Ice Age Anthology

Chapter One: Rescue or Ransom?

The land bridge lay in ruins. The gathered mammals looked on in shock, none more so then the mammoths Ellie and Peaches.

"We were supposed to meet dad here." Peaches despaired. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know, honey." Ellie admitted.

"That's it." Groaned a Start. "We're dead!"

The Start wasn't far off in his assumption. The stone wall had stopped moving, but with the land bridge destroyed, the mammals had nowhere to go.

"Ahoy there!" Called a voice from the mist.

"Did you hear that, or am I going nuts?" The possum Crash asked his brother, Eddie.

"Maybe we're both going nuts!" Eddie gasped.

"Look!" Ellie pointed with her trunk.

Something was coming out of the mist, straight towards them. It was an iceberg. Several scruffy-looking animals were riding atop it.

"Ahoy!" Bellowed a large monkey. "Need a lift?"

The mammals were put off by their would-be rescuers' appearances, but quickly decided they weren't in a position to be picky.

"Yes, thank you!" Ellie called.

"Well then, all aboard." The monkey smiled.

In due time, all the mammals had boarded the iceberg.

"Thanks for the help." Ellie smiled at the monkey, Peaches smiling behind her. "I don't know what we would have done without you!"

"It was nothing." The monkey smiled. "Oh, where are my manners? I am Captain Gutt."

"I'm Ellie." Ellie replied. "And this is my daughter, Peaches."

"Hi." Peaches waved her trunk.

"A pleasure." Gutt bowed. "Now, pardon my directness, but do either of you lovely ladies happen to know a mammoth by the name of Manny?"

"Yes!" Peaches piped up. "He's my dad!"

"You've seen him?" Ellie asked.

"Oh, yes." Gutt nodded. "In fact, I happen to know he's on his way here right now."

Ellie and Peaches cheered and hugged each other.

"Oh, that's what I like to see." Gutt smiled, before turning to Peaches. "Now, I think it would fitting if we arranged a little 'welcome home' party for your daddy."

Gutt nodded to his first mate Squint, who, quick as a flash, wrapped vines around Ellie.

"What are you-!" Ellie struggled.

"Hey, you can't do that to my mom!" Peaches lunged forward.

"Raz?" Gutt asked nochalantly.

In response, the kangaroo pulled a load of weapons out of her pouch, and threw them to her crewmates. Gutt caught a swordfish skeleton, and used it to hold Peaches at bay.

"Now, then." Gutt turned to the other mammals. "The lot of you will be going over there."

Gutt pointed out a small landmass across the water. With their assailants armed, none of the mammals were brave enough to resist.

"Now all we have to do is wait." Gutt sneered. "When that mammoth and his friends get here, they're as good as sharkbait."

"No." Declared Shira, Gutt's former first mate, as she stepped forward. "I'm not going to let you do this."

"Let me?" Gutt repeated increduously. "I don't recall asking you permission!"

Snarling, Shira leapt at Gutt, who struck her with a powerful backhand. Shira flew in the direction of Raz, who kicked her with both feet. Shira landed roughly, and just as she was about to get up, she was tackled by Boris. She tried to get up again, but failed, collapsing on the ice.

"Shall we finish her, Cap'n?" Squint asked hopefully.

"Not yet." Gutt sneered. "First we deal with the mammoth, then the traitor."

"Peaches!" Came the voice of Manny on the wind.

"Speak of the devil." Gutt chuckled. "Now, the fun begins!"

To Be Continued...

(Ice Age and all associated characters are the property of 20th Century Fox and Bluesky Studios.)