Disclaimer: I don't own Ice Age or any of its characters.
This is my first ever Ice Age story, and I'm nervous. Especially since my favorite characters isn't everybody elses...
New Note: One of my reviews from Morag I suggested that I make this a prologue to another of my Ice Age stories and personally I thought it was a great idea. So I'm gonna go along with it and see how it goes. Thanks for the idea, Morag!
Cretaceous opened his eyes slowly, nearly having them blinded by the piercing sun. First thing he noticed was that there was ground under him and something heavy was pressing him, almost crushing him flat. He needed to get free, before something bad happens. Or maybe something bad's already happened. He couldn't remember much, his head hurts beyond belief.
Digging the sharp claws of his front feet into the earth, he pulled as hard as he could. He felt himself drag forward only a mere inch before he tired out. This wasn't working...This was just painful. He felt as though his scales were being peeled from his body, that his fins were tearing...even though he was sure they're not.
How long had he been out cold? How long has he been out of the water? Judging from how dry he is, he guessed it must've been a long time. How heavy he felt...
Finally, he recovered enough to try again, growling in frustration...and also whimpering in distress. He wanted to be free! He needed help. He paused, sniffing and looking around. Where's Maelstrom? The larger reptile, he found, was still comatose beside him and he knew the other won't be of much help at the moment.
Trying once more, he slowly pulled himself looser and looser, the rock's rough surface scratching painfully against his purple skin. Just a few more feet...Almost there...Got it! Weakly, he dragged himself away a couple of feet, panting from the effort. He checked his back flippers and tail, just to make sure they were alright.
Then he crumpled to the ground, too weak to hold himself up any longer. What happened? Why was he like this? He remembered how he and his companion were freed from the ice that encased them and about satisfying their appetites on the strange creatures that inhabit this strange place. Being frozen for thousands, maybe even millions of years tended to leave your stomach empty...
He remembered a large long-nosed creature he and Maelstrom has been hunting. He remembered his initial failure then...slowly the second encounter became known. Something happened...
Closing his eyes tight he tried to remember exactly what took place. He remembered the final lunge, jaws open...and then something fell on them...something heavy that took them into the abyss...Darkness.
Eyes snapping open, he finally understood everything. He must've passed out, coming around just minutes before. The water must've been drained out or something and all that was left was puddles large and small. It was hopeless...He was stranded on land and it was getting hard to breathe. He ventured out of water on several occasions, but never for very long...
A rumble sounded behind him. Maelstrom. It occured to him that his friend was still trapped under the large rock. He should get him out! But, barely being able to move himself, he knew it would be useless. His green friend made a cough and opened his eyes groggily. Disorientated, the fellow sea reptile tried to pull free, but, unlike his companion, he wasn't made for any land-based activities whatsoever.
Looking at the crocodile-like creature before him, he made a pitiful grunt. Understandable to reptiles, Cretaceous understood it well:
"Help me..."
Cretaceous didn't care how weak he was...he dragged himself over to his friend, the dirt irritating his underbelly, and reached out with a paw. He grabbed one of Maelstrom's front flippers and gave a firm tug. Nothing. He used both paws, bracing himself with his tail and hind limbs. Maelstrom also pulled as hard as he could and the rock overhead shifted ever so slightly. That was enough and, with one final yank, he was free.
Both collapsed in exhaustion and pain, not wanting to move anymore. It surprised Cretaceous that he managed to do anything at all. Looking at Maelstrom wearily, he knew that in the end, his efforts would prove meaningless. There was no hope of survival for his companion, who was having more trouble breathing than he was. And there was no way the larger animal can move, not out of water...
Cretaceous shot a glance at a puddle nearby. It wasn't deep, but it would be some relief from the heat beating down on them. Not muttering a sound, he pulled himself over to the puddle and, thinking of his friend first, splashed water in Maelstrom's direction with his tail. But it didn't seem to be helping much...
Concerned, Cretaceous hissed:
"Are you okay?"
Maelstrom was barely able to shake his head. The smaller reptile forced a swallow down his throat and looked away, not sure if he wanted to stick around. He didn't want to see his friend like this, but he couldn't leave him alone all by himself. What kind of friend would he be? Sighing weakly, he reached a conclusion and crawled over to the distressed reptile. He settled a yard away and rested his large head on the ground.
"We had a good swim..." he muttered halfheartedly before giving a cough. Maelstrom forced a smile and nodded softly before closing his eyes tight. Cretaceous continued. "And it was fun while it lasted..." No reply. "Maelstrom?" This time, he received an almost silent huff. The purple water lizard shook his head sorrowfully.
Peering up at the blistering sun, he wondered how a place once covered in ice could be so hot...The heat must be making him see things because he could make out outlines of flying creatures circling overhead. Shaking his head fervently, he took another look. Still there...Huh...Not knowing how to react, he ignored the aerial creatures and tried to sleep. That's all he wants at the moment, sleep. Sleep so deep he won't be able to feel his aches and pains anymore.
"I guess this is how it all ends..." Maelstrom mumbled. "Funny...I always envisioned my end to be...different...more dignified..."
Cretaceous nodded in agreement, not even opening his eyes. But just before nodding off into unconsciousness, he felt something land on his back. He growled and shifted an annoyance. The creature took off again. Forcing his eyelids open, he gazed at the thing that dared to wake him up. It was black and feathered with a bald pink head and neck and a white ruff. Strangely, it was grinning at him as it rose higher. He hissed at it in warning before looking over at Maelstrom to see if he's having the same problem.
"Are these things aggravating or what?" he asked. His larger companion said nothing, so still that not even his labored breaths can be made out. Frowning, Cretaceous pushed up with his paws and sniffed forward. A strange smell met his nose. Dragging a little closer he nudged his companion with the tip of his snout. No reaction.
Teeth chattering nervously, he nudged harder. Still nothing. "Maelstrom! Wake up!" he roared and even went as far as to nip the giant green reptile. Useless. He tried to hold back a whimper, but it escaped anyway. He knew what happened and he couldn't quite believe it yet. He always thought of his friend as indestructible, untouchable at the top of the food-chain...and now...
More of those feathered creatures landed on his companion and Cretaceous bared his teeth at them and made a weak lunge. The creatures didn't even flinch and snickered amongst themselves in a foreign language Cretaceous couldn't understand. Growling in fury, he made another snapping threat, only for the things to laugh even louder, as if mocking him. He huffed.
Backing away, he decided that he didn't want to face the same fate and turned around. Slowly, claws digging into the dirt with every step, he pulled himself along. Another creature landed near him and slowly followed, smirking widely.
"Leave me alone, dang it!" Cretaceous screeched in anger. What were these creatures and why won't they back off? The creature chuckled darkly and shrugged as if signalling that it couldn't understand what the enraged reptile was saying. It wouldn't surprise Cretaceous. He couldn't understand them, so why should he expect them to heed his words.
Actions speak louder than words and the crocodilian-like sea monster snapped at it before becoming lightheaded and toppling over. The creature jumped forward and bit his belly while it was still expose. Cretaceous cried out in pain and took a swipe at the annoying pest. It backed off a bit, but was still grinning, beak rimmed with blood. His blood.
Cretaceous growled menacingly and knew now what was happening. These things were waiting...waiting until he died...so they could eat him. Strangely, that seemed to bring peace into his reptilian mind. It was meant to be. And there wasn't much he could do to stop them. He figured that out against his will. Now, ignoring the thing, he continued to pull himself along, the wound on his belly stinging on every movement.
He knew it would be useless to try and save himself now. Instead, he'll try and make himself more comfortable. He spotted a reasonably deep puddle and tumbled into it, rolling from side to side to make himself wet with the water, which was already staining red with blood. Then the icthyosaur settled down and watched the thing waiting at the edge of the water with one eye, the other closed tight.
Another creature wandered over, and the first one muttered something in a smug tone. Cretaceous grunted irritably, but did nothing.
The world was getting darker though...and he wasn't sure why...The heat faltered and he felt a chill, strangely soothing. He couldn't stop a soft smile as a calm, pleasant feeling overtook what was left of his senses. Closing his eye, he gave a content sigh and wondered vaguely if Maelstrom experienced this same sensation of irrational happiness...
He hoped he did...
Blackness...
So, yeah, I'm gonna post up what was once the first chapter of my other Ice Age story. Actually make this a chapter story...I hope everybody else likes the idea!