A Destiny For Two

An Ice Age Story

*Jinney

Chapter 1

I always felt out of place in the world…even as a child. I mean how many ferrets [or part weasel and part ferret] do you know wear a leaf dress. I think it's only me as of now. We animals don't have to worry about protection, but I feel that's it's needed, even if it's just for me.

I've lived in a world covered in ice and snow. I was born in a family that now consisted of six kids, me being the sixth and the first-born. I am the only adult and the leader of our family. There are no parents and I don't think it's the right time to tell that story.

Anyways, it may seem hard to control five little children, but I have my special ways to control them. I am the only one my siblings ever listen to. And the only help I have is my second-in-line brother Nat, short for Nathan. He tries to act older than me, but he still has his moments.

I had an ordinary life for so long. Then a few events occurred that changed my life forever. It happened in a world I never thought existed, and that is where I met…him.

.~.~.~.~.

"Jade," cried Lily, "Amy punched me!" I sighed and turned to Amethyst as she tried to explain. I wasn't convinced. Amy had always been a sort of competitive girl. She always felt that she had to be on top, and so whenever she wasn't, she got physical and sometimes even a little violent.

"Amy," I said calmly. "I'll give you to the count of three to apologize or you're going to have to go to your room." She turned away. "One…" I began. She eyed me. "Two…" She quivered a little. "Thr–" She burst, as she always did.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just hate it when she talks so much! She's like the thing that won't shut up! I don't care!" She sniffed. "And she was doing it on purpose too!" I turned to Lily. She gave me the cutie-look and smiled. I shook my head. "You know she doesn't like that. Go find someone else who does and stop annoying your sister."

She nodded and I nodded, walking away. I looked up at the sky. The light in the sky showed that it was noon for it was in the center of the sky. I turned to all my siblings to make my usual announcement. Our family had many announcements; one for waking up, for break and getting a snack, for lunch, for dinner, for rest, etc. It happened every day.

"May I have your attention please?" I called to my siblings. They all turned to listen. "It's time for lunch! Amy, Alex, Corey, and I will find the food. Lily and Nat will make a setup! Get to work everyone!" As Lily and Nat started the setup, Amy, Alex and Corey followed me to where we knew food would be.

It didn't take long to get the two full bowls of water, plus the berries, fruits, and special, edible plants we usually ate. When we returned, everything was set up for the feast. No one complained, knowing all too well that I might lash back if they did. I can be sweet or harsh when I need to be. It's the only way to keep order in the family.

While we ate, a noise filled the air. They were footsteps, and by the sound of them, their owner was very big. I got up and looked in the direction they were coming from. In the distance were two fully-grown mammoths with baby mammoth, obviously their child.

I had never met these three. My family had always kept to ourselves, so we barely knew anyone. As these mammoths came closer, I took a fighting stance just in case. The mother obviously knew I felt threatened and held up her trunk to show peace.

"Hi!" The father said. I relaxed a bit, but still remained cautious. The father was about to speak again when another creature, a sloth, walked out from behind. "Hey! What's going on?" He noticed us. "Oh, hi there! Who're you?" I didn't answer. A third creature came out, and this creature made me growl. It was a saber tooth. I glared at him.

"We don't want to hurt you!" The mother said, catching my attention ever so slightly. "We were just looking for food and were going to ask you where we fight find some. Our daughter Peaches is eating what we give her. So we were just wondering."

I lightened my glare and hid my fangs. But I didn't answer. The saber tooth spoke, "None of us will hurt you. We just came here to find food, like she said." I straightened up. "Who are you?" They introduced themselves. The father spoke first, "I'm Manny. This is my wife Ellie, our daughter Peaches. Then this is Sid the sloth, and Diego."

I nodded once. "I'm Jade, and these are my siblings. Amethysts otherwise known as Amy, Lily, Corey, Alex, and Nathan otherwise known as Nat." I waited for there response. Peaches was the one who moved. She walked over and stood right in front of me. She smiled and held out her small trunk. I slowly extended my hand and she shook it with her trunk. I don't know why, but this little girl made me smile.

"H-hi!" The little mammoth squeaked. "Hi!" I replied in a baby-like tone. This girl brought a new light to my eyes. The others walked forward and I didn't move, but smiled. "You have a very lovely daughter." Ellie smiled brightly. "Thank you!"

So it ended up that we invited them to spend dinner with us. Diego went hunting on his own while the rest of us worked on gathering 'nature' food. By the time we were all done eating, it was time to sleep.

"Good night everyone!" I whispered to all my siblings. I waited till I heard all of them reply with a "good night" before I walked off. Turns out the mammoths and their friends were staying nearby, so I walked past them as I went to my normal spot that I usually went to before I slept.

It was at the edge of a lake. By now it was slightly frozen, but it was watery enough so that I could wash my face. I sat at the edge for a while, letting my feet soak up the cold water, something that felt really nice. I looked up at the sky, at the stars and moon, and smiled.

After a little while, I got up and walked back. I wasn't even paying attention to wear I was stepping! Why I wasn't, I don't know. All I saw was Peaches and then I was falling through the ground…

*~*~*~*~*