith Heart Liger, Regal and Stellar's youngest daughter, who stood out because she had white fur and black stripes with a dove in a circle of hearts for a tummy symbol, she was barely a toddler and still had to sit in a high chair.

Brave Heart looked from one to the other then sighed, "Love Heart's an old friend who had to go away a couple years ago, before either of you were born."

"Uncle, when you say 'go away' do you mean..." Patient Heart Liger was hesitant to say the word he was thinking of.

"What? No! Love Heart's alive, he's just in Pegasus Falls," Brave Heart waved his hands to dispel the notion, "He just said he didn't think he could come back until he could protect us. He's the leader of the Care Bear Magi, and he was my best friend..."

"Why did he leave?" Hope Bear had stood up and walked over to Brave Heart.

Brave Heart gulped, "It's because of that headstone you see by the Forest of Feelings...I don't think I should be the one to tell you about this. Excuse me," Brave Heart stood up and withdrew from the conversation, taking his food with him.

"Mommy, what is that stone?" Faith looked up at Regal.

"I'll tell you later, I promise." Regal looked over at Pace, who nodded. He knew what it was.

Anger Heart had devoured his first serving and was going up for seconds when he ran into Bright Heart in the buffet line. Bright Heart took one look at Anger Heart's third tail then rubbed his eyes to make sure it was real, "Did you grow another tail?"

The fox nodded, "Yep, just before lunch." He was about to leave when Bright Heart put a hand on his shoulder to stop him, "Can you come to my place after lunch, I need you help with my communication project again."

Anger Heart growled softly, "You mean you need me to charge your batteries again."

"Well yes... but I do need your help for that. Can you help?" Bright Heart pleaded.

Anger Heart looked over to where Guidance Heart and Confidence Heart were still discussing at the table, then looked back to Bright Heart, "I guess I can. It'll save me sitting though a Dragon Ball marathon at Confidence's house. I'll see you there."

OoOoO

"So wait, you actually got a response?" Soulful Heart stared at Bright Heart in disbelief.

Bright Heart nodded, "The signal was pretty weak so I had to spend the last month cleaning it up until I could understand it."

"And, can you?" Soulful looked over at the computer screen.

Bright Heart scooted aside, "Take a look."

"Let's see, 'Greetings, Bright Heart, my name is...' where's the name?" Soulful turned back to Bright Heart.

"That's one part I couldn't retrieve. I'm hoping I can clean up the next one." Bright Heart turned back to the screen.

"Can I come in now, or is it a bad time?" Anger Heart stood at the entrance to Bright Heart's garage.

"No, come in," Bright Heart motioned over his shoulder for Anger Heart to approach his workbench.

Soulful Heart caught a glimpse of the third tail poking out from Anger Heart's spine, "Up to three now? It is uncomfortable?"

"A bit, just feels weird like it did before," Anger Heart looked at the computer screen, "What's that? Some kind of code?"

"It's a message in text from deep space, most of it anyway. I was able to get coordinates so I can send a better, more direct, signal next time," Bright Heart smiled and got a faraway look in his eyes, "I'm getting real proof that there is life out there in the universe."

Soulful folded his arms, "Well at least we know our ability to understand any language extends even to extra-terrestrial languages."

Anger Heart scowled, "Ugg, don't remind me." Both Soulful and Bright Heart turned to the kitsune as he continued, "I had to listen to Confidence and Guidance Heart complain about how they wished they could understand any language so they wouldn't have to wait for anime dubs or read subtitles all through lunch. Can you come up with some kinda of 'universal translator' or something for them, Bright Heart?"

"Not a bad idea," Bright Heart opened a word program on his computer, "If we do manage to bring extra-terrestrial life to Earth then humans will need to talk to them and some sort of babel fish would be essential to allow communication."

"Babel fish?" Anger Heart cocked an eyebrow towards Soulful.

"Little fish you stick in your ear that translates all languages that you hear into one you understand, it's from 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'," Soulful turned back to Bright Heart, "So are you going to change your project."

"No." Bright Heart saved his preliminary notes and closed the document, "I'll work on it after I send the next message...you know it's strange that whoever is on the other side could understand me. Maybe they already have something like that or maybe our language. But for now, here," Bright Heart passed Anger Heart a small pile of refined Caring Crystals, "Can you charge these?"

Anger Heart sighed and picked one up, "So I'm just a glorified, three-tailed battery now." He focused his mana into the crystal, which lit up bright enough to force him to shield his eyes.

Bright Heart already had welder's goggles on as he took the crystal. "I modified these crystals to work more efficiently as batteries, just one of these will give more power than three of the last ones you helped me make. Just stick around, I'll need some more help later."

"Want me to stick around?" Soulful asked.

Anger Heart picked up another crystal. "Please do. I need some company and a jargon translator."

OoOoO

Brave Heart had been silent the whole ride down to earth; all that he told Confidence Heart, Connie and Tugs was that he needed their help on a critical caring mission. Despite this, he still insisted on driving and had pushed the cloudmobile's engine harder than he should have, which meant that as soon as he came to a stop it dissolved.

"Yeesh, Brave Heart, what's the emergency, and where are we?" Connie looked around. They were in a large grassland surrounded by long stalks of orange-yellow grass strands.

"Who would be out here that needs our help?" Tugs stood on his toes to see over the grass, "There's no one out here for miles."

"I just...need your help with this." Brave Heart took a deep breath and held up his arm with the caring beeper on it. It was flashing red.

"Red, that means someone's life's in danger." Connie looked up at her uncle's face, which had gone pale, or as much as it could through the fur.

Confidence Heart stood shoulder to shoulder with Tugs on her toes as she scanned the terrain surrounding them. It was mostly flat lands as far as she could see with a small hill to the north. Her large ears twitched and she caught the sight of some grass rustling nearby. She held up a hand behind her, "Shhh! I hear something!"

The other three quieted down as Confidence Heart looked and listened more intently. She saw a shade of green through the rustling and her muscles tensed. "Something's coming," she whispered, ready to strike anything that came near.

Confidence's ears twitched again as the rustling came closer and she spotted a forest green patch in among the grass. She bared her teeth and almost barked, "Come out! I can see and hear you!"

There was more rustling and a moment later a terrified care bear cousin tiger stepped into view. They could tell the tiger was female, she was forest green with black stripes and she was shaking. Confidence Heart was still tense but Brave Heart stepped forwards and caught the tigress as she looked like she was about to collapse.

"Easy there. Are you alright?" He helped the tigress to stand, the top of her head barely came to Brave Heart's chin.

The tigress seemed to calm down for a moment, then her head whipped around behind her. "They're still here! I can't hide from them like this!" She whispered in a soft, quaking voice.

"Hide from who?" Brave Heart looked up and scanned over the tall grass.

They all heard the sound of the gunshot as the pellet buried itself near their feet.

"Poachers!" Confidence Heart's shout prompted Tugs to instinctually throw himself protectively over Connie, even though they were both shaking. Another shot rang out and hit Tugs in his right shoulder! He cried out in pain as blood sprang from the injury and the intense pain nearly made him black out, which forced Connie to support his weight. Before anyone could react a third shot rang out, hitting the ground near Confidence Heart.

The tigress let out a cry halfway between a scream of terror and a roar and Brave Heart stared in horror. "Tugs!"

Confidence Heart's blood boiled as she spotted the gleam from the hunting rifles on the nearby hill, "I'LL KILL YOU!" Confidence Heart suddenly jumped into the sky, which sent a shockwave of air out from her feet. Brave Heart couldn't help but stare as the fennec fox flew up into the sky hovered for an instant and then plunged towards the hill, which sent up a cloud of dust as she landed as shouts of anger and pain rang out over the grasslands.

"Brave Heart! Tugs has been shot!" Connie's shout snapped Brave Heart out of his stupor. He saw that Connie was trying to staunch the flow of blood from Tug's injury.

Brave Heart tried to reach his tummy symbol but found that the tigress was holding him too tightly to shake her off. "Connie! Call Take Care and send up a signal to guide her here!"

"What about the poachers?" Connie looked up to where Confidence Heart had disappeared.

"Confidence has them handled. Call her now!"

Connie was shocked by her uncle's words, but she complied and fired off a signal from her tummy symbol then dug her cell phone out of her tummy symbol. "Hello, Take Care! Tugs has been shot! I sent up a signal, please hurry!" She could barely keep a grip on her phone even as the line disconnected.

Brave Heart turned back to the tigress who was still wrapped around him. "Hey, are you alright?"

The tigress looked up at him. Brave Heart couldn't help but smile despite the situation, her bright green eyes and disheveled appearance had a sort of wild beauty to them that was only somewhat obscured by how much she was shaking. She finally seemed to realise she wasn't alone, "Who are you?" She looked up and down, "Why are you like me?"

"My name is Brave Heart Lion and I'm a Care Bear Cousin, just like you."

"Care Bear Cousin?" She gave Brave Heart a curious look.

"I'll do my best to explain, just wait here until our friend gets here to help Tugs," Brave Heart glanced over his shoulder to see how Tugs and Connie were holding up.

It was then that he noticed how quiet it had become. He looked up over to the hill where Confidence Heart had flown. She hadn't come back yet and he was getting nervous.

Thankfully those nerves were shattered when he heard the siren from Take Care's cloud ambulance overhead. Connie waved frantically to flag her down right up until Take Care landed and she stepped out with Get Well Bear. The tigress' hackles were raised and her tail frizzed out when she saw the vehicle land.

"It's alright, they're friends. You should go with them," Brave Heart tried to step away from the tigress but she clung on tighter.

"No! It sounds like their machines!" She hissed towards the ambulance.

"Alright," Brave Heart looked over to Get Well, who stood by the passenger side door of the ambulance. "I'll catch up later! Confidence Heart is still down here!"

"OK!" Get Well climbed in and shut the door. Brave Heart watched the ambulance fly away and felt the tigress finally relax. He turned to her and took her hand, "Let's go see if my friend's alright, OK?"

The tigress nodded, "OK."

Before they headed to the hill, Brave Heart stepped on something metal. He stopped then picked it up. It was the bullet that hit Confidence in the head, the top nearly smashed flat. He stowed it in his tummy symbol then moved on.

As soon as Brave Heart started to climb the hill he smelled something, something that made him lay his ears down and his tail frizz out. Blood! He wanted to stop right then and there but he sped up, more worried about what might have happened to Confidence Heart.

Brave Heart found Confidence Heart sitting in the middle of the hilltop with the bloody bodies of three poachers around her. Her blood covered hands and feet confirmed what had happened. Brave Heart immediately felt sick when he saw the state of the poacher's bodies and had to avert his gaze to avoid depositing his lunch on the ground.

The tigress had gone tense again as she slowly approached the bodies, poked and sniffed at them then finally relaxed, "It's alright. They're dead."

"I killed them," Confidence Heart whispered just loud enough to be heard. She was trembling as she drew her knees up to her chest.

Brave Heart finally got his ill feeling under control and went over to Confidence Heart. He helped her to stand and shuddered when he felt the blood come off on his hands. Neither of them said anything. The tigress was much calmer than both of them and had gone to the edge of the hill and was staring at something in the distance. Her ears lay flat against her skull and her tail swishing back and forth.

Eventually Brave Heart and Confidence Heart walked over to the tigress to see what she was looking at. She pointed, "There. That's their den." Confidence and Brave Heart followed her pointing finger to see a small lump in the distance. "I found it earlier, then they started chasing me until you found me."

Before they could say anything the tigress started walking towards the poachers' camp. Confidence Heart and Brave Heart followed her, wanting to leave the smell of death and shame behind them. It turned out to be a futile effort.

The camp was a tent camouflaged against the grasslands with a jeep parked under similarly colored camouflage netting. The tigress peeked into the jeep, grimaced slightly and then nodded grimly and stepped down, "Just like before." She put a hand on her chest and breathed out softly

Both Confidence Heart and Brave Heart recoiled at the smells coming from the jeep but Brave Heart's curiosity got the better of him and he peeked under the netting. He was forced to turn away after only a single glance and finally lost his lunch next to the vehicle.

Confidence Heart went to look in and immediately felt sick as well, turning away but keeping the contents of her stomach down. "We should head home."

"Thanks for helping me," the tigress said. She was about to turn and leave when Brave Heart stood up.

"Wait, you should come with us."

The tigress stopped and turned back to Brave Heart, "Come with you, where?"

"To the Kingdom of Caring," He extended a hand towards her, "I promise you'll be safe there."

The tigress looked at his hand for a moment, then carefully took it, "OK. I'll try."

Brave Heart nodded then used his tummy symbol to conjure a cloud car. The tigress backed away from the car and hissed, but Brave Heart smiled at her, "I promise it won't hurt you, here." He carefully led her to the car and around to the passenger's seat and helped to buckle her in. He looked up at Confidence Heart who was still standing in front of the tent. "Confidence?"

She turned and walked back to the car and climbed into the back seat, without even opening the door. She didn't say anything but the tigress cried out in shock when the car suddenly took off into the sky. "Don't worry, it's perfectly safe!" Brave Heart said, but kept his hands on the steering wheel. There was a pit forming in his stomach as the thought of what had just happened sunk in and of what he'd have to tell everyone.

OoOoO

"She killed them?!" True Heart's nearly shrill voice silenced the entire assembly in the Hall of Hearts. Everyone stared at Brave Heart, who had just told them everything about the mission they had been on.

Brave Heart nodded, his face grim. He looked down at his hands, thankfully he'd been able to wash the blood off from earlier, "She did. After they shot at us she took off in a blind rage and...well after that I was more worried about Tugs until Take Care got there."

"Is our son going to be alright?" Noble Heart practically leaned over to Brave Heart.

It was Get Well that stood up to answer, "Mom says he'll be fine, but he'll have to avoid any strenuous activity until his shoulder-blade is healed."

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, "Thank the great wishing star," True Heart said. "Now we need to figure out what to do about Confidence Heart."

"Why should we do anything?" Everyone turned to Independent Bear, who sat next to Tenderheart and the founders, his eyes closed and his arms folded.

Noble Heart cleared his throat, "Independent Bear, we have to do something. Confidence killed three people today."

"And what if she didn't?" Indy opened his eyes and stared at Noble Heart.

"Brave Heart, Contrary Heart, Confidence Heart and Tugs would be dead!" Stellar Heart stood up in his seat, fist raised, his tail swishing violently and his ears laid flat.

Noble Heart was about to speak up when another voice spoke up behind him, "He's right."

The tigress had hidden behind Brave Heart's chair since they arrived and now she shrunk back from all the eyes that were suddenly on her. Brave Heart stood up and put his hands on her shoulders, which helped her calm down as she spoke. "I...I saw the poacher's den and it was full of...remains..." She suddenly ducked behind Brave Heart and tried to hide from all the staring eyes.

Brave Heart continued, "I won't go into all the details but they had a number of hides and horns just to name a few things," Brave Heart took a deep breath to steady himself. "It was horrifying."

True Heart shook her head, trying to clear away the horrible images conjured by Brave Heart's description, "We still need to talk to Confidence Heart about what she did."

"You mean saving their lives?" Indy spoke again, "It's because of her actions that Brave Heart, Contrary Heart and Tugs' pelts aren't spread across the floor of some rich asshole's house as a 'conversation piece'!" Independent Bear's voice rose and he stood up, "And we're supposed to punish her for doing her job?! For saving their lives?!"

"NO!" Stellar Heart shouted, "Just the though of that happening to Connie," Stellar hugged himself, shuddered and started to cry.

"And I think she's suffering enough as it is," Brave Heart looked down at his right hand. He had washed off the blood but he still felt it, "When I took Confidence Heart home she was shaking, she couldn't talk. I know we're all horrified by what she did but she actually had to do it. Now that the adrenaline has worn off it's hitting her harder than any of us."

"We have to remind her that she's not alone, that we're still here for her. If we shun her, put ourselves at a distance or punish her for this then what? She acted in defense of her friends and family and the people she killed were criminals even by human standards," Indy looked over at the tigress, "Our newest family member's life was in danger and she would have been killed before she could meet us if Confidence Heart didn't act."

"Oh, I'm sorry, it seems we forgot about you," Noble Heart turned to the forest green tigress still hiding behind Brave Heart. She gave Noble Heart a nervous look as he gently extended a hand towards her, "Don't be scared, we won't hurt you."

"OK." The tigress accepted Noble Heart's hand and stepped forwards, with Brave Heart urging her onwards. Once again she felt al the eyes stare at her and her tail frizzed out but she stood her ground and waved nervously, "Hello."

"Can you tell us a little about yourself?" True Heart asked.

The tigress gulped, "Well...I don't have much...I lived in the wild until I was turned into...this a couple days ago. I ran across the poachers and you found me."

"Do you have a name?"

The tigress shook her head, "No..."

"Would you like us to give you one?" Brave Heart stepped around and into her view.

"What kind of name?" the tigress turned to him.

Brave Heart looked her up and down, thought for a moment then his eyes lit up, "How about, Feral Heart Tigress?"

There were a few murmurs, some of agreement, other of disbelief, but it was ultimately the tigress' choice. She smiled, "That sounds nice, I'll be Feral Heart then."

"Alright, then hold still." Tenderheart was about to stand up from his seat, but Brave Heart beat him to the punch as his tummy symbol glowed. Feral Heart purred slightly at the warmth, then blushed as it settled and revealed her new tummy symbol: a lime green heart with black tiger-like stripes running diagonally across it from top right to bottom left. She looked down and touched it and Brave Heart smiled, "I'll teach you how to use it later."

"If we're done here, I'm going to talk to Confidence Heart." Indy turned and walked around the table towards the door.

"Wait!" Feral Heart took off after Indy, who stopped to wait for her, "I want to thank her, I didn't get a chance before."

Stellar Heart joined them, "I'm coming too. I think it'll help if I thank her for what she did."

"Alright, let's go." Indy motioned for them to follow him out of the Hall of Hearts.

Feral Heart cast a look back at Brave Heart and smiled, he was cute but he was a lion... She turned back to Stellar Heart and smiled at his back, but he was a tiger. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

Now that she was away from the bulk of the family, Feral Heart Tigress was able to relax and take in the sights around her as Indy and Stellar led her through Care-a-Lot. "It's so colorful."

Stellar chuckled, "It is, but you'll get used to it."

"Thank you. So are you from the wild too?" Feral Heart asked.

Stellar averted his gaze, "No, at least not before I came here. It's not pleasant and I don't want to talk about it right now. I have enough on my mind."

"OK," Feral Heart turned to look forwards as Independent Bear led them down a down of houses.

Indy knocked on Confidence Heart's door. "Confidence, I know you're home." No answer. "You're not gong to be punished, you made the right choice." Still no answer.

Stellar Heart stepped up and knocked again, "Confidence Heart, it's Stellar. I just wanted to thank you for saving Connie's life." There was s shuffling and what vaguely sounded like a sniff from inside. Stellar turned to Feral Heart and urged her forwards.

"Excuse me, Confidence Heart? It's me, the tigress you saved, I'm called Feral Heart now. I just want to say thank you for saving my life today. I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you."

"Thank you," the voice from inside was soft and hollow.

"May I come in please," Indy stepped forwards again.

There was no verbal answer just the sound of the door opening. Confidence Heart stood there, her whole body drooping from her ears to her tail. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy and she smelled strongly of body wash and shampoo, like she'd bathed in two huge vats of the substances. She wiped tears from her eyes then looked up at the three on her step. She managed a weak smile at Feral Heart, "I see you got your tummy symbol."

Feral Heart smiled, "Thanks to you."

"I promise you're not going to be in trouble," Indy placed a comforting hand on the fennec's shoulder, "I'd like to talk to you though, about what happened down there."

Confidence nodded, "OK." She looked up at the two tigers on her front, "Mind if you let us talk alone."

Stellar Heart shook his head, "Not at all as long as it helps you feel better, OK?"

Confidence Heart nodded then let Indy inside and shut the door behind him. Confidence led Indy to her living room and took a seat on the couch. Indy sat across from her, noting the odd ball of obsidian that was on display on the coffee table but paying it no mind.

"Are you going to be alright?" Indy asked.

"I don't know," Confidence stared at her hands, "I can still see their blood on me, still hear them crying out. I lost control and killed three people Indy! How am I supposed to live with that?!" she had suddenly started shouting.

Indy took a deep breath, "I don't know. All I can suggest is to think about the lives you saved today, not just Brave Heart, Feral Heart, Tugs and Contrary Heart but all the other animals they would have hunted and killed just to line their pockets."

"What if there was another way! I could have talked to them...I..." Confidence choked up before she could continue.

Indy stood up and put a hand on her shoulder, "Don't waste your time wondering 'what if' just remember that there are four Care Bears who wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

Confidence Heart swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat, "I'll...try..."

OoOoO

As soon as the door shut in their face, Stellar Heart and Feral Heart turned and headed back to the Hall of Hearts.

Stellar Heart cleared his throat, "How do you feel being up here?"

Feral Heart fidgeted slightly, "I don't know. I mean I'm not used to being around so many other animals."

Stellar nodded, "Right, tigers are territorial loners in the wild. Well don't worry about that here, we're all friends."

"I see..." Feral Heart looked around and smiled, "Do you think I'll fit in up here? I mean...I don't know. I feel so strange now, I have thoughts and instincts I never had before running through my head."

Stellar could see that she was nervous so he decided to try and lift her spirits, "Don't worry about it, you'll adjust and those new instincts aren't bad, they can even help you find love up here."

Love? Feral Heart smiled then turned to him. Without warning she leaned forwards and planted a kiss on Stellar's lips.

Stellar was stunned for a moment but he gently pushed her off, "No, Feral Heart, I'm married."

Feral blinked, "Married?"

Stellar mentally kicked himself then changed his wording, "I have a mate. Her name is Regal Heart Lioness and we have five cubs, I'm sorry if you're attracted to me but nothing can happen between us."

"Your mate's a lion, but I thought tigers had to be with tigers..." Feral's face turned beet red and she turned and ran away from the Hall of Hearts.

"Feral Heart wait!" Stellar reached out towards her, then sighed as he watched her go, "Oh boy, I'm gonna need some help with this."

OoOoO

Feral Heart ran straight for the cover of the nearby forest, colorful though it was it still felt safer than being out in the open. What had she done? Made a move on another's mate, not to mention what she'd done. She touched her lips, it felt so oddly natural to do that as an expression of affection, but kissing him had still felt wrong, even before she found out he had a mate. Now what would she have to do? Leave? She sat down on a bench and buried her face in her hands. Crying was so new to her she didn't know how to stop.

"Hey, little lady, are you alright?"

Feral Heart looked up to see Brave Heart standing next to her. "Stellar told me what happened."

"Oh...he did. Is his mate mad?" Feral Heart looked away, her face still red.

"Don't know yet, Stellar went home to tell her but I'm sure she'll be fine," Brave Heart sat down next to her, "But you didn't answer, are you alright?"

Feral Heart didn't turn to face him, "I don't know...I think I should leave."

Brave Heart started, "What, but you just got here!"

"But I've already done something wrong," Feral Heart tried to look away, until Brave Heart moved around to look her in the eye.

"Feral Heart, you aren't the only one to mess up early on, and believe me this isn't the worst thing I've seen someone new do." He rubbed the side of his mouth, "Why don't I show you around?" he offered her a hand.

Feral Heart looked at his hand, then took it gently and Brave Heart helped her up, "What will his mate say?"

"I'm sure Regal will understand, and if she gets mad I'll talk to her, she's my sister." Brave Heart started to lead her down the path back to Care-a-Lot.

"If you say so," Feral Heart sounded unconvinced.

Brave Heart stopped, "Tell you what, let's go see her and sort this all out, OK?"

"OK."

OoOoO

Feral Heart was tense as Regal Heart looked her up and down, even with Brave Heart standing next to her she was afraid at what this lioness might do. Regal smiled, "Alright it's fine, Feral Heart."

"Fine?" Feral was still on edge.

"Stel explained the whole thing to me, and I get it. You're new, you're not used to all these new feelings and people and you misread a signal from him. Really I'm not mad, and you seem sorry so it's fine."

Feral Heart finally relaxed, then caught sighed off Faith Heart on the floor of the living room, playing with some blocks. She pointed, "Is that tiger your cub?"

Regal turned then smiled and lifted Faith up into her arms, "Liger actually, well tigon but..." she looked at Feral Heart, who was looking more confused than before, "She's half lion and half tiger so we call her a liger. This is Faith Heart, so hi to Feral Heart."

"Hi Feral!" Faith waved to her.

"So lions and tigers can have cubs together?" Feral reached forwards and flinched slightly when Faith grabbed her hand.

"Stellar and I have five," Regal got Faith to release her grip on Feral's hand.

"I see. Thanks for not being mad," Feral blushed slight again.

"See, I told you my sister would understand. Now let's head back to the Hall of Hearts, we can get you a room until you find a place to stay." Brave Heart led Feral out of the house.

Regal watched them go through the window until Faith spoke up, "Is she our new auntie?"

Regal smirked, "You know, I think she might be."

OoOoO

A week later and Brave Heart was seeing Feral Heart back to her house, which had once been Regal's before she and Stellar were married. Brave Heart smiled as she shut the door behind her.

"Seeing the new family member off personally." Brave Heart turned to see Regal approach him.

Brave Heart chuckled, "Well she needs some guidance, she's not as rough as Darien was though."

"Oh, is that the only reason?" Regal gave a very cat-like grin to Brave Heart and looked into his face. "I can see it in your face, Brave, the same way I felt about Stellar when he first arrived. What is it about our family and tigers I wonder?"

Brave Heart couldn't help but blush, "What, Regal! I mean, Feral and I just met!"

"Just like me and Stel?" Regal teased and prodded her brother in the shoulder, "Face it, you got bit by a love bug."

Brave Heart sighed, "Maybe...I don't know, Regal, I mean maybe it's just not meant to be."

Regal stared at her brother, who had suddenly gone droopy, "Is this because of Proud Heart?"

"And Harmony Bear," Brave Heart sighed, "I mean, I tried twice already and nothing clicked before we just...fell apart."

Regal shook her head then smiled again, "So? Third time's the charm, and maybe you need someone wilder in your life, Proud Heart is pretty high-maintenance and I don't think you were really trying with Harmony, you tried going out with her less than to weeks after you and Proud Heart broke up. Besides," Regal purred, "She might be a tiger in more ways than one."

Brave Heart blushed, "Regal!"

Regal shoved him playfully, "Relax, Brave. Confidence Heart was right; virgins up here are a bunch of prudes."

Brave Heart averted his gaze, "I'm not gonna try anything like that, especially not right away."

"Then don't, just get to know her, ask her out on a date, show her what a date is, show her what the human world is like, just be a friend and see if it goes farther on it's own," Regal nudged Brave Heart towards Feral's front door, "Besides, it can't hurt to try."

Brave Heart took a deep breath and thumped his chest with one hand, "Alright, I can do this, I can do this!"

"Scared?"

"Terrified, but you're right it can't hurt to try more than giving up before I do." Brave Heart marched up to Feral's front door, paused, then knocked.

A moment later, Feral Heart appeared and blushed slightly at Brave Heart, "Oh hello, Brave Heart. Did you forget to tell me something?"

"No, I just, I wanted to see if you'd like to go somewhere, down to earth for a bit or around the forest maybe." Brave Heart gave a nervous smile, Feral didn't seem to register his nerve.

"OK, but where?" she asked.

"Well, maybe I could show you what some human food is like, I mean other than what you've already eaten, or a park," Brave Heart kept up his smile.

"Oh, OK. Do I need to bring anything?" Feral looked back into her house for a moment.

Brave Heart shook his head, "No, it should be fine, just let me know if it gets uncomfortable."

Regal watched them from a distance before turning to head home. Something told her Feral Heart was the one for him, now to see how well he handled it.

OoOoO

Confidence sat at the table with Grams Bear and stared at her hands in front of her. "I see Tugs is doing alright."

"He is. He keeps complaining that he can't use his right arm though." Grams took a drink from her coffee.

Confidence didn't touch her drink and didn't even look at Grams as she spoke, "I can't stop thinking about it. I was a wild animal back there. I didn't even think about what I was doing and-"

"Stop." Grams' voice was firm but not harsh. "Confidence Heart, let me tell you something. I wasn't a cub when I changed like the rest of the family, I was an adult bear, a young adult, yes, but still an adult. I had to hunt and forage before I became Grams Bear and I still remember what it felt like to take down prey, I had to even more because I had a cub growing inside of me. Now let me tell you, it doesn't sit will with me what happened, either with those poachers or even what I had to kill when I needed meat, but in both those cases I don't see any other way things cold have gone. I needed to survive and," Grams looked in the direction of Tugs bedroom, "You saved my grandson's life. If you hadn't acted as swiftly as you did then he might have come back with worse than a fractured shoulder blade."

"But how do I live with that I did? How do I know I won't have to do it again?" Confidence Heart finally looked up at Grams, seeking an answer. "I know we're ready to die to protect the Care Bear Family, but to kill? Should we be willing to kill?"

Grams sighed, "I don't know, no one knows what tomorrow will bring but I can say this: worrying about it will do nothing but hurt you. I'm not saying to stop thinking about it, this is a monumental change you will have to live with the rest of your life, but I am convinced that you did the right thing, for all our sakes." Grams nudged the still full coffee cup towards Confidence, who finally took a drink, "Now I suggest you go talk to Take Care, go talk to your friends and get some fresh air. You need to at least try and move forwards with your life now that you've passed this point, OK?"

Confidence finished her coffee, she had drunk it in one gulp, "OK. I'll try."

"That's all I can ask."