I am running on all four paws, with my daughter grasped firmly between my jaws by her scruff. She's crying loudly. I only wish that I could comfort her. I find that hard to do, though, with her in my mouth. Instead, I can only run. I hope that I'll be able to protect her from the demons that I'm fleeing from.
After running for a couple of miles, I begin to grow tired. I don't realize how thin the ice is until I stagger onto it. Spider web cracks begin to form under us. The ice breaks, sending us into oblivion.
I don't know much of what happened when we fell through. All I know is that I wake up on my back with Rose laying on top of me. I must've flipped over to protect her. I place my arm over her. She wakes up and begins to cry again. At least I know she's still alive.
I hold onto her with my left arm as I stumble to my paws. My head is pounding. My right wrist is broken. I can't even move it without gasping. My ankle, I know, is sprained. I can at least put pressure on it. Rose appears to be uninjured. All of her crying is probably caused by hunger and fear.
I look around for the first time since the fall. I am shocked by what I see. Dinosaurs! I thought they were supposed to be extinct?! Well…as long as we don't run into any carnivores…oops…spoke too soon…
I pause in my inner dialogue at the sight of a giant, white monstrosity. He turns and spots us. He roars at us and charges us. I think that I know what he's thinking: These tourists will make a good meal.
Forgetting my sprained ankle, I dart off, Rose held tightly with my left arm. I feel the monster's hot breath coming just behind my tail. I run faster and faster, trying to escape certain death.
I run into a clearing. I am surprised to see a group of mammals there consisting of two mammoths, two possums, and a Saber. There is also a weasel with a leaf eye patch covering his right eye. There's no time to think. "Run!" I shout, just as the beast enters the clearing.
The one-eyed weasel immediately takes action. "Quick! Go wi' th' herd! I'll 'old 'im off!" He shouts to me. With a quick nod, I begin to flee with the herd.
By the time that we lose the beast, I can barely keep up. My ankle is killing me. I groan. The female mammoth hears me. "Hey! What's wrong?" She asks.
I look up at her in surprise. "I…well…I jus' fell down 'ere an' I injured my wrist an' ankle in th' fall…" I explain hesitantly.
"Is she your daughter?" She asks, pointing to my kit.
"Yes," I answer simply.
"Whe-ah is her mothah?" The other weasel from earlier asks as he comes out of nowhere.
"She 'as no mothah…Don' ask 'bout wot 'appened ta 'er! I ain't talkin'!" I give the weasel a warning growl.
He puts his paws up in a non-threatening gesture. "Alright! Alright! I won' ask! Now, th' name's Buck, short fer Buckminster an' long fer Buh! Wot's yer name?" Buck asks.
"My name's Silver. My daughter's name is Rose," I answer. Rose giggles at the sight of Buck. "Huh! She's usually shy 'round strangers!" I say, surprised.
"Well! I guess she must 'ave good taste, then!" Buck laughs.
I roll my eyes at the insane weasel. I sit down on a log. Forgetting about my broken wrist, I place that paw on the log. I gasp at the pain, hissing slightly through clenched teeth. Rose can sense my pain. She begins to cry. "Shhh, Rose, I's 'kay! Daddy's 'kay!" I try to shush her. I don't want anymore unwanted attention to come our way. She stops crying and nuzzles me. I smile at her.
"'ey, are ya injured?" Buck asks.
"Uhhh…yeah. I broke my wrist in th' fall down 'ere an' sprained my ankle. Rose is lucky. She wasn't injured at all," I reply.
"Hmmm. Well, give yer daughter at Ellie. Ya kno', th' female mammoth. She c'n care fer 'er 'til I ge' yer injuries bandaged up," Buck continues.
I wrap my arm tighter around Rose. I glare at Buck, silently asking him why I would consider trusting anyone with my daughter. Ellie comes forward. "Don't worry. I won't hurt her. I have a child on the way, you see. I would never hurt your kid," she promises.
I reluctantly hand Rose over to Ellie. "Break tha' promise an' ya will regret 't!" I growl. Ellie merely nods her head in understanding.
Buck comes closer to me. He has some leaves in his paws. "Alright, now, le's ge' yer injuries taken care ah," Buck begins. He crushes the leaves into a pulp. Buck begins to spread the pulp over my wrist. I let out a small yelp at the pain. My left eye twitches. Buck wraps a few whole leaves over my wrist and binds it. "Th' pulp will harden an' stabilize yer wrist. In othah words, ya won' be able ta move 't 'til 't heals," Buck explains.
I nod my head while groaning. Buck begins to work on my ankle. That hurts significantly less, considering that my ankle is only sprained. After he is finished bandaging it up, Buck turns to me. "I'd suggest tha' ya stay off yer paws fer a fe' days, bu' I kno' ya won' listen. Jus'…ride on Ellie. 'kay?" Buck suggests.
I sigh. "Fine," I reply.
I get to my paws, wincing at the pain in my ankle. I limp over to where Ellie is. I look over to see my kit resting, held gently in Ellie's trunk. I look up at Ellie. "Thanks. 'm…'m sorry fer no' trustin' ya. I's jus'…I recently lost my mate an' two othah kits," I explain.
"It's alright. I'm sorry for your loss," Ellie smiles sympathetically at me.
"Thanks. Maybe, someday, I'll tell all ah ya wot 'appened ta them. Jus'…no' now," I reply.
"I understand. Hey, if you want, I can watch Rose for a little bit. It'll give you time to get some rest," Ellie offers.
I blink up at her, surprised. "Thanks. Though, I doubt I'll be doin' much restin'…" I trail off with depression lacing my tone.
"Thinking about your mate?" Ellie asks.
"Yeah," I sigh.
"'ey, wot was 'er name anyway?" Buck asks.
"Lauren. Now, will ya quit wi' th' questions?" I growl, my temper rising.
I limp away from them, only to be stopped by Buck landing in front of me. "'ey! Don' be goin' off th' trail, now!" Buck places his paws up as if to stop me.
"Listen 'ere! I wan' ta be left 'lone, so if 'm ta stay on th' trail, tha' means ya 'ave ta stop askin' questions! Am I clear?" I growl the question.
"Crystal," Buck answers.
"Good. Now, c'n we rest 'ere, or do we 'ave ta find somewhere else?" I ask.
"We'll camp 'ere tonight," Buck answers.
"Then, good night! I'll see ya in th' morning!" I smile in fake cheerfulness. I build a nest of leaves. I curl up on top of it. I yawn. I close my eyes and fall asleep. I am confident that Ellie will take good care of Rose for the night.