Joe shivered as the sun ducked behind the ice glaciers that peaked over the various mounds of dirt and patches of trees that made up the old patch of dirt they called an island.

"Gettin' too old for this Ice Age business," the giant beaver grumbled as he rubbed at his chilled shoulders.

"You've been saying that for over two decades now," came an amused voice from behind him. Joe smiled. He'd know that voice anywhere.

"Well, well, well," he grinned. "If it isn't good ol' Red."

A young female mammoth with striking violet eyes, and four scars decorating the left side of her face cocked an eyebrow at the old beaver in amusement. "Who you calling old? You already had grey hairs coming in when I was just learning to babble."

"Now, now, Red," Joe fake scolded. "Let's not go disrespecting our elders. Just because you're coming up on your tenth year as turf leader doesn't mean you can go running you're mouth."

"Please," Red rolled her eyes. "I was running my mouth before I became turf leader."

Joe let out a groan as he rolled his eyes. "Don't I know it." Joe stood to his feet and plodded towards his long-time friend. "Anyways, how might I be of service?"

Red's face turned serious, and Joe took a step back. There was never anything good going on when Red made that face.

"Have you heard anything from Renee?" Red asked.

Joe sighed. If Red was bringing that old hag up there was definitely something wrong. "No. Hadn't heard from her in over a decade. You know that. Why you ask?"

Red gazed up at the horizon like she always did when something was on her mind. "I had a run in with a pirate near the territory border today…" she started slowly, picking up a rock from on top of a small hill and set it down next to her for Joe to sit on.

"Nothing new there," Joe said as he sat on the rock at Red's feet.

"No," Red agreed. "Nothing unusual until he called me by name."

"So you're reputation exceeds you," Joe shrugged. "It was bound to happen sooner or later with all the butt you've been kicking."

"No," Red shook her head. "I meant my real name."

Joe perked up at this. "Oh. Well that is unusual." He rubbed at the gray patches of fur on his chin. "But, you haven't made it a secret that your name isn't really 'Red.' Maybe he was just trying to throw you off-"

"It was more than that."

Joe sighed. "Of course. It would've taken more that a simple name to upset you."

"He mentioned…"

Red sighed and her eyes darkened. "He mentioned them."

Joe looked up at the mammoth in shock. "Them?"

Red nodded. "By name. And he talked about him…a lot. And in detail."

"Oh," Joe scratched his head. "Oh, that is odd."

Red nodded. "Only thing I can think of is that Renee tipped him off."

"Rubbing elbows, or in her case trunks, with pirates is certainly not beneath her. But why would she show back up after almost ten years?" Joe wondered.

"I was hoping you'd know," Red confessed. "You knew her longer than anyone."

Joe sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I was best friends with your mother growing up, Red, but I was never close to Renee. Even as a child she was…off."

Red hung her head and sighed. "Well, something's going on."

"And you'll get to the bottom of it," Joe patted Red's knee (it was as high as he could reach on her). "You always do."