Here's another chapter guys. Remember, I do not own ice age or any of its characters or settings. Also, I'm sorry if Buck accent gets too hard to read, or if it isn't enough. I just can't do it too much, or even I'll get confused. Please review!

"Now, I know ye might try an' stop me, but I don' think I can live around him, or around here." Buck said. Lucy looked at her friend sadly. He was so depressed. Maybe some independence and alone time would bring him to be happier. All Lucy knew was that Buck was right, he had to get away from all this sadness.

"Go. Go out on a really awesome adventure, and then you can come back and tell me all about it. Just like you usually do." She said.

"Lucy, I won' be comin' back for a long time."

"I know. I just wanted some reassurance."

"I'll leave in the mornin'. There's a large world ou' there, jus' waitin' for me to explore it."

"You go do that, and I'll wait."

"No Lucy. Have a life. Don't sit around and wait for me. Get a boyfriend, hang with your friends, but don't go waitin' for me. I'll come back when I need to, but that'll be a long time from now." He sounded like he was giving her orders, which he kind of was.

"Well, if that's what you think." Lucy said. She stood up, and was about to leave, when Buck grabbed her paw.

"Jus' one more thing, before I leave." He said, standing up. He then leaned in and kissed her, full on the mouth. Lucy felt like she could sing, but didn't pull away until he did. "Goodbye Lucy." And he turned away from her and laid down again.

"Good bye Buck." Lucy said, and crawled out of the hollow and into the snow.

He'd kissed her! He'd kissed her! Buck had tried not to leap in the air with joy. Then he'd said goodbye. That was one of the hardest good buys he'd ever said. He hadn't been able to say good bye to Jai. At least he got to smile at him before…well, yeah. Buck didn't know where he'd go, or why. Maybe he'd go find the saber that killed his parents. Maybe it was the same saber that he'd put in a trap a couple of months back. Then again, he'd annoyed a lot of sabers. Maybe Buck would head far to the east, wandering across the lands until he found some new adventure. He wanted something exciting, meet new animals, make new friends, and see new sights. He wanted to come back and tell everyone of his huge adventure. He wanted to come back and forget everything that had happened. He didn't want to seek revenge from Regal. There was no point in revenge. It was just a state of mind that some get into. Hurting Regal wouldn't bring Jai back. It wouldn't do anything, except make Buck feel guilty. Buck curled up more to keep out the cold. He would leave in the morning, and come back in time. Maybe days, weeks, months, maybe even a year or more. He just needed a break. Maybe they would think he'd be dead. That would be great, because then he'd return, and be the start of stories. He could be a legend in years to come. Buck the great adventurer! He came back from the dead, after travel, discovery, riding sabers, and fighting pirates, maybe he had crossed the entire land mass that was known to all animals. That sounded like his kind of adventure. Yeah! He would travel further than any weasel had ever gone! First, he needed sleep, then he would start travelling away from the sea. Buck closed his eyes, waiting for dreams of adventure to seep into his mind.

Lucy trudged back towards where the weasels had gathered to hear the news of Jai's death. It was starting to snow, as if the sky was letting the cold fall for Jai. Lucy had already made a plan about what to tell the others. She would say that she hadn't found Buck and that he had gone too far, too fast, for her to catch up with him. Jess and Sasha were the first to spot Lucy in the snow.

"Where is he?" Sasha asked, her eyes full of concern.

"I didn't find him. He was too fast. I hope he doesn't do something stupid." Lucy said. Some murmurs started up.

"Maybe he's committing suicide."

"Poor lad. Probably feels like he's got no other choice."

"He was so spirited, we will miss him if he goes, too." Lucy heard them, with a satisfied feeling. Buck wouldn't want them knowing he was alive. He would run away, and then return, only to hear that everyone thought he was dead. Lucy tried not to smile. Jess saw this, and led Lucy away from the crowd, Sasha following behind. Lucy must have looked like she was crying, because she heard someone say,

"I feel so sorry for her. She was very attached to Buck." Lucy tried not to choke on her laughter.

"Alright girl, spill it. I can smell Buck on you very faintly, so I know you found him." Jess said accusingly, putting her paws on her hips and raising her eyebrows.

"Ok…" Lucy said, trying not to laugh. She had to compose herself first.

"Deep breaths." Sasha said mockingly. This just made Lucy giggle. "Act like you're crying, so we don't attract any attention."

"Ok." Lucy started again. "As you two probably figured, I did catch up with Buck. He's planning on running away, not on suicide."

"That explains the first bit, but how can I smell him on your face." Jess said again.

"He kissed me." Lucy said quickly.

"Omg! Are you serious!?" Sasha said. Jess didn't look happy though.

"What is it?" Lucy asked.

"He leads you on, knowing that he likes you and that you liked him. He doesn't go out with you because he was trying to protect you. He then kisses you, but is going to run away! I'll kill him when I see him next. That'll be the last I see of his family."

"Jess, he's the only one left in his family."

"Precisely." They all fell into quiet giggles.

"He'll come back, I just don't know when." Lucy said after they let the giggles leave.

"Knowing him, it'll be a long time from now." Jess said.

"He said that. He also told me not to wait for him, to get a boyfriend and have a life. I don't think he'll be coming back for a year or more."

"Good. I don't want to see his sorry ass around here for a long time!" Jess said.

"Jess! Don't be so mean!"

"He's the one being mean!" She hissed back. "How do you know he isn't going to die out there?"

"He won't. He never does." Lucy said matter-of-factly. Sasha looked hopeful, but Jess was still skeptical, and said.

"Well, he better come back alive, or I'll kill him."

Buck woke up more alive than he'd ever been. He stretched his muscles, ready for the new day. The freshly laid snow glistened white outside the hollow. Buck jumped into it, feeling the familiar cold. It was only up to his ankles, so walking wasn't hard. He would have to head further into the forest to get away from the sea. Buck turned into the gloomy place, where little of the suns light got through the leaves of the evergreen trees. Buck walked pleasurably through it. He hummed a little. Slowly though, he started to feel a sadness seeping into him, a loneliness in a way. He had never really been anywhere without Jai, or some other form of a friend. Tears started coming to his eyes as memories from his childhood came by. Once, when he was younger, he had been chased by wolves far from his home, and Jai had come and helped him. Another time, Jai had been caught in one of his own traps, and Buck had to get him out. So many memories were now haunting Buck. All he could do was let the tears flow, hoping that no other animal would see him. Buck wondered for hours, just heading to the East. When it was about midday, Buck realized how hungry he was. He heard a stream nearby. Scrambling towards the sound, he found it surrounded by other animals. They were all carnivores. Wolves, sabers, bears and a manner of carnivorous birds and some wolverines. They were all having some sort of gathering. They weren't fighting, but having one big conversation, in one big clearing near the stream. Buck hid in a nearby bush and listened to what they were saying.

"I recon the captains gone barmy. He thinks we'll find anything round 'ere. I recon we gotta head south, it's summer down there, and there'll be more food." Said an owl.

"I agree. We should be going where the food is." Agreed a wolf.

"Why did we abandon ship again? I hate it here on land." Commented a saber.

"Says a mammal that's meant to be afraid of water!" yelled a crow. A squabble started, and Buck watched and realized they were all pirates. He wondered what they were doing here. The owl and wolf were right, it was summer down south, and all the food would be down there. He also wondered why they had abandoned their ship, and where their captain was.

"I recon we should mutiny!" Yelled an eagle. All the talking squabbling stopped, and every pair of eyes turned to the eagle at this. "The captain has gone nuts, and right now is on a scouting mission, looking for things to steal from humans. He thinks there is humans here, but we haven't seen any signs of them! We should just get back to the ship, and head south." The Eagle said.

"Who will be captain?" asked a bear. The eagle turned to the bear for a second, then addressed the whole crowd.

"I personally think that Oakblood should be our captain." All eyes turned towards another crew member. Buck stretched his neck further to see what they were all gazing at. He spotted a large saber with dark brown fur and dark stripes. He was sitting near the water of the stream, and looked up to see everyone staring at him expectantly.

"What do you say Oakblood?" asked a wolf, sitting nearby. "Want to be captain?" There was a pause between the words. The big cat looked around and said.

"We'll have a vote. I think it should be between me, Slasher and Hookclaw." Said the saber. A female wolf and a male owl came out of the crowd and sat next to the saber. Buck presumed Slasher was the wolf, who had multiple scars over her shoulders and legs. Hookclaw therefore must have been the large owl, with long, almost serrated claws on his feet. The three competitors stood in a line. Buck was surprised at how civilized they all seemed. Buck had heard daring and terrible tales of Pirates and their crimes. Most just steeled, others murdered and hunted. Buck watched, waiting to see what would happen. The eagle who had suggested the saber be captain, stepped in between the crowd and the competitors.

"All in favor of Slasher." He said. About a third put their paws or claws in the air. Slasher tried to hide her surprise. She obviously didn't think she was that popular.

"All in favor of Hookclaw." Only a couple voted for him, and he looked very disappointed. "All in favor of Oakblood." The rest of the paws and such went up. Oakblood was the new captain. He didn't look overly excited, but certainly didn't look bored either. He was focused. As soon as he was elected, he started giving orders about how they were going to take the ship and reject the captain. A thought came to Buck. What if I went with these guys? I'm sure they'll have heaps of adventures. Buck then remembered that you can't leave a pirate ship, once you've joined, otherwise it is treachery. They kill you for that. Buck shook his head of the thought of joining pirates. He would wait until they left.
It took the pirates hours to finally get up and leave. The stream was finally free. Buck leapt towards it, his stomach taking over his mind. He stopped right at the water's edge to search for fish. It wasn't long before one came swimming past. Buck scooped it up and smashed it against a rock, before it even knew it was out of the water. He ate it hungrily, not noticing that someone was watching him. When Buck had finished the fish, he sat back on the shore and gave a huge sigh of satisfaction. He couldn't fit another fish if he wanted to. He got up and stretched, and was about to leave, when a voice stopped him.

"Hey. Over here." Buck whipped around, looking for who had said it. "Oi, I'm over here." Buck spotted a waving paw, near a tree a little way away from the stream. He walked over to it cautiously, thinking the pirates might have left a trap. "Don't be scared. I just need some help." Buck saw what it was as he got nearer. It was an otter, but his leg was caught under a log.

"Wha' happened to you?" Buck asked, rushing over and tried to lift the log.

"The pirates caught me in the river and put me under here to eat later. They must have forgotten about me, thank goodness." said the otter. Buck stepped back from the log. It was too heavy for him to lift. He would have to lever it off.

"I'll be back in a minute. Don' move."

"I don't really have a choice." Said the otter.

"Oh, right." Buck said, than scrambled up the tree. He was looking for a branch that could be snapped off, but would still be strong…There! It was a little higher up. It was almost as thick as Bucks body, but was already broken off a little at the base. Buck climbed up to it, and snapped it off. He dropped it to the ground, making sure he didn't hit the otter. He then got down, and dragged the branch over to the log near the otter's leg.

"This may hurt. I'm also gonna need you t' try and push it off you at the same time."

"Alright." Buck shoved the branch under the log. The branch stuck out at an angle, so Buck could use his weight to bring the log up. He jumped up and grabbed the branch. He felt the log starting to give way. It wasn't a large log, but would still be hard to lift off the ground. They didn't need that much, just a little bit. The otter started pushing the log as well, using his arms and other free leg. Soon, the log had lifted about an inch.

"Try yank ya foot ou' now." Buck said. The otter started to pull as hard as he could. His foot dislodged so fast, that his whole body went flying backwards. The log dropped again, and the branch flung upwards. Buck was catapulted into the branches of the tree they were next to. He started falling again, and couldn't grab hold of anything fast enough, so came crashing down the branches. "Ouch, oh, ahh, youch". He hit the ground with a loud "mph!" He slowly stood up, leaned against the tree, and started shaking his head of dizziness and snow. When he had his balance back, he started to test if he could walk. One step, two, three. Yep, he was fine.

"Thanks for helping me out." Buck turned to the otter. He was standing up, but his leg was being held off the ground.

"No problems. Is your leg broken?" Buck asked, concerned.

"Nah, just sprained. I can still move it, and walk on it a little."

"D'you want me to help ya get home."

"Just to the stream, if it's no trouble. I'll swim home."

"OK." Buck put his arms around the otter's torso and let him lean against Bucks side.

"What's your name, if you don't mind me asking?" asked the otter.

"Buck. Yours?"

"Dwain. I haven't heard a name like yours except for in pirate stories." Said Dwain.

"My parents loved telling me those stories, so I guess that's where it came from. My brother's name was Jai."

"Was?"

"He died yesterday."

"Oh gosh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"I was sorry to see it." Buck said, putting on a smirk, to hide his pain. They were nearer to the streams edge now.

"Thanks for your help. If you ever need a favor, come here and I'll help you out." Dwain said, sliding into the water.

"Won't be needed. I imagine I won't be comin' by here any time soon."

"Running away from home?"
"Yep."
"Thought as much. Good luck then."

"You too. And stay out of pirates ways next time."

"Don't worry, I don't think I'll be confident in going near any of them for a long while." Dwain said, and swam downstream. Buck smiled as he watched the otter leave. That was one little adventure he wouldn't forget. Buck walked away from the stream, continuing his journey. It was evening now, and the sun was starting to set in the west. Buck picked a tree to climb up and rest in. There wasn't a hollow this time, but a small dent in the wood. It was enough for Buck. He curled up to sleep. He would have to find some food tomorrow, for he was hungry again, but was too tired right now to find any. Maybe he could find another stream and go fishing again. He would find out in the morning…
Buck awoke to the sun on his face. It was still halfway under the horizon, but it was enough for Buck to wake up. He did his usual stretches, to get the sleep out of his body. Buck climbed down from the branches, and looked to the sky. Clouds of huge proportion and grey fluffiness were in the east. Snowstorm. Great. Buck gave a snort of annoyance, but kept moving on. He would travel through it whether it killed him or not. He didn't want to stop. He just had to keep moving. Buck headed straight into it.

"There's a snow storm coming." Oma said suddenly. Lucy looked up from the fire they had built in the burrow.

"What?"

"Snow storm. I can feel it in my bones. It's a big one, too."

"We better get the supplies stored then, and make sure everyone's in their burrows." Lucy said, moving off.

"Buck will go through it, not avoid it."

"What!?" Lucy said. Lucy didn't think that Oma knew about Buck running away. Over the past few days, everyone thought that the young weasel had committed suicide.

"Bucks got a stubbornness in his blood that will keep him moving east no matter what."

"Will he get hurt? Killed?" Lucy knew that sometimes Oma could future see, so didn't want to miss on this opportunity.

"He will be fine, but will stumble across the biggest adventure he has ever seen, or even heard of."

"He'll be happy about that."

"More than you can imagine." Oma said, then she snapped out of her state. "What are you standing around here for? Make sure everyone's inside!" the old woman ordered. Lucy made a salute.
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am." Then went and followed her orders.

The wind battered against his fur, and the snow was thrown at him like knives. It stung him, and he couldn't see two feet in front of him. All sense of direction had been lost, and he even had trouble breathing. Icicles were sticking to his under-bite teeth, and his tail was stiff with cold. Why had he come into this snowstorm!? He really was stupid with grief. Buck continued on, holding his arm in front of his face, trying in vain to protect his head from the speeding bullets of ice and snow. He had to get to the other side, to safety. Buck pushed through, feeling his body tiring with every step. He hadn't seen a tree for a few hundred yards. Damn. Buck really wanted something to rest behind. At least a tree was something. Buck fell over heavily. He tried to get up, but failed. No! You will not die! Buck mustered more of his energy, and tried again. This time he made it to his feet. Something then horrifying happened. Buck heard a loud crack as he got to his feet. It got louder, and Buck felt small vibrations under where he was standing. The land ten gave way, and he went plummeting through the air. Something was strange about the fall. He felt warmer. He hadn't wet himself or anything, but his coat was warmer, and he was falling a lot longer than he expected. Buck looked around at where he was falling. He could see an entire world! There was trees, rivers, waterfalls, and animals. They weren't ordinary animals. Buck spotted one nearby. It was a dinosaur! It had a long neck, and was really huge. Brontosaurus Buck remembered the name. But…dinosaurs were meant to be extinct. Buck realized all of a sudden that he was still falling. He was falling towards a jungle, with trees and other plants. Buck put his paws out to grab onto something. When he came close enough, he reached out and tried to grab a vine. He succeeded, but wished he hadn't. The friction ripped the skin from his palms, and he was forced to let go. His momentum had been slowed down extremely, so he didn't land as heavily as he would have originally. He still land heavily though. He got up and rubbed the side he had landed on. His palms were bleeding and stung so badly it brought tears to Bucks eyes. Something stirred in the brush next to Buck. He pricked his ears and backed away from it. Out of it jumped a raptor like creature. It looked at Buck questioningly, then made a small squawk.
"Get out of here ye buzzard!" Buck yelled, then kicked a rock at it. He hit the raptor square in the head. It squawked, shook its head, and then looked back at Buck. It then lifted its head, and gave a long, shrill screech. From the same bush it had come out of, came about five others, all hissing and screeching at Buck. "Crud." He said, and started running. What had he fallen into?
One year later.
His back was against the cliff side, no way out. He was perched on the razors edge of oblivion, staring into the eye of the great, white, beast. It gave a loud roar, then brought his talons down onto Buck. Buck screamed in agony, and his body flew sidewards at the power of the baryonix attack. He landed heavily, then reached up and felt blood coming out of where his eye had once been. Buck heard another roar, and he got up and started running away from the sound. Rain pelted against his coat, and lightning flashed around him. He couldn't run forever, for the giant lizard would catch up. He would have to climb a tree. Buck picked one out, then started his ascent. When he reached a small branch, he grabbed one of the leaves and tied it around his injury, hoping it would stop the blood. He continued climbing, and snapped off a small branch as a weapon. He reached the top of the tree, and held the branch threateningly, knowing it wouldn't make much difference if the beast decided to make a snack of the weasel. Dark cloud were swirling around, and the night made it even harder to see anything. Buck heard something behind him, so twisted his body to see. After barely five seconds, Buck felt something behind him again. He turned again, just in time to scream as huge white jaws closed around him.
Before the dinosaur could make Buck slide down his throat, Buck grabbed onto his uvula (the gross, pink, fleshy thing that dangles at the back of the throat), and hung on. He started to sing, back and forth, back and forth and back and forth. He finally let go, and shot right out of the dinos mouth, crashing into a tooth on the way. The dinosaur roared in pain, and lumbered off into the jungle. Buck landed on the ground, and rolled a few feet. When he looked up, something struck the ground in front of him. It was a tooth, one that Buck had knocked out when he came flying out of the dinos mouth. A great trophy for a great victory. Sure, he'd lost his eye, but had got this! It would be extremely useful, and Buck would prize it. He would have to nickname that dino now. Oh, Buck knew. Rudy! He would forever be fighting Rudy, and he knew it. There wasn't anything bad about that. He just had to get used to having only one bloody eye!