Our Land- Shadows

Chapter 1 – day with the herd

…

A year had passed since the herd and the badgers defeated Bela and his pack. All that time, they had lived in the forest in peace. Now that the wolves were gone, animals felt safer in the forest, despite the presence of two sabers. They came out more often, and the herd had started making new friends.

The badgers still lived in their own little forest, but the herd saw them from time to time. Sometimes Baen and Granny paid the herd a visit. And whenever the badgers were hosting a party again, the herd was invited.

Granny was now officially the queen of the badgers and surprisingly, she was doing well. She wasn't the most sane person, but she was as bossy as a real leader. And of course, Baen still helped her to run the village.

It was a warm day for the ice age, and the herd was outside their cave in the sun.

Shira and Diego were simply lying in the sunshine with their eyes closed.

Sid, Crash and Eddie, Louis and Peaches were playing a game with small stones. Manny and Ellie were out in the forest for a walk.

"You know, I kinda miss Ethan and the rest," Peaches said. "I mean, there aren't any mammoths my age around here."

"You've got us," said Sid with a smile.

"Yeah, but I mean, you know…" said Peaches. "boys and stuff."

"Manny won't be glad to hear that, Peaches," Shira said without opening her eyes.

Peaches sighed. "If it was up to dad, I would still be single when he dies." She grunted.

Louis said nothing. He still hadn't found the courage to tell Peaches the truth. He wondered if he ever would be brave enough…

"Well, being dingle isn't that bad," Sid shrugged. "I mean, look at me."

"Bad example, Sid." Diego yawned, while rolling to his other side.

Sid didn't look amused.

In the meantime, Manny and Ellie were in the middle of the forest, walking and talking calmly. Until suddenly Ellie stood still.

"What is it, honey?" Manny asked.

"It's just… I think I heard something." Ellie said, looking around a bit nervously.

"Well, it's probably just one of our neighbors." Said Manny with a shrug.

"It just reminded me of something." Ellie said, frowning. "It… it reminded me of Bela's pack. I don't know why."

"It's okay, it's probably nothing." Manny smiled.

Ellie shook her discomfort off her. "Yeah, your right." She said.

They continued walking.

"So, as I was telling you, I talked to George yesterday and…" Suddenly Manny stopped.

"Now I heard it too." He said.

He looked around. "I think someone is following us." He whispered to Ellie.

Ellie looked around nervously. "What do we do?" she asked.

Honestly, she suddenly felt the urge to play dead again, like she did when she thought she was a possum. The urge to do that never really left her.

Suddenly, someone jumped out of the bushes.

"Boo!"

Manny and Ellie jumped up in surprise, but when they saw who it was they relaxed.

"Wow, Granny," Ellie giggled. "You startled us."

Granny laughed loudly, falling over on the ground. "You should see your faces, you losers!" She cried out.

Baen now came out of the bushes as well, smiling a bit.

"I tried to stop her, but she insisted on scaring you." He said.

"That's fine," said Ellie with a smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, there's something we want to show you." Baen explained as he helped Granny stand up. "I think it might be important."

"Oh, then we'll come." Said Manny.

…

Not much later they were following Granny and Baen through the forest. The rest of the herd had joined as well. Manny thought that was best if it was something important.

They walked towards the stream that flowed through the forest. It was always a favorite drinking place for most animals because it's water was fresh, cool and clean.

Manny wondered what could be so important about that stream. But he immediately knew when he saw it.

The usually so clean water of the stream had a strange colour. A big light red-brownish. As if there was blood in it or something like that.

"What… what is that?" Ellie asked as she looked at the water.

"We don't know." Baen shrugged. "But it's important. Most animals of the forest drink from this stream. And it also flows through our village and is our main water source. We don't know if it's safe to drink."

"There must be something in the source of the stream that's making it this colour." Manny said with a frown. "We should take a look. Do you know where the source is, Baen."

"Yes I do," Baen nodded. "But there's a problem… it's in the mountains. Where the wolves live now."

Manny bit his lower lip. That could be a problem. They didn't want to get into trouble with the wolves again.

"We'll need to see if it's safe to drink." Diego said, staring at the water.

Shira sniffed the water carefully. "It smells strange." She said.

"Okay, Sid," Manny ordered. "test if the water is safe to drink."

"Why me?" Sid asked.

"Because I'll pummel you if you don't," Manny said sternly. "Now do it."

Sid sighed and walked over to the stream, while the herd looked at him with worried expressions.

He kneeled by the water, made a bowl out of his hands and took some water in it. Then he drank it.

"And?" Shira asked.

"It tastes strange," Sid said.

"Do you feel anything?" asked Ellie.

Sid shook his head.

"Try some more," said Manny.

Sid took some more sips, and after he didn't feel much different again some more.

"And?" Manny asked.

Sid was silent for a while.

"Now I feel weird," he said.

"Oh dear," Ellie said, with a concerned expression on her face.

"What do you feel?" Baen asked Sid.

"Well, dizzy," Sid said. "A bit light in the head."

"Any pain?" Asked Peaches.

Sid shook his head. "No, not really," he admitted.

"That's a good thing, then," Manny sighed. "But I think it's best if we don't drink from this anymore. It may be bad if you drink too much."

"I agree," said Baen. "But now we lost our main source of water in our village. I hope this doesn't last long."

"If it doesn't go away in a few days, we will have to go to the mountains," Manny said. "We can't lose the stream. We'll just have to face those wolves again."

"Are you okay, Sid?" Ellie asked the sloth. She was a bit worried.

Sid nodded. "Yeah, I think I'm fine."

"We'll need to warn the other animals," Manny said.

"Yes," Baen said. "I will send my badgers immediately."

When they went their spate ways, Ellie thought she heard something in the bushes.

But she quickly shook it off her and went back to the cave.

...

Author's note:

Hey guys...

Um... Again, please write your reviews in English

^^;

I only speak English and Dutch, so I can't understand

your reviews when you write it in Spanish or French...

Other than that, thank you for reading and reviewing.

Again, constructive criticism is welcome!

Snowy Stoat.